African universities urged to support, not police quality standards in AI era
As Artificial Intelligence (AI) becomes increasingly integrated into teaching, learning and research, quality assurance expert, Dr Violet Makuku, has urged African universities to develop and re-evaluate systems that will support its effective use.
She said such systems should help institutions maintain standards and credibility while reaping the benefits of AI and innovation, rather than simply focusing on identifying shortcomings.
The call was made during the 4th International Quality Assurance symposium organised by the Global Quality Assurance Association (GQAA), held at the Miklin Hotel in Accra from June 9 to 11, 2026.
Under the theme, “The Practical, Feasible and Collegial Implementation of Quality Assurance in the Age of Artificial Intelligence: Walking the Quality Assurance Talk and Eliminating the ‘Policing’ Tag,” the three-day symposium brought together quality assurance practitioners, higher education administrators, researchers and policymakers from across the continent to discuss emerging trends and best practices in the field.
Speaking in an interview on the first day, Dr Makuku, who is the Director of GQAA, stressed that, quality assurance, which focuses on maintaining standards in areas such as teaching, examinations, research and general administration, must evolve to keep pace with advances in technology.
Dr Makuku said this would require a review of assessment methods, strengthen academic integrity policies and develop guidelines for the responsible use of AI.
She explained that the symposium was designed to provide a platform for practitioners, researchers and higher education leaders to share experiences, learn from one another and explore emerging trends affecting the sector.
“Previous editions of the symposium had provided valuable opportunities for networking, knowledge sharing and professional development. I am confident that this year's gathering would build on those successes,” she added.
The symposium featured presentations, panel discussions, workshops and networking sessions. In attendance were delegates from Ghana, Uganda, Botswana, South Africa, Nigeria and Eswatini, reflecting growing interest in strengthening quality assurance systems across the continent.
Among the delegate was the Director of Quality Assurance and Institutional Effectiveness at Ashesi University, Dr John Osae-Kwapong.
He expressed optimism that symposium would yield practical ideas and best practices that institutions such as his could implement to improve quality assurance and institutional performance.
Also in attendance was Professor at the Institute of Distance Education and University Wide Coordinator of the University of Eswatini, Prof. Karen Ferreira-Meyers. She described the gathering as an important platform for professional engagement and collaboration among quality assurance practitioners from different countries.
“As a returning participant, I look forward to learning more from colleagues across the continent and implementing findings in my institution,” she said.
About GQAA
The Global Quality Assurance Association (GQAA) is a non-profit professional association that promotes quality assurance, institutional effectiveness and continuous improvement through training, research and professional development initiatives.
