Abstract
This paper explores the experiences of five long-serving academics in an institute of technology in Ireland on the growing need for quality assurance in the context of expansion in the higher education system. The academics in this study were in favor of quality assurance but they had difficulties with the form of quality assurance and how it was being implemented in the institute.
There was also concern that it was being introduced when there was a perception that there was a greater diversity of student and academic standards were falling. The study also confirms that academics have a role to play in the implementation process; however academics responses to change are complex. The paper concludes that it is important to try and capture the responses of academic staff to optimize the outcome of the implementation process.