Systems-thinking-underpinned approach to managing quality in Higher Education Institutions in developing countries Mensah Justice1, Graham Alberta Yaa2 1Directorate of Academic Planning and Quality Assurance, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana, Email: justice44mensah@gmail.com OR jmensah@ucc.edu.gh. Telephone: +233 0243512638 2Directorate of Legal, Consular and General Services, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana, Email: alberta.graham@ucc.edu.gh Telephone: +2330244665914 Online published on 22 January, 2020. Abstract While the crucial role of effective Quality Management (QM) in ensuring institutional development is globally acknowledged, QM in High Education Institutions (HEIs) remains a challenge, particularly in developing countries. Every HEI appears to be managing quality in their own ways seemingly oblivious of the fact that, despite the institution-specific peculiarities, QM could be underpinned by universally useful theories. This paper identifies systems thinking as a generic and adaptable theoretical model suitable for effective QM, and accordingly advocates an approach to QM in HEIs in developing countries that is underpinned by the systems theory. Visiting QM in HEIs in the light of systems thinking, this paper argues that HEIs are complex systems composed of various sub-structures; therefore, to optimise the whole system for institutional effectiveness, the systems approach comes in handy. Quality managers and leaders of HEIs in developing countries are urged to ensure that, their application of QM approaches is underpinned by systems thinking as a theory and philosophy to ensure continuous quality improvement for sustainable institutional development. Top Keywords Higher education institutions, quality management, developing countries, systems theory. Top |