The impact of quality assurance initiatives on the performance of private higher education institutions in Oman: the mediating roles of quality culture

Quality assurance is essential in higher education as it strengthens quality and relevance within a fast-changing global environment. It enhances student satisfaction and success by ensuring programs meet learners' needs and expectations. This study examines factors of quality assurance that affect the performance of private higher education institutions in Oman, emphasizing the mediating role of quality culture. Data were gathered through a descriptive survey using a 108-item questionnaire addressing quality culture (33), institutional performance (27), and quality assurance initiatives (27). The sample included 337 senior leaders. Findings revealed that quality assurance initiatives significantly improved quality culture (0.868), which in turn had a substantial impact on performance (0.807). Initiatives also showed a smaller but meaningful direct effect (0.188) on performance. Results confirm that quality culture partially mediates (0.701) the link between quality assurance initiatives and performance. These outcomes highlight the importance of nurturing quality culture to drive long-term institutional success.