Quality Assurance Reforms in Ethiopian Higher Education: An Examination of Past Limitations and the New Accountability-Oriented Audit System

Abstract This article analyzes the transformation of quality assurance in Ethiopian higher education, transitioning from the previous Higher Education Relevance and Quality Agency (HERQA) to the Education and Training Authority's (ETA) new accountability-oriented audit system. HERQA's efficacy was compromised by inadequate accountability, a restricted "fitness for purpose" quality paradigm, fragmented oversight, input-centric evaluations, limited program reach, and institutional malpractices. Employing a document review, this study synthesizes primary policy instruments from the Federal Ministry of Education and ETA with important secondary sources on Ethiopian quality assurance. A thematic analysis elucidates the systemic challenges and the theoretical underpinnings of the reform procedure. In response, the ETA has instituted foundational reforms: a fortified legal framework mandating institutional accountability, an expanded quality conceptualization integrating both "fitness for purpose" and "fitness of purpose," and the strategic adoption of the internationally recognized ADRI (Approach, Deployment, Results, and Improvements) model. This paradigm shift heralds a more comprehensive, evidence-driven, and continuously adaptive quality assurance environment. The article explores the anticipated implications of these reforms for compliance, governance, and national development alignment, while concurrently acknowledging inherent challenges in balancing accountability with institutional autonomy.