Higher education in the 1990s is characterised by a pre-occupation with quality assurance. This book provides an examination of what that means for one academic specialism, continuing professional education (CPE). Based on research conducted in and around UK universities, the book explores the range of existing practice in CPE, and develops a broadly based strategy for practical action. It is argued that a framework for quality should evolve from an awareness of the complex character of CPE as a distinct subject area - solutions cannot simply be brought in, but must be developed in relation to setting.

Philip Tovey

Illustrations; Acknowledgements; Introduction; Part I Quality and quality assurance; 1 THEORY AND PRACTICE BEYOND EDUCATION; 2 BS5750: A CRITICAL REVIEW OF A KEY ISSUE; 3 QUALITY AND POST-COMPULSORY EDUCATION; Part II Quality assurance in continuing professional education; 4 EVIDENCE FROM THE FIELD I: SPECIALIST DEPartMENTS OF CPE; 5 EVIDENCE FROM THE FIELD II: NON-CPE SPECIALIST DEPartMENTS; 6 INTEREST GROUPS, QUALITY AND CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION: SOME CASE EXAMPLES FROM EMPLOYERS AND PROFESSIONAL INSTITUTIONS; CONCLUDING COMMENTS: TOWARDS A FRAMEWORK FOR QUALITY; Bibliography; Name index; Subject index;