Philosophy and services

Truly excellent organizations are measured by their ability to achieve outstanding results for their interest groups and maintain these over time. If obtaining outstanding results is a difficult task in itself, an even greater challenge is posed by maintaining these results in an increasingly competitive world, fast paced technological innovation, continually shifting ways of working and a frequently changing economy, all of which affect both our societies and clients' expectations.

WAPE's philosophy pursues a model of excellence which has its origins in the Japanese model of Total Quality. The association's philosophy and practice are aimed at making the principles of Total Quality tangible in order to apply them to higher education organizations.

Quality and excellence have evolved into the concept of Total Quality, which is much broader and is not focused on the end product, but on the quality of the organization as a whole.

There is, however, a need for this philosophy to be made tangible in some way. It must be made clear that our model of excellence is not a standard, but a model composed of criteria and sub-criteria used to assess the organization and find its strengths and weaknesses so that relevant plans of action can be drafted.

This model, carried out either by internal or external personnel, is basically used to measure organizations against the ideal of excellence and to identify opportunities for improvement.

WAPE uses this philosophy as a tool for quality educational management to help educational organizations become more client oriented.

For WAPE, quality implies a shift in the paradigms, models and practices used in the conception and management of educational organizations. WAPE's raison d'être is continual improvement, which begins with an understanding of clients' needs and expectations so that these can be fulfilled and exceeded.