Quality assurance (QA) in higher education generally takes the form of a set of principles and procedures that ensure the standard of awards and enhance the quality of the academic provision. QA is important to guarantee the quality of the award for graduates and prospective applicants, to ensure responsiveness to the labour market, to assure that the university is performing at the correct level, and to give accountability that funds are being correctly used; as well as for the international recognition of the degree. QA is obtained both through external mechanisms and internal mechanisms.