Higher Education Reform in Roman Catholic Ecclesiastical Institutions: Responses from French Institutions to Quality Management Imperatives

This study aims to observe and explain how Roman Catholic higher education institutions in France are adapting to the Holy See’s modernization agenda through quality assurance (QA). Using a mixed-method research design, the study aims to unearth differences in policy implementation, and to understand these differences through the lens of organizational ambidexterity. In particular, it will look at managerial actions influencing the level of adaptation to change of the institutions. The findings of this research in-progress will contribute to the under-researched area of ecclesiastical higher education, and to the organizational ambidexterity literature in a non-business environment. Understanding the factors influencing QA implementation will benefit practitioners but also policy-makers working on future regulations across the globe.