Impact of QEC on Higher Educational Institutions

PROF. DR. AAMIR IJAZ

DIRECTOR QUALITY ENHANCEMENT CELL

University of the Punjab, Quaid-e-Azam Campus,

Lahore 54590.

Famous Quotes Related to Quality

(Aristotle 384 BC-322 BC, Greek Philosopher and Scientist, Student of Plato and Teacher of Alexander the Great)

“Quality is never an accident; it is always the result of high intension, sincere effort, intelligent direction, and skillful execution; it represents the wise choice of many alternatives”.(Quality in Education by Willa A Foster)

“Quality begins on the inside…and then works its way out”.(Bob Moawad, Quality Quotes)

“Quality in a product or service is not what the supplier puts in; it is what the customer gets out and is willing to pay”. (Peter F Drucker, American Management Guru)

Must be based on the fact that “Quality is not the responsibility of an individual; rather it is the responsibility of all”, a complete Quality Enhancement Cell must work in close collaboration with the Vice Chancellor to get its tasks through.

Defining Quality

A survey of literature reveals “quality” as one of the widely defined terms:High degree of goodness (Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English)

A degree or level of excellence (The Oxford Large Print Dictionary)

The standard of excellence of something often a high standard (Cambridge International Dictionary of English)

Doing the right things right (W. Edwards Deming, Pioneer of the quality movement in industry)

What is Quality?

It has to do something with a certain degree of effectiveness or excellence and satisfaction

In academic scenario it means satisfaction of all the stakeholdersParentsStudentsSocietyTeachersInstitutionsGovernment / Policy Makers

Four – Fold dimensions to help understand the term “quality” as applied in Higher Education Sector

Quality as excellence

Quality as fitness for purpose

Quality as value for money

Quality as transformation

What is Quality Assurance?

Its a way by which managers satisfy themselves

and monitor that control mechanisms are

working to maintain and enhance standards.

Refers generally to all planned and systematic

actions or processes necessary for providing

adequate confidence to managers that a

product or a service will satisfy the specified

requirements for quality.

A sustainable quality assurance programme

Enhances employment opportunities

Improves the education and training of future

employees

Harness/Connect future leaders

Facilitates an enabling learning environment

Enriches the academic and intellectual landscape

Educationis one of the most important pillars for the

development and growth of any society,

provided

IT IS EFFECTIVE

Effectiveness is in fact Quality,while the Process to make it effective is

QUALITY ASSURANCE (MANAGEMENT)

Effectiveness in EducationIs about meeting Learning Standards

(Learning outcome, i.e. results)

Quality Assurance (Management)

Is about monitoring, analyzing, improving and sustaining Learning outcome of students

By monitoring and improvingLearning Policies, Strategies, Process, Infrastructure

andIn a systematic way with the involvement

of all concerned

Academic Quality

Academic quality is a way of describing how well the learning opportunities available to students help them to achieve their award. It is about making sure that appropriate and effective teaching, support, assessment and learning opportunities are provided for them.

Quality Assurance Agency (UK)

Assessment

Assessment is a systematic process of gathering,

reviewing and using important quantitative and

qualitative data and information from multiple and

diverse sources about educational programs, for the

purpose of improving students learning, and evaluating

whether academic and learning standards are being met.

In other words, what will graduates know, are able to do,

or value when they complete an academic program and

how do we know these things about our students.

One cycle of assessment completes when assessment

results are used to improve students learning.

Self Assessment

Self-assessment is an important tool

for quality assurance and provides

feedback for management to initiate

action plans for the improvement.

Faculty Involvement

For Academic Program Assessment, the most

important factor is the participation of all faculty

members.

Each department appoints a Program Team (PT)

which will prepare a Self Assessment Report

(SAR) and ensures the conformance of the

program to all the relevant criteria and standards

as stipulated in Self Assessment Manual (SAM), in

coordination with the members of QEC.

Size of PT can be determined according to the size of

department

Sr. # Number of Students in a Department

PT Members

01 Up to 300 3 PTM + 1 Chairperson

02 300 - 1000 5 PTM + 1 Chairperson

03 1000 and above 6 PTM + 1 Chairperson

Desired Qualities of Program Team Member

Commitment to the principles of quality in higher education

and the policies set by HEC, provided in the form of SAM.

Ability to work in teams.

An enquiring disposition, power of analysis and judgment.

Experience of organization and management, particularly in

relation to teaching and learning matters, time management

skills.

High standards of oral and written communication skills.

To be proactive than reactive

Initiate improvements to achieve academic excellence

Systematize the process of self assessment

To be current and take a leadership role

Criteria for Self Assessment

The self assessment of an institution /

organization is based on several criteria.

To meet each criterion; a number of

standards must be satisfied. The following

part of this presentation illustrates criteria

and standards for self assessment by

Program Team.

Elements Of A Successful Assessment Program

Purpose identification

Outcomes identification

Measurement and evaluation design

Data collection

Analysis and evaluation

Decision-making regarding corrective and

preventive actions to be taken.

Objectives of Self Assessment

Improvement and maintenance of academic

standards.

Enhancement of student’s learning.

Verification of the existing programs to meet

their objectives and institutional goals.

Providing feedback for quality assurance of

academic programs.

Prepare the academic program for review by

discipline councils (HEC).

Benefits of an Academic Program Assessment Process

Identify Program Weakness

Take Financial Decisions based on

academic priorities

Provide information to constituents on the

quality of education students receive

Ensure continuous improvement of

programs and curricula

Criteria

The self-assessment is based on

several criteria. To meet each criterion

a number of standards must be satisfied.

There are eight criterion for self

assessment manual provided by HEC.

Next section describes these criterion.

Criteria & StandardsProgram Mission, Objectives and Outcomes

Curriculum  Design and Organization

Laboratories and Computing Facilities

Student Support and Guidance

Process Control

Faculty

Institutional Facilities

Institutional Support

list of Evaluation Forms1) Performa-1 Student Course Evaluation

Questionnaire2) Performa-2 Faculty Course Review Report3) Performa-3 Survey of Graduating Students4) Performa-4 Research Student Progress

Review Form5) Performa-5 Faculty Survey6) Performa-6 Survey of Department offering

PhD Programs7) Performa-7 Alumni Survey8) Performa-8 Employer Survey9) Performa-9 Faculty Resume10)Performa-10 Teacher Evaluation

TEACHER & COURSE EVALUATION FORM

Is Teaching a process or an end result (outcome)

•Qualified instructor•Preparation for the class•Text books & notes•Teaching methods•Conducting exams•Meeting lesson plans

•Learning outcome•Knowledge and Abilities of students•Students’ critical thinking•Students’ behavior•Students’ skills•Students’ enthusiasm•Students’ creativity•Students’ maturity•Students’ professional ethics•Students’ leadership skills•Students’ communication skills•etc.

Benefits of Teacher Evaluation

Teacher becomes punctualTeacher starts distributing course contents in the

classTeacher comes in class after proper preparation

of lectureTeacher treats equally/fairly all the classRecognition for the hardworking teachers

(appreciation / best teacher award) performance indicator

Teachers not performing well can be identified and corrective actions can be taken

Quality is dependent on . . . . ?

UNIVERSITY

Leadership & Faculty Vision, Mission, Policies and Intentions on Quality

Management Processes

(Admin, HR, QA, Operations Mgt, etc.)

Academic Processes(Curricula, Teaching, Exams)

Quality of graduates

Assessment is a Continuous Improvement

Final Points to Remember

FOR STUDENTS Quality of your Learning

is Quality of your future life?

FOR TEACHERSQuality of your teaching

is Quality of our next generation.

Finally

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Can do

1.

Quality Citizen in the eyes of our National Poet

Conclusion

Every one agrees with the need for Quality Assurance in Education: however very few

understand its dynamics and tools. You must learn, know and practice these tools,

otherwise Quality will be unattainable, despite accreditations, certifications and departments.

If you continue to do what you were doing, If you continue to do what you were doing, you will continue to get what you were you will continue to get what you were

getting.getting.

Learning and teaching without Quality is

just wasting Time & Life