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Quality Assurance 

Centre for Quality Assurance

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Purpose

  • To make you aware of 
    • the importance of quality assurance in all aspects related to study program design, development and delivery of the OUSL, and  
    • the external reviews of the OUSL

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In this presentation…

External Reviews

What is Quality?

Quality Assurance

Quality Enhancement

Student Engagement

Employability

The OUSL QA mechanism

Faculty QA practices

Way Forward...

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External Reviews

  • Why
    • To ensure that Institution and its Study Programmes conform to the standards approved the UGC
    • Identify strengths and weaknesses in different areas (Evaluation Criteria), hence encourage improvements 
    • Institution  is accountable to the public as public funds are utilized for maintaining institutions and deliver the services  according to the mission
  • Two levels
    • Institutional
    • Study Programmes

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External Quality Assurance (Institutional)

  • Review is done by the UGC through QA Council
  • Procedure
    • The University submits a SER indicating the extent of adherence to standards under 10 criteria, with evidence 
    • UGC appoints a review panel and they study the report
    • Review panel visits the University for a period of 5 – 6 days
      • Check the evidence provided
      • Meet stakeholders to obtain their views ( academic staff, Admin staff, non-academic staff, students, past students)
      • Observe the facilities in the University (Labs, lecture halls, computer rooms, hostels, library etc.
      • Meet Council members, Deans,  heads of departments, Directors, Heads of Admin Divisions, etc.

OUSL Site Visits from 6 Jan to 11 Jan 2020

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External Quality Assurance �( Institutional)

    • Areas considered for review
      • Criterion 1: Vision, mission and Planning
      • Criterion 2: Governance and Management
      • Criterion 3: The Learners
      • Criterion 4: Human Resource Development
      • Criterion 5: Programme Design and Development
      • Criterion 6: Course Design and Development
      • Criterion 7: Learning Infrastructure, Resources and Learner Support
      • Criterion 8: Learner Assessment and Evaluation
      • Criterion 9: Postgraduate Studies, Research, Innovation and Commercialization
      • Criterion 10: Community Engagement, Consultancy and Outreach

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Schedule for Faculties

Day 2 (Tuesday): 07-01-2020

TIME

TEAM 1

FACULTY OF NATURAL SCIENCES

TEAM 2

FACULTY OF ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY

9.00 — 9.30

Meeting with the Dean, Heads of

Departments, Coordinators

Meeting with the Dean, Heads of

Departments, Coordinators

9.30 — 10.00

Meeting with Academic staff

Meeting with Academic staff

10.00 - 10.30

Meeting with Non-Academic staff

With Tea

Meeting with Non-Academic staff

With Tea

10.30 -11.00

Meeting with undergraduate Student

Meeting with undergraduate students

11.00 -11.30

Meeting with Diploma/PG students

Meeting with Diploma/PG students

11.30-13.00

Observing Facilities: Lecture halls, Computer Labs, science Laboratories,

workshop, Research labs, study/discussion areas, canteens, etc.,

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Schedule for Faculties

Day 2 (Tuesday): 07-01-2020

TIME

TEAM 1

FACULTY OF EDUCATION

TEAM2

FACULTY OF HUMANITIES & SOCIAL SCIENCES

14.00 — 14.30

Meeting with the Dean, Heads of Departments, Coordinators

Meeting with the Dean, Heads of Departments, Coordinators

14.30 — 15.00

Meeting with Academic staff

Meeting with Academic staff

15.00 - 15.30

Meeting with Non-Academic staff

With Tea

Meeting with Non-Academic staff

With Tea

15.30 - 16.00

Meeting with undergraduate Students

Meeting with undergraduate students

16.00 - 16.30

Meeting with Diploma/PG students

Meeting with Diploma/PG students

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Schedule for Faculties

Day 4 (Thursday): 09-01-2020

TIME

TEAM 1

FACULTY OF HEALTH SCIENCES

TEAM 2

FACULTY OF MANAGEMENT STUDIES

9.00 — 9.30

Meeting with the Dean, Heads of Departments, Coordinators

Meeting with the Dean, Heads of Departments, Coordinators

9.30 — 10.00

Meeting with Academic staff

Meeting with Academic staff

10.00 - 10.30

Meeting with Non-Academic staff

With Tea

Meeting with Non-Academic staff

With Tea

10.30 -11.00

Meeting with undergraduate Students

Meeting with undergraduate Students

11.00 – 11.30

Meeting with Diploma/PG students

Meeting with Diploma/PG students

11.30-12.30

Observing Documents

Observing Documents

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Your role during visits to the Faculty

  • Be honest in providing information
  • Be definite and precise in answering to queries

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About Quality

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What is Quality?

Based on a review of various attempts at defining quality in higher education, Harvey and Green (1993) proposed five “ways of thinking about quality”, rather than definitions. 

1. Quality  as  exceptional/excellence

Refers  to  quality  as excellence  with  regard  to  the  highest  best known academic  standards.

2, Quality as perfection or consistency

Looks at quality as a process of eliminating defects and aiming for consistent or flawless outcomes.

3. Quality as fitness for purpose

Quality is measured by the level of fulfillment of a stated purpose, mission or goals, either by the University or an academic programme

Not an absolute term and is defined against some form of a standard.

Quality refers to how good something, compared to other similar things. In other words, its degree of excellence.

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What is Quality?

4. Quality as value for money

Focus is on the output /input ratio, with the aim of achieving higher efficiency. The quality is attained when a better outcome can be achieved at the same cost, or if the cost can be decreased while the outcome level is maintained.

5. Quality as transformation

This approach views quality as value added and transformation and empowerment of a student through the learning process. In this, quality is achieved when the learning proves transformative for the student.

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Quality Assurance

Quality Assurance is the way in which an institution can guarantee with confidence and certainty, that the standards and quality of its educational provision are being maintained and improved.

The process of quality assurance includes established QA activities from study programme design to curriculum delivery

QA activities are implemented regularly and consistently in all stages with attention for improvements to QA tools

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Quality Enhancement

One of the main purposes of quality assurance is quality enhancement. Quality assurance and quality enhancement are thus inter-related

Quality Enhancement is the process of positively changing activities in order to provide for continuous improvement in the quality of institutional provision.

Quality Culture is the ability of the institution, programme etc. to develop quality assurance implicitly in the day to day work of the institution.

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Quality Enhancement

Quality

Enhancement

Critical reflection and positive action

Evidence for improvement needs

Annual course Reviews

Periodic Program Reviews

Student feedback

External Feedback

(External Examiners, Industry

External Review

University Strategy drivers

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Quality in different areas

Curriculum and syllabuses

Teaching/Learning

Assessment

Learner support

Student Support

Study Programme Design

Admission

RPL

Awards and Criteria

Study Programme Delivery

Subject specific Skill development

Soft skill development

CA and feedback

Teacher-student interaction

student-student interaction

Academic Counseling

Welfare

Administration

Extra Curricula work

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Student Engagement

  • Outreach initiatives and links with Schools/Colleges
  • Pre-admission activities
  • Welcome events
  • Peer-mentoring or student-led sessions
  • Student-led academic societies
  • Support and welfare services
  • Providing opportunities for students to design and influence curriculum delivery
  • Practical arrangements – transport, financial support, childcare etc.
  • Clubs/Societies and Social events
  • Student facilities (library, social spaces, accommodation)
  • Award and graduation ceremonies

What are our approaches to attract students, from all backgrounds, to come to, feel part of, and feel supported at University?

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Student Engagement –�Formal mechanisms for quality and governance

  • Formal student representation on institutional committees at all levels of the University where students are encouraged to have an active role

  • Student involvement is embedded in institutional quality processes (for example as panel members on Internal reviews)

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Employability

Final goal of the Quality Assurance and Enhancement should to produce persons with high level of employability.

Employability is about more than jobs.

“…..a set of achievements – skills, understandings and personal attributes – that make graduates more likely to gain employment and be successful in their chosen occupations, which benefits themselves, the workforce, the community and the economy.”(Yorke, 2006)

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Career

Development Learning

Experience (Work and Life)

Degree Subject Knowledge, skills and Understanding

Generic Skills

Emotional Intelligence

Reflection and Evaluation

Self Esteem

Self Efficacy

Self Confidence

Employability

individual's subjective evaluation of their own worth.

personal judgment of "how well one can execute courses of action

feeling of trust in one's abilities, qualities, and judgment.

Not only Subject knowledge and skills

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View of stake holders

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The OUSL QA mechanism

  • Study Department level – QA representative
  • Faculty level- Faculty QA Cell consisting of QA representatives and QA Coordinator
  • University level – Internal Quality Assurance Unit
    • BoM - VC, DVC, Deans, Director, Registrar, Librarian, Director/RES, Director/SDC, Director/CETMe, Bursar, Director/PGIE, Faculty QA coordinators, QA Cell coordinator/CETMe.AR/IQAU
    • Permanent staff – AR, MA, OA
    • To be converted to Senate Standing Committee and Centre for QA

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Faculty QA procedures

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Areas of engagement

QA

Facilities

Program/curriculum/course design

Course development

Course delivery

Assessment and evaluation

Counseling

Enrolments

Student Services

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External Quality Assurance ( Study Programmes)

    • Areas considered for review
      • Criterion 1: Programme Management
      • Criterion 2: Programme Design and Development
      • Criterion 3: Course Design and Development
      • Criterion 4: Learning Infrastructure, Resources and Learner Support
      • Criterion 5: Learner Assessment and Evaluation
      • Criterion 6: Innovative initiatives and Good Practices Support

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External Quality Assurance (Study Programmes)

  • Review is done by the UGC through QA Council
  • Procedure
    • Faculties submit a SER for each Study Progrmme indicating the extent of adherence to standards under 10 criteria, with evidence
    • UGC appoints a review panel and they study the report
    • Review panel visits the Faculty for a period of 3 – 5 days
      • Check the evidence provided
      • Meet stakeholders to obtain their views ( academic staff, Admin staff, non-academic staff, students, past students)
      • Observe the facilities in the Faculty (Labs, lecture halls, computer rooms, hostels, library etc
      • Meet Dean, heads of departments, Heads of Admin Divisions, Coordinators

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Way forward...

Discussion on Quality Enhancement in the Faculty

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Faculty Quality Assurance Cell

(FQAC)

Faculty of Education

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1. Strengthening the Faculty QA Cell

  • Appointing Project Assistant to support the

activities of the Faculty

  • Acquisition of space and equipment for the

FQAC

2. Strengthening QA Practices in the Faculty

Conducting awareness program for

  • temporary staff (Demonstrators) on quality assurance
  • non-academic staff about the Faculty Academic

Activities/ quality assurance

  • quality assurance in ODL for academic staff

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  • visiting academics on quality assurance in ODL

Conducting Capacity building workshops for academic staff

Publishing QA activities in website

Providing up-to date information to the students through Faculty Web Pages

Examination Matters

  • Obtaining external resource persons’ contribution for CAT and FE paper moderating to complete the paper prior to send the paper to Exam Division

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  • Adhering the items in activity schedules

  • Prepare marking schemes for the final exam papers, continuous assessment tests, take home assessments and assessment activities conduct in activity based day schools

  • Providing constructive feedbacks for CAT papers, Take home assignments and for assessment activities conduct in activity based day schools.

  • Implementing conference marking for selection test papers.

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3. Designing/adopting Quality Assurance Tools

  • Designing of Faculty common formats for Examination Papers, Project Reports, Examination Paper Moderation

4. Implementing of Quality Assurance Tools

  • Student Feedback on Day schools (DS) and analysis

(For internal staff Min. 2 courses per Department)

(For Visiting Staff Min. 2 course per Department)

  • Student Feedback on Overall Evaluation course delivery and analysis (Min. 2 courses per Department)
  • Student Feedback on of Project work and analysis
  • Comprehensive analysis of student performance in CA and Final Examinations
  • Incorporation of peer-evaluation mechanism
  • Preparation of Course Dossier for all courses
  • Conduct open dialogue with students

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  • Monitoring of QA Action Plan

  • Discussion of QA practices being implemented by the QA cell every month
  • Discussion of the progress of the QA practices being implemented by the department at the staff meeting monthly
  • Present the progress of the QA practices to the Faculty board monthly
  • Present the progress of the QA practices to the IQAU in every 03 months

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