Quality Assurance in Higher Educational Institutions : Simplifying it

Simplifying European Standards For Quality Among Higher Education Institutions In Emerging Economies[1]

Standard:  Policy

1.       Have a policy for quality assurance

2.       Release it in to the public domain

3.       Make that  policy  a part of the strategic management.

4.       involve external stakeholders.

Standard: Processes

1.       Have processes for the design and approval of programmes.

2.       Meet the objectives set for the programmes, including the targeted learning outcomes.

3.       Refer to the correct level of the national qualifications framework for higher education  

4.       To monitor and periodically review programmes to ensure that they achieve the objectives set and  respond to the needs of students and society.

5.       Continuous improvement of the programme.

Standard: Student Centric

1.       Deliver in a way that encourages students to be active

2.       Let students be an integral part in creating the learning process

3.       Let the assessment of students reflects this approach.

Standard: Regulations

1.       Consistently apply pre-defined and published regulations covering all phases of the student “life cycle”

Standard: Faculty

1.       Assure themselves of the competence of their teachers.

2.       Fair and transparent processes for the recruitment and development of the staff.

Standard:  Research

1.       appropriate funding for learning , research and teaching activities and ensure that adequate and readily accessible learning resources and support are provided.

Standard: Information Technology

1.       Institutions should ensure that they collect, analyze and use relevant information for the effective management of their programmes and other activities.

2.       Institutions should publish information about their activities, including programmes, which is clear, accurate, objective, up-to date and readily accessible.

Standard:  Quality Assurance

1.       Institutions should undergo external quality assurance  

2.       External quality assurance (EQA) should address the effectiveness of the internal quality assurance processes.

3.       EQA should be defined and designed  

4.       EQA processes should be reliable, useful, pre-defined, implemented consistently and published

5.       EQA cannot substitute a self-assessment or equivalent;

6.       EQA must include a site visit;

7.       EQA  must submit a report

8.       EQA Report must be consistently  followed-up.

9.       EQA should be carried out by groups of external experts  

10.    Complaints and appeals processes should be clearly defined  

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[1] Reference :Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance in the European Higher Education Area  Approved by the Ministerial Conference in May 2015  by   European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education