Outline of Quality assurance and accreditation Target audience: medical students By: Dr. Ghada Abdel-Haye Assistant professor of anatomy Faculty of medicine King Abdulaziz University

All medical students wish to graduated from highly qualified accredited faculty Do you have any information about quality and accreditation? Ok, let us know together more about quality assurance and accreditation

Here you will be graduated from faculty of medicine in KAU

What's the meaning of quality assurance?

Quality assurance is all systems, resources and data keen to maintain and improve the standards and quality of teaching, and research.

Quality assurance system I.The internal quality assurance Each faculty of medicine had its own goals that are related to national health care requirements. All staff, students and others are involved to prepare self-study report to be submitted to external reviewers to contribute in reviewing the methods of learning, the facilities, and human resources for achieving the goals.

II.The external quality assurance is achieved through accreditation, validation and audit. Large amount of public money are assigned to medical education and there should be evidence that experienced medical graduates meet the needs of the country

Procedures in quality assurance of medical education 1. Self-study by the faculty Self-study collect and evaluate data about educational program in the faculty to identify the strengths and weak areas and put strategies to confirm that the strengths are sustained and problems are identified and solved.

2. External quality assurance The faculty submits self-study report and database about its program, to an external organization which visit the faculty, interact with students, staff members and administrators. The reviewers prepare a provisional report which is given to the medical school for improvement of errors of fact.

3. Accreditation The reviewers report is submitted to the accrediting expert who makes a final judgement on accreditation according to the report. The period of accreditation, may be five to ten years.

Why student participation in quality assurance is vital? What is the role of the students in quality assurance? How this role be applied?

The importance for student participation in quality assurance Students are the most important stakeholders in the higher education. Students will prepared for academic and research work. Students in universities will have a crucial role in the community after graduation. So, students involvement in quality assurance is the keystone for the growth democratization and welfare of our community.

A student has a vision and knowledge which is significant for the higher education system as they have the capability to see and recognize consequences for the students’ condition, which the other staff members may not concern it. The students are the largest stakeholder in the university who invest money and time in education.

Students should be approved as full quality assurance committee members. The students may be deficient in understanding of some organizational characteristics of the faculty, but I think it is not a serious problem in comparison with professors who do not appreciate the significance of recent learning methods.

What are the students’ roles in quality assurance

Information provider Student’s feedback is the most important way to enable students to participate in QA. The optimum time for student feedback is after each course. Staff members ask the students to write their problems, feelings and ideas to develop the course. Another way to fill well-structured questionnaire about the course.

An actor Students plan their own feedback form or with academic staff collaboration. Students collect and analyzed feedback. They may organize a workshop for staff and students to discuss the results of feedback and decide how can they improve the course.

An expert The role of students in QA is crucial as QA in higher education is concerned about the quality of learning, not teaching. The students recognize how they achieve their learning outcomes. So, students’ learning experiences could evaluate teaching and the learning process. Considering students as experts will have a positive feedback to the students.

A partner Learning is successfully achieved with close collaboration between staff members and students. The approved concept of partnership of students and participation in quality assurance is critical to offer the chance for more thoughtful feedback. It is the role for staff to treat students as partners and to generate positive atmosphere in the faculty which, positively, leads to reliable quality assurance.

Difficulties in student participation in QA processes Difficult to find qualified students. Students were not interested to participate. Lack of awareness about importance of QA

How can attract students to join QA committee

Through recommendation from the faculty Through student unions. Training workshop for students. It is important to clarify to the contributing students that they will have a valuable role in QA.

Student union The student union selects students to be involved in decision-making committee in a university. The student union is an organization which is responsible for beginning discussion about significant issues for students.

Let’s take a break before dealing with accreditation  

Accreditation?

Definition of accreditation Accreditation is a certificate provided by a known accrediting agency declaring that the faculty’s capabilities and educational effectiveness fulfill the required standards.

Is accreditation valuable?

The benefits for the faculty To gain awareness on our strengths and weaknesses To gain external backing of quality enhancement To obtain a unique reputation at national and international levels.  

For our students and graduates To gain better quality of education, To attain more resources for learning, Better chances for employment Priority to be accepted postgraduate international training programs.

The WFME (World Federation for Medical Education) standards in basic medical education: 1. Mission and Objectives 2. Educational Program 3. Assessment of Students 4. Students 5. Academic Staff/Faculty 6. Educational Resources 7. Program Evaluation 8. Governance and Administration 9. Continuous Renewal

Students should be represented in all accreditation committees Remember Students should be represented in all accreditation committees

Do you know steps for accreditation?

The first step in the accreditation procedure is “Internal Evaluation” by evaluating its capacity and effectiveness and to identify areas of strengths and weakness which need more improvement.

The second step in accreditation is the external evaluation where self-study report was sent to external agency who come for an“onsite survey” of the faculty and the hospital to make sure that data in the self study report is real. Surveyors meet staff, students , observe educational facilities and examine all documents.

The third step in accreditation is writing report by the surveyors and send it to accreditation agency for evaluation.

What's after accreditation What's after accreditation? Getting accreditation is not the end but means the start of a commitment of the faculty to continuous development and periodic reaccreditation as the quality of education has no ceiling and the standards are always changing.

Conclusion & Recommendation Students should attend training workshops to increase their awareness about quality assurance and accreditation. Encourage students to fill feedback after each course. Attract students to join quality assurance committee.

The tripartite system should be applied in all universities Students University decision-making Professors Other staff

Dear students, do have…….