Setting internal Quality Assurance systems Jadwiga Mirecka Jagiellonian University Medical College AMEE Executive Committee, Group of the Bologna Experts AMSE 2008

External systems for quality assurance QA initially built around the External systems for quality assurance but now we face a switch towards Internal systems for quality assurance

Characteristics of the internal QA direct responsibility of universities for the quality of education fulfill demand for accountability towards stakeholders better accommodate experiments and innovations

Characteristics of the internal QA cont. adapted to local needs help to demonstrate effectiveness of the own programmes more focus on continuous quality improvement allow more openness in revealing weaknesses

Prerequisites for institutional QA are: Autonomy Clearly defined mission and goals Proper leadership Sufficient facilities and competent staff Adequate financial resources

Quality in University embraces: Education Research Management Development and infrastructure Leverage of funds Marketing Woźnicki W-wa 2007

ENQA* Part 1.” European standards and guidelines for internal quality assurance within higher education institutions” 1. Policy and procedures for quality assurance 2. Approval, monitoring and periodic review of programmes and awards 3. Assessment of students 4. Quality assurance of teaching staff 5. Learning resources and student support 6. Information systems 7. Public information * + EUA, ESU, EURASHE

1. Policy and procedures for quality assurance: The strategy, policy and procedures should have a formal status and be publicly available. They should also include a role for students and other stakeholders.

Strategy for QA: Plan: What – general goals, priorities, expected outcomes Why – prerequisites for change How – specific actions, budget Who – identify persons and groups (QA Unit) When – dead-lines for particular actions The plan should be SMART: (Specific - Measurable - Accurate - Realistic –Timebound) UCC

The role of students As “clients” of institution : Students satisfaction, evaluation of final outcomes As „objects” of the process : evaluation of teaching and teachers As partners sharing responsibility : participation in all decision taking bodies

2. Approval, monitoring and periodic review of programmes and awards: Institutions should have formal mechanisms for the approval, periodic review and monitoring of their programmes and awards

Suggested actions… Re-structure curricula towards: - students centred, - outcome based Establish links with: - the National Qualification Frameworks - results of the Tuning project Monitor educational effectiveness: - outcomes achieved - feedback from graduates and employers

Assessment of students Student should be assessed using published criteria, regulations and procedures which are applied consistently

Suggested actions… Requirements for exams and passing criteria should be defined in advance Methods of assessment should reflect learning objectives, Assessment should be objective and standardized The entire process of students’ evaluation should be transparent

Quality assurance of teaching staff: Institutions should have ways of satisfying themselves that staff involved with the teaching of students are qualified and competent to do so.

Suggested actions… Policy for competitive hiring of staff Continuous feedback on quality of teachers Staff development programmes Unit for Medical Education Rewarding teaching excellence (career promotion)

Learning resources and student support: Institutions should ensure that the resources available for the support of student learning are adequate and appropriate for each programme offered

Suggested actions… Optimal re-distribution and use of existing resources Transparency of financial decisions Provision of counseling and learning support Career office

Information systems: Institutions should ensure that they collect, analyse and use relevant information for the effective management of their programmes of study and other activities

Suggested actions… Use of computer-based data collection systems Improvement of intra-institutional communication Current monitoring of educational effectiveness Current analysis of needs (of students and staff – Satisfaction tests) Comparison with other similar institutions

Public information: Institutions should regularly publish up to date, objective information, about the programmes and awards they are offering

Suggested actions… Make publicly available accreditation reports Publish data concerning university and faculty in form of reports not advertisements Print study catalogues in other languages Present programmes and study offers on web sites

SWOT analysis of the institution : Where to start ? SWOT analysis of the institution : strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threads Define mid-term and long term goals………

What else should be considered ? ECTS as an accumulation system: - reflected in study rules - allowing recognition of achievements obtained elsewhere - used as a measure of workload for curriculum planning - linked to learning outcomes

The quality of leadership Characteristics of a leader To have vision To be charismatic To have power Functions of a leader To indicate goals To coordinate actions To built trust and support initiative To assure balance between the central management and collegial responsiveness

What should be remembered ? To preserve diversity To built on local tradition To avoid over bureaucratisation To involve all players To keep the process going on ..........

Z External systems for quality assurance Quality culture Internal systems for quality assurance

Implementation of the internal quality systems will cost But not implementing them might cost even more