1. Capacity development strategies for QA Practitioners
QA Workshop
21-22 November 2013
Evelyn Garwe

2. Presentation Outline Rationale Definitions Capacity building
ZIMCHE staff
Peer Reviewers
Higher Education Institutions (HEIs)
Regional Efforts
Global Efforts
Presentation Outline

3. Materu (2009) identified HR capacity as the most pressing challenge to championing QA in Africa. It manifests as:
Insufficient numbers of adequately trained & credible professional staff to manage QA processes with integrity & consistency (Agency level); &
Inadequate numbers of academic staff in HEIs with knowledge & experience in conducting self evaluations & peer reviews (HEIs level)
Context

4. Capacity building is therefore integral to ZIMCHE’s mandate of assuring quality
Rationale

5. Capacity is defined as the ability of individuals & organizations or organizational units to perform functions effectively, efficiently & sustainably
Capacity building has been described by Ballantyne, et al (2000) as the process by which individuals, groups, organizations, institutions & societies develop abilities (individually & collectively) to perform functions; solve problems & achieve objectives.
Definitions

6. Capacity building in QA must be done at 3 levels: Capacity building
ZIMCHE staff
Peer reviewers &
HEIs
Capacity building

7. ZIMCHE staff play an important role in upholding the professionalism of QA procedures.
They play the leading role in shaping the processes, practices & reports.
They need professional Development Programmes to cope with the dynamic QA scenario.
To this end ZIMCHE:
participates at QA events e.g. conferences
study & contact visits (Ghana, Kenya, Tanzania, India, Australia, South Africa, Lesotho & Namibia)
Hosting staff from other QA Bodies
Sharing experiences & expertise electronically
Involvement of staff in research & publication
ZIMCHE is an executive Board member of AfriQAN hence it receives up to date information on QA activities & best practices in Africa
ZIMCHE Staff

8. Peer Reviewers (PRs) PRs need to have certain attributes e.g.
ability to hold face to face interactions effectively,
maintain inter personal relationships &
be objective & open minded in making decisions.
Capacity building of PRs enables them to:
discharge their responsibilities in a fair & thorough manner that supports the QA function of ZIMCHE
get oriented to the QA framework & guidelines thus enabling them to act on behalf of ZIMCHE
reduce inter-team variance, which is a major challenge in ensuring the credibility of the QA processes & outcomes
Peer Reviewers (PRs)

9. HEIs Capacity building assists QA personnel in HEIs to:
prepare for assessment visits
conduct self-evaluation
act on recommendations of assessment reports
carry out follow-ups, sustain quality culture & pursue continuous quality enhancement

10. ZIMCHE’S CB Milestones
Instruments for registration, accreditation & audits have been discussed with & availed to HEIs.
Training workshops for PRs.
On-going programme of training workshops for QA officials like the one we have today. We hope our interaction with you will help in building your capacity in QA
Organised & facilitated QA workshops at 8 universities
ZIMCHE staff members have presented at seminars organised by HEIs.
Developed databases of best practices in HEIs
Involvement of HEIS in consultations & discussions on QA issues
Supporting networking among HEIs
Organising RIE
ZIMCHE’S CB Milestones

11. AAU facilitates the promotion & establishment of national, sub-regional & regional QA systems
The objective of the project is to lay a foundation for institutionalized QA mechanisms within HEIs, national QA agencies, & Continental QA Agency as well as specialized capacity building in QA. The programmes provides support to: 
member universities of the AAU which are establishing or evaluating internal QA systems;
national QA agencies in capacity building
the development of a QA database to facilitate knowledge sharing;
AAU to update and negotiate with partners, a regional framework on the recognition of studies, certificates, degrees & other academic qualifications in HE based on the Arusha Convention. 
Regional Efforts

12. Progress & achievements
A preliminary survey of the status of QA in African institutions was undertaken by the AAU in The results are posted on the institution’s website.
The AAU commissioned a study on the needs of African HE, including an assessment of QA in HE, which includes an assessment of practices in Southern, Anglophone West African, Eastern, & Francophone areas on the continent.
AAU launched, in 2009, the African Quality Assurance Network (AfriQAN), a network of QA practitioners in African HE. ZIMCHE is a member of the AfriQAN Executive Board. The Board includes institutional members from different sub-regions on the continent.
Progress & achievements

13. Partners Partners of the AAU in this programme include:
Ford Foundation,
UNESCO,
World Bank,
European Universities Association
Global Initiative on Quality Assurance Capacity (GIQAC)
The African Union &
The European Union
Partners

14. The International Network of Quality Assurance Agencies in Higher Education (INQAAHE) was established in 1991 to:
promote good practices in the maintenance & improvement of quality in HE;
facilitate research into QA in HE;
provide advice to national QA agencies;
facilitate links between accrediting bodies;
permit better-informed international recognition of qualifications;
enable members to be alert to dubious accrediting practices (“accreditation mills”)
Currently it has > 250 full members from > 80 countries in six continents
Global Efforts

15. INQAAHE Activities INQAAHE holds:
A biennial conference & general assembly (Bangalore 2001, Dublin 2003, Wellington 2005, Toronto 2007, Abu Dhabi 2009, Madrid 2011, Taipei 2013).
A biennial INQAAHE members’ forum for members (Budapest 2000, Kingston 2002, Muscat 2004, The Hague 2006, Buenos Aires 2008, Windhoek 2010, Melbourne 2012).
INQAAHE Activities

16. INQAAHE PUBLICATIONS Journal: Quality in Higher Education
Published 3 x/yr
Internal QA
external QA
Theory & practice
INQAAHE PUBLICATIONS

17. INQAAHE PUBLICATIONS Electronic Bulletin: 4 x/yr
Regular news updates from members, from the (regional) networks & from the Board
INQAAHE PUBLICATIONS

18. Website with proceedings, discussion papers, links, etc
Rapid answer query service
Reviewers & consultants database
Education & Training courses & qualifications
Database of Good Practices in QA (available only to members)
INQAAHE Services

19. Education & Training Courses
The creation of academic programmes about internal & external QA in HE
Through joint efforts of an international network of QA agencies & HEIs (New York University (NYU) & University of Melbourne
The courses benefit both practising QA professionals and individuals who wish to play a role in QA of HE.
Education & Training Courses

20. Education & Training Courses
Graduate Certificate in QA
1yr on-line professionally-oriented course intended to lead to internationally-trained expertise for people working in or interested in QA in HE
Offered by both The University of Melbourne & NYU
Suitable for staff & Directors of accrediting, auditing & other QA agencies, staff HEIs, PRs, government representatives, & others with responsibility for planning & development of HE systems.
The core curriculum was developed by INQAAHE to train people for international recognition.
Applications open for Apply by 27 Jan 2014.
Cost US$ Scholarships available to members
Education & Training Courses

21. Thank you