1. APQN Annual Academic Conference 2019
Higher Education Quality Assurance and Accreditation in Nepal: Status, Issues and Way Forward
APQN Annual Academic Conference 2019
Colombo, Sri Lanka
28-31 March 2019
Day 2 - Parallel Session subtheme: Innovative Approaches to IQA Development
Deepak Kumar Khadka, PhD
Research Director
University Grants Commission
Sanothimi, Bhaktapur
Nepal

2. Higher Education…

3. Higher Education in Nepal
Institutions and students (2016/17)
Universities 9
Open University 1
Medical academies 4
TOTAL 14
Colleges
University campuses 99
Community campuses
532
Private campuses
777
TOTAL
1408
Programs
students
PhD
1,222
MPhil
648
Masters
54,314
Bachelors
315,000
TOTAL
371,184
Source: UGC EMIS Report 2016/17

4. QAA Actors…

5. Higher Education in Nepal
Institutional Players for QAA
Ministry of Education Science and Technology
University Grants Commission
Higher Education QAA Council
National Professional Councils
Higher Education Institutions

6. Professional Councils and their QAA function… or lack of
National Professional Councils
Accreditation service
1. Nepal Medical Council (NMC)
Yes
2. Nepal Engineering Council (NEC)
Partly
3. Nepal Health Professional Council (NHPC)
4. Nepal Nursing Council (NNC) No
5. Nepal Ayurvedic Medical Council (NAMC)
6. Nepal Veterinary Council (NVC)
7. Nepal Bar Council (NBC)
8. Nepal Pharmacy Council (NPC)

7. QAA Process…

8. QAA History QAA History QAA History
1. Second Higher Education Reform Project ( )
1. Second Higher Education Reform Project ( )
1. Second Higher Education Reform Project ( )
1. Second Higher Education Reform Project ( )
Components
Programs
Funding
(mil. $)
(percent)
Achieved
1. Reform grants
Institutional reform grant, Research funding
55.24
68.2%
2. Student financial assistance
4.2
5.2%
3. Higher Secondary Education
Basic grant, Matching fund, Performance grant, Equipment and capacity development
18.4
22.7%
4. Strengthening system capacity
QAA system, EMIS system, System capacity development, Office equipment and supplies, HR development
3.12
3.8%
National QAA system set up
11 institutions accredited
TOTAL
80.96
Components
Programs
Funding
(mil. $)
(percent)
Achieved
1. Reform grants
Institutional reform grant, Research funding
55.24
68.2%
2. Student financial assistance
4.2
5.2%
3. Higher Secondary Education
Basic grant, Matching fund, Performance grant, Equipment and capacity development
18.4
22.7%
4. Strengthening system capacity
QAA system, EMIS system, System capacity development, Office equipment and supplies, HR development
3.12
3.8%
National QAA system set up
11 institutions accredited
TOTAL
80.96
Components
Programs
Funding
(mil. $)
(percent)
Achieved
1. Reform grants
Institutional reform grant, Research funding
55.24
68.2%
2. Student financial assistance
4.2
5.2%
3. Higher Secondary Education
Basic grant, Matching fund, Performance grant, Equipment and capacity development
18.4
22.7%
4. Strengthening system capacity
QAA system, EMIS system, System capacity development, Office equipment and supplies, HR development
3.12
3.8%
National QAA system set up
11 institutions accredited
TOTAL
80.96
Components
Programs
Funding
(mil. $)
(percent)
Achieved
1. Reform grants
Institutional reform grant, Research funding
55.24
68.2%
2. Student financial assistance
4.2
5.2%
3. Higher Secondary Education
Basic grant, Matching fund, Performance grant, Equipment and capacity development
18.4
22.7%
4. Strengthening system capacity
QAA system, EMIS system, System capacity development, Office equipment and supplies, HR development
3.12
3.8%
National QAA system set up
11 institutions accredited
TOTAL
80.96
2. [Third] Higher Education Reform Project ( )
2. [Third] Higher Education Reform Project ( )
2. [Third] Higher Education Reform Project ( )
2. [Third] Higher Education Reform Project ( )
Reform programs
Funding
(mil. $)
Percent
Key Performance Indicator
1. National QAA System
9.00
13.8%
125 institutions accredited
2. Grants to HEI
16.87
25.9.0%
265 institutions supported
3. Autonomy to HEI
7.50
11.5%
10 campuses
4. Examination reforms at TU
6.37
9.8%
Exam result in 3 months
5. Academic program reform
140 reformed/new academic programs
6. Student financial aid
4.50
6.9%
9500 student partially supported
7. Research Funding
6.75
10.4%
500 research projects funded, 60 scientists recruited for TU
8. Project Management and Capacity Development
5.00
7.7%
TOTAL
65.00
Reform programs
Funding
(mil. $)
Percent
Key Performance Indicator
1. National QAA System
9.00
13.8%
125 institutions accredited
2. Grants to HEI
16.87
25.9.0%
265 institutions supported
3. Autonomy to HEI
7.50
11.5%
10 campuses
4. Examination reforms at TU
6.37
9.8%
Exam result in 3 months
5. Academic program reform
140 reformed/new academic programs
6. Student financial aid
4.50
6.9%
9500 student partially supported
7. Research Funding
6.75
10.4%
500 research projects funded, 60 scientists recruited for TU
8. Project Management and Capacity Development
5.00
7.7%
TOTAL
65.00
Reform programs
Funding
(mil. $)
Percent
Key Performance Indicator
1. National QAA System
9.00
13.8%
125 institutions accredited
2. Grants to HEI
16.87
25.9.0%
265 institutions supported
3. Autonomy to HEI
7.50
11.5%
10 campuses
4. Examination reforms at TU
6.37
9.8%
Exam result in 3 months
5. Academic program reform
140 reformed/new academic programs
6. Student financial aid
4.50
6.9%
9500 student partially supported
7. Research Funding
6.75
10.4%
500 research projects funded, 60 scientists recruited for TU
8. Project Management and Capacity Development
5.00
7.7%
TOTAL
65.00
Reform programs
Funding
(mil. $)
Percent
Key Performance Indicator
1. National QAA System
9.00
13.8%
125 institutions accredited
2. Grants to HEI
16.87
25.9.0%
265 institutions supported
3. Autonomy to HEI
7.50
11.5%
10 campuses
4. Examination reforms at TU
6.37
9.8%
Exam result in 3 months
5. Academic program reform
140 reformed/new academic programs
6. Student financial aid
4.50
6.9%
9500 student partially supported
7. Research Funding
6.75
10.4%
500 research projects funded, 60 scientists recruited for TU
8. Project Management and Capacity Development
5.00
7.7%
TOTAL
65.00

9. Benchmarks, Weight and Indicators
Nepal UGC-HEQAAC QAA Process
Institutional Accreditation
Benchmarks, Weight and Indicators
Criteria
Weight
Indicators
(Questions) 1
Policy and Procedures 15 2
Curricular Aspects 10 3
Teaching-Learning and Evaluation 21 4
Research, Consultancy and Extension 16 5
Infrastructure and Learning Resources 20 28 6
Student Support and Guidance 14 7
Information System 8
Public Information
TOTAL
100
120
Result:
50 or above marks: “Accredited”
Less than 50 marks: “Not accredited”

10. Nepal UGC-HEQAAC QAA Process
Higher Education Institution (HEI) submits
Self Study Report (SSR)
Feedback
HEQAAC Technical Committee
reviews the SSR
HEQAAC forms
Peer Review Team (PRT)
PRT reviews the SSR
Pre-decision recommendation
PRT makes a Pre-visit, Visit and Follow-up visit
at the applicant institution
Progress report by HEI
Assessment of progress report
PRT submits its Report to HEQAAC
HEQAAC sends its recommendation to UGC
UGC makes the final decision

11. Quality of education…

12. Nepal Higher Education Achievement
Candidates – Institutions type and strength
Institution type
Number
Student density
Student pass rate
University campuses 99
1224
23.56 %
Community campuses
532
198
21.83 %
Private campuses
777
185
34.02 %
TOTAL
1808
263
Source: UGC EMIS Report 2016/17

13. 21 years Publication per 1000 population
Nepal Higher Education Achievement
Research Publication Strength of Nepal and neighbors
Country
SCImago data ( )
Population
(2017)
21 years Publication per 1000 population
Citable Documents
Citations per Document
H index 1
China
7.64
712
7,550,262,101
6.7 2
India
8.58
521
1,409,517,397
9.8 3
Thailand
148862
11.1
289
69,037,513
21.5 4
Pakistan
121836
7.38
217
197,015,955
6.2 5
Bangladesh
38897
8.85
167
164,669,751
2.4 6
Sri Lanka
15364
11.85
146
20,876,917
7.3 7
Nepal
10755
11.08
116
29,304,998
3.7 8
Myanmar
2145
10.12 64
53,370,609
0.4 9
Afghanistan
1052
13.49 45
35,530,081
0.3 10
Bhutan
696
7.85 36
807,610
8.6 11
Maldives
248
10.98 26
436,330
5.7

14. Status of QAA …

15. Nepal UGC-HEQAAC QAA Process
1. Institutions Participation ( )
Institution type
Total
LOI
SSR
Accredtd
Reaccredtd
University campuses 99 75 25 9 -
Community campuses
532
150 62 20 6
Private campuses
777 96 11 1
TOTAL
1408
321 98 30
2. Level of Participation
Institution type
Interested
(LOI/Total)
Willing
(SSR/LOI)
Successful
(Accrd/SSR)
University campuses
7.6%
3.3%
36.0%
Community campuses
2.8%
4.1%
42.0%
Private campuses
1.2%
1.1%
9.0%
All campuses
2.3%
3.0%
36.7%

16. Nepal UGC-HEQAAC QAA Process
Participation trend – 10 Years
Year
LOI
SSR
Accrd*
2009 11 1
2010
2011 25 3 4
2012 38 5
2013 20 6 2
2014 51 7
2015 85 10
2016
2017 41 22 15
2018 23
TOTAL
321 98 36
*Accredited and re-accredited

17. Number of Institutions
Nepal UGC-HEQAAC QAA Process
Major problem:
Poor participation of institutions in QAA process
Step
Number of Institutions
Ratio
LOI submission
321/1408
2.3%
SSR after LOI
98/321
3.0%
Accreditation after SSR
36/98
36.7%

18. Financial reward (N₹. ‘000)
Nepal UGC-HEQAAC QAA Process
COST
Accreditation Fee: Free
Financial Reward:
Based on the number of graduating students
Rewarding step
Financial reward (N₹. ‘000)
Technical/
200 students
Technical
1000 students
General/
LOI submission
200
SSR submission
400
PRT formation
500
PRT visit
18000
90000
6000
30000
Accreditation
150000
10000
50000
Research Cell
1000
Laboratory
5000
TOTAL (N₹)
55100
247100
18100
82100
TOTAL (US$)
606,000 US$
2,718,000 US$
199,000 US$
903,000 US$

19. Nepal UGC-HEQAAC QAA Process
CULPRIT
for poor participation
Factor
Possibility
Cost
Definitely No
Hassle
Could be (takes average 2 years)
No or low impact of Accreditation
Needs a study on impact
Unconvincing prestige
Needs a survey
Poor institutional leadership
Likely for public institutions

20. Nepal UGC-HEQAAC QAA Process
Recent Major Regulatory Initiatives for QAA
Regulation
Year
Impact 1
The UGC Educational Quality Assurance and Accreditation Regulation 2017
2017
Towards an autonomous QAA council 2
The QAAC Higher Education Quality Assurance and Accreditation Directive 2017
Staff provision 3
The UGC Notice Regarding Mandatory Participation of Higher Education Institutions in Quality Assurance and Accreditation, 23 January 2018
2018
Participation in QAA mandatory 4
Quality Assurance and Accreditation: A Brief Guidelines 2013
Reprint 2018
More promotion

21. Thank You! Lumbini – the birthplace of Lord Buddha
Photo: Aravinda Shakya
Lumbini – the birthplace of Lord Buddha