PLACE OF QUALITY ASSURANCE IN ENHANCEMENT OF ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF MAKERERE UNIVERSITY BY SAM...

PLACE OF QUALITY ASSURANCE IN ENHANCEMENT OF ACADEMIC

PERFORMANCE OF MAKERERE UNIVERSITY

BYSAM LUBOGA

ACTING DIRECTOR QUALITY ASSURANCE DIRECTORATE

04/19/23 1lubogasam@gmail.com; lubogasam@learn4africa.com

OUTLINE• Teaching and learning a core function of the

university• Primary responsibility for qa in t&l• How do you then assure quality in t & l?• Approval process• Role of quality assurance directorate• Quality assurance directorate• Mandate• Way forward

04/19/23 lubogasam@gmail.com; lubogasam@learn4africa.com 2

TEACHING AND LEARNING A CORE FUNCTION OF THE UNIVERSITY

• Quality in teaching and learning is not negotiable

• Necessary in order to inspire confidence in the quality and utility of the awards of the University

• Quality of teaching and learning will only result from deliberate efforts to achieve, maintain and continually improve it

04/19/23 lubogasam@gmail.com; lubogasam@learn4africa.com 3

04/19/23 lubogasam@gmail.com; lubogasam@learn4africa.com 4

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY FOR QA IN T&L

• Schools/Faculties primary responsibility for QA in teaching and Learning

• Have the experts who design, deliver, examine and review courses/programmes

• Experts enjoy academic freedom and professional autonomy

• Managers meet considerable resistance if they try to control them

• Experts & Managers need to collaborate make sense of changing landscape, understand what works and implement new practices

04/19/23 lubogasam@gmail.com; lubogasam@learn4africa.com 5

HOW DO YOU THEN ASSURE QUALITY IN T & L?

• Recruit quality teachers (content experts and skilled in delivery of teaching)

• Ongoing staff development and support• Provide adequate and appropriate resources

for them to do a good job, e.g. E-learning support

• 3600 appraisal (by students, HOD & peers) and promotion

04/19/23 lubogasam@gmail.com; lubogasam@learn4africa.com 6

HOW DO YOU THEN ASSURE QUALITY IN T & L?

• Submit new or reviewed programmes to NCHE for Accreditation

• Advertise approved programmes widely to assure wide participation

• Admit suitably qualified candidates for the programmes

• Deliver effective teaching and Learning with adequate resources and student staff support

04/19/23 lubogasam@gmail.com; lubogasam@learn4africa.com 7

HOW DO YOU THEN ASSURE QUALITY IN T & L?

• Curriculum committees undertake proper design and regular reviews:–Rationale and requirements–Appropriate level–Clear strategies for assessment and

progression (increase in intellectual maturity, skills, learning autonomy)–Balance – theory vs practicals and

attachments04/19/23 lubogasam@gmail.com;

lubogasam@learn4africa.com 8

HOW DO YOU THEN ASSURE QUALITY IN T & L?

– Flexibility – compulsory and optional sessions, e-learning opportunities, opt out and opt in– Integrity – expectations of the students and

intended learning outcomes–References– External references consulted: Professional

bodies, employers

04/19/23 lubogasam@gmail.com; lubogasam@learn4africa.com 9

APPROVAL PROCESS

• Departmental approval• School/Faculty Board approval• College Board approval• Senate approval• QAD final check• University Council• External accreditation of approved

programmes by NCHE04/19/23 lubogasam@gmail.com;

lubogasam@learn4africa.com 10

04/19/23 lubogasam@gmail.com; lubogasam@learn4africa.com 11

ROLE OF QUALITY ASSURANCE DIRECTORATE

• Act as an internal accreditation mechanism for standards of everything the University is and does

• Ensure appreciation of the importance of QA & development of a QA culture throughout the University by holding QIWs in every unit

• Act as repository of agreed standards and best practices

04/19/23r lubogasam@gmail.com; lubogasam@learn4africa.com 12

ROLE OF QUALITY ASSURANCE DIRECTORATE

• Develop and make available tools, and offer guidance for unit self-assessment

• Cross-check and evaluate self assessment for thoroughness and correctness of interpretation and utilization of results to make improvements

• Make recommendations for improvement

04/19/23 13lubogasam@gmail.com; lubogasam@learn4africa.com

ROLE OF QUALITY ASSURANCE DIRECTORATE

• Develop and make available tools for course and programme review

• Coordinate efforts of the University to develop an effective student assessment policy and plan to ensure harmony

• Facilitate to review/update of the external examination policy and plan

04/19/23 lubogasam@gmail.com; lubogasam@learn4africa.com 14

ROLE OF QUALITY ASSURANCE DIRECTORATE

• Collate recommendations of external examiners, feedback relevant faculties, check that the recommendations have been acted upon & report to VC,

• Assess compliance with agreed standards• Coordinate QI activities of all the units• Develop and make available tools for 3600

assessment of Academic Staff Performance (by students, HOD and Peers)

04/19/23 lubogasam@gmail.com; lubogasam@learn4africa.com 15

ROLE OF QUALITY ASSURANCE DIRECTORATE

• Advise on the development and implementation of an effective system of rewarding high performing staff and taking appropriate action on under or non performing staff

• Develop and make available tools for students Personal Development Plans (PDP)

• Advocate for and promote the development of a safe and conducive learning environment

04/19/23 lubogasam@gmail.com; lubogasam@learn4africa.com 16

ROLE OF QUALITY ASSURANCE DIRECTORATE

• Promote continuing improvement of support services, health care, counseling services, recreation and sports facilities

• Undertake regular surveys to assess student and staff satisfaction – take the “pulse” of the University

04/19/23 lubogasam@gmail.com; lubogasam@learn4africa.com 17

ROLE OF QUALITY ASSURANCE DIRECTORATE

• Keep in constant contact with external reference standard setting and monitoring bodies, NCHE, Professional councils, UNBS, IUCEA, AUQA, ISO, etc for accreditation and benchmarking

• Maintain a data bank of best practices from around the world and make it available to all units upon request

04/19/23 lubogasam@gmail.com; lubogasam@learn4africa.com 18

ROLE OF QUALITY ASSURANCE DIRECTORATE

• Do all the above not only for the core function of Teaching and Learning but also for administrative and support functions of the University since they impact greatly on the T&L

• See, Track and Celebrate – hold annual QA conferences and QA appreciation events at which efforts at QA are recognized

• Develop expertise QA education, mentoring and QA consultation services

04/19/23 lubogasam@gmail.com; lubogasam@learn4africa.com 19

04/19/23 lubogasam@gmail.com; lubogasam@learn4africa.com 20

QUALITY ASSURANCE DIRECTORATE• Established in 2006 to support the

vision of Makerere University to be the “Leading institution of academic excellence and innovation in Africa”• Its mission is to “provide leadership

in prescribing, controlling and implementing quality standards at Makerere University”

04/19/23 lubogasam@gmail.com; lubogasam@learn4africa.com 21

QUALITY ASSURANCE DIRECTORATE• Core Values: –Integrity –Professionalism–Teamwork–Customer responsiveness–Process approach–System approach to Management–Continuous improvement

04/19/23 lubogasam@gmail.com; lubogasam@learn4africa.com 22

QUALITY ASSURANCE DIRECTORATE• Key features of its policy are:– Commitment to widespread involvement of

staff, students and other stakeholders in the QA process– Focus on efficient management, planning and

resource processes to achieve excellence and to ensure continuous improvement– Commitment to judging outcomes and

processes against the highest external standards

04/19/23 lubogasam@gmail.com; lubogasam@learn4africa.com 23

MANDATE• Reports to the Vice Chancellor• Guided by the University

Quality Assurance Committee (UQUAC)• Has an Acting Director and

very dedicated support staff04/19/23 lubogasam@gmail.com;

lubogasam@learn4africa.com 24

WAY FORWARD• Recruit staff for the QAD • It is now operating as a one man

technical team• Provide/mobilize adequate

resources• Provide more space

04/19/23 lubogasam@gmail.com; lubogasam@learn4africa.com 25