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8/4/2019 YSU Internal Quality Assurance Framework
1/21
Internal Quality Assurance Framework of
Yerevan State University
in the Context of European Standards
and Guidelines
Dr. Hrant Zhamharyan
Head, Academic-MethodologicalDepartment, YSU
June 2011
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Establishment of internal quality assurance system
(IQA) in Yerevan State University (YSU) in accordance
with the requirements of the European Standards and
Guidelines (ESG) started in 2007.
The YSU IQA framework consists of six components:
Quality assurance (QA) of study programmes;QA of teaching staff;
QA of learning resources and support services;
Transparent student assessment system;
Internal information systems;Public information.
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Brief description of the YSU IQA framework
1. POLICY AND PROCEDURES FOR QUALITY ASSURANCE
1a Main principles relating to the safeguarding of academicstandards are as follows:
Standards correspond to those identified by the qualification
framework (QF) of European Higher Education Area (EHEA) and/or
National QF;
Standards satisfy the requirements of relevant governmental,professional & statutory bodies and similar organizations;
Standards are regularly monitored and reviewed to ensure their
currency and relevance;
Principles underpinning aims, learning outcomes, teaching, learning
and assessment are defined in the Methodological Guidelines forDevelopment of YSU Educational Programmes (approved by YSU
Academic Council in October, 2010);
Feedback of recognized independent external experts is sought when
standards are established, monitored or reviewed.
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1b Principles relating to the assurance of qualityare
as follows:
The quality of student learning experience meets the
requirements of the relevant academic standard andprogramme specification;
Quality assurance is informed by robust programme
design, approval, annual monitoring, and periodic (6-
year) review, student and graduate feedback processes;Students are involved in the processes of programme
monitoring and review;
The views of external assessors are taken into account
when the quality of programmes is reviewed;
Assurance activities focus more on areas where there is
a risk of quality decline.
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1c Principles relating to the enhancement of
qualityare as follows:
Measures of the quality of the studentexperience are established and regularly
monitored;
Where possible, such measures will be basedupon already existing data sets, such as those
derived from quality monitoring reports,
student/graduate/employer feedbacks, andgraduates employment statistics etc.
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The YSU IQA strategy is stated in YSU Strategic Development Plan
for 2010-2014 It includes introduction of an internal quality
assurance system in line with European Standards and Guidelines.
To accomplish this objective the following main strategies areenvisaged in the Plan:
To create a new YSU IQA policy
To develop self-assessment criteria for the main performance areas
To undertake and implement a self-assessment/self-study of the YSU
To develop and introduce new learning outcomes-based educationalstandards
To create internal regulations, guidelines and procedures.
To create and publish criteria, regulations and procedures for impartial
assessment of student learning outcomes
To create and publish mechanisms and criteria for assessment ofprofessional competences and teaching skills of YSU teaching staff.
To develop a set of internal information for effective management of
study programmes and educational processes.
To ensure transparency and publicity of the criteria for IQ evaluation
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2 APPROVAL, MONITORING AND PERIODIC REVIEW OF PROGRAMMES
AND AWARDS
YSU has developed and adopted several formal mechanisms in theforms of guidelines, regulations, procedures, criteria, etc., These
mechanisms are as follows:
Methodological Guidelines for Development of YSU Study Programmes;
Regulations for Approval of YSU Study Programmes;
The development of the Guidelines and Procedures for YSU ProgrammeMonitoring and Review;
Other official documents related to development of YSU study
programmes include:
Structure and content of YSU credit-based bachelors degree
programmes (for full-time and correspondent/part-time studies);
Structure and content of YSU credit-based masters degree
programmes (for full-time and correspondent/part-time studies);
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3 ASSESSMENT OF STUDENTS
In 2007 YSU revised and upgraded its student
assessment methods and regulations in order tocomply with the nature of the adopted ECTS
credit system, which assumes continuing
assessment of students, including the work theydo outside of classroom, as well as with the
requirements of ESGs.
We follow the requirment according to which
Students should be assessed using published
criteria, regulations and procedures which are
applied consistently.
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4 QUALITY ASSURANCE OF TEACHING STAFF
YSU has in place several procedures and regulations to
make sure that the teaching staff is qualified and
competent. That includes:
Open competitive system of hiring (recruitment of)
permanent teaching staff
There is a contract system for appointment of teaching staff,
which specifies rights and duties/responsibilities;
There is a performance evaluation for all permanent
academic staff members through regular (on the semester-
basis) student surveys.
Compulsory (as well as optional) pedagogical training is in
place
YSU adopted a comprehensive credit-based staff
development programme
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5 LEARNING RESOURCES AND STUDENT SUPPORT
In order to meet the requirements of the appropriate ESG standard
the following permanent activities are being done at the University:
The University library is regularly upgrading.
Computing facilities are permanently upgradingThere is a State (President-supported) programme for gradual
upgrading of learning and research laboratory base of the University;
Methodological support-base of the educational process is being
constantly improved;
Students are provided with guidebooks, programme handbooks,
assessment regulations, credit-based study regulations, etc;
There is a system of Academic Advisers (Counselors) which is not well-
developed yet;
The Student Union and Student Career Center operate at theUniversity;
The graduate satisfaction surveys conducted in YSU evaluate also
satisfaction level of YSU graduates from University services and
facilities;
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6 INFORMATION SYSTEMS
University has a centralized, but non-integrated information
system (data on different activities are not gathered in one
data warehouse), where internal information is collected
through several separate information subsystems:
Annual reports of all YSU units
YSU annual report is discussed and approved by the YSU Council;
The results of YSU graduates satisfaction surveys are availableThe internal computer-aided system (SuperVision) is employed
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) of the University serves as an
important tool for institutional self-evaluation and/or self-study.
This set of KPIs consists of 83 indicators that measure YSUperformance in six main areas
Regular collection and analysis of data on profile of the student
population (age, gender, educational background, socio-
economic background, etc.).
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7 PUBLIC INFORMATION
The information that is publicly available about YSU study
programmes includes:
The Guide for YSU Applicant(with CD version),
YSU First-year Student Information Package;
The Credit-based Study Handbook & Course Catalog for
Bachelors and Masters degree programme studentsThe published annual report of the YSU Rector, which includes
detailed information on both academic and research activities;
The YSU annual financial report;
Statistics on the students currently involved in the programmes
(number, profile of the student population, etc.);
The YSU Web-site, publications or other information materials.
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The mission of YSUYerevan State University is an autonomous educational and
scientific-cultural institution with national and regional
responsibility, the main mission of which is to createknowledge, transfer and disseminate it within the
framework of state strategy of education development.
Based on the principles of state policy for education, the
University promotes the development of intellectual andpersonal qualities of its students and lecturers, and
contributes to the rise of economic, social and cultural
welfare of the society. The priority goals of YSU are the
development of Armenology, humanities, social-economicand natural sciences and culture, carrying out basic
research in various fields.
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The mission of YSU (contnd.)The University always seeks excellence and innovation in
teaching, research and public services. As an important
component of its mission, the University seeks to become a
student-centred educational environment, which prepares
its graduates for an active role in public life and for
leadership, a professional career and lifelong learning in line
with the current requirements of globalized economy andlabour market.
YSU mission targets:teaching and learning.
research and development.
services to society.
STRATEGIC GOAL 1 QUALITY EDUCATION
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STRATEGIC GOAL 1. QUALITY EDUCATION
To become one of the leading universities in the region, to
insure high educational standards and to enable students to fully
realize their potential by providing flexible study programs
meeting todays requirements.Main Objectives:
Implement revision of structure and contents of the study
programs in line with current international curricula standards
and requirements of the employment market.
Introduce internal quality assurance system in accordance with
the requirements of European standards.
Ensure extended application of the credit system in all University
educational programs and study modes.
Create favourable conditions and supportive mechanisms forsubstantial improvement of the teaching, learning and
assessment processes.
Ensure extended and effective utilization of information
technologies in the teaching and learning process of theUniversit .
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STRATEGIC GOAL 2. QUALITY RESEARCH AND INNOVATIONS
To maximize the application of Universitys research potential in enhancing
the economic development and public welfare processes by creating canters
of excellence in priority research fields, and encourage active involvement of
teaching staff in research activities.
Main Objectives:
Create prerequisites and supportive mechanisms for substantial growth of
research activities and broader engagement of teaching staff and students in
research projects.Stimulate the development of University-Industry research collaboration;
create an innovation infrastructure for research activities to commercialize
research outputs.
Promote internationalization processes of the Universitys research activities;
ensure integration of the University in European Research Area.Reconstruct University postgraduate studies as a 3rd cycle of higher
education in compliance with the requirements of European Qualifications
Framework.
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STRATEGIC GOAL 3. Community Involvement and
Services
To sustain the intellectual, educational, economic,
scientific and cultural progression of the society, thuspromoting recognition of the University, its activities
and external support.
Main Objectives:
Ensure further development of interaction with the
society and broader involvement of the University in
community programs.
Develop lifelong learning system in the University inline with the social demand
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Practical steps for the university quality assurance includes
organising
University QA and Control Department which employs
Head of Department and 4 Officers
In 2010 YSU formulated and adopted new IQA policy, which
meets main requirements of ESG Standards #1 and #2 for IQA.
The aims of the YSU QA policy are safeguarding of YSU
academic standards, assurance and enhancement of quality of
all YSU awards.
Principles are related to:the safeguarding of academic standards
to the assurance of quality
to the enhancement of quality
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YSU strategic plan for internal quality assurance (2011-2015).
The YSU IQA strategy is stated in YSU Strategic Development Plan for 2010-
2014 (Goal I, Objective 2: To introduce an internal quality assurance system
in line with the requirements of European Standards and Guidelines).
To accomplish this objective the following strategies are envisaged in the
Plan:
To create a new YSU IQA policy that includes continual quality enhancement
strategy, appropriate procedures, organizational structures and identifies the
roles and responsibilities of administrative and academic structures of theUniversity.
To develop self-assessment criteria for the main performance areas of the
University based on the standards of international accreditation organizations
and National Quality Assurance Center of Professional Education.
To undertake and implement a self-assessment/self-study of the YSU
academic activities with publication of the report, which will serve as a basis
for external QA/accreditation processes and development of appropriate
quality enhancement measures. To prepare the University for the external
evaluation/accreditation processes.
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To develop and introduce new learning outcomes-based educational
standards for YSU Bachelors and Masters degree programmes based on the
Qualification Framework of EHEA and international subject-benchmark
statements.
To create internal regulations, guidelines and procedures for development,approval, routine monitoring and periodic review of YSU study programmes,
to adopt criteria for assessment of programme needs in teaching and learning
resources.
To create and publish criteria, regulations and procedures for impartial
assessment of student learning outcomes, which includes appropriate appealand complaint mechanisms, and to ensure their publicity and consistent
application.
To create and publish mechanisms and criteria for assessment of professional
competences and teaching skills of YSU teaching staff.
To develop a set of internal information, which is required for the effectivemanagement of study programmes and educational processes?
To ensure transparency and publicity of the criteria for internal quality
evaluation, the self-assessment process and appropriate report to the
internal and external stakeholders of the University, as well as student
participation and feedback in QA processes.
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Thank you!
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