Module 1

IIEP Online Course onInternal Quality Assurance in Higher Education:

‘Designing and developing an effective IQA system’

Foundations of IQA: purposes, definitions and

expectations

What will you learn ?

• Define the basic concepts, the various approachesconnected to internal quality assurance

• Understand how strategic management and IQA arearticulated in a HEI

• Understand the complexities related to the conceptof quality culture and identify those factors that aresupportive of it

• Discuss the experience with IQA in a Mongolianuniversity

Module 1

IIEP Online Course onInternal Quality Assurance in Higher Education:

‘Designing and developing an effective IQA system’

What are quality and qualityassurance ?

Module 1 - Part 1

Can we really definequality in highereducation ?

A question for reflection

What is quality?

According to Harvey and Green, 1993:

Quality is excellenceQuality is perfection (zero default)

Quality is “fitness for purpose”

Quality is “value for money”

Quality is transformation/continuous improvement

The contextual dimension of quality

Quality

Multidimensionaland evolutionary

Contextual

Different definitions

Historical

Cultural

Political

Economical

The stakeholder perspective

TeachersStudents• Quality of teaching• Learning experience• Learning environment• Labour market entry

• Quality of the researchenvironment

• Originality and productivity of research

Professional bodies• Skills and

competencies of graduates

Consensus on the definition of quality

• Two main approaches:

How to measure quality ?

Approaches

Standards based approach

Fitness for purpose

approach

Defining a model quality

Definition of standards, criteria and elements of

proof

Definition of evaluationdomains

Choose an approach

What is quality standard?

Whydo weuse it?

Whatis it?

Norms, expectations or specifications that provide the basis for the assurance of quality (INQAAHE glossary, 2010)

Comparative purposes (Harvey, 2006)

Example for the utilisation of the concepts

A standard could be: - The content of a study programme is periodically reviewed

A criterion could be: - The existence of a modality for the consultation withemployers and professionals leading to change in the content coverage of an academic programme

The indicators could be: - Minutes of meetings with the professionals- Number of corrective measures derived from exchange processes with professionals

Example of evaluation domains

Evaluation domains

(UNESCO, 2002)

Module 1

IIEP Online Course onInternal Quality Assurance in Higher Education:

‘Designing and developing an effective IQA system’

What is IQA ?Module 1 - Part 2

What do we mean by IQA?

IQA (system)

Procedures and instruments that

measure HEIs against external standards and their own development

goals (UNESCO)

Quality enhancement processes derived from

measurement procedures and instruments (ESG)

Integrated whole supportive of quality

policy and institutional goals related to quality

(IIEP)

The PDCA Cycle and continuous improvement

Source: PDCA cycle of continuous improvement (CC Johannes Vietze)

Elements of an IQA system

• A quality policy : defining the meaning of quality

• A quality manual : defining the objectives, components of IQA

• The tools and procedures : defining the operations

• The structure for IQA: defining responsibilities

Ex: Six principles of quality policy at UDE

1. Integration of teaching and research

2. Based in disciplines, but open-mindednessfor inter- and trans-disciplinarity

3. Quality of student support

4. Study programmes are competency-oriented

5. Valuing the diversity of students

6. Quality orientation through a continuouscycle of quality assurance

Formalization : Quality Policy

While institutional

quality policy is

largely present, a

quality policy at a

more decentralized

level – at faculty or

departmental level – is

not very frequent.

What covers a quality manual ?

• Quality policy upfront

• Processes for quality assurance

– Student recruitment

– Staff recruitment and management

– Programme development and review

– Student assessment procedures

• Support structure and responsibilities

Formalization : Quality Manual

Formalization of

quality policy less

present.

Quality manual not

very frequent, more so

at faculty and

departmental (33%)

than at institutional

level (56%)

What does IQA focus on ?

Source: Lemaitre, 2017

Ex1 : University of Duisberg Essen –integrated set of tools and processes

Module 1

IIEP Online Course onInternal Quality Assurance in Higher Education:

‘Designing and developing an effective IQA system’

How IQA may contribute to a «quality culture»?

Module 1 - Part 3

Question for reflection

How would you define a quality culture in a HEI?

Source: Sursock, 2011

Two elements of quality culture

Elements of qualityculture

“Shared values, beliefs, expectations and

commitments towards quality”

“A structural/managerial element with defined

processes that enhance quality and aim at coordinating

efforts”

What is a quality culture ?

• Definition (Crosby, 1986)A culture of quality is one inwhich everybody in the organisation,

not just the quality controllers, is responsible for quality

• Definition (Harvey and Stensaker, 2008): A quality culture is a way of life, a frame of mind. Cannot be

constructed irrespective from the context of an organization. It has to be built on the organizational culture, but IQA canenable it

IQA and the promotion of a quality culture

Source: Sursock, 2011

Promotion of a

qualityculture

IQA

Generates data and evidence on quality

Engages the academic community in a dialogue on quality

Supports quality through staff development

Helps to reflect on the quality assurance approach itself

Principles to promote a quality culture

Building a university community and the staff’s identification with the institution

Developing the participation of students in the university community

Embedding a quality culture through internal communication, discussions

Agreeing upon an overarching framework for quality review processes and standards

Ensuring a follow-up of the internal reviews: e.g., implementation of the appropriate recommendations and feedback loops into strategic management (EUA 2005: 10)

Source: Sursock, 2011

2

1

3

4

5

Process of building a quality culture (Bollaert, 2014)

• Try to identify the existing quality culture first

• Formulate the quality culture that is wished

• Adopt your IQA system to the wished quality quality

• Be conscious of the fact that GC is rooted in deepvalues

• Identify and allow sub-cultures

• Leadership, communication , participation and collaboration are important for building up a qualityculture

• Use a common language to communicate about IQA

How can IQA best support a quality culture?

Are IQA policies congruent with the institution’s QA philosophy or rather subverting it, e.g. by promoting a logic of control while the policy speaks of trust and development?

Does every IQA activity in the institution have a clear purpose? If yes, who are the main beneficiaries?

Source: Vettori, 2012

Conclusions

• Quality is a contextual concept that needs to be defined in a standard system. Stakeholdersshould be involved in its definition.

• An IQA system consists of a quality policy, a quality manual, tools and processes and a support structure.

• IQA needs to be supportive of a qualityculture, which is nurtured by strong internalcommunication on quality