Transcript New Approaches to quality assurance in the changing world

New Approaches to quality
assurance in the changing world
of higher education
A quality culture – embedding QA
into the life of the institution
By
Gabi Baramki
Higher Education as a key for
development
•Development is comprehensive
•That includes economic, industrial, scientific,
agricultural as well as cultural development
•Higher Education in the broadest sense is the key
to development
•In the world of globalization the room for
advancement lies in the ability of countries to
understand how to make the best use of their
resources - both human and natural.
Why Quality Assurance
•The expansion of higher education in the
region
•The relationship between expansion and
quality
•The need for Quality Assurance
•Standardization and help in student and
teacher mobility
Quality Assurance Agencies
•Establishment of Agencies, Commissions or
Committees for QA
•Nature of these bodies – mostly governmental
•Palestinian exception – Non=governmental
nature of TEI’s
•Human Resources not sufficient – qualified or
adequately trained.
The Palestinian Experience
•Political and Economic challenges
•Difficulties may be common with other regions
•Government in charge of QA
•Qualified personnel - availability in the country
and visa difficulties from outside
Palestinian Experience –cont’d
•International standards set at least in Europe
and the USA
•Internal review by the institution
•External review by the QA body (Agency or
Commission)
•Reporting & Documentation
•Follow-up procedures on regular basis
•Execution of decisions of the Agency
Difficulties in meeting Standards
•Resistance of TEI’s to comply
•Pressure from Government or concerned parties
•Financial pressures.
Quality Assurance in Palestine
•Setting standards in spite of difficulties
•AQAC set up
•QA units set up in TEI’s
•Training and workshops
•Funding as incentive to Quality
Quality Improvement Fund (QIF)
•Support of World Bank and European Union
•Competitive nature of QIF
•Quality of programs and relevance to labor market
•Internal QA unit in each TEI revitalized
•Faculty more involved
•Technical and Vocational Colleges involved
•Culture of Quality as a daily affair
A Regional Network of QA
Agencies - ANQAHE
•QA agencies rather a recent phenomenon in the
region
•AQAC and others need support from International
networks – INQAAHE
•Exchange of ideas, benchmarking and HR
•Establishment of ANQAHE in June 2007 as a nongovernmental organization (see report by Prof. Nadia
Badawi)
•A major achievement
Challenges Encountered in
Emerging ANQAHE
Five (of 9) challenges in Prof. Badawi’s presentation (San
Diego: Feb 2008)
1. Financial constraints specially in the foundation
period
2. Lack of professional quality assurance expertise
3. Communication deficiencies with the QA bodies in
different countries
4. Professional intervention and domination of the State
5. The stature of the Network: should it be
governmental of independent?
Effect on Quality of Higher
Education
•Credibility of QA local agency will create
confidence in HE institutions
•Better implementation of QA directives by the
institutions
•Programs and degrees will be of the required
international standards
•Mobility of students and faculty is enhanced
•Mobility gas a direct effect on the quality of the
institutions
Culture of Quality in Higher
Education
•Establishing the tradition of quality
•Time is of the essence
•Importance of ANQAHE and INQAAHE
•Developing local expertise is the key to keep the
inertia of striving for excellence