scholarly journals Assessing the quality of third mission activities in Portuguese universities

2018 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 33-46
Author(s):  
Cristina Sin ◽  
Orlanda Tavares ◽  
Sónia Cardoso

Since 2009, Portuguese higher education institutions have been developing their own internal quality assurance systems and policies as a result of the reforms of higher education quality assurance in Europe and Portugal. This paper analyses how far Portuguese universities, within the remit of their internal quality assurance systems, define and employ mechanisms and procedures in order to assess the quality of their third mission activities. The analysis was conducted on documents submitted by institutions to the Portuguese Agency for the Assessment and Accreditation of Higher Education (A3ES) under the institutional evaluation process. Findings suggest that although the analysed Portuguese institutions apparently embrace the third mission, the quality assurance of this core activity is still in an embryonic stage of development. This suggests that quality assurance systems need to be developed so as to integrate the various core missions of an institution (e.g. teaching and learning; research and third mission), ensuring they receive similar levels of consideration.

2020 ◽  
Vol 76 ◽  
pp. 01016
Author(s):  
Jenny Mochtar ◽  
Gan Shu San

Academic quality is defined as the equivalent to academic standards related to student learning outcomes, which consist of specific levels of knowledge, skills, and abilities achieved by students participating in a program. The achievement of academic standards is accommodated by implementing both internal and external quality assurance practices. Internal quality assurance refers to policies and practices used by the higher education institutions to monitor and improve the quality of their education, while external quality assurance refers to policies and practices set up by external parties to assure the quality of higher education institutions and programs. Petra Christian University has built and implemented its internal quality assurance since 2009 based on its unique quality culture. After its ten-year journey and the achievements that Petra Christian University has reached in 2019, the Industrial Revolution 4.0 and Society 5.0 are challenges ahead that Petra Christian University has to face.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 131-157
Author(s):  
Onisimus Amtu ◽  
Sjeny Liza Souisa ◽  
Lourine Sience Joseph ◽  
Pitersina Christina Lumamuly

Objective of the study: The low quality of higher education in Indonesia has been a concern as well as a shared responsibility to fix it from an early age. Lack of maximum leadership, low organizational commitment, and organizational culture have had an impact on the implementation of an internal quality assurance system. This study intends to examine whether there is a direct or indirect effect of leadership and organizational commitment on the implementation of an internal quality assurance system mediated by organizational culture in state universities.Methodology/Approach: This research uses quantitative methods with a path analysis design. Each value of the effect of exogenous and endogenous variables is tested and analyzed descriptively and path analysis to show the contribution made by each variable studied. Data were collected through a questionnaire with a sample of 221 from a population of 340 populations spread across three state universities in Ambon city, Maluku province, Indonesia.Originality/Relevance: Organizational culture plays an important role to mediate and contribute to the leadership and organizational commitment to create situations and encourage the participation of all elements in the application of the internal quality assurance system in higher education. Main results: The quality of higher education is determined by many factors, but by increasing the role, performance, competence, and leadership style and supported by organizational commitment in an affective, normative, and sustainable manner, the organizational culture becomes one of the frameworks for every university to improve quality and competitiveness in a planned manner. and continuous.Theoretical/methodological contributions: Universities need leadership that is able to encourage and increase collective organizational commitment and culture to achieve sustainable higher education quality. Social/management contributions: The results of this research can be a new breakthrough for each faculty, department, and the department to prepare prospective professional leaders, build solidarity and display a dynamic, creative, and innovative academic culture.


2016 ◽  
Vol 12 (19) ◽  
pp. 221
Author(s):  
Mary Afi Mensah

Quality assurance in higher education has become a global issue. There has been a growing interest of governments around the world that higher education institutions in their countries need to provide quality education to their students. This study investigated the implementation of internal quality assurance in two purposively selected Ghanaian Polytechnics. Qualitative methodology was employed using in-depth interviews based on a case study research design. The participants indicated that the internal quality assurance systems and practices in place in the Polytechnics included areas such as the availability of internal quality assurance policy, teaching and learning processes, curriculum design, evaluation and review, research performance, extension activities, student assessment practices, student-lecturer assessment and student support services. Infrastructure challenges, funding and budget constraints, human capacity constraints and lack of quality culture were found to militate against the implementation of quality assurance in the Polytechnics. It was recommended that Ghanaian Polytechnics should have clear policies and associated procedures for the assurance of quality and standards of their programmes and awards. They should commit themselves explicitly to the development of quality culture and quality awareness. Also, the necessary learning facilities, resources and support systems should be provided by the Polytechnics to ensure quality of teaching and learning. The products, environments, programmes and services provided by the Polytechnics should be accessible and usable, to the greatest extent possible, by all categories of students. Assistive devices should be provided for persons with disabilities where needed. Building internal capacity for quality assurance was also recommended.


Author(s):  
O Liuta ◽  
S Lieonov ◽  
A Artyukhov ◽  
M Sushko-Bezdenezhnykh ◽  
O Dluhopolskyi

Purpose. To determine the level of students interest in internal quality assurance, particularly in passing the survey and changing the teaching quality level and improving teachers pedagogical skills. Methodology. For the data collection, a questionnaire was used which included closed-end questions on the quality of teaching and open questions in terms of comments and recommendations of higher education students on the quality of teaching and several questions concerning the share of classes in the discipline attended by the students, ECTS scores, received by students from the relevant disciplines and the average score for the entire period of study. Findings. Sumy State University (SSU) introduced an online survey of students as the main consumers of educational services regarding the quality of teaching disciplines. Over the last 3 academic years, there has been an increase in the number of teachers whose activities are evaluated by students. There has been an increase in the number of teachers who, according to students, show excellence in teaching, which is a positive trend. If in the 20172018 academic year the number of such teachers in SSU was 57people, then in the 20192020 academic year, it increased by 35% to 77 people. Quality level Above average was determined for 120 teachers in the 20172018 academic year, and in the 20192020 academic year, their number increased by 30% and amounted to 156 people. It is noteworthy that in the 20192020 academic year compared to 20172018, there is a reduction in the number of teachers from 71 to 66 people (7%), who demonstrated the level of teaching Low. Originality. Survey of students on the quality of teaching educational components, on the one hand, allows monitoring students satisfaction with methods used by the teacher in training and communicating with students, and on the other hand, it is a method to control the institutions authority over the educational service quality and the HEIs mission implementation. It also indicates an increase in students interest in participating in higher educations internal quality assurance. An important factor influencing the positive dynamics of the teaching quality level is that each semester teachers receive a detailed analysis of students answers with a visual display for each questionnaire, as well as their comments and suggestions for teaching the relevant discipline through the information service Personal teachers office based on the results of the survey. Practical value. According to the analysis results of the received information, managerial decisions can be developed and implemented to improve the content and practice of educational components implementation, improving the professional skills of research and teaching staff, advancement of best pedagogical practices.


2020 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 53-81 ◽  
Author(s):  
Naureen Rahnuma

AbstractThis paper evaluates experiences of quality culture as actualized by academic and administrative leaders in a nonprofit, private Bangladeshi university, ensuing the recent implementation of a state-stipulated national quality framework. Based on the data derived from ten interviews integrated with the Quality Assurance Framework document objectives, the purpose of this paper is to gain critical insight on what is working and what might need changing or developing in the future to support quality culture at higher education institutions. The article translates the key themes and elements of the evaluation process into a logic model to show the processes and structures through which the university can support the development of its internal quality culture. It offers a focused pathway for quality assurance activities, crucial in reinforcing and strengthening a culture of quality in Bangladeshi universities. As such, the paper seeks to make a contribution to Bangladesh’s higher education by providing a broad, evaluative insight into the preparedness and receptivity of the institutions to integrate sustainability into their teaching and learning as guided by the new quality assurance framework, mindful of the imperatives for quality assurance and enhancement coming mainly from the Western perspective, hence placing its development in the regional, and then global, context.


2016 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 133-139
Author(s):  
Teo Wubbels ◽  
Sergiy Kurbatov

In his exclusive interview for our journal the President of the European Educational Research Association (EERA), Professor of Education at Utrecht University Theo Wubbels told about his professional development as an expert in the area of educational researches. He analyzed the process of establishing and further development of the internal quality assurance system at Utrecht University, which helps this university to be a leader in European and global academic space. For example, Professor Wubbels specially stressed the point, that system of quality assurance in higher education could not be reduced only to the formal mechanisms of assessment, but need to include the possibilities for professional development and intensive dialogue between teachers and students. Theo Wubbles discussed the main activities of the European Educational Research Association (EERA) and the possibilities for researchers, which membership in this association provides. He also shared his impressions from cooperation with Ukrainian colleagues.


Author(s):  
Olga Poliak ◽  
Alexey Trostyanetsky

The article emphasizes the need for orientation of higher education in Ukraine to meet the educational needs of the individual, to restore the intellectual, spiritual potential of the nation, the output of domestic science, technology and culture to world European levels, the formation of statehood and democracy in society, the provision of the labor market by highly skilled and competitive specialists. The condition for ensuring such orientation is the change in the relevant quality indicators of higher education through the change in the national idea of higher education; the development of higher education should be subject to the laws of a market economy; Higher education development should be considered in the context of trends in the development of world educational systems, including Western European ones. A group of standards has been negotiated under the terms of guaranteeing the quality of higher education - these are standards for the internal quality assurance of institutions of higher education; - standards for external quality assurance of institutions of higher education; - European Standards for External Agencies for Quality Assurance in Higher Education. The process of assessing the quality of higher education in Ukraine, which is conducted under internal and external procedures, is investigated, namely: - the process of internal evaluation includes systematic collection of administrative information, interviews of students and graduates, informal discussions with teachers and students; - The component of external evaluation is the attendance of the faculty by the control group to determine the quality of teaching and teaching. External observers are teachers or people of professional background who, based on communication with students and young researchers, make a final report. Within the framework of the definition of psychological and pedagogical conditions for improving the quality of higher education in Ukraine, it is proposed to use the experience of the quality assurance system in European countries, namely: - a culture of quality assurance: availability of strategy, policy and atmosphere of internal quality assurance of higher education institutions; - culture of quality assurance: the autonomy of institutions of higher education as a prerequisite for the effectiveness of quality assurance processes; - culture of quality assurance: external quality assurance as a function of an independent agency and the direction of external quality assessment to improve the performance of institutions of higher education; - Motivation for quality assurance; - quality assurance of scientific activity: from the index of quotes to peer review; - the interaction of universities with stockholders; - reform of the third cycle of higher education; - Internationalization as a tool for quality assurance; - the role of students in the processes of quality assurance.


Author(s):  
Agnese Līgotne

<p>Quality assurance for study programme is necessary precondition to realize qualitative higher education. Quality assessment is important part of quality assurance cycle. There are used different methodologies, assessment criteria and indicators to assess the higher education quality. It is clear that the assessment results which study programme will be better or worse are detected by the choice of criteria. It is difficult to find objective criteria which could be used universally for all study programme types. The aim of the research is to investigate quality assurance cycle for study programme quality and pay main attention to assessment part. The aim of assessment part is to select criteria quality assessment, what characterizes main aspects for internal quality of study programme. These criteria are important preconditions for quality assurance.</p>


Author(s):  
Oksana Kravchenko ◽  
Iryna Karpych

The article highlights the experience of internal quality assurance of educational activities and the quality of higher education of the Faculty of Social and Psychological Education of Uman State Pedagogical University named after Pavel Tychyna. The current system of internal quality assurance of educational activity and quality of higher education at the Faculty of Social and Psychological Education of Uman State Pedagogical University named after Pavel Tychyna is analyzed. It is established that the internal quality assurance of educational activities and the quality of higher education at the faculty has a systemic nature and is carried out in certain areas that are logically and consistently interconnected, namely: periodic review and updating of educational programs (updating educational programs; preparation of new and improvement of current curricula, monitoring the quality of working programs of academic disciplines, development of syllabuses, informing students about the disciplines of free choice, analysis of the availability of educational and methodological and information support); assessment of applicants for higher education (assessment of students, periodic surveys of participants in the educational process); promoting the principles of academic integrity; monitoring the quality of teaching staff (analysis of the timeliness of internships and in-service training by teachers, monitoring the quality of training sessions by teachers, analysis of compliance with the licensing conditions of staffing); ensuring the availability of necessary resources; ensuring publicity of information. Ensuring the quality of educational activities and the quality of higher education at the Faculty of Social and Psychological Education is ensured by a holistic systematic interaction of all participants in the educational process, faculty and university in the implementation of appropriate internal measures and procedures aimed at improving the quality of education.


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