Capacity development strategies for QA Practitioners QA Workshop 21-22 November 2013 Evelyn Garwe

Presentation Outline Rationale Definitions Capacity building ZIMCHE staff Peer Reviewers Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) Regional Efforts Global Efforts Presentation Outline

Materu (2009) identified HR capacity as the most pressing challenge to championing QA in Africa. It manifests as: Insufficient numbers of adequately trained & credible professional staff to manage QA processes with integrity & consistency (Agency level); & Inadequate numbers of academic staff in HEIs with knowledge & experience in conducting self evaluations & peer reviews (HEIs level) Context

Capacity building is therefore integral to ZIMCHE’s mandate of assuring quality Rationale

Capacity is defined as the ability of individuals & organizations or organizational units to perform functions effectively, efficiently & sustainably Capacity building has been described by Ballantyne, et al (2000) as the process by which individuals, groups, organizations, institutions & societies develop abilities (individually & collectively) to perform functions; solve problems & achieve objectives. Definitions

Capacity building in QA must be done at 3 levels: Capacity building ZIMCHE staff Peer reviewers & HEIs Capacity building

ZIMCHE staff play an important role in upholding the professionalism of QA procedures. They play the leading role in shaping the processes, practices & reports. They need professional Development Programmes to cope with the dynamic QA scenario. To this end ZIMCHE: participates at QA events e.g. conferences study & contact visits (Ghana, Kenya, Tanzania, India, Australia, South Africa, Lesotho & Namibia) Hosting staff from other QA Bodies Sharing experiences & expertise electronically Involvement of staff in research & publication ZIMCHE is an executive Board member of AfriQAN hence it receives up to date information on QA activities & best practices in Africa ZIMCHE Staff

Peer Reviewers (PRs) PRs need to have certain attributes e.g. ability to hold face to face interactions effectively, maintain inter personal relationships & be objective & open minded in making decisions. Capacity building of PRs enables them to: discharge their responsibilities in a fair & thorough manner that supports the QA function of ZIMCHE get oriented to the QA framework & guidelines thus enabling them to act on behalf of ZIMCHE reduce inter-team variance, which is a major challenge in ensuring the credibility of the QA processes & outcomes Peer Reviewers (PRs)

HEIs Capacity building assists QA personnel in HEIs to: prepare for assessment visits conduct self-evaluation act on recommendations of assessment reports carry out follow-ups, sustain quality culture & pursue continuous quality enhancement

ZIMCHE’S CB Milestones Instruments for registration, accreditation & audits have been discussed with & availed to HEIs. Training workshops for PRs. On-going programme of training workshops for QA officials like the one we have today. We hope our interaction with you will help in building your capacity in QA Organised & facilitated QA workshops at 8 universities ZIMCHE staff members have presented at seminars organised by HEIs. Developed databases of best practices in HEIs Involvement of HEIS in consultations & discussions on QA issues Supporting networking among HEIs Organising RIE ZIMCHE’S CB Milestones

AAU facilitates the promotion & establishment of national, sub-regional & regional QA systems The objective of the project is to lay a foundation for institutionalized QA mechanisms within HEIs, national QA agencies, & Continental QA Agency as well as specialized capacity building in QA. The programmes provides support to:  member universities of the AAU which are establishing or evaluating internal QA systems; national QA agencies in capacity building the development of a QA database to facilitate knowledge sharing; AAU to update and negotiate with partners, a regional framework on the recognition of studies, certificates, degrees & other academic qualifications in HE based on the Arusha Convention.  Regional Efforts

Progress & achievements A preliminary survey of the status of QA in African institutions was undertaken by the AAU in 1999. The results are posted on the institution’s website. The AAU commissioned a study on the needs of African HE, including an assessment of QA in HE, which includes an assessment of practices in Southern, Anglophone West African, Eastern, & Francophone areas on the continent. AAU launched, in 2009, the African Quality Assurance Network (AfriQAN), a network of QA practitioners in African HE. ZIMCHE is a member of the AfriQAN Executive Board. The Board includes institutional members from different sub-regions on the continent. Progress & achievements

Partners Partners of the AAU in this programme include: Ford Foundation, UNESCO, World Bank, European Universities Association Global Initiative on Quality Assurance Capacity (GIQAC) The African Union & The European Union Partners

The International Network of Quality Assurance Agencies in Higher Education (INQAAHE) was established in 1991 to: promote good practices in the maintenance & improvement of quality in HE; facilitate research into QA in HE; provide advice to national QA agencies; facilitate links between accrediting bodies; permit better-informed international recognition of qualifications; enable members to be alert to dubious accrediting practices (“accreditation mills”) Currently it has > 250 full members from > 80 countries in six continents Global Efforts

INQAAHE Activities INQAAHE holds: A biennial conference & general assembly (Bangalore 2001, Dublin 2003, Wellington 2005, Toronto 2007, Abu Dhabi 2009, Madrid 2011, Taipei 2013). A biennial INQAAHE members’ forum for members (Budapest 2000, Kingston 2002, Muscat 2004, The Hague 2006, Buenos Aires 2008, Windhoek 2010, Melbourne 2012). INQAAHE Activities

INQAAHE PUBLICATIONS Journal: Quality in Higher Education Published 3 x/yr Internal QA external QA Theory & practice INQAAHE PUBLICATIONS

INQAAHE PUBLICATIONS Electronic Bulletin: 4 x/yr Regular news updates from members, from the (regional) networks & from the Board INQAAHE PUBLICATIONS

Website with proceedings, discussion papers, links, etc Rapid answer query service Reviewers & consultants database Education & Training courses & qualifications Database of Good Practices in QA (available only to members) INQAAHE Services

Education & Training Courses The creation of academic programmes about internal & external QA in HE Through joint efforts of an international network of QA agencies & HEIs (New York University (NYU) & University of Melbourne The courses benefit both practising QA professionals and individuals who wish to play a role in QA of HE. Education & Training Courses

Education & Training Courses Graduate Certificate in QA 1yr on-line professionally-oriented course intended to lead to internationally-trained expertise for people working in or interested in QA in HE Offered by both The University of Melbourne & NYU Suitable for staff & Directors of accrediting, auditing & other QA agencies, staff HEIs, PRs, government representatives, & others with responsibility for planning & development of HE systems. The core curriculum was developed by INQAAHE to train people for international recognition. http://www.inqaahe.org/main/formulier/program-for-qa-professionals-166/166 Applications open for 2014. Apply by 27 Jan 2014. Cost US$11 000 Scholarships available to members Education & Training Courses

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