PLACE OF QUALITY ASSURANCE IN ENHANCEMENT OF ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF MAKERERE UNIVERSITY BY SAM LUBOGA ACTING DIRECTOR QUALITY ASSURANCE DIRECTORATE 9/23/20151

OUTLINE Teaching and learning a core function of the university Primary responsibility for qa in t&l How do you then assure quality in t & l? Approval process Role of quality assurance directorate Quality assurance directorate Mandate Way forward 9/23/

TEACHING AND LEARNING A CORE FUNCTION OF THE UNIVERSITY Quality in teaching and learning is not negotiable Necessary in order to inspire confidence in the quality and utility of the awards of the University Quality of teaching and learning will only result from deliberate efforts to achieve, maintain and continually improve it 9/23/

9/23/

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY FOR QA IN T&L Schools/Faculties primary responsibility for QA in teaching and Learning Have the experts who design, deliver, examine and review courses/programmes Experts enjoy academic freedom and professional autonomy Managers meet considerable resistance if they try to control them Experts & Managers need to collaborate make sense of changing landscape, understand what works and implement new practices 9/23/

HOW DO YOU THEN ASSURE QUALITY IN T & L? Recruit quality teachers (content experts and skilled in delivery of teaching) Ongoing staff development and support Provide adequate and appropriate resources for them to do a good job, e.g. E-learning support appraisal (by students, HOD & peers) and promotion 9/23/

HOW DO YOU THEN ASSURE QUALITY IN T & L? Submit new or reviewed programmes to NCHE for Accreditation Advertise approved programmes widely to assure wide participation Admit suitably qualified candidates for the programmes Deliver effective teaching and Learning with adequate resources and student staff support 9/23/

HOW DO YOU THEN ASSURE QUALITY IN T & L? Curriculum committees undertake proper design and regular reviews: – Rationale and requirements – Appropriate level – Clear strategies for assessment and progression (increase in intellectual maturity, skills, learning autonomy) – Balance – theory vs practicals and attachments 9/23/

HOW DO YOU THEN ASSURE QUALITY IN T & L? – Flexibility – compulsory and optional sessions, e-learning opportunities, opt out and opt in – Integrity – expectations of the students and intended learning outcomes – References – External references consulted: Professional bodies, employers 9/23/

APPROVAL PROCESS Departmental approval School/Faculty Board approval College Board approval Senate approval QAD final check University Council External accreditation of approved programmes by NCHE 9/23/

9/23/

ROLE OF QUALITY ASSURANCE DIRECTORATE Act as an internal accreditation mechanism for standards of everything the University is and does Ensure appreciation of the importance of QA & development of a QA culture throughout the University by holding QIWs in every unit Act as repository of agreed standards and best practices 9/23/2015r 12

ROLE OF QUALITY ASSURANCE DIRECTORATE Develop and make available tools, and offer guidance for unit self-assessment Cross-check and evaluate self assessment for thoroughness and correctness of interpretation and utilization of results to make improvements Make recommendations for improvement 9/23/

ROLE OF QUALITY ASSURANCE DIRECTORATE Develop and make available tools for course and programme review Coordinate efforts of the University to develop an effective student assessment policy and plan to ensure harmony Facilitate to review/update of the external examination policy and plan 9/23/

ROLE OF QUALITY ASSURANCE DIRECTORATE Collate recommendations of external examiners, feedback relevant faculties, check that the recommendations have been acted upon & report to VC, Assess compliance with agreed standards Coordinate QI activities of all the units Develop and make available tools for assessment of Academic Staff Performance (by students, HOD and Peers) 9/23/

ROLE OF QUALITY ASSURANCE DIRECTORATE Advise on the development and implementation of an effective system of rewarding high performing staff and taking appropriate action on under or non performing staff Develop and make available tools for students Personal Development Plans (PDP) Advocate for and promote the development of a safe and conducive learning environment 9/23/

ROLE OF QUALITY ASSURANCE DIRECTORATE Promote continuing improvement of support services, health care, counseling services, recreation and sports facilities Undertake regular surveys to assess student and staff satisfaction – take the “pulse” of the University 9/23/

ROLE OF QUALITY ASSURANCE DIRECTORATE Keep in constant contact with external reference standard setting and monitoring bodies, NCHE, Professional councils, UNBS, IUCEA, AUQA, ISO, etc for accreditation and benchmarking Maintain a data bank of best practices from around the world and make it available to all units upon request 9/23/

ROLE OF QUALITY ASSURANCE DIRECTORATE Do all the above not only for the core function of Teaching and Learning but also for administrative and support functions of the University since they impact greatly on the T&L See, Track and Celebrate – hold annual QA conferences and QA appreciation events at which efforts at QA are recognized Develop expertise QA education, mentoring and QA consultation services 9/23/

9/23/

QUALITY ASSURANCE DIRECTORATE Established in 2006 to support the vision of Makerere University to be the “Leading institution of academic excellence and innovation in Africa” Its mission is to “provide leadership in prescribing, controlling and implementing quality standards at Makerere University” 9/23/

QUALITY ASSURANCE DIRECTORATE Core Values: – Integrity – Professionalism – Teamwork – Customer responsiveness – Process approach – System approach to Management – Continuous improvement 9/23/

QUALITY ASSURANCE DIRECTORATE Key features of its policy are: – Commitment to widespread involvement of staff, students and other stakeholders in the QA process – Focus on efficient management, planning and resource processes to achieve excellence and to ensure continuous improvement – Commitment to judging outcomes and processes against the highest external standards 9/23/

MANDATE Reports to the Vice Chancellor Guided by the University Quality Assurance Committee (UQUAC) Has an Acting Director and very dedicated support staff 9/23/

WAY FORWARD Recruit staff for the QAD It is now operating as a one man technical team Provide/mobilize adequate resources Provide more space 9/23/