1. 8th International Conference on Quality Assurance in Higher Education in Africa Windhoek, Namibia (19 – 23 September 2016)
Practicum on
African Quality Rating Mechanism
Presented by
Dr. Yohannes Woldetensae
Senior Education Expert
African Union Commission 1

2. AQRM – Major Criteria for Rating
Institutional Level
Governance and Mgt
Infrastructure
Finances
Teaching & Learning
Research, Publication and Innovation
Societal Engagement
49 Standards
Programme Level
Programme Planning and Management
Curriculum Development
Teaching & Learning
Assessment
Programme Results
35 Standards

3. AQRM  Five-Scale Rating
The AQRM is not a ranking instrument, rather it allows for classification of institutions and programmes into five categories:
POOR Quality INSUFFICIENT Quality,
SATISFACTORY Quality GOOD Quality,
or EXCELLENT Quality 
AQRM standards assigned the value (0, 1, 2, 3, or 4)
0 = POOR PERFORMANCE
1 = INSUFFICIENT PERFORMANCE
2 = SATISFACTORY PERFORMANCE
3 = GOOD PERFORMANCE
4 = EXCELLENT ERFORMANCE

4. AQRM Standards for Rating
GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
Ref. Nr.
Standards for Quality Rating
Value
1.1
Clearly stated vision and mission
1.2
Specific strategies in place for monitoring
1.3
Clear accountability structures for responsible officers
1.4
Where appropriate, staff, students and external stakeholders are represented in governance structures
1.5
The institution developed QA policies and procedures
1.6
Appropriate mechanisms are in place to evaluate staff
1.7
Management information system in place to manage student and staff data, and to track student performance
1.8
Specific policies in place to support students, in particular representation of women and the disabled
1.9
Policy & procedures to ensure staff and student welfare
Total Assessment Value
Aggregated Value = Total Assessment Value = 9

5. Rating Summary at Institutional Level Major Standard Aggregated Value
Governance and Management
Infrastructure
Finances
Teaching and Learning
Research, Publication and Innovation
Societal Engagement
Total
Rating Score = Total Aggregated Value = 6
Overall quality at institutional level is rated as
XXXXXXX QUALITY

6. Scoring of Quality Rating
Rating score less than 1.0
POOR Quality
Rating score between 1.0 and INSUFFICIENT Quality
Rating score between 2.0 and SATISFACTORY Quality
Rating score between 2.8 and GOOD Quality
 Rating score greater than EXCELLENT Quality

7. AQRM Standards at Institutional Level
GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT - Standards
A clearly stated vision and mission
Specific strategies in place for monitoring
Clear accountability structures for responsible officers
Representation of staff, students and external stakeholders in governance structures
Developed quality assurance policies and procedures
Mechanisms for evaluating staff
MIS to manage student and staff data
Policy on diversity, representation of women and disabled
Policy on staff and student welfare

8. AQRM Standards at Institutional Level
INFRASTRUCTURE - Standards
Sufficient lecturing spaces to accommodate students
Access to electronic learning resources
Staff access to computer resources and the internet
Students access to computer resources and the internet
Sufficient laboratory facilities in science programmes
Up to date laboratory equipment
Up to date library to support academic learning
Provision for maintaining utilities and safety measures

9. AQRM Standards at Institutional Level
FINANCE - Standards
Access to sufficient financial resources
Procedures in place to attract funding
Clearly specified budgetary procedures
Financial support to deserving students (institutional bursaries and/or scholarships)
Information provision about financial aid and criteria for its allocation
Publication of income and expenditure statements

10. AQRM Standards at Institutional Level
TEACHING AND LEARNING – Standards
Promotion of teaching and learning innovation
Support mechanisms for upgrading of staff teaching skills
Students opportunities to engage with staff
Student: staff ratios and academic staff average workloads
Policy on review of academic programmes
Policy on staff recruitment, deployment, and development
Student support services
Support mechanisms for students as independent learners
Promotion of international cooperation and Intra-Africa mobility of students and staff

11. AQRM Standards at Institutional Level
RESEARCH, PUBLICATION AND INNOVATION
Research policy and publication policy
Policy on innovation and intellectual property ownership
Research grants from national or international sources
Staff support to enhance their research skills
Staff and students publications in accredited journals and applications for patents
Support for presenting research findings at conferences
Availability of Research and Development budget
Promotion of research whose results are used by society
Mechanism for partnership with industry
Linkages with international joint research and publications

12. AQRM Standards at Institutional Level
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT – Standards
Policy and procedure for engaging with the local community
Implementation strategies for community engagement
Students engagement with communities through their academic work
Partnerships with other education sub-sectors to enhance the quality of education
Dissemination of information on community engagement activities
Provision of relevant short courses to the community
Facilities availability to local community (where possible)