Code:
Title:
Date:
Approval:
QA001
Quality Assurance
14/02/2012
APRC, SSC, FRC and AC
1.0 Purpose
Monitoring, assessment, and improvement of the quality of teaching, research and support services
2.0 Description
Quality and quality assurance of teaching, research and support services is the responsibility of every
member of the University community. Everyone is responsible for monitoring, assessing and
improving quality. Everyone through their academic and support service units is responsible for
developing and improving policies that when implemented assure a level of quality and excellence in
the execution of University activities. Everyone is also responsible for the development of unit and
personal development plans for the continuous improvement of quality that meet the aims and
objectives of the University and that feed into the development and revision of policies and
procedures.
Quality is overseen by Údarás na hOllscoile in compliance with the University Act 1997, Section 35,
as follows:
(1) A governing authority ... shall ... require the chief officer to establish procedures for quality assurance aimed at
improving the quality of education and related services provided by the university.
(2) The procedures shall include— (a) the evaluation, at regular intervals ... of each department ... (b) assessment
by those, including students, availing of the teaching, research and other services ...
(3) A governing authority shall implement any findings arising ... having regard to the resources available
(4) A governing authority shall ...arrange for a review of the effectiveness of the procedures ...
(5) A governing authority ... shall publish the results of a review conducted under subsection (4).
In fulfilling this mission Údarás na hOllscoile has established specific arrangements for the
implementation of quality assurance policy and the ‘evaluation’ and ‘assessment’ of teaching and
research.
2.1 Policies & Procedures
The UMT will manage the policy development and approval process. Policies and procedures should
be documented in accordance with University policy ‘QA002: Policy Documents’ and placed in a
central repository for use by users. Certain policies and procedures will need to be approved by
Údarás na hOllscoille and its standing committees. These Policies will be of strategic relevance or
have significant statutory implications. Approving committees for policies of strategic relevance
would expect to be kept informed of where policies were being developed, to include an overview of
the development process being undertaken and an indication of the level of consultation with end
users and other stakeholders.
2.2 Quality Office
The Quality Office and Director of Quality under the direction of the Quality and Innovation
Committee has special responsibilities for providing independent external quality assurance mainly
through peer review and also for providing support to teaching, research and support units for the
development and revision of policies and procedures and operational plans. The Director of Quality
is also responsible for engaging with units and external agencies in the development of
improvement plans and independent and external assessment of its own and all quality assurance
activities of the University.
3.0 Responsibilities
Name
UMT:
Údarás na hOllscoile:
UMT:
Committee for Quality & Innovation:
Quality Office:
Institutional Research:
4.0 Related Documents
None
Responsibility
Policy Owner
Overall responsibility for quality assurance and enhancement
and effected through its committees.
Managing the development of policy and determining the
level of approval required. Executing quality assurance
policies and procedures and providing resources and
oversight for quality performance across all units.
Development and oversight of quality assurance and
enhancement of policies and procedures
Responsible for executing specific quality policies under the
direction of the Director of Quality, and also facilitating the
University in the development of policies and various other
quality enhancement and planning initiatives.
Monitoring and assessment of key performance indicators
including various quantitative and qualitative surveys and
reporting.