FRAMEWORK FOR
INTERNAL QUALITY
ASSURANCE
Dr Muhammad Abdul Wahid Usmani (Ph.D)
Head of Quality(QEC), Jinnah Sind Medical University
International Reviewer: Slovak Accreditation Agency for Higher Education.
International Representative: The Accrediting Agency Curacao (AAC)
Quality Assurance in Higher Education (a Quick Review)
Internal Quality Assurance (IQA)
External Quality Assurance (EQA)
IQA=EQA
Current Practices of Higher Education Institutions for QA
 Quality Enhancement Cell (Custodian)
 Self Assessment Report (SAR-PREE)
 Postgraduate Program (GPR) & Review of Institutional
Performance & Enhancement (RIPE)
 Feedback Forms
 Ranking
 Data Provision
Are these QA practices or QA system????????
What is Internal Quality Assurance System?
 Internal Quality Assurance may be defined as:
“Quality Assurance Mechanism prepared within the context of a
specific institution meeting the major requirements of External
Quality Assurance.”
Why Internal Quality Assurance System
 Gaining the public confidence.
 System focused rather than person focused.
 Meeting the requirements of EQA.
 Accountability of public & Private funding.
 More focus on continuous quality improvement
 Most Importantly a cycle is required…. How?????
European standards and guidelines for internal quality
assurance within higher education institutions
1.1 Policy for Quality Assurance
1.2 Design & Approval of Programmes
1.3 Student-centred learning, teaching and assessment
1.4 Student admission, progression, recognition and certification
1.5 Teaching staff
1.6 Learning resources and student support
1.7 Information management
1.8 Public information
1.9 On-going monitoring and periodic review of programmes
1.10 Cyclical external quality assurance
 https://www.enqa.eu/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/ESG_2015.pdf
European Standards & Guidelines for Internal Quality
Assurance
 1.1 Policy for Quality Assurance
 Standard:
 Institutions should have a policy for quality assurance that is
made public and forms part of their strategic management.
Internal stakeholders should develop and implement this policy
through appropriate structures and processes, while involving
external stakeholders.
European Standards & Guidelines for Internal Quality
Assurance
1.2 Design & Approval of Programmes
Standard:
 Institutions should have processes for the design and approval of
their programmes. The programmes should be designed so that
they meet the objectives set for them, including the intended
learning outcomes. The qualification resulting from a programme
should be clearly specified and communicated, and refer to the
correct level of the national qualifications framework for higher
education and, consequently, to the Framework for Qualifications
of the European Higher Education Area.
European Standards & Guidelines for Internal Quality
Assurance
1.3 Student-centred learning, teaching and assessment
Standard:
 Institutions should ensure that the programmes are delivered in a way
that encourages students to take an active role in creating the learning
process, and that the assessment of students reflects this approach.
1.4 Student admission, progression, recognition and certification
Standard:
 Institutions should consistently apply pre-defined and published
regulations covering all phases of the student “life cycle”, e.g. student
admission, progression, recognition and certification.
European Standards & Guidelines for Internal Quality
Assurance
1.5 Teaching staff
Standard:
 Institutions should assure themselves of the competence of their
teachers. They should apply fair and transparent processes for the
recruitment and development of the staff.
1.6 L earning resources and student support
Standard:
 Institutions should have appropriate funding for learning and teaching
activities and ensure that adequate and readily accessible learning
resources and student support are provided.
European Standards & Guidelines for Internal Quality
Assurance
1.7 Information management
Standard:
 Institutions should ensure that they collect, analyse and use relevant
information for the effective management of their programmes and other
activities.
1.8 Public information
Standard:
 Institutions should publish information about their activities, including
programmes, which is clear, accurate, objective, up-to date and readily
accessible.
European Standards & Guidelines for Internal Quality
Assurance
1.9 On-going Monitoring & Periodic Review of Programmes
Standard:
 Institutions should monitor and periodically review their programmes to
ensure that they achieve the objectives set for them and respond to the
needs of students and society. These reviews should lead to continuous
improvement of the programme. Any action planned or taken as a result
should be communicated to all those concerned.
1.10 Cyclical external quality assurance
Standard:
 Institutions should undergo external quality assurance in line with the
ESG on a cyclical basis.
Proposed Framework for Program IQA
1. Internal Quality Assurance Policy
2. Curriculum(Program Specification, Course Specification, Course Report,
Program Report)
3. Student Life Cycle (Admission, Progression, Certification
4. Teaching & Learning (Faculty, Delivery, Monitoring etc)
5. Academic/Non Academic Resources (ICT, Library, Classrooms, CoCurricular, Facilities etc.)
6. Meaningful Assessment
7. Evaluation (Monitoring, Feedback & KPIs)
8. CQI Cycle
9. Public Information
Next Cycle
1. Internal Quality Assurance Policy
 Policy Purpose
 Scope
 Policy Statement
 Policy Implementation Procedure
2. . Curriculum (Program Specification, Course Specification,
Course Report, Program Report)
Program Structure:
 Program Specification
 Course Specification
 Course Report
 Program Report
Uniform and containing all information.
3. Student Life Cycle (Admission, Progression, Certification
 Admission
 Progression
 Certification
4. Teaching & Learning (Faculty, Delivery, Monitoring etc)
 FDP/CPD
 Performance Evaluation
 Peer Feedback
 Students feedback
 Class observations
 Faculty Course Review
5. Academic/Non Academic Resources (ICT, Library,
Classrooms, Co- Curricular, Facilities etc.)
 Academic Resources
 Technological Resources
 Access to International Resources
 Non-Academic Resources
6. Meaningful Assessment
 CPD for Assessment
 Moderation mechanism
 Post Exam Analysis
 Considerations/Review of results
7. Evaluation (Monitoring, Feedback & KPIs)
 Meaningful feedback
 Preparing results for KPIs
 Comparing results
 Presenting at an appropriate forum
Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI Cycle)
9. Public Information
 Publish Highlights
 How Program Runs
 Success Stories
 Significant Steps Taken
Proposed Framework for Institutional IQA
1. Policy Framework
2. Systematic Approval of Programs
3. Students Centered teaching and Assessment
4. Students Admission & Progression and Attainment of Competencies
5. Learning Resources and Students Support Systems
6. Teaching Staff
7. Periodic Review of Programs based on QMS/KPI
8. Information Management
9. External QA Mapping/Preparation
Implementation of the internal quality systems will cost
But not implementing them might cost even more
Activities Listed
 1. Blank Sheet with Columns
Areas
Policy/
Govern
ance
Curricul
um
Admissi
on
HEC/P
REE
PMDC
Pharm
acy
Busine
ss
Tt
Educatio
n
Com PEC
puter
Activity-2
 For Each Box, Develop a set of Standard:
 Curriculum Should:
 Faculty should/Must
 Develop a set of Standard for each head.
 Compare your set with your peer.
Take Home
 Develop a Draft set of Standards for your own institution. (Prerequisite for follow up
session.)