KNUST SUMMER SCHOOL
‘12
Quality Assurance Policy for KNUST
(DRAFT)
By
Paul Kwadwo Addo
(Asst. Registrar –QAPU, KNUST)
Presentation Outline
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Background
KNUST vision, mission and core values
Policy context
Policy objectives
Scope of the policy
Desired outcome from the implementation
of the QA policy
Presentation Outline
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Policy assumption
Administrative structure
Implementation strategies
Policy review and amendments
Background
• Tertiary education in Ghana is faced with
several challenges including quality and
relevancy of courses in meeting the needs of
employers and other stakeholders
• There is the need to put in place a system of
ensuring quality in all university operations.
• QA Policy is thus needed to serve as a
framework for ensuring quality.
Background
• The UNESCO International Institute of
Educational Planning refers to Quality
Assurance as a continuous process of
evaluating, guaranteeing, maintaining and
improving the quality of higher education
system, institutions or programmes
KNUST Vision, Mission
• The vision is to advance knowledge in Science
and Technology for sustainable development
in Africa.
• The mission is to provide an environment for
teaching, research and entrepreneurship
training in science and technology for the
industrial and socio-economic development of
Ghana, Africa and other nations.
KNUST Core Values
• Leadership in Innovation and Technology,
• Culture of Excellence
• Diversity and Equal Opportunity for All
Human,
• Integrity and Stewardship of Resources
Policy context
• The Statutes of the KNUST (Statutes 47) puts
responsibility on QAPU to be responsible for:
• Strategic Planning
• Quality Assurance
• Management of Student data and any other
responsibilities as may be assigned to it by the
Vice-Chancellor.
Policy objectives
• The objectives of the policy are to ensure:
• Leadership in academic excellence by safeguarding and improving the academic standards
and quality of teaching and learning.
• Leadership in innovation and technology through
the development of appropriate relevant
programmes in science and technology that meet
the needs of labour and industry.
• The integrity of degrees/certificates awarded.
Policy objectives(Cont…)
• Research conducted by staff and students are
done with the highest integrity and are able to
meet local and international standards.
• The continuous improvement of the quality of
community services rendered to stakeholders.
• Provision of cutting-edge capacity-building
workshops for all staff to enhance constant
improvement of internal support services.
• The development and de-centralization of
internal quality mechanisms to all areas of the
University’s operations.
Policy objectives(Cont…)
• The provision of quality service delivery to all
our stakeholders and to promote the culture
of excellence among all the members of the
University community.
• ethical implementation of all activities and
programmes
Scope of the policy
• This policy shall cover all the areas of the
University’s operations and facilities namely:
• All
Colleges/Faculties,
academic/administrative
departments,
research institutions/centres and all other
specialized and productive units within the
university.
Scope of the policy(Cont…)
• All staff (senior members, senior staff and junior
staff), temporary and permanent who are active
in
teaching,
research,
administration,
professional services, consultancy and all those
who provide any support service to the core
functions of the University.
• All registered students in full-time, part-time,
sandwich and distance learning programmes.
• All infrastructure: learning resources, sporting
facilities, medical facilities, etc.
• All governance/institutional structures council;
boards and committees.
Desired outcome from QA policy
• The implementation of the QA policy is to achieve
the following:
• Improved provision of high quality education in
science and technology.
• High student performance and provision of
quality graduates.
• Meeting the expectations of all our major
stakeholders (Government, Employers, Parents,
Alumni, etc.)
• Ensuring accountability and transparency in the
education delivery process by involving students
and the community.
Desired outcome from QA policy
• Enhanced capacity of staff and students to
compete with other staff and students in
other institutions in Ghana, Africa and the
entire world.
• Improved institutional and public image and
prestige of the KNUST.
• Enhanced research output of staff.
• Ensure the realization of the vision and
mission of the University.
Policy assumption
• The Statutes of KNUST prescribes the
governing structure of the University.
• Various policies are from time to time, made
to guide the operations of the University.
These are often published as Recorders of the
University.
• The Quality Assurance Policy is only assisting
to ensure the effective monitoring and
evaluating standards in realization of the
vision and mission of the University.
Policy assumption(Cont…)
• Other policies such as the Research Policy, the
Teaching and Learning Policy, the Ethics Policy,
the Gender Policy, the ICT Policy, among
others shall provide detailed guidelines in the
specific areas/disciplines.
• This QA Policy provides the general
basis/framework for all these policies.
Policy Statements
• Public Service:
KNUST, Act 1961 (Act 80) and amended by PNDC
Law 240 of 1990 and Act 559 of 1998. The
University is therefore expected to perform its
public functions: work with MOE, NAB,NCTE,VCG
Policy Statements(Cont…)
• Admissions:
The following shall apply in the admission
process to ensure that qualified students are
admitted in a fair and transparent manner:
• Admission policy stating the criteria for
admission shall be in place and reviewed from
time to time.
• An appropriate admission Committee shall be
constituted to manage the admission process.
Policy Statements(Cont…)
• The Academic Board shall be the final
authority to approve quotas for the various
programmes.
• The use of ICT shall be employed to ensure
timely processing of all admissions.
• Appropriate measures shall be employed to
ensure timely process at all admissions.
• Appropriate measures shall be put in place to
ensure that, information provided by students
is validated before and after admission.
Policy Statements(Cont…)
• Teaching and Learning
The KNUST Teaching and Learning Policy provide
details on teaching and learning issues but the
following shall be adhered to:
• Academic staff are expected to demonstrate to
students a commitment to scholarly values to
lifelong learning, professional and personal
growth.
• Academic staff must comply with ethical
standards in teaching and learning and be
sensitive to students with special needs,
especially, those with disability challenges.
Policy Statements(Cont…)
• Academic staffs are to promote or enhance
one’s discipline through research and
publications which should form the basis of
their teaching.
• Academic staffs are to acquire and develop
knowledge to understand a wide range of
teaching and assessment methods and
principles underlining student learning.
• Students must make themselves available for
instruction and adhere to the requirements of
their programmes.
Policy Statements(Cont…)
• Students must perform all tasks assigned to
them as part of their learning process.
• The University/College/Faculty/Department
must ensure that, all programmers are
accredited and accreditation certificates
received.
• The University /College /Faculty/Department
must provide resources for teaching and
learning.
Policy Statements(Cont…)
• Evaluation and Assessment
The integrity of qualifications awarded is based
largely on the assessment procedure to ensure
effective assessment. The following shall apply:
• There shall be a policy on assessment
procedure/methods which shall be well
communicated to all staff and students.
• Appropriate
professionals
like
External
Examiners, Moderators shall be involved, where
necessary, for effective assessment and
evaluation of all programmes.
Policy Statements(Cont…)
• In all the assessment and evaluation process,
fairness, accuracy, objectivity and integrity
shall be upheld.
The Ethics policy provides details on integrity in
the conduct of the University business.
Policy Statements(Cont…)
• Research
• There shall be an appropriate research policy
which shall be reviewed from time to time to
make it relevant to the present needs of the
university.
• Research activities shall be decentralized as much
as possible and every academic staff must have a
research agenda.
• All research activities undertaken in all
units/departments/faculties/Colleges shall be
properly managed, conducted and appropriate
feedback given to funding agencies.
Policy Statements(Cont…)
• All research must conform to all laid down rules
and regulations, including
ethical and
environmental considerations.
• A mechanism/system shall be instituted to
ensure
that,
research
outcomes
are
communicated effectively to all concerned to
ensure that, the identified problems are resolved.
• Research should be well integrated into the
teaching and learning processes.
• Appropriate Intellectual Property (copyright)
regulations should be followed if there are
commercial gains from the research.
Policy Statements(Cont…)
• Staff Recruitment, Development and
Promotion
• There shall be a clear human resource policy,
as well as, appropriate conditions of service
for all categories of staff.
• All the policies shall be properly
communicated to all staff during their
appointment and as much as possible, copies
made available to them.
Policy Statements(Cont…)
• Appropriate
orientation,
in-service
training/workshops, study opportunities in
various forms shall be introduced for all
categories of staff to enable them update their
knowledge in a fair and transparent manner with
due regard to laid down rules and regulations.
• An appropriate performance appraisal system
shall be put in place to monitor performance.
• Staff shall be well motivated and appropriate
reward systems like Long Service Awards
instituted to motivate staff.
Policy Statements(Cont…)
• Appropriate safe environment shall be
ensured to enable staff carry out their
functions in a safety condition(s).
• Appropriate discipline mechanisms shall be
put in place at the various levels to ensure
that, there is respect for work ethics and
norms for higher productivity.
Policy Statements(Cont…)
• Resource Utilization and Integrity in Service
• All staff must uphold the highest sense of
integrity when using any of the university’s
resources.
• It is required of all staff to work for the period
assigned to them per their appointment letter
• All staff must, as much as possible handle all
equipment, tools and machinery with care
and always cultivate the culture of
maintenance.
Policy Statements(Cont…)
• All staff must respect all other people they
work with and strive to ensure team work and
harmonized living.
• All staff must ensure that, female staffs in
particular are not unduly harassed and coworkers with disability challenges are assisted
at all times.
• To ensure effective utilization of all human
resources, staff should be involved in the
decision making process, as well as policy
implementation.
Policy Statements(Cont…)
• Students Involvement in Management
• Students shall be well represented in all
Committees/Boards as stipulated in the Statutes
and other policies.
• There shall be a student Handbook which shall
contain all the necessary information students
may need and this shall be reviewed, as and
when necessary.
• Students shall be involved in the Quality
Assurance process by evaluating courses and
lecturers, every semester.
Policy Statements(Cont…)
• Students shall be involved in the assessment
of non-teaching staff, as well as,
administrative
officers
at
the
Department/Faculty/College
and
the
University levels.
• Due process shall be followed in all
disciplinary matters involving students.
• Counseling services shall be made available to
all students in all aspects of their academic
and social lives
Policy Statements(Cont…)
• Administrative structure
• The QAPU should be made a directorate with the
following sub-unit
• Institutional Planning and Monitoring Unit
(IPMU)
• Quality Assurance and Accreditation Unit (QAAU)
• Research, Evaluation and Publication Unit (REPU)
• Management Information Systems Unit (MISU)
Policy Statements(Cont…)
The Institutional Planning and Monitoring Unit
The Unit shall be headed by a professional with a
background in planning.
• The Unit shall be responsible for the following among
others:
• Assist in setting performance standards of the
university.
• Assist in developing plans and policies for smooth
administration of the University.
• Monitor the strategic plans and policies of the
University.
• Assist in all institutional planning of the University and
provide such plans for management decisions.
Policy Statements(Cont…)
Quality Assurance and Accreditation Unit
The Unit shall be responsible for the following,
among others:
• Monitor all activities of quality assurance in the
university.
• Assist with both internal and external
accreditation processes of the University.
• Provide advice and policy alternatives in the
implementation of Quality Assurance policies and
activities.
• Provide professional opinion to Management on
current issues bordering on Quality Assurance
Policy Statements(Cont…)
• Link the Directorate to appropriate
professional bodies and at the local, regional
and international levels.
• Assist to vet extra teaching claims of academic
staff.
Policy Statements(Cont…)
Research, Evaluation and Publication Unit
The Unit shall be responsible for the following, among
others:
• Assist in evaluation of all categories of staff
• Assist in developing appropriate performance appraisal
mechanism for all categories of staff.
• Carry out needs assessment and tracer studies for
curriculum development.
• Gather appropriate data through research, sampling of
opinion by way of satisfaction survey for alumni, and
other stakeholders
• Co-ordinate publications on University statistics and
Quality Assurance issues.
Policy Statements(Cont…)
The Management Information System Unit
The Unit shall be responsible for the following
among others:
• Assist with management of all student data.
• Assist to develop appropriate application systems
for effective management of data and other
related services.
• Co-ordinate with the Research, Evaluation and
Publication Unit to publish the Basic Statistics.
• Assist to provide up to date data to Management
and other stakeholders who may need them.
Quality Assurance Sub- Committees in
various Units/Colleges
• There shall be established in all Colleges and
Professional Units of the University a Quality
Assurance Sub-Committee to:
• Co-ordinate the activities of Colleges/Units
regarding the preparation, implementation,
monitoring and evaluation of strategic
planning in consultation with the Quality
Assurance and Planning Directorate (QAPD).
Quality Assurance Sub- Committees in
various Units/Colleges
• Co-ordinate all activities to ensure quality
service delivery, effective teaching, research,
administration and other services to enable
the University attain academic and service
excellence in consultation with the QAPD.
• Produce brief reports of their activities every
semester to the QAPD.
• Perform any other function as may be
assigned to them by the Vice- Chancellor and
the QAPD.
QAPD Linkage with other
Boards/Committees and Units
The QAPD shall be responsible to the Vice–
Chancellor. It shall have close relation with all
Boards/Committees of the University in matters
that relate to policies and quality assurance,
including:
• The University Council
• The Academic Board
• The Welfare Board
• The Appointment and Promotion Committee
• The Graduate School Board
QAPD Linkage with other
Boards/Committees and Units
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The International Programmers Office Board
The University Ranking Committee
The College Boards
The Examinations Co-coordinating Committee
The Institute of Distance Learning Board
The Planning and Resource Committee and
any other related bodies.
Implementation strategies
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Internal Accreditation Reviews
External Accreditation
Institutional Audit/Review
Capacity Building
Examination Audit
Student Assessment of Courses
Assessment of Conduct of Courses by Lecturers
Monitoring of Examinations
Assessment of Administrative Heads of the
University
• Departmental Ranking
Implementation strategies
• Satisfaction Surveys/ Research:
- Tracer Studies /Alumni Survey
- Students’ Satisfaction Survey
- Employer Satisfaction Survey
- Staff Satisfaction Survey
- External Community Reception Survey
Validity of Policy Provisions
• This policy does not seek to replace other
University Policies.
• It is meant to support and improve upon them.
• In the event of conflict with other policies like
Statutes, appropriate measures shall be taken by
Management (Academic Board) to address them.
• This policy becomes operational after approval by
the University Academic Board. The policy shall
however, be subject to periodic reviews and
changes to conform to current trends.
Validity of Policy Provisions
• The entire Policy shall however be reviewed
every five (5) years to ensure that it becomes
relevant to the administration and
management of the University.
Thank You