Quality Assurance Policy

Transcription

1 Quality Assurance Policy January 2008 ES School of Management is a trademark of The English Studio Ltd. Registered in England & Wales. Company number: Registered Office: 61 Goldhawk Road, London, W12 8EG.

2 Content page 1. Introduction Aim 1.2 Principles 1.3 Limitations 2. Framework Monitoring Procedures Needs Analysis and Self- Evaluation Questionnaires 3.2 Academic standard Maintenance Procedures 3.3 Exam Results 3.4 Monitoring Reports 3.5 Maintenance of Records 4 Annual Course Review 06 2

3 1. Introduction 1.1 Aim The aim of this document is to describe the processes used by ES School of Management for the enhancement of students learning experience within the school and the maintenance of academic standards in the context of a highly diverse student population, a particular feature of the school s academic portfolio. 1.2 Principles Members of staff are expected to take personal responsibility for their own professional quality and standards in all their activities. They will exercise this responsibility within a supportive environment where expectations and standards are defined, continuous improvement and innovation are encouraged, development and training opportunities are provided and feedback is actively sought from students and all stakeholders. The quality assurance framework sets objectives rather than dictates detailed procedures and structures and should enable consistent procedures, rather than standardisation. All policies and procedures will be documented and readily accessible to staff, students and other stakeholders. The school will rigorously and continuously monitor the effectiveness of its quality assurance procedures to assure that they are operating in accordance with good practice, in the best interests of students and the maintenance of academic standards. The school will also continue to work constructively with external agencies, in particular BAC (the accreditation body) ICM (accreditation and examination body for tourism courses) and ABE (the accreditation and examination body for Business courses) as well as with any future partner universities. 1.3 About the School The ES School of Management has recently been established as a division of The English Studio Ltd. as a response to students growing interest in business and other professional qualifications. Similar principles as those shared by The English Studio have been adopted by ES School of Management: quality tuition at affordable prices. However, in view of the fact that ES School of Management is still in the early stages of its development, adjustments are being made with the aim of providing better physical facilities to students and staff. Changes are also taking place in order to comply with regulatory frameworks set by legislative and accreditation bodies. As such, this document should be seen as the initial written statement to the tools and processes that are in place and/or will be implemented by the school in the course of It is, therefore, the aim of the quality standards committee to review, improve and update this document within the next two years so as to better respond to the students and academic needs while concomitantly addressing the challenges of the school s fast-changing environment. Within the new premises at 61, Goldhawk Road, the school hosts 4 classrooms (two operational at present), one of which equipped with multimedia facilities. A study area also known as multimedia centre with networked computers, cable TV, a library and communal area for students is also provided. Lecturers share an office with networked computer access as well as printing facilities. The school is also monitored by CCTV and access to the building is controlled by an electronic (IGuard) entry system which not only restricts access, but also controls student and employee attendance records. These are a few of the improvements that have been made to the school. Others will be implemented in the course of time. 3

4 2. Framework The school consists at present of the following members of staff which altogether comprise the committee for quality control procedures and improvements: Principal Overall responsibility for Management of three centres, liaison with company shareholders and head of the committee for quality control To approve of existing or new quality assurance policies To advise on possible courses of action and provide guidance on administration-related matters which might impinge on the quality assurance policy and/or its implementation Head of Business School Responsible for academic and administrative duties within the business school; quality assurance co-ordinator in charge of monitoring procedures To implement, review and develop the school s learning and teaching strategy and quality assurance policies and procedures To have general oversight over quality and standards in the school To receive reports, needs analysis and self-assessment forms from lecturers To arrange meetings at least once every six months with lecturers to discuss students progress and needs analysis reports Lecturers Responsible for the implementation of quality assurance policy and staff-student liaison To hand out needs analysis questionnaires once every six months at least To carry out self evaluation and tutorials with students To pass information on to the head of business school To consider the outcome of student evaluation of courses and modules and respond to those effectively Student Representative responsible for the collection of suggestions and complaints from students (unless no student representative wishes to be appointed) To participate in quality control meetings with lecturers and head of school To organise meetings (formal or informal) with students once every six months to discuss needs and wants, suggestions and/or complaints To produce reports with issues raised by students To deliver reports to head of school to be addressed during meetings 4

5 3. Monitoring Procedures 3.1 Needs Analysis and Self-evaluation Questionnaires Needs analysis questionnaires (currently being updated) are used as part of the school s quality assurance procedures so as to enable course monitoring processes and course effectiveness. Their purpose is not to monitor individual performance, nor to be used as a student complaints channel. Other procedures are in place for such purposes. They are tools with which to measure: Students needs in terms of course delivery and lectures themselves Overall satisfaction with courses Self-assessment to be used as basis for individual counselling The collected result of questionnaires should be used as a means of evaluation in order to: Discuss improvements that can be feasibly implemented with a view to improve course delivery and general standards Give tutors a more accurate reading of their teaching and students learning Provide tutors with supporting evidence when giving tutorials with students Highlight any dissatisfaction with course content and/or structure that can then be used to inform accreditation and examination bodies of possible shortcomings 3.2 Academic Standard Maintenance Procedures The school aims at providing high quality teaching and learning experiences. Apart from scrutiny of BAC accreditation process 1, the school has the following procedures in place with a view to maintaining teaching standards: Lesson Observation Lesson observations are carried out no less than once every six months. The process consists of one peer observation and one observation by either the Head of School or by the English Studio Director of Studies. This process provides an independent assessment of teaching and learning outcomes and enables knowledge sharing Punctuality and Absence Punctuality is required from all employees, students and academic staff and is monitored by an electronic (iguard) system. The school will try to provide substitutions for lessons missed due to a lecturer s absence Staff Development Partnerships are currently being set up to provide students and academic staff with further education and professional development courses at discounted fees. 1 For information see latest British Accreditation Council inspection report available from head of school 5

6 3.3 Exam Results Exams are produced and marked externally by the Accreditation / Examination bodies. Some are taken internally while others externally. For both, internal and external, strict regulations given by accreditation / examining bodies are followed 2. The reports produced by accreditation bodies are used to monitor students performance and course standards. The school aims at achieving 60% average pass rate or above. Should the rate fall below the threshold, the quality standards committee shall take immediate action to address the issue through the following: Review course content and methodological approaches Carry out peer lesson observation Organise meetings with academic staff and students representatives Investigate ways of improving course delivery, timetable, learning support sessions and other measures to address the problem 3.4 Monitoring Reports Every six months, once information derived from needs analysis questionnaires has been compiled and the results tabulated, such information is used to produce reports which should contain: Period covered by the report Number of students registered for the module Pass / fail rate in numbers and percentage Drop out rates Students satisfaction with modules Other comments relating to term courses Proposal for desirable changes Discussion of all the above takes place during term meetings once every six months. Formal records of meetings conducted and the minutes of all meetings must be kept in the school s records; it is the responsibility of the Head of School to ensure that this is done. 3.5 Maintenance of Records The school is required to keep a full set of records covering a period of at least three years. Those are: Exam entry confirmations and results Records of student evaluation of teaching External examination and accreditation bodies reports The records of annual monitoring visits and re-inspections A sample of student work in each module Needs analysis and self-assessment forms and reports Any other paperwork relevant to the school 4. Annual Course Review By using the above reports, improvement processes can be suggested and implemented. It is the committee s aim to implement a continuous improvement process on a yearly basis as a result of the above monitoring procedures. 2 Regulations for current examination bodies can be found at and 6