IA AO SAMOA NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF SAMOA QUALITY ASSURANCE FRAMEWORK AUGUST 2016 CONTENTS INTRODUCTION... 2 PURPOSE OF THIS DOCUMENT... 2 DEFINTION OF QUALITY... 2 DEFINITION OF QUALITY ASSURANCE... 3 ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE... 3 OVERVIEW OF THE NUS QUALITY ASSURANCE FRAMEWORK... 4 1. PROGRAMME APPROVAL... 5 2. EXTERNAL PROGRAMME REVIEW... 5 3. EXTERNAL EVALUATION... 6 4. ACADEMIC STAFF APPRAISAL... 6 5. ASSESSMENT... 6 6. STUDENT COURSE EVALUATION... 7 7. GRADUATE SURVEY... 7 8. BENCHMARKING (SECTION TO BE COMPLETED)... 7 9. EMPLOYER SURVEY... 8 10. TRACER STUDY... 8 11. ACADEMIC AUDIT... 8 12. ACCREDITATION... 9 QUALITY IMPROVEMENT LOOP... 9
INTRODUCTION Academic quality assurance at the National University of Samoa is central to its role as a provider of tertiary education and training. Accordingly, the National University of Samoa is committed to improving the quality of the education and training services it offers to an increasingly expanding student body. The NUS considers its stakeholders to include: a) Students: as the main recipient or client of NUS services through the fees they pay or scholarships they are awarded, their feedback and suggestions are critical to quality improvement of their learning experience; b) Staff: without whom service provision by the NUS would fail, their commitment and quality is critical to providing a high quality learning experience for students; c) Employers and Community: as the main users of the attributes developed by graduates throughout their time at NUS, their input is needed through advice on our programmes and courses, and feedback on the performance of our graduates in the workplace and community; d) Government of Samoa: as the main financing agent for the university, their priorities and strategic direction influence the NUS strategic direction. PURPOSE OF THIS DOCUMENT The NUS Quality Assurance Framework outlines the processes for assuring the NUS community and its stakeholders that there is continuous improvement in the quality of education and training offered at the National University of Samoa. DEFINTION OF QUALITY The National University of Samoa acknowledges that stakeholders will differ on their definition of what constitutes a quality university education. The National University of Samoa takes a pragmatic approach to the concept of quality, and defines quality university education as that which: a) Consists of: b) Results in: o Effective and sufficient inputs (student attributes, curriculum, staff attributes, physical & learning resources, student support services, research, governance) o Effective and efficient processes (pedagogy/andragogy, assessment, student engagement, staff professional development, faculty management); and which o o Desired outputs (student results, graduate attributes, graduate competencies); and Desired outcomes (graduate employment and career progression, contribution to society and national development). Expressed this way, the NUS definition of quality university education aligns most with the notion of quality as fitness for purpose (Burrows, Harvey & Green, 1992).
DEFINITION OF QUALITY ASSURANCE Quality assurance at the National University of Samoa is defined as: Processes, policies and activities designed to ensure that the education and training offered at the NUS meets students and stakeholders needs for quality university education, as defined above. ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE
OVERVIEW OF THE NUS QUALITY ASSURANCE FRAMEWORK QUALITY ASSURANCE PROCESSES OUTCOMES graduate employment & career progression, contribution to society & national development OUTPUTS student results, graduate attributes, graduate competencies PROCESSES pedagogy/andragogy, assessment, student engagement, staff professional development, faculty management Tracer Study Employer survey Assessment Student course evaluation Graduate survey Benchmarking ACADEMIC AUDIT ACCREDITATION INPUTS student attributes, curriculum, staff attributes, physical & learning resources, student support services, research, governance Programme & Course Approval Programme Review External Evaluation Academic Staff Appraisal
The diagram on the previous page provides an overview of the NUS academic quality assurance processes. Each quality assurance process is summarised below in terms of definition, purpose, policy reference, frequency, and evidence produced. The feedback received from every quality assurance process feeds back into programme and course development and teaching and assessment processes to ensure continuous improvement of what we do. 1. PROGRAMME APPROVAL The process of granting consent for a new or revised programme to be offered at the National University of Samoa The policy ensures that any programme meets the requirements of the qualification for which it is designed and has consistent goals and objectives. The policy places emphasis on how the curriculum is developed from learning outcomes to content, assessment and evaluation for the award of a qualification. Programme Development and Approval Policy approved August 2015 As needed Concept Paper Programme Design Course Descriptors Feedback from Stakeholder Consultation RUC Proposal 2. EXTERNAL PROGRAMME REVIEW A formal process used to examine a specific programme to determine its strengths and weaknesses and to produce a plan for improvement. The programme review policy ensures that at least every five years: All programmes are reviewed to ascertain that they are achieving their desired outcomes Action is taken to modify or amend and improve the programme. Programme Review Policy and Procedures approved November 2015 At least every 5 years for each programme Faculty Account Review Panel Report Faculty Response to Review Panel Report Senate Programme Review Report Council Resolutions Faculty Action Plan Faculty Implementation Update
3. EXTERNAL EVALUATION Formative assessment of a faculty to obtain feedback on its processes and programmes and provide recommendations for improvement. Identification of areas for improvement sometimes with a view towards meeting specified standards. To be developed As requested by the faculty Terms of Reference for External Evaluators External Evaluation Draft Report External Evaluation Final Report 4. ACADEMIC STAFF APPRAISAL Annual performance assessment of academic staff against the requirements of their position description. To help staff and supervisors: a) Appraise outcomes achieved for the past year b) Negotiated clear performance expectations and measures for the coming year c) Identify and plan for individual development needs Academic, Teaching and Comparable Staff Appraisal Policy, version 2014 Annually in either January or July Appraisal Form 5. ASSESSMENT All the processes involved in judging and reporting on students performance. 1 To make a decision on a student s performance Statute on Assessment and Examinations, 2012 version 2 As specified in course descriptors. 1 NUS Statutes and Policies 2014 v3, p.117 2 2016 NUS Calendar, p. 453
Final course assessment results tabled at the Assessment Senate Student transcripts 6. STUDENT COURSE EVALUATION Twice annual survey of students to obtain their feedback on their courses and lecturers Obtain feedback from students on their courses and lecturers. Student and Graduate Evaluation of Teaching and Courses Policy, April 2016 Every semester General Report on Student Course Evaluation Faculty Student Evaluation Report Course Student Evaluation Report (yet to complete) 7. GRADUATE SURVEY Survey of students who have completed programme requirements for award of an NUS qualification To obtain feedback on employment and salary status of NUS graduates, as well as their level of satisfaction with their completed programme. Annual Graduate Survey Form Graduate Survey Report 8. BENCHMARKING The NUS has already held one workshop on academic benchmarking and is scoping opportunities to undertake benchmarking of an academic programme or process with partner universities.
9. EMPLOYER SURVEY A survey conducted by the Academic Quality Unit for current employers of NUS graduates. To assess the level of employer satisfaction with the relevance of NUS graduate knowledge and skills to workforce needs. To be completed Once every two years Employer survey form Employer Survey Report 10. TRACER STUDY An in-depth study carried out to provide information on the impact of the teaching and learning offered at NUS on the wider community. To gauge whether NUS graduates are: Advancing in their chosen career Making a contribution to national development and society To be developed As required Tracer Study Report 11. ACADEMIC AUDIT The process of quality assessment by which an external body ensures that the overall (internal and external) quality assurance procedures of an institution are adequate and are actually being carried out. Academic audit looks at the system for achieving good quality and not at the quality itself. As above The NUS is involved in the Academic Quality Agency for NZ Universities audit cycle and therefore follows the AQA policies guiding such activities. The policy guidelines for the current cycle are contained in the AQA Cycle 5 Academic Audit Handbook for Universities 3. At least once every 5 years 3 Available at http://www.aqa.ac.nz/cycle5handbook
Self-Review Portfolio Independent Student Report (optional) Audit Report Audit Follow-Up Report 12. ACCREDITATION SQA : Programme Accreditation is the process used to evaluate an organisation's capability of delivering an education or training programme to the required standards 4. WSCUC 5 : as practiced by WSCUC and other regional accrediting associations, a voluntary, non-governmental, peer-based form of quality assurance at the institutional level against the accrediting association s standards. To evaluate whether a programme offered at the NUS meets the accrediting standards of a specific organisation. Yet to be developed As approved by the Vice-Chancellor Self-Review Report Accreditation Draft Report Accreditation Final Report QUALITY IMPROVEMENT LOOP Quality assurance activities at the NUS are undertaken to produce recommendations for continuous improvement. In most QA activities, action plans are developed for approval by faculty, Senate or Council. Once they are approved, action plans are then implemented by the responsible faculty, centre or unit. QA Process Recommendations for Improvement Action Plan & Implementation 4 http://sqa.gov.ws/qualityassurance.aspx 5 WASC Senior College and University Commission (2013) Handbook of Accreditation Revised. https://www.wascsenior.org/resources/handbook-accreditation-2013 p.43