Quality in Higher Education

Quality in Higher Education

• Quality is defined as doing the right thing right, doing right when no one is looking, the standard measured against similar things, and the degree of excellence.
• Quality Control (QC) focuses on the measures used in educational operations, such as course specifications or tests, to confirm the accuracy of the course or test.
• Quality Assurance (QA) focuses on ensuring the educational program results are accurate.
• Quality Management (QM) is a formal approach that analyses and implements improvements to educational performance.
• Quality Improvement (QI) is the development, review, and implementation of policies and procedures to ensure quality in educational activities.
• Quality Planning (QP) involves identifying, classifying, and determining the importance of quality features.
• Quality Monitoring (QM) checks how effectively an institution or program achieves its goals, often using reports from external examiners, staff, students, and accreditation bodies.

Accreditation

• Accreditation is a quality control and assurance process recognizing institutions or programs that meet minimum standards after inspection.

Audit

• Audit refers to reviewing an institution or program to assess if its stated aims and objectives are met.

Action Plans

• An action plan is a specific implementation plan to achieve an objective.

Weaknesses and Threats in Quality Assurance

• Lack of institutional capacity
• Lack of human capacity
• Lack of funds
• Poor inter-university communication
• Private versus Public institutional conflict
• Government interference

Characteristics of Quality in Education

• Fitness for purpose (institutional vision, mission, levels of achievement, and excellence)
• Value for money spent on the expected service
• Learning outcomes, skills, and attitudes students develop
• Socio-economic value of education to the community
• Fitness for purpose (from academic administrators)

Deep and Surface Approaches to Learning

• Deep approach prioritizes critical thinking and comprehensive understanding.
• Surface approach emphasizes rote memorization and minimal engagement.

Bloom's Taxonomy

• Bloom's taxonomy outlines six levels of understanding from remembering to creating.

Vision, Mission, and Values

• Vision: a big picture of what an institution wants to achieve.
• Mission: a general statement of how the institution will achieve its vision.
• Values: how an institution will behave when working toward the vision.

Goals vs. Objectives

• Goals: are general statements of desired outcomes.
• Objectives: are specific milestones with timelines to achieve a goal.

Quality Guidelines vs. Standards

• Guidelines provide how to achieve an objective.
• Standards define requirements or expected results.

Learning Outcomes

• Learning outcomes are measurable skills, abilities, knowledge, or values students should demonstrate after a course.

Program Design

• Program design describes activities expected to produce change in participants.

Competency Framework (NARS-Medicine)

• The competency framework outlines areas of competence for medical graduates (health care provider, health promoter, professional, scholar, health team member, healthcare system member, and lifelong learner/researcher).

Problem-Based Learning (PBL)

• PBL is an active learning method using small groups and a tutor to address real-life challenges, improving knowledge retention, motivation, and relevant work skills.

PBL Benefits Over Traditional Teaching

• PBL encourages deeper understanding of subject matter rather than rote learning.
• PBL promotes teamwork and collaboration in small groups.
• PBL improves critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
• PBL develops independent study and public speaking skills.

How PBL Works

• PBL's seven steps involve: discussing a case, identifying questions, brainstorming solutions, analyzing solutions, formulating learning objectives, independent study, and gaining required knowledge.

Student Empowerment

• Student empowerment is the process where students gain self-direction and decision-making abilities.

Challenges in Engaging Students

• Culture shock when entering university.
• Student's relevant life circumstances might impact engagement in classroom learning.
• Student's participation expectations will vary.

Improving Student Engagement

• Factors: school type, resources, instructor style.

Student Satisfaction

• Factors: academic advising, campus life, learning experience, student support, concern for the student, and safety.

Ways to Assess Student Satisfaction

• Quantitative methods: face-to-face interviews, surveys, telephone surveys.
• Qualitative methods: focus groups, interviews, participant observations.

Stakeholders

• Stakeholders: teachers, students, school leaders, parents, ministry of education, ministry of finance, universities, employers, media, exam boards, etc.

Defining Terms (Capability, Capacity, Competency)

• Capability: the ability to do something.
• Capacity: includes potential for improvement of skills & abilities
• Competency: improved version of ability, representing task skill level.

Ethical Standards in Education

• Act with integrity, provide high standards of service, promote trust in the profession, treat others with respect, take personal responsibility.

Building Trust in Teams

• Strategies: create a culture of credibility, emphasize respect, communicate, understand each other, empower team members, establish team values and goals.

Quality Evaluation for Better Learning

• Approach used to demonstrate that universities provide quality education.

Single Loop vs. Double Loop Learning

• Single Loop Learning focuses on actions;
• Double Loop Learning focuses on underlying processes/frameworks.

Synchronous vs. Asynchronous E-learning

• Synchronous learning: learners and teachers are online together (e.g., virtual classroom, webinars).
• Asynchronous learning: learners and teachers are not online simultaneously.

E-learning Platforms

• MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses)
• Virtual Learning Environments (VLEs)
• Video streaming services
• Virtual Instructor-led training (VILT)
• Discussion boards

E-learning Benefits

• Flexibility to accommodate diverse needs, access to updated content, quick delivery of lessons, scalability for expanding reach, consistency, reduced cost, less impact on the environment.

E-learning Disadvantages

• No self-discipline (without deadlines), limited face-to-face interactions, lack of flexibility for trainers or learners.

Examples of E-learning

• Scenarios & simulations
• Stories
• Games
• Quizzes & assessments

Feedback vs Reflection

• Feedback focuses on interaction (teacher/student),
• Reflection focuses on the process (analysis of past experiences, and looking at potential improvements)

Trustworthy Professions

• Doctors, scientists, teachers, and possibly judges are considered the most trustworthy professions.

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

• AI mimics human intelligence using technology applications
• AI systems analyze data using algorithms to suggest and predict outcomes.
• AI has applications in automobile, security, administration, finance, education, and healthcare.
• Machine learning (subset).
• Deep learning (subset of machine learning); large data sets , longer training.

AI Benefits in Education

• Reduced human error, increased speed, improved accessibility.

AI Risks in Education

• High costs of tools, potential lack of personalization.

Quality in Higher Education (Exam Model):

• Knowledge of key terms (Quality Control, Assurance, Monitoring, Planning, different approaches, etc.)
• Understanding of concepts (vision, mission, values, etc.)
• Ability to answer multiple-choice and other question types.

Explore the essential components of quality in higher education through this quiz. It covers concepts such as Quality Control, Assurance, Management, Improvement, and Planning. Understand how these elements contribute to achieving excellence in educational programs.