From Quality Assurance to Quality Enhancement The CHE’s Quality Enhancement Project (QEP)
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Transcript of From Quality Assurance to Quality Enhancement The CHE’s Quality Enhancement Project (QEP)
From Quality Assurance to Quality Enhancement
The CHE’s Quality Enhancement Project (QEP)
Curriculum Officers’ ForumChris Winberg
5 February 2014
The last round of Quality Audits
The CPUT Audit 2010Quality assurance philosophy;Measurement of achievementsEvidence;Followed by institutional quality improvement plans.
Problems with the last round of audits
• Based on the UK Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) – without taking into account the SA context;
• Inspired by ‘new public management’ processes;
• Not developmental or improvement or enhancement-based
Showed the ‘cracks’ in
the university system…
…and some strenghts….
But didn’t have any effect on student success, throughputs, etc…
Inspiration: Vincent Tinto
‘…access without support is not opportunity…’
Strongly underpinned by a ‘social justice’ philosophy…
The new paradigm: quality enhancement
The Scottish Quality Enhancement process;• Critical reflection;• Peer review;• Contextual awareness
and sensitivity;• On-going, meaningful
engagement with teaching and learning
Characterised by:
1) A longer process (3 -4 years);
2) Inclusiveness (quality is everyone’s responsibility);
3) Accessing the student voice;
4) Theme-based.
Enhancing university teachers
Enhancing student support &
development
Enhancing the learning environment
Enhancing course and programme enrolment
management
Focus areas (or ‘themes’) for Phase 1
What is the role of the curriculum officers?
ReferencesHouston, D. & Paewai, S. 2013. Knowledge, power and meanings shaping quality assurance in higher education: a systemic critique. Quality in Higher Education, 19 (3).Newton, J. 2010. A Tale of Two ‘Qualitys’: reflections on the quality revolution in higher education. Quality in Higher Education, 16 (1).Sachs, J. & Parsell, M. 2014. Peer review of learning and teaching in higher education. Berlin: Springer.Tinto, V. 1982. Leaving college: rethinking the causes and cures of student attrition. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.Tinto, V. 2012. Completing college: rethinking institutional action. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.