Internal System of Quality Internal System of Quality ManagementManagement

Mona El BaradeiMona El BaradeiDean, Faculty of Economics & Political Dean, Faculty of Economics & Political

ScienceScience

Faculty of Economics & Political Science

IntroductionIntroduction Faculty Mission:

Training high quality experts in the fields of Economics, Statistics, Political Sciences and Public Administration and Computer Sciences Applications in Social Sciences. Those experts are able to compete on both the national and international levels.

Faculty Motto:Commitment – Excellence - Distinction

The Faculty of Economics and Political Science (FEPS) was chosen as one of six pioneering faculties in performance evaluation and quality assurance.

It performed its self-study in 2003 .

A performance evaluation quality assurance unit was established in January 2005.

The unit succeeded in presenting its first annual report in June 2005 and its second annual report in November 2006.

The first report was supported by the National Agency for Accreditation and Quality Assurance and was followed by the visit of a delegation of external reviewers in October, 2005.

Consequently the Peer Review report on the developmental engagement for FEPS was issued.

The report presents the findings of the peer reviewers based on the self

evaluation and supporting information by the faculty. The peer reviewers identified at FEPS some positive points and some issues that

deserve further consideration.

The FEPS strengths include:

The faculty’s mission is clearly stated and presented in the faculty guide.

The faculty has in place all five programme specifications with intended learning outcomes (ILOs), organised into knowledge and skills.

The design of the curricula is sound and students are able to select their own pathway.

Good practice is demonstrated in the curricula and teaching in the French and English sections, in elements of the Statistics programme and in the final year graduation Research Project.

The graduates are able to demonstrate to employers a high level of knowledge.

The development of some good habits in the use of the library.

The student guide supplemented by an orientation programme in the first year and the extra-curricula activities.

The teaching accommodation is appropriate with a good range of theatres and smaller activity rooms.

The nine research centers support fully the mission.

Effective contributions to the community bring mutual benefits.

To deal with what the report described as “matters that needed to be rectified”. The faculty prepared an action plan based on:

SWOT Analysis: (strengths – weakness – opportunities – threats).

SMART Analysis: (specific – measurable – agreed upon – realistic – time related).

Risk Management.

Management of time horizon.

Action PlanThis action plan included:

Faculty Mission Organizational Structure and Management

Tools Staff Members Academic Programs Students Affairs Researches and Academic Activities Graduate Studies Community Services Alumni

Here are a few examples of procedures implemented to deal with the issues mentioned in the report.

A series of seminars under the title of “Higher Education Forum” was held weekly during the academic year 2005/2006.

Regular meetings of the Dean and Vice Deans with the students to promote the quality culture.

Training courses specialized in the establishment of a quality management system.

Issue: Quality Culture Promotion

To set their program specifications, the scientific departments depend on academic staff members’ experience and on comparing corresponding programs in American and European universities.

Committees have been formed within each of the five departments to develop the program specifications. This issue will also take priority in discussions during departmental conferences.

Issue: Program Specifications

To introduce more examples of practical applications and a greater emphasis on the practical issues:

Issue: Curricula

1. Experts from non academic institutions were invited to participate in teaching.

2. FEPS students are supported to participate in summer trainings.

3. Participation of students in extra-curricular activities is strongly encouraged.

4. Applications and research projects are included in most of the courses.

The new annex for the faculty was inaugurated in November, 2005, which helped partially in solving the problems of lack of space and intensified schedules both for students and staff members.

Data-shows are being provided for all classrooms.

Issue: Learning Resources

A fifth computer lab is under preparation in the new building and will be provided - along with other labs - with updated computers to double the current capacity, which will increase availability of computer time for free use .

Wireless internet areas are provided in the new library and its surrounding area , so that by including the use of personal laptops, the computer facilities would be relatively adequate.

Issue: Inadequacy of Computer Facilities

Issue: Assessment Practices

Intensive efforts were directed to enhancing the quality and comprehensiveness of exams and the distribution of grades. Thus the exams can give an accurate reflection of the student’s knowledge and skills fulfilling the ILO’s of the course.

Allocating 30% of the grade to the term’s assignments, research papers, and mid-term exams required from the students.

Training teaching assistants to participate in correcting assignments and term papers.

The amendment of bachelor degree programs include all courses taught within the program whether from inside or outside the department.

Issue: Gaps in Course Reporting

Issue: Students’ Course Evaluation Surveys are not used effectively

The faculty council decided to honor academic staff members who scored at least 90% in surveys’ results, by displaying their names on an honor board and by awarding them certificates during the “Annual day for distinction”.

The Heads of department draw the attention of Academic staff members who scored less than 60% in surveys’ results to their low performance. The need to improve it is emphasized. In some cases, they are replaced.

Each scientific department designates a committee of three staff members for academic guidance at the beginning of every term. Most staff members welcome students in need of advice at any time.

Issue: Inefficiency of Student Advising

The Performance Evaluation Unit prepared and distributed a questionnaire among all academic staff members to collect information about their research interests and published papers in local and international scientific conferences and journals.

The unit hopes to complete a database for the published research during the academic year 2006/2007.

Issue: No Database of Conducted and Published Research

FEPS prepared a plan for its research activities. Cairo University’s Vice Dean of Graduate Studies received it and incorporated it in an overall strategy.

Issue: No Planning of Research Activities

Issue: Planning for the Community Sector

The mission of the sector of community affairs and environmental development is “to train a new generation of students with awareness of major societal and environmental problems and with skills and abilities to propose solutions”.

Examples of Community Activities:1. Literacy Program for the Employees of the

Faculty.

2. Promoting the Culture of Private Business among students.

3. Upgrading the Personal & Professional Skills of Students.

4. Participating in (and winning) the Competition of the Arab African International Bank.

5. Participation in the Environment Week of Cairo University.

6. Organizing an Employment Fair.

7. Recruitment Office for the Faculty of Economic & Political Science.

8. Summer Schools in various areas offering extra curricular topics.

9. Alumni Data Base for the Faculty of Economic & Political Science.

10. Simulation Models.

11. Participation in the Awareness Visits of Cairo University to the Villages of Giza Governorate.

Outcomes:

Bridging academics with civil society, the business sector and policy makers.

Furthermore, the faculty’s administration has implemented several measures to ensure the

continuing quality assurance process.

The Public Administration Research and Consultation Center in cooperation with the Public Administration Department at FEPS instigated a survey of problems encountered by the managerial staff at the faculty. Solutions were provided.

A complete restructuring of the managerial staff was organized in order to improve competence.

At the Employees request, the faculty organized training programs to develop professional and general skills.

The faculty, in association with the Quality experts center, also held courses specialized in the establishment of a quality management.

The faculty provides a financial support of 2000 LE for research papers accepted for publication at international conferences, it also covers the publication costs of research papers in international journals.

Establishing an employment office within the faculty to provide FEPS graduates with job opportunities.

Creating a unit responsible for dealing with the students’ complaints.

Creating mail boxes for the academic staff.

E-mail implementation.

The need for an external examiner is controversial, but it was suggested that an external reviewer may be assigned for each scientific department.

The statistics department has initiated the assignment of an external reviewer.

The other scientific departments are planning to follow the same procedure.

The Performance Evaluation Unit managed, with the faculty support, to sustain its work in following the Quality management system in the faculty and spread the culture of Quality .

Well structured questionnaires are now in place for each one of the quality assurance requirements :teaching assessment, course specifications, course reports ..etc.

The Quality Management System

The unit has completed the collection of course specifications and reports in all scientific departments at both the undergraduate and graduate level.

The specifications and reports were completed and rewritten using a specifically developed software to facilitate the follow up and development process. They were subsequently approved by the departments councils.

All course files are now completed at the graduate and undergraduate level. Each file contains course specifications, course reports, and copies from exams.

A report was prepared including all courses, to allow for continuous evaluation and improvement.

The undergraduate and graduate student evaluation for the academic staff as well as for the course, text books and exams, continue to be surveyed every term. Questionnaires are collected and analyzed, and a report is presented to the faculty council after the examination results.

A follow up and development committee, headed by the Dean of FEPS, discusses general faculty plans for continuous evaluation and improvement.

Opportunities

Establishment of the national Authority for quality assurance and accreditation.

Attention given by the faculty administration to applying the quality system.

Technical and financial support from the National Committee for Quality Assurance and Accreditation.

Exchange of expertise and transfer of information between the quality centers and the quality units in the different faculties of the Egyptian Universities.

Completion of the quality system establishment and of the preparation of the yearly report.

Threats

Resistance from some academic staff members to the quality concept and performance evaluation.

No Academic standards for scientific programs in sectors. No formal external references for academic programs or curricula.

Budget and location restrictions.

Difficulty of students assessment under the conditions of a large number of students.

No system for managerial performance evaluation.

Rigidity of the present university by-laws.

Consequences of the Establishment of the Quality System at FEPS

Stakeholders and employers agree that FEPS graduates show distinguished performance.

The demand for FEPS graduates is increasing within different establishments.

Managerial staff are more efficient.

Students appreciate the continuous evaluation and improvement in the quality of teaching and services offered.

Faculty mission is implemented.