Oman’s System of Quality Management for Higher Education

1. Oman’s System of Quality Management for Higher Education S. Razvi, M. Carroll, T. Goodliffe, A. Al-Hasnawi & F. Al-Habsi For the Roundtable Meeting Malaysia 2009

2. Session Outline • About the Sultanate of Oman • Higher Education in Oman • Entities with Quality Assurance Responsibilities • Oman Accreditation Council • National Quality Management System • Conclusions

3. 1. About theSultanate of Oman

4. Where in the world is Oman?

10. 2. Higher Educationin Oman

11. Higher Ed History of Oman • 1970s & 1980s Government colleges established, offering cert and diploma programs in the national priorities of health, teaching and technical skills. • 1986: Sultan Qaboos University established, the first (and only) comprehensive university. • 1990’s: Oman started importing higher education in earnest. 23 Private HEIs. • 2006-9: Entering into a new phase: the establishment of a comprehensive system of quality assurance and quality enhancement.

12. Higher Ed Sector in Oman • SQU (established by Royal Directives) • Public HEIs (supervised by MoHE) • Public Colleges of Technology (supervised by MoMP) • Public Health Institutes (supervised by MoH) • Defence Institutes (supervised by MoD). • Private Universities and Colleges (supervised by MoHE)

13. 3. Entities with Quality Assurance Responsibilities • Higher Education Council • Oman Accreditation Council • Supervising Ministries • Directorate General of Private Universities & Colleges • Higher Education Institutes (HEIs) • Affiliate Institutes

14. 4. Oman Accreditation Council A governmental independent entity established to provide confidence to the public that the quality of higher education in Oman meets international standards, and to encourage continuous improvement in the management of the quality of higher education.

15. Oman Accreditation Council • Established by Royal Decree in 2001. • Responsible for: • developing academic standards • accrediting higher education institutions (HEIs) and programs • maintaining the national qualifications framework (OQF) • Led by a 10 member Board (all Omani), chaired by Dr Hamed Al-Dhahab. • Supported by a (growing) staff nested within the Ministry of Higher Education

17. 5. National Quality Management System A comprehensive and integrated system of quality assurance and quality enhancement designed to bring Oman towards international practice.

18. Quality Plan • First iteration of standards and accreditation process was ROSQA, introduced 2004. • In 2006, Draft Quality Plan developed (available at www.oac.gov.om). • It proposes a significant overhaul of ROSQA, setting out a comprehensive system, OSQA, to align Oman’s HE sector with international best practice. • Places equal emphasis on quality assurance and quality enhancement.

19. Elements of the Quality System • Oman Qualifications Framework • Oman Standard Classification for Education Framework (OSCED) • Oman Institutional Classification Framework • HEI Standards • HEI Licensing • HEI Quality Audit (Accreditation Stage 1) • HEI Standards Assessment (Accreditation Stage 2) • Program Standards • Program Licensing • Program Accreditation and Recognition • Appeals

20. Provider QA Processes First cycle commencing HEI Accreditation 2008 HEI Licensure Stage 1 : Quality Audit 4 years ≤4 years Appeal HEI Accreditation HEI Accreditation Met Certificate Stage 2 : Standards Assessment Not met KEY 1-2 years on Probation Start/End Met Process HEI Accreditation Terminated HEI Standards Not met Reassessment Document

21. Provider QA Processes HEI Accreditation Stage 1 : Quality Audit 4 years ≤4 years HEI Accreditation HEI Accreditation Met Certificate Stage 2 : Standards Assessment STAGE 1: QUALITY AUDIT Self Study External Review External Quality Audit Quality Audit Self Study Review Portfolio Report Activities Activities

22. Provider QA Processes HEI Accreditation Stage 1 : Quality Audit 4 years ≤4 years HEI Accreditation HEI Accreditation Met Certificate Stage 2 : Standards Assessment STAGE 2: STANDARDS ASSESSMENT Self Assessment External Assessment Self Assessment Activities Standards Assessment Report External Assessment Activities Assessment Application

23. Quality Audit • Quality Audit is the first step in the Accreditation Process. • A method of public accountability. • A formative evaluation, which can be usedto help set a Quality Improvement Plan forthe HEI. • Two Pilot Quality Audits took place 2008. Ten Quality Audits are currently under way. Twelve will be every year. • The first cycle of HEI Quality Audits will be completed in 2013.

24. Program QA Processes

25. External Reviewers Register

26. Oman Quality Network & Training Program

27. Oman Quality Network Launched under patronage of H.E. Dr Rawya Saud Al Busaidia, Minister of Higher Education, on 20 September 2006. Controlled by an Executive Committee of Members which meets regularly. Supported by OAC and MOHE staff.

28. Oman Quality Network Responsible for: Organizing quality-related training for the sector based on the ‘train the trainer approach’ Training resources are available at www.oac.gov.om/enhancement/training Providing networking opportunities First National Quality Conference on “Quality Management and Enhancement in Higher Education” held in October 2008

29. Some Training Program Topics • ADRI: A QA model for self reviews and external reviews • A Conceptual Framework for Standards • KPI: Managing data for knowledge • Using Statistics in Reporting • Good Documentation: policies, procedures and guidelines • Preparing a Self Study Portfolio • Good Teaching • Process Mapping: a tool for quality improvement • Benchmarking • Strategic Planning • Consulting Stakeholders • Risk Management • Getting the Most from Student Evaluations • Maximising Student Learning Outcomes • Quality Audits • Curriculum Development • Moderation of Assessment

34. 6. Conclusions A new national quality management system has been developed. It is comprehensive and aligns Oman’s higher education system with international best practice. The new system places equal emphasis on quality assurance and quality enhancement.