PLACE OF QUALITY ASSURANCE IN ENHANCEMENT OF ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF MAKERERE UNIVERSIT Y

1. PLACE OF QUALITY ASSURANCE IN ENHANCEMENT OF ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF MAKERERE UNIVERSITY BY SAM LUBOGA ACTING DIRECTOR QUALITY ASSURANCE DIRECTORATE lubogasam@gmail.com; lubogasam@learn4africa.com

2. OUTLINE • Teaching and learning a core function of the university • Primary responsibility for qa in t&l • How do you then assure quality in t & l? • Approval process • Role of quality assurance directorate • Quality assurance directorate • Mandate • Way forward lubogasam@gmail.com; lubogasam@learn4africa.com

3. TEACHING AND LEARNING A CORE FUNCTION OF THE UNIVERSITY • Quality in teaching and learning is not negotiable • Necessary in order to inspire confidence in the quality and utility of the awards of the University • Quality of teaching and learning will only result from deliberate efforts to achieve, maintain and continually improve it lubogasam@gmail.com; lubogasam@learn4africa.com

4. lubogasam@gmail.com; lubogasam@learn4africa.com

5. PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY FOR QA IN T&L • Schools/Faculties primary responsibility for QA in teaching and Learning • Have the experts who design, deliver, examine and review courses/programmes • Experts enjoy academic freedom and professional autonomy • Managers meet considerable resistance if they try to control them • Experts & Managers need to collaborate make sense of changing landscape, understand what works and implement new practices lubogasam@gmail.com; lubogasam@learn4africa.com

6. HOW DO YOU THEN ASSURE QUALITY IN T & L? • Recruit quality teachers (content experts and skilled in delivery of teaching) • Ongoing staff development and support • Provide adequate and appropriate resources for them to do a good job, e.g. E-learning support • 3600 appraisal (by students, HOD & peers) and promotion lubogasam@gmail.com; lubogasam@learn4africa.com

7. HOW DO YOU THEN ASSURE QUALITY IN T & L? • Submit new or reviewed programmes to NCHE for Accreditation • Advertise approved programmes widely to assure wide participation • Admit suitably qualified candidates for the programmes • Deliver effective teaching and Learning with adequate resources and student staff support lubogasam@gmail.com; lubogasam@learn4africa.com

8. HOW DO YOU THEN ASSURE QUALITY IN T & L? • Curriculum committees undertake proper design and regular reviews: • Rationale and requirements • Appropriate level • Clear strategies for assessment and progression (increase in intellectual maturity, skills, learning autonomy) • Balance – theory vs practicals and attachments lubogasam@gmail.com; lubogasam@learn4africa.com

9. HOW DO YOU THEN ASSURE QUALITY IN T & L? • Flexibility – compulsory and optional sessions, e-learning opportunities, opt out and opt in • Integrity – expectations of the students and intended learning outcomes • References • External references consulted: Professional bodies, employers lubogasam@gmail.com; lubogasam@learn4africa.com

10. APPROVAL PROCESS • Departmental approval • School/Faculty Board approval • College Board approval • Senate approval • QAD final check • University Council • External accreditation of approved programmes by NCHE lubogasam@gmail.com; lubogasam@learn4africa.com

11. lubogasam@gmail.com; lubogasam@learn4africa.com

12. ROLE OF QUALITY ASSURANCE DIRECTORATE • Act as an internal accreditation mechanism for standards of everything the University is and does • Ensure appreciation of the importance of QA & development of a QA culture throughout the University by holding QIWs in every unit • Act as repository of agreed standards and best practices lubogasam@gmail.com; lubogasam@learn4africa.com

13. ROLE OF QUALITY ASSURANCE DIRECTORATE • Develop and make available tools, and offer guidance for unit self-assessment • Cross-check and evaluate self assessment for thoroughness and correctness of interpretation and utilization of results to make improvements • Make recommendations for improvement lubogasam@gmail.com; lubogasam@learn4africa.com

14. ROLE OF QUALITY ASSURANCE DIRECTORATE • Develop and make available tools for course and programme review • Coordinate efforts of the University to develop an effective student assessment policy and plan to ensure harmony • Facilitate to review/update of the external examination policy and plan lubogasam@gmail.com; lubogasam@learn4africa.com

15. ROLE OF QUALITY ASSURANCE DIRECTORATE • Collate recommendations of external examiners, feedback relevant faculties, check that the recommendations have been acted upon & report to VC, • Assess compliance with agreed standards • Coordinate QI activities of all the units • Develop and make available tools for 3600 assessment of Academic Staff Performance (by students, HOD and Peers) lubogasam@gmail.com; lubogasam@learn4africa.com

16. ROLE OF QUALITY ASSURANCE DIRECTORATE • Advise on the development and implementation of an effective system of rewarding high performing staff and taking appropriate action on under or non performing staff • Develop and make available tools for students Personal Development Plans (PDP) • Advocate for and promote the development of a safe and conducive learning environment lubogasam@gmail.com; lubogasam@learn4africa.com

17. ROLE OF QUALITY ASSURANCE DIRECTORATE • Promote continuing improvement of support services, health care, counseling services, recreation and sports facilities • Undertake regular surveys to assess student and staff satisfaction – take the “pulse” of the University lubogasam@gmail.com; lubogasam@learn4africa.com

18. ROLE OF QUALITY ASSURANCE DIRECTORATE • Keep in constant contact with external reference standard setting and monitoring bodies, NCHE, Professional councils, UNBS, IUCEA, AUQA, ISO, etc for accreditation and benchmarking • Maintain a data bank of best practices from around the world and make it available to all units upon request lubogasam@gmail.com; lubogasam@learn4africa.com

19. ROLE OF QUALITY ASSURANCE DIRECTORATE • Do all the above not only for the core function of Teaching and Learning but also for administrative and support functions of the University since they impact greatly on the T&L • See, Track and Celebrate – hold annual QA conferences and QA appreciation events at which efforts at QA are recognized • Develop expertise QA education, mentoring and QA consultation services lubogasam@gmail.com; lubogasam@learn4africa.com

20. lubogasam@gmail.com; lubogasam@learn4africa.com

21. QUALITY ASSURANCE DIRECTORATE • Established in 2006 to support the vision of Makerere University to be the “Leading institution of academic excellence and innovation in Africa” • Its mission is to “provide leadership in prescribing, controlling and implementing quality standards at Makerere University” lubogasam@gmail.com; lubogasam@learn4africa.com

22. QUALITY ASSURANCE DIRECTORATE • Core Values: • Integrity • Professionalism • Teamwork • Customer responsiveness • Process approach • System approach to Management • Continuous improvement lubogasam@gmail.com; lubogasam@learn4africa.com

23. QUALITY ASSURANCE DIRECTORATE • Key features of its policy are: • Commitment to widespread involvement of staff, students and other stakeholders in the QA process • Focus on efficient management, planning and resource processes to achieve excellence and to ensure continuous improvement • Commitment to judging outcomes and processes against the highest external standards lubogasam@gmail.com; lubogasam@learn4africa.com

24. MANDATE • Reports to the Vice Chancellor • Guided by the University Quality Assurance Committee (UQUAC) • Has an Acting Director and very dedicated support staff lubogasam@gmail.com; lubogasam@learn4africa.com

25. WAY FORWARD • Recruit staff for the QAD • It is now operating as a one man technical team • Provide/mobilize adequate resources • Provide more space lubogasam@gmail.com; lubogasam@learn4africa.com