AACSB Asia Regional Conference, Singapore, May 24, 2011

1. Assurance Strategies for Continuous Improvement: Assurance of Learning in HKBU byProf. Stephen Cheung, Dean and Chair Professor School of Business, Hong Kong Baptist University AACSB Asia Regional Conference, Singapore, May 24, 2011

2. Presentation Outline About the HKBU School of Business Assurance of Learning (AOL) in Our School Setting Up and Implementing AOL System Build the AOL Culture

3. About the HKBU School of Business Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) was founded in 1956 School of Business - the 2nd largest academic unit of HKBU 5 Academic Departments Participating Full-time Faculty: 79 (2010-11) Supporting Faculty: 49 (2010-11) Business Student Enrolment: over 1900 (2010-11) - Undergraduate: 69% - Postgraduate: 31%

4. About the HKBU School of Business We are accredited by AACSB International in April 2010 Best Practices(as identified by the AACSB PRT) • Integrated mission-driven extracurricular activities complementing the traditional academic curriculum to support the School’s whole-person focus • Honors projectas a graduation requirement for BBA students • Well developed structure for assessment of learning process

5. About the HKBU School of Business Our Academic Program Portfolio (2010-2011)

6. Program Goals State Learning Objectives Develop Measurement Evaluate Improvement Closing the Loop Collect Data Analyse Data Collect Data Implement improvement Identify needed improvement Assurance of Learning in Our School AOL Process of Academic Programs (Adapted from AACSB Assessment Seminar Material)

7. 2007/08 Fall, 2008 Spring, 2009 Fall, 2009 2010-2015 Assurance of Learning in Our School The Development of the AOL System in Our School • Developed/refined program learning goals • Aligned curriculum with goals, pedagogical & assessment methods • Pilot Run – AOL system for BBA & MBA programs • Implemented AOL system to all programs under AACSB review • Completed first round of program learning goals assessment • Maintenance review cycle • Assess all program learning goals 2 times within 5 years

8. Setting Up and Implementing AOL System Develop the Framework for Program Assessment and Closing the Loop Align Curriculum with the Framework Assessment Measures Closing the Loop Administration of AOL System

9. Setting Up and Implementing AOL System Develop Framework for Program Assessment and Closing the Loop • Mission-driven Program Learning Goals  Learning Goal (LG) - what do we want our students to learn?  LG describes the desired educational outcomes that fulfill the missions of the School  include board statements of accomplishment that reflect the depth and breadth of student knowledge and skills  Set the framework for closing the loop N W E S

10. University Mission HKBU is committed to academic excellence in teaching, research and service and the development of whole personin all these endeavors built upon the heritage of Christian higher education. School Mission (extracts) • be the leader in whole person business education • nurture visionary and ethical business leaders: • - cultivate and encouragestudents’ academic curiosity and integrity • - unleash students’ leadership potential and prepare the ground for them to become all-rounded, values-conscious business graduates Setting Up and Implementing AOL System Example of Mission-driven LGs:

11. Program Learning Goals (BBA) LG1: Student willhave fundamental knowledge and skills required for managing a business. LG2: Student willhave in-depth understanding of an area of specialization such as accounting, economics, China business studies, finance, human resources management, information systems management, and marketing. LG3: Student will have oral and written communication skillsandIT skills necessary for working in a business environment. LG4: Student will be analytical and critical thinkers able to solve real-world business problems. LG5: Student will have a sold understandingof a) how business is influenced by its environment, including economic, social- cultural, legal-political, technological, and other general conditions, as well as by an organization’s stakeholders; b) the global nature of contemporary business and c) the value of business ethics and good corporate governance. LG6: Student will have a broad exposure to non-business disciplines. Setting Up and Implementing AOL System

12. Program Learning Goals (MBA) LG1: Student will be analytical and critical thinkers with enhanced communication, presentation and information processing skills.   LG2: Students will be decision makers and team workers equipped with strategic thinking, and managerial and leadership skills, who can respond effectively to a changing environment.   LG3: Students will be knowledgeable in major functional areas of modern business, with emphasis on the integration of the multiple dimensions of international business.   LG4: Students will enhance his/ her understanding of corporate sustainability issues affecting business, such as social responsibility, ethic, corporate governance and cultural diversity.   LG5: Students will enhance his/her understanding of the critical issues for doing business in Hong Kong and mainland China.   LG6: Students will acquire the ability to relate his/ her areas of special interest and knowledge to corporate strategies and business planning. Setting Up and Implementing AOL System

13. Setting Up and Implementing AOL System • Measurable Learning Objectives  Learning Objective (LO) – what do we want our students to do?  Describe observable behaviors that demonstrate students’ mastery of the LGs  Short and clear statements to articulate the expected learning outcomes - make reference to Bloom’s Taxonomy of cognitive learning for writing objectives Indicators of LGs and framework for assessment

14. Setting Up and Implementing AOL System Examples of LOs BBA LG3 and LOs LG3: Student will have the oral and written communication skills and information technology skills necessary for working in a business environment. LO1: Students will prepare and deliver a business-related speech and presentation, demonstratingfull understanding of the speech/ content structure and therequired verbal and non-verbal cues. LO2: Students will compose professional-quality business correspondence, demonstrating good format construction and appropriate grammar and tone. LO3:Students will understand the role of information technology in business organizations, will demonstrate competency in usinginformation technologies to support their work, and will identify the ethical and legal issues involved in their use.

15. Setting Up and Implementing AOL System MBA LG1 and LOs LG1: Students will be analytical and critical thinkers with enhanced communication, presentation and information processing skills. LO1: Students will communicate a complex (business) issue in a coherent oral presentation. LO2: Students will assemble reasonable assumptions, identify key problems, provide personal perspective and analyze the data gathered to arrive at meaningful conclusions and implications. LO3:Students will learn to compose professional-quality business correspondence with appropriate grammar and tone. LO4: Students will acquire and demonstrate competence in using analytical tools and information processing technology.

16. Example Setting Up and Implementing AOL System Align Curriculum with the Framework • Develop Course Template  Clearly present the course learning outcomes, pedagogical methods, assessment methods and their contribution to School mission and respective learning goals.  Provide students/faculty staff the learning expectation and outcomes of the courses.  Distribute to students at the beginning of a course, available in program document and student e-learning platform.

17. Setting Up and Implementing AOL System Assessment Measures • AACSB emphasizes the use of direct assessment measures:  course-embedded measures (e.g. assignment, presentation, case analysis)  selection (e.g. standardized examination or test for admission)  demonstration (e.g. assessment project/paper, stand-alone examination) • Develop Rubric for Performance Evaluation:  scoring tool used in course-embedded/demonstration assessment activities  performance standard with detailed descriptions of what constitutes acceptable or unacceptable levels of performance

18. Setting Up and Implementing AOL System Examples of Rubrics (Extract)

19. Setting Up and Implementing AOL System

20. Setting Up and Implementing AOL System Closing the Loop Disseminate the assessment results among stakeholders Work out action plans, implement the actions and follow up the process Evaluate the effectiveness of changes and report the results in the assessment report Encourage open communication and engage faculty staff

21. Setting Up and Implementing AOL System • Ways to Close the Loop  Changes to curriculum (e.g. changes in pedagogical practices, revision of course design, content/methodology of existing courses)  Changes to assessment processes (e.g. revision of learning objectives/measurement approaches, changes of data collection methods)  Changes to academic processes (e.g. additional faculty training, revision of admission criteria, improvement of technology) Examples: Self-regulated program to improve BBA students’ presentation skills Language Enhancement Program conducted by AIESEC for BBA students Chinese Business Case Research Centre to support case development and related pedagogy of MBA program

22. Setting Up and Implementing AOL System Administration of AOL System • Designated committees/faculty staff to monitor the AOL process  School Level:  School Board  Accreditation & Assessment Committee  Program Level:  Program Management Committee/Planning Team  Program Directors / Convenors of Planning Team

23. Setting Up and Implementing AOL System • Guidelines and Documentations  Program Assessment Manual – School Guidelines  Program Assessment Plan – Timeframe  Individual Learning Goal Assessment Report (prepare by course instructor)  Program Assessment Summary Report (prepare by program director)

24. Build the AOL Culture Staff Engagement • Staff Training – AACSB seminars/conferences (e.g. for Program Directors/Associate Directors, course co-ordinators/ instructors) • Communication – briefings, information sharing sessions, newsletters, website • Administrative support School-wide Promotion • Promotion to students/stakeholders – newsletter, website • Continue with annual assessment • Set up electronic system for data management

25. THANK YOU