Developing Quality Assurance Processes at the University of Malawi

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Developing Quality Assurance Processes at the
University of Malawi

• DelPHE Project 325
• Dr. Tim Ngwira

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Project Team

• University of Malawi
• Professor L.A Kamwanja (Former Leader)
• Dr Robert Ridley (Current Leader)
• Dr Panji Chamdimba (Member and now with UNICEF)
• Dr T.N.Ngwira (Member and current Coordinator)
• Mrs L. Saka (Secretariat)
• University of Strathclyde
• Prof. Rae Condie
• Ms Bonagh Dallat

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College Representatives

• Professor D Ngongola (Bunda College LUANAR)
• Dr N.R Kanyongolo (Chancellor College)
• Dr Neil Kennedy (College of Medicine)
• Dr B Mkwinda Nyasulu (Kamuzu College of Nursing)
• Mr K Lungu (Malawi Polytechnic)

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PURPOSE OF THE PROJECT

• To establish a Quality Assurance Unit within the
  University of Malawi which will oversee a series
  of processes and procedures designed to ensure
  the maintenance and development of quality and
  standards in learning and teaching across the
  university.

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PURPOSE OF THE PROJECT (Contd)

• The Quality Assurance Unit is expected to play
  a central role in the management and coordination
  of academic quality enhancement activities in the
  5 constituent colleges of the University.
• Specifically, it is expected to develop,
  coordinate and monitor the institutional quality
  assurance and quality management system and its
  processes, in close association with the Quality
  Assurance Committee and operational units within
  the University.

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SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES OF THE QUALITY ASSURANCE
UNIT

• Arrange and manage a system of periodic audits
  of
• the quality of the academic activities, including
  attainment of standards of performance and
  outcomes of the university of Malawi
• the quality assurance arrangements intended to
  maintain and elevate that quality
• monitor, review, analyze and provide public
  reports on the quality of outcomes in the
  University of Malawi.
• Arrange and manage a system of periodic audits of
  the quality assurance processes, procedures, and
  outcomes of the University of Malawi
• monitor, review, analyze and report on the
  outcomes of those audits.

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SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES OF THE QUALITY ASSURANCE
UNIT (Contd)

• Publicly report periodically on matters relating
  to quality assurance, including
• the relative standards and outcomes of the
  University of Malawi system its processes and
  its international standing, and its impact on
  Malawi education system
• Develop partnerships with other quality agencies
  in relation to matters directly relating to
  quality assurance and both internal and external
  audits, to facilitate efficient cross-border
  quality assurance processes and the international
  transfer of knowledge about those processes.

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QUALITY IMPROVEMENT

• One of the central roles of QA Unit is to
  encourage and assist the growth of a university
  culture that values quality and is committed to
  continuous improvement.
• This will be evidenced in QA Units approach to
  audits which will emphasize self-audit and
  ongoing interaction with colleges of the
  University of Malawi after the publication of an
  audit report.

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PLANNED ACTIVITIES

• Development of Quality Assurance self audit
  Guidelines Instrument
• Conducting Short Courses in Quality Assurance
  processes
• Institutional Quality Assurance Audit
• Participation in Staff Exchange visits with
  Strathclyde University
• Documentation of all Quality Assurance processes
  observed in the self audit
• Participate in the development of the University
  of Malawi Quality Assurance Unit structure

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PRE-LAUNCH PERCEPTIONS

• Overall perception of quality of teaching and
  learning in the University of Malawi was slightly
  below average with a mean score of 2.98.
• Support and administrative staff viewed quality
  of teaching and learning to be above average,
  whereas academic staff and students viewed the
  quality of teaching and learning in the
  University to be below average

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PROJECT LAUNCHED

• ON 6TH NOVEMBER 2008

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TRAINING WORKSHOP ON INSTITUTIONAL QUALITY
ASSURANCE AUDIT

• 26th -27th January 2009
• Target
• Deans
• University-wide Quality Assurance Advisory
  Committee
• Registrars
• College Representatives

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QUALITY ASSURANCE AUDIT

• Quality audit is defined as a systematic and
  independent examination to determine whether
  activities and related results comply with
  planned arrangements and
• whether these arrangements are implemented
  effectively and are suitable to achieve
  objectives as set out by the University of Malawi

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QUALITY ASSURANCE AUDIT (Contd)

• The audit method evaluates aspects of a
  department /faculty/colleges quality assurance
  arrangements on four dimensions
• Approach,
• Deployment,
• Results and this is to be followed by
• Improvement

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DEVELOPMENT OF THE QUALITY ASSURANCE INSTRUMENT

• The approach was a holistic one in which Learning
  and Teaching, Research, Management, Community
  Outreach and the interactions between them were
  given full consideration. The process made use
  of documentation which had been prepared for
  other purposes wherever this was appropriate.
  Departmental reports included appropriate facts
  and figures to support the statements made.

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OUTCOMES EXPECTED FROM THE INSTRUMENT

• understand the structure of the department and
  how it is managed
• understand how financial resources are
  distributed
• test the strength and validity of decisions taken
  by the Department on targets and priorities
• assess the quality assurance measures taken by
  the Department regarding its academic provision
• assess the extent of collaboration in both
  research and learning and teaching and community
  outreach at all levels
• assess the Departments contribution to the wider
  community, both academic and to the citizens of
  Malawi more broadly
• assess the extent of engagement with appropriate
  learning and teaching, professional and research
  networks.

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AREAS COVERED BY THE INSTRUMENT

• Management and Organisation
• Teaching Learning and Assessment
• Research
• Community Outreach
• Resources and Planning