Dundalk Institute of Technology. Quality Improvement Plan

Transcription

1 Dundalk Institute of Technology Quality Improvement Plan

2 Introduction Arising from the Institute s 2009 Self Study, the main recommendations for quality improvement are: Policy and Procedures for Quality Assurance There is a need to move from a culture of compliance to one based on best practice; The Academic Council requires re-structuring to ensure that quality assurance processes are dealt with promptly. This re-structuring is to take place in March/April 2009, before the new Council is established; Systematic and periodic quality assurance reviews as detailed in the Quality Improvement Plan will enhance quality assurance in the Institute. Approval, monitoring and periodic review of programmes and awards A procedure is required to clarify the position where validation panels offer conflicting advice. The planned change of focus to emphasise conformance with standards, achievement of learning outcomes, assessment strategy, labour market requirements and resources should help alleviate this problem; Programme and module descriptors can be made more readily available through the use of module builder software, which is to be in place in Assessment of students Increased participation in training on teaching and assessment strategies can advance the introduction of more innovative assessment methods; Increased roll-out of assessment matrices, setting out the knowledge, skills and competencies associated with a given grade will enhance public confidence in a credible and transparent marking system; All learners should receive an assessment schedule at the start of each semester to ensure that the assessment burden is spread evenly over the semester.

3 Increased external examiner input in the approval and marking of continuous assessment assignments can enhance public confidence in the standards, equity and consistency of assessment across the whole assessment spectrum; To ensure the consistency of the decision-making process of the Examination Boards, it is recommended that Chairs from outside the School should be the norm, administrative assistance a given, training for new Chairs a pre-requisite and explicit clarification of powers, duties and responsibilities of members of examination boards desirable; The Institute s Policy on Academic Integrity should be implemented in full to ensure that breaches of the policy are recorded. Learning Resources and Student Support The planned online learning and teaching resource for staff will contribute to increasing professionalism; Further English language support is necessary for international students, in some areas; The appointment of Programme Directors is recommended to ensure the efficient management of programmes; The establishment of a Student Centre for Learning & Development by 2010 will be a significant support to learners; The re-development of a comprehensive departmental induction and integration process by September 2010 will greatly assist new learners; The quality of learning resources is excellent in some areas, but there are deficiencies which should be addressed as budgets allow; Schools and Departments are largely responsible for the implementation of learning supports such as, the inclusion of a Personal Development Module in Programmes. Central mechanisms to ensure the implementation of such supports or policies are weak and should be strengthened. Information Systems Departmental surveys of graduates should be extended to better track their employment paths; Student feedback mechanisms should be further reviewed with a view to replacing the QA1; QA2 and QA3 models;

4 The proposal to establish an environmental scanning process, whereby outside information is gathered and analysed on the basis of a continuous watching brief, will, when in place, deliver a solid evidential-based framework upon which to base decision-making. Public Information Information on the application process for postgraduate research degrees should be published on the website; Module Building Software will provide online, the level of detail required by the standard in respect of each module; The provision of more detailed online information on fees and student life can increase assistance to international students in their decision-making process prior to admission.

5 Improvement Plan

6 1. Policy and Procedures for Quality Assurance There is a need to move from a culture of compliance to one based on best practice. The Institute will build on its existing expertise in Academic Quality Assurance through ongoing professional development for relevant staff. Ongoing The Academic Council requires re-structuring to ensure that quality assurance processes are dealt with promptly. The Constitutional Review Group is examining a re-organisation of the sub-committee structure. The Group is also examining procedures. June 2009 Systematic and periodic quality assurance will enhance quality assurance in the Institute. The Institute will conduct a rolling cycle of quality audits and evaluations. Each cycle will have three phases and will last for three years. In year one, the first phase will require an environmental scanning of best practice for the area under review. Based on best practice and available resources, a set of procedures will be proposed and agreed in the second year of the cycle. These procedures will be implemented in year three in the final phase of the cycle. Annual audits of each area will monitor implementation and make minor adjustments to the procedures where necessary. Beginning May See overleaf for detailed roll -out

7 Process Public Information Environmental Scanning of Best Practice Establishment of Procedures to ensure best practice Implementation of Procedures Audit Audit Information Systems Quality Assurance of Teaching Staff Learning Resources and Student Support Environmental Scanning of Best Practice Establishment of Procedures to ensure best practice Environmental Scanning of Best Practice Environmental Scanning of Best Practice Implementation of Procedures Establishment of Procedures to ensure best practice Establishment of Procedures to ensure best practice Assessment Environmental Scanning of Best Practice Approval Monitoring and Periodic Review of Programmes and Awards Policy and Procedures for Quality Assurance Follow-up measures from Institutional Review Follow-up measures from Institutional Review Environmental Scanning of Best Practice Environmental Scanning of Best Practice Implementation of Procedures Implementation of Procedures Establishment of Procedures to ensure best practice Establishment of Procedures to ensure best practice Establishment of Procedures to ensure best practice Implementation of Procedures Implementation of Procedures Implementation of Procedures

8 2. Approval, Monitoring and Periodic Review of Programmes and Awards A procedure is required to clarify the position where validation panels offer conflicting advice. The planned change of focus will result in a new set of guidelines for each stage of the validation process. The internal stage of the process will emphasise conformance with Institute policy. The final stage will emphasise conformance with standards, achievement of learning outcomes, assessment strategy, and labour market requirements. February 2010 Programme and module descriptors can be made more readily available through the use of module builder software, which is to be in place in The Institute is in the process of purchasing module builder software 2010

9 3. Assessment of Students Increased participation in training on teaching and assessment strategies can advance the introduction of more innovative assessment methods. Increased roll-out of assessment matrices, setting out the knowledge, skills and competencies associated with a given grade will enhance public confidence in a credible and transparent marking system. All learners should receive an assessment schedule at the start of each semester to ensure that the assessment burden is spread evenly over the semester. 1. The Institute s Master s programme in Learning and Teaching is currently undergoing validation and is expected to be delivered from January The Institute will involve itself in sector-wide projects for the development of staff teaching competencies. 3. The Institute will ensure that new staff have specific training in learning and teaching Training will be delivered through the Centre for Learning and Teaching. The Policy will be communicated to external examiners and will be included in the assessment strategy for programmes. The Institute aim to agree this policy by 2010 but it is recognised that implementation may take longer. This is the responsibility of Programme Directors and should have immediate effect. January 2010 Ongoing Ongoing Ongoing Ongoing

10 Assessment of Students (Continued) Increased external examiner input in the approval and marking of continuous assessment assignments can enhance public confidence in the standards, equity and consistency of assessment across the whole assessment spectrum. To ensure the consistency of the decision-making process of the Examination Boards, it is recommended that Chairs from outside the School should be the norm, administrative assistance a given, training for new Chairs a pre-requisite and explicit clarification of powers, duties and responsibilities of members of examination boards desirable. The Institute s Policy on Academic Integrity should be implemented in full to ensure that breaches of the policy are recorded. Where continuous assessment is the only major element of assessment, external examiners will be required to approve the assignment in advance. This recommendation will be addressed by the incoming Academic Council The Institute will complete the roll-out of plagiarism detection software in The Academic Council will review this policy in late 2010 in the light of the feedback from staff on the use of the plagiarism detection software 2009/

11 4. Learning Resources and Student Support The planned online learning and teaching resource for staff will contribute to increasing professionalism. Further English language support is necessary for international students, in some areas. The appointment of Programme Directors is recommended to ensure the efficient management of programmes. The establishment of a Student Centre for Learning & Development by 2010 will be a significant support to learners. The re-development of a comprehensive departmental induction and integration process by September 2010 will greatly assist new learners. This is currently being implemented through the Centre for Learning and Teaching Addressing this issue is a budgetary matter, but will be considered from the point of view of Institutewide modular delivery. The Executive Board has decided upon the appointment of programme directors. The implementation of this decision is expected for all programmes in the next academic year, subject to successful negotiations with the relevant staff organisations. Space has already been allocated for this Centre and facilities are currently being sourced. This will be planned and developed during 2009/10 in conjunction with departments. September September 2009 September 2009

12 Learning Resources and Student Support (Continued) The quality of learning resources is excellent in some areas, but there are deficiencies which should be addressed as budgets allow. Schools and Departments are largely responsible for the implementation of learning supports such as, the inclusion of a Personal Development Module in Programmes. Central mechanisms to ensure the implementation of such supports or policies are weak and should be strengthened. The Institute will seek to standardise electronic resources within teaching spaces. However major investment is dependent upon the availability of resources. The Academic Council will consider whether a Personal Development Module should be a requirement for all programmes. The Council will also consider appropriate policy for the implementation of its policies. Ongoing 2010

13 5. Quality Assurance of Teaching Staff The Self Study has not highlighted any major recommendations for this area. Proposals for future development are detailed here. PMDS will be linked to Strategic Plan 2009 Orientation processes for new staff will emphasise the Institute s Strategy for Learning and Teaching The Institute will seek to maintain the level of its professional development budget and will emphasise 2009 its commitment to learning and teaching as a professional activity.

14 6. Information Systems Departmental surveys of graduates should be extended to better track their employment paths. The Registrar s Office will establish a basic template for these departmental surveys, which may be extended to suit local circumstances or requirements. The evaluation of these surveys will be a factor in the annual quality audits Student feedback mechanisms should be further reviewed with a view to replacing the QA1; QA2 and QA3 models. The Registrar s Office will review student feedback mechanisms. It is recognised that any proposed changes may involve sectoral negotiations. December 2009 The proposal to establish an environmental scanning process, whereby outside information is gathered and analysed on the basis of a continuous watching brief, will, when in place, deliver a solid evidential-based framework upon which to base decisionmaking. As part of the new strategic planning process, ongoing environmental scanning will the responsibility of each major functional area of the Institute. For example, Schools will be required to look at their discipline areas and at graduate opportunities. The Centre for Learning and Teaching will look at issues within its remit. The Registrar s Office will examine quality issues and general developments in higher education. 2010

15 7. Public Information Information on the application process for postgraduate research degrees should be published on the website. The Registrar s Office will provide this information on-line. March 2009 Module Building Software will provide online, the level of detail required by the standard in respect of each module. The Institute is in the process of purchasing module builder software The provision of more detailed online information on fees and student life can increase assistance to international students in their decisionmaking process prior to admission. The International Office will update their web pages to ensure applicants are provided with the most up to date fee information. September 2009