Some examples of quality standards and their use for self assessment and planning

1. Some examples of quality standards and their use for self assessment and planning CINDA Workshop for TEIs Ramallah, May 2007

2. General standards for an institution or programme The programme or institution must: • Have clearly stated mission, goals, and objectives appropriate to the institution’s resources and the needs of its constituents • Generally achieve these intentions at a level appropriate for its type of programme (or institution) or have clearly stated, realistic plans to remedy the situation • Have good leadership and have appropriate and effective decision making, evaluation, planning and budgetary processes and organizational structure • Have an adequate, well qualified, academic staff (Cont.) CINDA

3. General standards for an institution or programme (2) The programme or institution must: • Have students appropriately selected and qualified to pursue the instructional programmes, who fulfil the requirements of the degree at appropriate levels • Have adequate library and other academic resources • Have adequate, appropriate student services • Have adequate physical facilities • Have sufficient financial resources to support the programmes, services and facilities • Have reasonably well functioning administrative services (financial records, maintenance, personnel) which enhance the functioning of the education and research programmes CINDA

4. Have good leadership and have appropriate and effective decision making, evaluation, planning and budgetary processes and organizational structure • Aspects that should be taken into account: • Formal governance structure considering both individual and collegiate authorities • Governance and administration system and its features • Information system for institutional variables • Mechanisms for the assessment of governance and administrative effectiveness • Financial planning and management mechanisms • Management mechanisms: allocation and distribution of human and physical resources (Cont.) CINDA

5. Have good leadership and have appropriate and effective decision making, evaluation, planning and budgetary processes and organizational structure • Sources of information: • Personal data and qualifications of institutional authorities • Job description for main positions • Description of actual operation of individual and collegiate mechanisms • Availability of physical and financial resources allocated to institutional and departmental authorities for the fulfillment of their goals • Decision making mechanisms, academic participation, institutional records • Faculty satisfaction • (Cont.) • (Cont.) CINDA

6. Have good leadership and have appropriate and effective decision making, evaluation, planning and budgetary processes and organizational structure • Some questions that must be answered: • Are there adequate institutional mechanisms to support decision making in terms of contrasting stated goals with actual institutional performance, available options, the environment, resources, etc.? • Are qualifications of academic and administrative authorities adequate to institutional needs? • Does the existing governance system allow for timely and appropriate decision making? • Are authorities and faculty members happy with present governance and administrative arrangements? • Which are the main institutional strengths/weaknesses in this area? • Is there an action plan to deal with strengths and weaknesses? CINDA

7. Have adequate library and other academic resources Aspects that should be taken into account: • Teaching and learning resources, quantity and quality of libraries, maps, scientific equipment, audiovisual aids, computer stations, software, etc. • Staff associated with the management and usage of teaching and learning resources • Mechanisms for identifying needs in this area • Mechanisms for buying, maintaining and updating resources • Reports on the usage of available resources • Financial resources allocated to ensure appropriate availability and quality of teaching and learning resources • Student and faculty satisfaction with the availability, actualization and condition of resources. • (Cont.). CINDA

8. Have adequate library and other academic resources Sources of information: • Description of main teaching and learning resources (laboratories, libraries, computer stations, etc.) in terms of actual available resources, staffing, financial support, etc. • Description of the procedures used to identify the need for procurement, maintenance and updating of resources. • Statistics on actual usage of teaching and learning resources. • Student and faculty satisfaction surveys • (Cont.). CINDA

9. Have adequate library and other academic resources Questions that should be answered: • Are there appropriate institutional mechanisms to define, procure, maintain, review, update, teaching and learning resources? Are these mechanisms used and assessed? • Does the institution have the human resources it needs to ensure effective and timely use of resources? • Are there mechanisms to assess the degree and effectiveness of the use of resources • Which are the main strengths of the institution in this area? And its main weaknesses? • Is there a plan to deal with identified strengths and weaknesses CINDA

10. Sources of information • Begin by analyzing data that are readily available in institutional data bases – student data, staff data, financial data • Standard production reports (enrollment by major, gender, full/part time status, socioeconomic status, grade distribution analysis, persistence/attrition rates, staff profile) • Institutional ‘Facts and Figures’ • Non standard data (Student Satisfaction, Withdrawing/Non-Returning Students, Alumni, Comparative Benchmarking Data) • Develop Your Own Data Collection Instrument… • Buy a Commercially Prepared Instrument… CINDA

11. Institutional Research Institutional research is the sum total of all activities directed at describing the full spectrum of functions (educational, administrative, support) occurring at a college or university. Institutional research activities examine those functions in their broadest definitions, and embrace data collection and analytical strategies in support of decision making and policy formulation at the institution. The objective is to provide the richest possible array of information that will assist the institution in fully realizing its mission. CINDA

12. Institutional Research • Is not haphazard or strictly reactive to circumstances within a college or university, or its external environment • Is proactive, systematically gathering both quantitative and qualitative information in order to better understand both the institution and the external environment • Is organized around a conceptual framework of the institution’s choosing, that enables a systematic and thorough approach to information gathering CINDA