Role of students in quality assurance

1. Role of students in quality assurance UPQUAL- Kraków 15.02.2007

2. Students: as the primary users of higher education, students are an important category of customer

3. Students as “experience experts” Can evaluate: 1. curriculum 2.organisation 3. teachers 4. institution

4. 1. Evaluation of the curriculum (study programme) • sequence of courses • adequate depth of the content • integration between subjects • redundant repetitions • level of difficulty

5. 2. Evaluation of the organization • availability of information about the programme • daily / weekly schedule • number and placement of exams • availability of information about the requirements • list of the textbooks • list of practical skills • syllabus / handouts • use of time during classes / seminars

6. 3. Evaluation of teachers • presentation of the material • general atmosphere of classes • stimulation to critical thinking • encouraging independent learning • demands and fairness • attitude towards students • availability of extra-tutoring

7. Evaluation of teaching by students Can be done by: • Direct feed-back • Questionnaires • Group discussions • Monitoring of student progress/success rate • Evaluation by alumni

8. Evaluation of teaching by students Should be • understood and accepted by faculty members • transparent • not mandatory • resulting in clear feed-back • leading to visible changes

9. Evaluation of teaching by students Can be organized • on a university level • faculty level • single course level • single class level • as periodic evaluation • as permanent evaluation (box of suggestions and complaints)

10. To increase participation of students in evaluation: • Confidentionality should be ensured • Questions should be relevant • Questioning organised during teaching time • Evaluation spread over time • “Samples” of students used

11. Student satisfaction test(students Barometer) • student as a “client” • comprehensive overview of the entire studies • indication of strength and weaknesses • results plotted on matrix for decision makers

12. Student satisfaction test (SST): Designed (by Lee Harvey) as • institution – wide survey of student satisfaction • uses student’s criteria of the quality of educational experience • results used for management • outcomes linked into a process of continuous quality improvement

13. SST: cont. • Is not directed at a particular module or programme • It is not about specific performance of individual teacher • The questions derive from student perception • It is an ongoing longitudinal study with a clear, centralized annual reposting and action • Outcomes are published on annual basis

14. SST has 3 types of questions: • satisfaction ratings • importance ratings • patterns of use of facilities or preferences

15. SST Typical topic areas • Library services • Computer services • Refectories • Accommodation • Course organization and assessment • Learning and teaching • Social life • Self-development • Financial circumstances • School environment

21. SST: Is unique due to: • student determined questions • satisfaction and importance rating • management information for action • feedback to stake holders

22. Advantages resulting from using Student Satisfaction • It demonstrates commitment to students • It focuses on the whole student learning experience • It provides a clear set of procedures for quality improvement • It ensures that strategic management decisions are based on reliable and valid data • It provides benchmarking against which progress can be assessed