Accreditation as Quality Assurance Measure at SQU

1. By: Prof. Adel Gastli Director, Quality Assurance Office Sultan Qaboos University Quality Assurance Office Accreditation as Quality Assurance Measure at SQU QUALITY

2. Content • Accreditation and its Consequences • Accreditation at SQU • Quality Assurance at SQU Prof. Adel Gastli

3. Accreditation & its Consequences

4. Definition of Accreditation • ‘Accreditation is a formal and public statement by an independent agency and on the basis of an external quality review, that specific, previously agreed standards are met by a programme or institution of higher education’ . • Consequences: ‘approval’, ‘recognition’, funding, state recognition of qualifications, … Prof. Adel Gastli

5. Consequences of Accreditation State Recognition Accreditation Quality Assurance Ranking Market • National + International Academia

6. Recognition • State recognition of institutions, programmes and qualifications. Quality Assurance • Develop focus on institution improvement with increasing importance of accountability function.

7. Quality Assurance • External drivers are becoming more powerful than internal ‘autonomous’ demand: • Concerns for a potential decline of standards. • Diminishing confidence of stakeholders in traditional academic quality management. • Increasing demand for more accountability. • Public demand for transparency (ranking). • Pressures to increase cost-effectiveness.

8. Accreditation and QA By-Product

9. Accreditation: Expectations • Accreditation is expected to address some of the needs and to fulfil the following functions: • guaranteeing that agreed standards are met • more independent, clear, sharp, benchmarked quality statements • strengthening international functions, transparent student information and accountability • linking QA to recognition and other regulatory systems

10. Preparing for Accreditation I know my Job Set Objectives & Goals with Stakeholders I do it well Develop Activities & Continuous Quality Improvement Process Self-Study I can prove it Assessment: Compare Key Performance Indicators Against Targets Prof. Adel Gastli

11. Accreditation at SQU

12. Accreditation Activities at SQU • SQU CENG has 8 Programs Accredited by ABET: 4 substantial equivalency (2006) and 4 full accreditation (2009) • Similar external accreditation processes have begun in other colleges such as the CNUR, CMHS, and CEDU. • The SQU Hospital has been ISO-9001 Certified twice. • SQU has gone through the OAAA Quality Audit in Spring 2009.

13. What does Quality Audit Consider? • Governance & Management • Student Learning by Coursework Programs • Student Learning by Research Programs • Staff Research & Consultancy • Industry & Community Engagement • Academic Support Services • Students & Student Support Services • Staff & Staff Support Services • General Support Services & Facilities Quality Assurance Prof. Adel Gastli

14. What do ABET Criteria Consider? • Students • Program Educational Objectives • Program Outcomes • Continuous Improvement • Curriculum • Faculty • Facilities • Support • Program Criteria Quality Assurance Prof. Adel Gastli

15. Quality Assurance at SQU

16. مكتب ضبط الجودة Quality Assurance Office Established in 2006 Initiated in February 2010

17. QAO Mission • Supervise and enhance the quality of Educational and Administrative performance and reinforce the quality culture in the University. Prof. Adel Gastli

18. QAO Objectives

19. Main Responsibilities • Lead the development and implementation of the quality management and continuous quality improvement processes for the University. • Deliver better integrated planning, reporting, stakeholder feedback, statistical and quality management services across the University. • Spread and reinforce the quality culture within the whole University. • Provide information and training courses on quality improvement procedures for staff. Prof. Adel Gastli

20. Main Responsibilities (Cont’d) • Support all units within the University in audit, review and benchmarking processes. • Achieve and maintain the University Accreditation by the Oman Accreditation Council. • Setup and support a good practice database and forum. • Promote the staff awards’ system to recognize excellence and quality works. Prof. Adel Gastli

21. Office Structure Director of the Quality Assurance Office Deputy Director for Academic Affairs Deputy Director for Institutional Research Deputy Director for Non-Academic Affairs

22. Organizational Model Vice Chancellor Senior Management Quality Assurance Committee Director of Quality Assurance Office Internal Academic Quality Audit Committee Deputy Directors for Academic and Non-Academic Affairs Deputy Director for Institutional Research University Quality Assurance Committees (academic & non-academic) Monitored by the IT Section SQU Continuous Quality Improvement Forum Quality Assurance Committees in colleges and non-academic units

23. What is Required from Colleges?

24. How QAO can Help?

25. When we practice quality all the pieces should come together…

26. THANKS قال عليه الصلاة والسلام: ”إن الله يحب إذا عمل أحدكم عملا أن يتقنه“ What is worth doing is worth doing well.