Quality of studies and the quality assurance system

Quality of studies and the quality assurance system

There is a long-standing tradition of quality assurance in relation to university studies. Since the 1980s, work on quality assurance has become more systematic, and universities are now subject to national requirements for a functioning quality assurance system. The Norwegian Agency for Quality Assurance in Education (NOKUT) evaluates the universities’ systems for the quality assurance of education on a regular basis.

Work on study quality is rooted in the university’s Strategic Plan for the period 2005-2010, while the core activities in this connection are performed by the academic environments, often coordinated and organised by central divisions in cooperation with the faculties.

The Reports on Educational Attainments from faculties and the university are cornerstones of our quality assurance system. The Reports on Educational Attainments are based on input from those responsible for courses and departmental and study programme management, and they include specific proposals for improvements at the different levels. Such reports also include an assessment of status and goal achievement. The university’s Report on Educational Attainments is one of the documents that form the basis for the board’s consideration of the budget. A separate database has been developed for the collection of the reports from courses, departments and study programmes on which the Report on Educational Attainments are based:
http://utdanningsmelding.uib.no

The Quality Handbook is intended to function as a guide to practical work on quality improvement and its target group includes both academic and administrative staff. The Handbook discusses the different sub-areas, processes and measures which form the basis for the quality assurance system, and it is intended to serve as the basis for work aimed at ensuring that the quality of studies at the university is maintained and developed. Work on study quality at UiB can be presented schematically as a repetitive process consisting of four elements: plan, implement, assess and improve:

Contents of the quality system

The guidelines from NOKUT constitute the framework for educational institutions’ quality systems, but the contents and emphasis in work on study quality will vary, both over time and from institution to institution.
Both academic and administrative staff are welcome to comment on and improve the methods and processes used in the university’s quality assurance system. In the figure on next page, we have endeavoured to illustrate the different processes, measures and documents that are intended to contribute to high quality education with its prime focus on students. The illustration attempts to show how several known tasks – from recruitment and reception up to the issuing of diplomas – are quality assured (see illustration).

A description of the quality assurance system at UiB has been made available on a separate web portal, also called the Quality web portal:
http://studiekvalitet.uib.no