quality assurance system at the university of warsaw against the background of polish rules part of...
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Quality assurance system at the University of Warsaw against the
background of Polish rules
Part of the presentation was prepared by the Rector’s Plenipotentiary Office for Quality of Education. All pictures in the presentation belong to Promotion Office at the UW
UNIVERSITY OF WARSAW founded in 1816
The largest university in Poland
Number of employees: 5 827
of which academic staff: 3 015
Number of professors: 853
of which full professors: 441
Number of students: 63 206
of which full-time: 30 755
Doctoral students: 2 204
THE UW MISSIONTHE UW MISSION
• unity of teaching and research
• guarantee access to knowledge
• acquisition of skill
• formation of those elites who serve the imperio rationis rather than the ratione imperii.
• synthesis of universal and local values.
HEIS IN POLAND
Public Non-public Total University-type 97 11 108 Non-university-type 33 304 337 Total 130 315 445
1,953,800 students:• 1,333,000 (68,2%) at public HEI• 620,800 (31,8%) at non-public HEIs•32,700 doctoral students
35 HEIs supervised by35 HEIs supervised by:: the Minister of Health, the Minister of the Minister of Health, the Minister of Culture and National Heritage, the Minister of National Culture and National Heritage, the Minister of National Defence, the Minister of Home Affairs, and the Minister of Defence, the Minister of Home Affairs, and the Minister of Maritime EconomyMaritime Economy
UNIVERSITY AUTONOMY AND ACADEMIC FREEDOM
Autonomy in all areas of the activity of HEI: freedom of teaching,
freedom of research,
freedom of artistic creativity,
freedom in self-government and self-regulation internal governance
financial autonomy
Freedom of: conditions of admission,
number of places available for students,
study plans and curricula,
verification of knowledge and skills of students;
MINISTRY SUPERVISORY ROLE
• permission for the establishment of new HEIs and new branches of existing HEIs
• Power to close HEI and dismiss a Rector • Appoints members of the State Accreditation Committee• PProcedure for the establishment of interdisciplinary and rocedure for the establishment of interdisciplinary and
degree programmes in macro-fields of studdegree programmes in macro-fields of studyy• Regulations for 118 study programmes:
– titles– eeducational profiles of graduatesducational profiles of graduates (learning outcomes) (learning outcomes), , – curriculum contentscurriculum contents –about 30% –about 30%, , – duration of degree programmes duration of degree programmes – practical placements, practical placements, – minimum staffing requirementsminimum staffing requirements – requirements requirements for for each form of studyeach form of study
Minister sets rules and requirements for new programmes and university senates decide on programmes.
Number of academic staff holding an academic title or degree employed on a full-time basis included in a so-called „minimum staff resources”:
first cycle : 3 + 6
second cycle: 6 + 6
one academic staff member may be counted up to two fields of study, but only in one field of a second-cycle programme or a long-cycle programme;
Ratio of those staff members to students in a given field of study
Requirements for degree programmesRequirements for degree programmes
ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE OF UW
RectorRector
Vice-rectorVice-rector Vice-rector Vice-rector Vice-rectorVice-rectorVice-rectorVice-rector
DeanDean DeanDean DeanDean
ChancellorChancellor
Central Central administrationadministration
FacultyFaculty FacultyFaculty FacultyFaculty
ACADEMIC MANAGEMENT WITHIN HEIS• Collective bodies:
– Senate is the main governing body in public HEI• representatives from the internal groups (academic
staff, non-academic staff, students, doctoral students)• Faculties, inter-faculty and university-wide
organizational units can be established or liquidated by the Senate
– Faculty councils• Single-person authorities:
– Rector, • central administration organizational unit can be
established or liquidate by the rector– Deans, – Still primus inter pares decision-making model
• Central and faculty administration• In private HEIs the governing bodies are
determined by the institution’s statutes
DUTIES OF A RECTOR TOWARDS THE MINISTER
FForwardorwarding ing resolutions of the relevant bodies resolutions of the relevant bodies concerningconcerning::
– adoption of, or amendment to, the statutesadoption of, or amendment to, the statutes;
– establishment or abolition of a degree programme;
– information on the staff resources;
– establishment of an organisational unit in another establishment of an organisational unit in another locationlocation;;
– approval fapproval fromrom the senate of the institution the senate of the institution resultresultinging in in financial commitments of the institution exceeding financial commitments of the institution exceeding certaincertain value value.
RESOURCES MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES
Three main sources:Three main sources: State budget subsidies: teaching, research, students State budget subsidies: teaching, research, students
supportsupport student tuition fees student tuition fees external sourcesexternal sources
A public higher education institution may charge fees for its educational services related to a.o:
the teaching of part-time students and part-time doctoral students,
the repetition of specific courses as part of full-time degree programmes and full-time doctoral programmes as a result of unsatisfactory learning achievements,
the provision of programmes in a foreign language,
RESOURCES MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES
The senate of a public HEI:
– adopt activity-and-finance plans;
– approve financial reports;
– lays down the rules for purchasing, selling and encumbering securities.
POLAND’S QUALITY ASSURANCE SYSTEMS
State Accreditation Committee (2001) sets freely accreditation standards and criteria
State accreditation of programmes:Mandatory and cyclical (6 yrs)
Covers the whole higher education system (all public and non-public HEI)
Free of charge
Involved students
Decisions (also negative) of the accreditations are published
First round accreditation: 2001-2007 (2 th. cases since 2002)
The quality of education assurance and enhancement system is built with the observance of the autonomy and specific character of the units, on the basis of their positive experience in the quality of education assurance, in the conviction that high quality is strengthened by self – evaluation, dialogue, cooperation, support and popularization of the best and most effective solutions.
The University of Warsaw Senate Resolution No.240 of 20 June 2007
Quality of education assurance at theQuality of education assurance at the
University of WarsawUniversity of Warsaw
QUALITY ASSURANCE BODIES
The University Team for Quality of Education Assurance (UTQEA)
The Faculty Team for Quality of Education Assurance (FTQEA)
Teams for Quality of Education Assurance in other organizational units of UW
Members of UTQAEMembers of UTQAE (appointed by the Rector) (appointed by the Rector) Rector’s Plenipotentiary for Quality of Education
9 academic teachers
1 representative of PhD students
2 representatives of students
UTQEA ACTIONSUTQEA ACTIONS specifying the aims and strategy of the assurance and
enhancement of education quality
procedure of quality assurance
principles of assessing students (including PhD students)
principles of the assurance of academic didactic staff quality
principles of reviewing and improving the quality of didactic resources and measures of support for students
principles of collecting, analysing and publication of the information regarding the quality of education
INTERNAL EVALUATION OF INTERNAL EVALUATION OF QUALITY QUALITY
The UTQEA prepares the forms for reports on self evaluation, gives the fixed term to do the self - assessments and the benchmarks of evaluation of quality
The teaching units prepare the reports on self – evaluation
The UTQEA prepares report on the education quality
The report of UTQEA is presented to the Rector
FACULTY TEAMS FOR QUALITY FACULTY TEAMS FOR QUALITY OF EDUCATION ASSURANCE OF EDUCATION ASSURANCE (FTQEA)(FTQEA)
acts on the level of teaching units.
assurance and enhancement of quality of education
advises the Dean
recommends towards the course of action
FTQEA includes:
chairman,
representative of the academic teachers
representative of the PhD students
representative of the students
SELF – ASSESSMENTS IN THE SELF – ASSESSMENTS IN THE TEACHING UNITSTEACHING UNITS
1. The results of student surveys on:
• the organizational side of the classes
• the clarity of requirements and objectivity of assessment
• the manner of conducting the classes
• the attitude of academic teachers towards students and their availability during duty hours
• general evaluation of the classes
Report on self – evaluation:
1. Strong and weak points of the teaching unit
2. Plans and schedule of actions on elimination of undesired phenomena and the eradication of shortcomings.
3. Plans concerning quality of education enhancement
The report on self – evaluation is submitted to the UTQEA and published on the Internet
Self – assessments in the teaching unitsSelf – assessments in the teaching units
Report on self – evaluation:
THE OFFICE FOR QUALITY OF THE OFFICE FOR QUALITY OF EDUCATIONEDUCATION
OFFICE FOR QUALITYOF EDUCATION
Section of Plenipotentiary for Quality of Education
Section for Evaluation of Quality of Education
The main task is to support and coordinate operation of the education assurance and enhancement system.
THE SECTION OF PLENIPOTENTIARY THE SECTION OF PLENIPOTENTIARY FOR QUALITY OF EDUCATIONFOR QUALITY OF EDUCATION
The main task is to support action of conceptual and organisational character; coordination of ventures aiming at the assurance and enhancement of quality of studies
The Section assists the Plenipotentiary in collecting and processing information concerning the implementation of the system as well as cooperation with the teaching units within the implementation of the system.
Cooperation:
Office for the Implementation of Bologna Process
Office of Student Affairs
Recruitment Office
University of Warsaw Office of Career Services
International Relations Office
Promotion Office
The Section of Plenipotentiary for The Section of Plenipotentiary for Quality of EducationQuality of Education
THE SECTION OF EVALUATION THE SECTION OF EVALUATION OF QUALITY OF EDUCATIONOF QUALITY OF EDUCATION
Main tasks:
Systematic research:
Conditions of education
Opinions on quality and conditions of education
Recommend actions for the improvement of the quality of education.
Opinions on quality and conditions of education
The basic conclusions concerning the quality of teaching basing on of the results of surveys among:
academic community present students research and teaching staff administrative staff
prospective students ,graduates,employers, media.
The Section of Evaluation of Quality The Section of Evaluation of Quality of Educationof Education
MISSION, PROGRAMME AND MISSION, PROGRAMME AND CURRICULUMCURRICULUM
Graduate profile and intended skills Generic vs subject specific competences Faculties roles State requirements
Programmes and Curricula Faculties and Senate State requirements
Sylabi Organisation of didactics
Rector Deans
LEARNING PROCESS AND OUTCOMES
Assessment processAssessment processGrading: 7 level scaleGrading: 7 level scaleProgress reportsProgress reportsDiploma thesis and examDiploma thesis and exam
Methods of teaching and learning Methods of teaching and learning from teacher-centered to student-centerfrom teacher-centered to student-center
Plagiarism, cheating… Plagiarism, cheating… Zero tolerance approachZero tolerance approach PLAGIAT softwarePLAGIAT software
ECTSECTS European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System -
since 1998 (mandatory from 2006) 1 ECTS = student workload of 25 – 30 h
to acquire prescribed learning outcomes
First-cycle studies – 180 – 240 ECTS
Second- cycle studies – 90 – 120 ECTS
Long-cycle studies – 270 – 360 ECTS
ECTS credits – one of the attributes of each subject
STUDENT INVOLVEMENT IN QA SYSTEMS & PROCESSES
formal student feedback at programme level student representation on key institutional bodies
(university senates, faculty councils etc.) students participattion in state accreditation at the
national level: as experts; by law the president of Polish Students’ Parliament is a
member of Presidium of State Accreditation Committee student involvement in validation and monitoring
processes analysis of data on student progression and
achievement tracking of student graduate careers – in some HEI’s
HUMAN RESOURCES ISSUES: UW CASE
Rector acts as employer Groups of academic teachers:
„independent” - with academic title or degree of doctor habilitated,
„other” Employment by appointment for an unspecified
period of time - only for associate or full professor Rector on motion from Dean employs and fires an
academic teacher multiple jobholding
CONDITIONS FOR EMPLOYMENT AT UW
Employment – through public contest
Professor
For the first time for 5 yrs, then tenure
Significant achievements in research and teaching
Positive opinion from 2 reviewers, faculty Council and UW Senate
Adjunct
specified period of time > 10 years + 2 years (conditionally)
Assistant
specified period of time > 8 years + 2 years (conditionally)
STAFF APPRAISAL AT UW• At least every 4 years
• Appraisal Committee for faculty and university,
• Appeal Committee
• Students’ opinion involved by questionnaires
• Affects the amount of salary, promotion and distinctions awarded
• Two subsequent negative appraisals – termination of the employment relationship
• Sharing good practice in teaching and learningSharing good practice in teaching and learning
CRITERIA OF APPRAISALNumber and quality of academic publications, Quality of teaching work; Preparation of manuals and other teaching aids; Participation in academic conferences; Participation in proceedings for the grant of academic degrees
and titles; Academic functions performed; Reviews given of academic papers Membership of editorial boardsPopularizing activities; Academic awards and distinctions; Participation in promotion of new, innovative didactic forms; Fund-raising for research from external sources.
UW management - toolsUNIVERSITY SYSTEM OF STUDIES UNIVERSITY SYSTEM OF STUDIES
ADMINISTRATION (USOS)ADMINISTRATION (USOS) Since 2002
„ORACLE” Database - designed and programmed by the UW
Comprises
personal data
matriculation details
Curricula, fields of studies, specializations, subjects
Recognition of studies with credits and grades
Financial support (grants, dorms)
Directory of certificates
Payments
On-line registration
IIQAS: FACULTY LEVEL QAS: FACULTY LEVEL (FACULTY OF ECONOMIC (FACULTY OF ECONOMIC
SCIENCES)SCIENCES)Quality of Education Management Resolution of the Council of the Faculty of Economic Science of 13th Feb. 2002
The Faculty Council appoints the Committee for current management of quality of education.
Committee for Didactics is formed by the study directors and the vice-dean for students’ matters, who conducts the Committee.
The Committee formulates the comprehensive framework of learning objectives for every field of studies.
The Committee monitors over the realization of the adopted learning objectives by managing the quality of education system.
1. assessment of the study curriculum and its conformity to the graduate profile and exit qualifications (every 5 years)
2. analysis of the syllabi (every second year), 3. analysis of the students’ questioners and formulating conclusions for
teachers and deans (every year),4. evaluation of didactic performance of every teacher, lectures quality
(periodical reviews, promotions), 5. analysis of the quality of diploma thesis (evaluation by external
reviewers every three years),6. assessment of the teaching infrastructure (library, IT, classes, study
groups sizes),7. evaluation of ECTS and international, domestic and intra-university
education openness (every three years),8. evaluation of education efficiency and drop-out rates (every three
years),9. comparison of curricula and quality of education at the Faculty of
Economic Science and other, domestic and foreign departments of economic universities (every three years).
IQAS: Faculty Level IQAS: Faculty Level (Faculty of Economic Sciences)(Faculty of Economic Sciences)