ACADEMIC PROGRAMMES

Principle: THERE SHALL BE PROCESSES/MECHANISMS TO ENSURE THE DESIGN, APPROVAL, MONITORING AND EVALUATION OF ACADEMIC PROGRAMMES TO ENSURE QUALITY EDUCATION AND ENHANCEMENT. Standard Category 1 - Design and Approval

Criteria Statement: The program is in concord with the institutions mission, forms part of institutional planning and resource allocation, meets national requirements, the needs of students and other stakeholders, and is intellectually credible.
Standard 1.1: The goals and objectives of the programme are in line with the institutions mission and purpose. 1) Programme strategic plan and/or institutional strategic plan Required 2) Clearly defined concept of the programme and graduate profile 3) Prospectus Attachment 4) Sample syllabi : 5) Programme design and approval policies and procedures (attach or refer to the regulation) Please answer yes or no to the following: Yes No 1) Does the study programme comply with the ANQF qualifications levels? 2) Are the mission and purpose of the programme evaluated on a regular basis? 3) If yes, please indicate frequency: If no or yes to 1 or 2 above, please explain and support:

How are staff members involved in the design and approval of the programme? Please describe the process.

Standard 1.2: The academic programme is thoroughly formulated, according to expected learning outcomes, which correspond to an academic qualification. Required 1) Design of the academic programme (see attached) 1

Alignment with the ANQF ANQF AP Qualifications Generic competences

Learning outcomes

Specific competences

Please, provide the list of academic programmes against which you have benchmarked the learning outcomes.

Please answer yes or no to the following and indicate frequency.

Yes

No

1. Does the AP correspond to the requirements set for each programme with regards to the structure and content?
If yes or no to question one, please explain and support.

Standard 1.3: The programme learning outcomes meet the needs of the students and other stakeholders. Required 1. Written policy for review/revision of learning outcomes based on the needs of 2

the stakeholders (if applicable). 2. Methods exploring the needs of internal and external stakeholders 3. Evidences/feedback of the stakeholders and effectiveness analyses 4. Improvement plans

Please answer yes or no to the following and indicate frequency.

Frequency Yes No of Surveys

1. Is there a constant link between the programme and stakeholders?

If no or yes to the question, please explain:

Standard 1.4: The programmes are intellectually credible, designed coherently and articulate well with other relevant programmes Required

1. The breakdown of the programme according to theory, practice and experience 2. Learning and career pathways for the programme 3. Mobility opportunities

Please answer yes or no to the following and indicate frequency. 1. Does the programme provide opportunities for

Yes

No

articulation with other programmes within and across institutions locally and internationally?

1. Is there a process for creating compliance with other

programmes within and across institutions locally and internationally?

If no or yes to 1 or 2, please explain and support:

Evidences supporting student and staff mobility for the last five years Student mobility for the last five years YEARS 2006
Numbe r Countr y

2007
Numbe r Country Number

2008
Country Number

2009
Country Number

2010
Country

Incoming students Outgoing students Incoming exchange 4

Outgoing exchange Teacher mobility for the list five years YEARS 2006
Number Countr y

2007
Numbe r Countr y Numbe r

2008
Country

2009
Number Country

2010
Number Countr y

Incoming Outgoing Incoming exchange Outgoing exchange Student Additional data 2006 Student dropout rate Student return rate Top five reasons for drop out 2007 2008 2009 2010

Top five reasons for return

Standard 1.5: The programme meets the characteristics and needs of the professional/vocational education. 1) Policies and procedures for work-based placement and internships (attach or refer to Required the regulation). Attachment 2) Analyses of the employers feedback reports and/or surveys (if applicable) for the last 5

three years. 3) Analyses of the students feedback reports and/or surveys (if applicable) for the last three years 4) Analyses of the alumni feedback reports and/or surveys (if applicable) for the last three years Please answer yes or no to the following: % : 1) What is the employers satisfaction level? 2) What is student satisfaction level? 3) What is alumni satisfaction level? Graduate employment rate for the last five years. % 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

1. Employment relevant to the qualification obtained right after graduation 2. Percentage of students continuing education after graduation. 3. Employment relevant to the qualification obtained after 2 to 5 years of graduation 4. Percentage of unemployed students 5. Employment not relevant to the qualification obtained after 2 to 5 years of graduation
How are the students, employers and professional associations involved in the evaluation of the achievements of the programme? Please describe the process.

Standard 1.6: The programme has appropriate learning materials developed to satisfy the content of the programme. Required 1. Policies and procedures aimed at updating the teaching and learning materials (attach or refer to the regulation) Attachment 2. Evidence and relevant analyses :

3. Improvement plans
Yes 1) Are there set mechanisms to evaluate the teaching and learning materials? 2) Are there regular reviews of the teaching and learning materials? 3) If yes, please indicate frequency: If no or yes to 1 or 2 above, please explain and support: No

Please, based on the SWOT analyses guidelines, provide the analyses for standard category for the last five years. Make references to the policies, procedures and regulations to justify the statements.

Standard Category 2: Teaching Staff Criteria Statement: The institution provides for a high quality faculty to achieve the set goals for academic programmes.
Standard 2.1: The institution has policies and procedures promoting recruitment of a highly qualified teaching staff capable of ensuring programme provisions Required Attachment:

1. Recruitment, hiring and firing policies and procedures (attach or refer to the regulation). 2. The methods and procedures ensuring teaching staff competence with regards to the qualifications
offered. 7

3. 4. 5. 6. 7.

Policies and procedures for teacher promotion. Policies and procedures for young and new teaching staff Teaching staff effectiveness analyses Improvement plans Database of the teaching staff credentials.
Yes No

Please answer yes or no to the following: 1) Are the recruitment policies and procedures regularly revised? 2) Are the stakeholders involved in the revision process? If yes or no to 1 or 2 above, please explain and support:

Standard 2.2: The teaching staff qualifications for the programme are comprehensively stated Required Attachments: 1. Teaching staff qualifications requirements 2. Relationships between the teaching staff qualifications and the qualifications offered by the programme 3. Effectiveness analyses and evidences 4. Improvement plans Please answer yes or no to the following and indicate No Frequency of Review Yes frequency. 1) Are the teacher qualifications regularly revised? 2) Are the stakeholders involved in the process? If yes or no to 1 or 2 above, please explain and support:

Standard 2.3: The institution has well established policies and procedures for the periodic evaluation of the teaching staff

Required Attachment:

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

Teaching staff assessment policies and procedures Teaching staff assessment tools and mechanisms Effectiveness analyses and evidences Sample reflections (students, supervisors, peers)
Time-table for assessments Evidences and effectiveness analyses for the methods applied. 8

Please answer yes or no to the following: 1) Do the assessment activities provide for a constructive feedback? 2) Do the assessment mechanisms provide for impartiality? 3) Have the assessment mechanisms brought about positive changes? If yes or no to 1 - 3 above, please explain and support:

Yes

No

Provide a SWOT analyses for the teacher assessment mechanisms:

Standard 2.4: The institution promotes teacher professional development in accordance to the needs outlined during regular evaluations (both internal and external) Required Attachments: 1. Strategies of staff development designed to establish, develop and enhance staff competences 2. Professional development plans (professional, methodological and reform oriented) 3. Professional development topics (professional, methodological and reform oriented) 4. Professional development schedule 5. Professional development results and reports for the last three years Please answer yes or no to the following and indicate No Frequency of Review Yes frequency.

1. Is there a process for the review of the faculty professional development portfolios? 2. Is there a process for the review of faculty professional development practices?
If yes or no no to 1 or 2 above, please explain and support:

Standard 2.5: There is necessary permanent staff to provide for the coverage of the qualifications adequately Required Attachment: 1. The number of the permanent staff (bachelor, master, PhD, Doctor Professor, Diploma Specialists) 9

2. The policies and procedures ensuring stability with regards to permanent staff 3. The list of the invited teaching staff 4. Policies and procedures for securing the quality of the staff.
Please answer yes or no to the following: %

1. What is the percentage of effectiveness of the permanent staff? 2. What is the overall percentage of the permanent staff?
Please, support the answers to questions 1 and 2:

Standard 2.6: There are set policies and procedures for the staff promotion in general and the young ones in particular Required Attachment:

1. Staff promotion policies and procedures 2. Policies and procedures for the promotion of the young staff 3. Policies and procedures for mentoring and coaching the young staff.
Yes/Frequency No

Please answer yes or no to the following: 1. Are the staff promotion policies and procedures regularly reviewed? 2. Is the young staff involved in the revision process? If yes or no to 1 or 2 above, please explain:

Please, based on the SWOT analyses guidelines, provide the analyses for standard category for the last five years. Make references to the policies, procedures and regulations to justify the statements.

Standard Category 3: Teaching and Learning Practices Criteria Statement: The programme promotes productive teaching and learning practices based on the evidence of student learning outcomes as well as provides for the faculty effectiveness in achieving its educational objectives.
Standard 3.1: The programme clearly defines the teaching and learning approaches necessary to achieve the stated learning outcomes. Required Attachment: 10

1) Sample research, graduation and other papers 2) Graduation exam topics 3) Sample examination tests 4) Other mechanisms testing student learning outcomes Please, fill in the table below outlining the learning outcomes approaches for the programme and and teaching and learning practices linked to them (add rows if necessary) Learning outcome Teaching methods Learning methods

Provide SWOT analyses for the last three years:

Please, provide the list of institutions and or countries against which you have benchmarked the teaching and learning approaches.

Standard 3.2: There are set mechanisms evaluating quality of teaching and learning approaches.

1. Written policy for review and evaluation of the teaching and learning methods (if applicable) (attach or refer to the regulation). 2. Mechanisms and tools for the teaching and learning approaches evaluation 3. Evidences and effectiveness analysis 4. Improvement plans
Please answer yes or no to the following: Yes/Frequency No

1. Are the mechanisms and tools for evaluating teaching and learning regularly revised? 2. Are the students involved in the evaluation and review processes?
If yes or no to 1 or 2 above, please explain:

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Please, based on the SWOT analyses guidelines, provide the analyses for standard category for the last five years. Make references to the policies, procedures and regulations to justify the statements.

Standard Category 4: Research and Creativity Criteria Statement: The programme promotes its research objectives, projects and expected outcomes. There is a research ethos and culture, and mechanisms for the validating research outcomes. Standard 4.1: The programme has a long term strategy and medium and short term programs which address its research interests in a due manner. 1. Research directions and strategies 2. Medium and short term programs Required Attachment: 3. Research methodology and publication requirements 4. Links between the institutional strategy and research directions Please answer yes or no to the following: Yes/Frequency 1. Is the research methodology up-to-date? 2. Are the publication requirements up-to-date? If yes or no to 1 or 2 above, please explain:

No

Standard 4.2: The programme promotes development and innovation through sound policies 1. The incentive mechanisms for internationally recognized research 2. Policies and procedures for promoting the young staff research activities 3. Policies and procedures ensuring integrity and preventing plagiarism. Please answer yes or no to the following: Yes/Frequency No Required Attachment: 1. Are the policies and procedures regularly revised? 2. Are the teachers involved in the revision?

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3. Are the students involved in the revision? If yes or no to 1 or 2 above, please explain:

Standard 4.3: The programme emphasizes internationalization of the research 1. Regulations encouraging involvement of the faculty and students in international research endeavors. 2. Regulations for publications in international peer-reviewed journals in the CIS countries Required Attachment: 3. Regulations for publications in international peer-reviewed journals at international level. 4. The list of publications in the internationally peer-reviewed journals for the last three years. Please answer yes or no to the following: Yes/Frequency No

1. Are the regulations up-to-date? 2. Are the publication regulations in line with the international standards? 3. Are the publication regulations revised based on the benchmarking results?
If yes or no to 1 or 2 above, please explain:

Please, provide the list of the organizations and or countries against which you have benchmarked your publication regulations.

Standard 4.4: The institution has well established mechanisms for linking research with teaching 1. Policies and procedures for linking research with teaching and learning Required Attachment: 2. Evidences and effectiveness analyses 3. Improvement plans Please answer yes or no to the following: %

1. What is the percentage of research-teaching and learning effectiveness? 2. What is the extent of student satisfaction? 3. What is the percent of teacher satisfaction? 4. What is the percent of employer satisfaction?
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Please, support the answers to questions 1 -4:

Standard 4.5: There are mechanisms in place assuring quality of research and creativity 1. Policies and procedures for research and creativity quality assurance 2. Criteria, standards, mechanisms and tools for research quality assurance 3. Evidences and effectiveness analyses 4. Improvement plans Please answer yes or no to the following: Yes/Frequency No Required Attachment: 1. Are the policies and procedures for research and development quality assurance regularly revised? 2. Are the policies and procedures revised based on the benchmarking results? If yes or no to 1 above, please explain:

Please, provide the list of the organizations and/ or countries against which you have benchmarked your R&D quality assurance policies and procedures.

Please, based on the SWOT analyses guidelines, provide the analyses for standard category for the last five years.

Standard Category 5: Student Assessment Criteria Statement: The institution ensures impartial evaluation of students level of achievement against the learning and educational objectives and promotes academic integrity.
Standard 5.1: The program evaluates students level of achievement against the objectives for each learning outcome in accordance with the evaluation methods and criteria described in the prospectus. Required Attachment:

1. Policies and procedures for student assessment (attach or refer to the regulation)
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2. 3. 4. 5.

Student reflections about the assessment methods. Teachers reflections about the assessment methods. Evidences and effectiveness analyses. Improvement plan

Assessment methods linked to the learning outcomes. Learning outcomes Assessment methods

Please, provide the list of the organizations and/ or countries against which you have benchmarked your student assessment policies and procedures. Provide support for the choice of countries and/or programmes practicing this type of assessment.

Please answer yes or no to the following:

Yes

No

1. Do the assessment methods provide for the achievement of the learning outcomes and ultimately the qualifications offered by the programme? 2. Are the policies and procedures for student assessment regularly revised
and updated?

If no or yes to 1 or 2 above, please explain:

Standard 5.2: The institution treats students fairly and equitably through policies and procedures which address student conduct and grievances. Required Attachments:

1. Student appeal policies and procedures (attach or refer to the regulation). 2. Analyses of student complaints for the last three years.
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3. Records of handling student complaints. 4. Data collection effectiveness analyses. 5. Improvement plans.
List the major achievements and drawbacks.

Standard 5.3: The institution has clearly articulated policies promoting academic integrity and tracking for plagiarism. Required Attachment:

1. Policies and procedures promoting academic integrity (attach or refer to the regulation).
2. Mechanisms tracking for cheating and plagiarism. 3. Punitive sanctions preventing cheating and plagiarism. 4. Evidences of consequences for cheating and plagiarism and effectiveness analyses. 5. Improvement plans. Please answer yes or no to the following: Yes

No

1. Does the organization of the process provide for effective functioning of the process? 2. Are the policies and procedures regularly revised?
If yes or no to 1 or 2 above, please explain and support:

Please, based on the SWOT analyses guidelines, provide the analyses for standard category for the last five years. Make references to the policies, procedures and regulations to justify the statements.

Standard Category 6: Learning Environment Criteria Statement: The institution promotes quality educational provisions through creating an environment conducive to learning.
Standard 6.1: The programme has its own property and resources, which effectively support the implementation of its stated mission and objectives and create a learning environment. Required Attachment:

1. Programme infrastructure.
2. Policies and procedures promoting a learning environment (attach or refer to the regulation) 16

3. Policies and procedures considering resource allocation and provisions for the programme (attach or refer to the regulation) 4. List of the resources available (laboratories, libraries, official internet sites, auditoriums, computer labs and the like). 5. Effectiveness analyses of the resources provided. 6. Improvement plans. Please answer yes or no to the following: Yes No

1. Are the resources provided up-to-date and ensure achievement of the qualifications stated in the programme? 2. Are the resources regularly updated?
If yes or no to 1 or 2 above, please explain:

Standard 6.2: The programme ensures that all students understand the requirements and receive timely, useful and regular information and advice about relevant academic requirements. Required Attachment:

1. Policies and procedures ensuring regular information flow for the students (attach or refer to the regulation)
2. Policies and procedures promoting additional learning support and advice for students (attach or refer to the regulation) 3. Relevant publications. 4. Student feedback on the learning support provided. Please answer yes or no to the following: Yes No

1. Does the organization of the process provide for effective functioning of the process? 2. Are the learning support mechanisms (advising, tutoring) regularly revised?
If yes or no to 1 or 2 above, please explain:

Please answer yes or no to the following:

1. What is the student satisfaction rate with the learning environment? 2. What is the teacher satisfaction rate with the learning environment?
Please, support the answers to questions 1 and 2:

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Please, based on the SWOT analyses guidelines, provide the analyses for standard category for the last five years. Make references to the policies, procedures and regulations to justify the statements.

Standard Category 7: Quality Assurance Criteria Statement: The programme has internal quality assurance system that promotes its maintenance and continuous improvement.
Standard 7.1: The programme is constantly updated and improved to ensure compliance with market demand based on the cyclical monitoring and review.

1. Procedures for monitoring and periodic revision of the implemented programs and activities (attach or refer to the regulation).
2. Monitoring mechanisms ensuring impartiality of the process (attach or refer to the regulation). 3. Mechanisms, processes and procedures for reviewing porgrammes on a timely basis (attach or refer to the regulation). 4. Evidences and effectiveness analyses 5. Improvement plans Please, indicate the major findings for the last five years: Required Attachments:

Standard 7.2: The programme provides an educational feedback system that examines it on the basis of the results of evaluation regarding the level of student achievement against the learning and educational objectives. Required Attachment:

1. Programme feedback mechanisms (students, teachers, alumni, employers surveys, reflections) 2. Evidences and effectiveness analyses 3. Improvement plans to comply with market demands
Please answer yes or no to the following: Yes No

1. Does the organization of the quality assurance provide for maintenance and improvement?
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2. Are the policies and procedures regularly revised?

If yes or no to 1 or 2 above, please explain and support:

Standard 7.3: There are well established policies and procedures for programme internal quality assurance Required Attachment:

1. Progarmme internal quality assurance mechanisms.

2. Policies and procedures promoting student involvement (attach or refer to the regulation). Please answer yes or no to the following: Yes No

1. Do the quality assurance processes provide for enhancement of the programme? 2. Are the quality assurance processes transparent? 3. Are the quality assurance processes made publicly available?
If yes or no to 1 to 3 above, please explain and support:

Standard 7.4: The quality assurance is designed and actually operated to attend to societal needs and students requests, as well as to check the functions of the system itself. Required Attachment: 1. Records of the activities such as meetings and committees attending to the societal needs. 2. Mechanisms to reveal societal needs. 3. Evidences and effectiveness analyses of the mechanisms. 4. Improvement plans to integrate the needs of the society. Please, provide the list of the organizations and/ or countries against which you have benchmarked your programme quality assurance policies, procedures, standards and criteria. Provide support for the choice of countries and/or programmes practicing this type of quality assurance.

Please, based on the SWOT analyses guidelines, provide the analyses for standard category for the last three years. Make references to the policies, procedures and regulations to justify the statements.

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