AUN International Conference

University Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur 27-28 March 2016

ASEAN Quality Assurance Framework : AUN Institutional Assessment Instrument

Zita Mohd Fahmi

Secretary, AQAN

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Topics

• ASEAN Quality Assurance Network (AQAN)

• Higher Education Common Space

• ASEAN Quality Assurance Framework (AQAF)

– Rationale/Key features/Objectives

– The Framework

• ASEAN University Network (AUN)

– Institutional Assessment Instrument

• Connections?

ASEAN Quality Assurance Network

• Kuala Lumpur Declaration 2008 • Supported initiatives for Higher Education

common space • ASEAN Agenda for integration –AEC & ASCC • Registered and affiliated to ASEAN • Full members are national QA bodies /authorities

– AUN is an associate member – SEAMEO an honorary member

• Objectives are to promote and build QA capacity of national EQAA and

• To develop ASEAN Quality Assurance Framework 3

Position of Key Players

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ASEAN AEC & ASCC

AUN members

AUN Institutional Assessment Instrument

AQAN –AQAF 4 quadrants-3rd

IQA

HEIs

NAT/System AQAN Members-

QA practices-Programme /institutions

AQRF

NQFs

Importance of External QA and IQA Kuala Lumpur Declaration on Higher Education Common Space (2015)

i. Strengthen the role of the ASEAN Quality Assurance Network (AQAN) ……and promote ASEAN Member States to reference their national quality assurance frameworks to the ASEAN Quality Assurance Framework (AQAF)

ii. Promotes understanding and trust towards the AQAF through promotion and communication at both online and offline channels

iii. Invest in capacity building initiatives for quality assurance processes occurring at the institutional level

Complementing roles and responsibilities support building of Higher Education Common Space

EU- key various initiatives • Ministerial Involvement

• Bologna process -3 cycles

• European HE Qualifications Framework /Lifelong Learning

• European Association Quality Assurance for QA in HE (ENQA)

• European Standards and Guidelines

• European University Association

• European Credit Transfer System

• Lisbon convention

• Student mobility Erasmus Mundus programme

• EQAR

ASEAN -initiatives • 3 pillars and vision –Ministerial

agreement • ASEAN Qualifications Reference

Framework • ASEAN Quality Assurance

Network • ASEAN Quality Assurance

Framework • ASEAN University Network

• ASEAN Credit Transfer System? • Student Mobility programme

(AIMs) • Kuala Lumpur Declaration for

HE Common Space and work plans (2015)

National External Quality Assurance role -national

National systems- provides overall higher

education legal framework, systems.

and development

Quality policies

National quality assurance bodies and

systems

accredits and validates qualifications and

institutions - builds confidence,

institutional capacity, accountability and

autonomy

Recognition by uses of qualifications at national

level

Add value to :

Individual

Institutions

Community

Economies

Global Workforce

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National External Quality Assurance International Role

• Impact of globalisation and regionalisation

• Mobility of persons – – Students and educational

provisions/institutions – Mobility of skilled workers and

services • Regional Recognition Conventions

Competent authority, Quality assurance/accreditation National Qualifications

Framework Substantial difference

assessment in qualifications

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EQAAs In ASEAN Member States

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Brunei DS National Accreditation Council (2000)

Accreditation Council Cambodia (2003)

Badan Akreditasi Nasional Perguruan Tinggi (NAAHE) (1994) LAM-PTs

–Educational Quality Assurance Center (LAO PDR) (2008)

Malaysian Qualifications Agency (Malaysia) (1997)

Myanmar-NQAQ Council (2017)

Philippines –CHED/5 private accrediting agencies (varies-e.g. PAASCU (1957)

Singapore-MOE

Thailand – ONESQA/OHEC (2000)

Vietnam MOET- GDETA+ 4 CEAs

EQAAs in ASEAN-same same but different

The Role of ASEAN Quality Assurance Framework

• To promote regional HE harmonization with aa QA framework

• To assist enhancement of quality of education

• A neutral reference point benchmark principle based statement

• To facilitate regional recognition of degrees and qualifications.

• To support ASEAN Qualifications Reference Framework establish zone of trust /recognition of qualifications within and outside ASEAN

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AQAF Promotes the Four Interconnected Quadrants

2. EQA Policies,

Standards & Processes

1. External 1, 1.Quality Assurance

Agency

3. Internal Quality Assurance

4. National Qualifications

Framework

AQAF Four Quadrants –10 principles each

1. External Quality Assurance Agency –

a competent and effective body in ensuring quality of higher education

2. External Quality Standards

Assurance & Processes – core activities of the quality assurance agency (program or institutional)

6 EQAA institutional assessments

3. Internal Quality Assurance –

-Quality of learning primary responsibility of HEIs

-Developing of IQA systems

4. National Qualifications Framework – (10 established NQFs by end 2017)

Objectives, levels, learning outcomes, Level descriptors,

Credits, qualifications titles

Lifelong, learning

Key Features of AQAF

Four interrelated Quadrants – seeking harmonization on agreed core principles of good practices at national lebel and regional level

Importance of the role & responsibility of EQAA- build of trust

Uses generic statements of good practice -various political, educational and socio- cultural settings.

Links EQA with IQA of institutions

Promotes links between quality assurance to National Qualifications Framework.

Benchmark to other regional frameworks, designed for ASEAN

Guiding Principles

Respect for differences and national development of EQAA and HE systems

Neutral and developmental oriented approach

Versatile- emerging EQAA, self assessment for EQAAs, even matured EQAAs can benchmarked their systems, even HEIs

No prescribed models of EQA ( Q1)

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Guiding Principles

No prescribed specific quality assurance standards for EQAAs (Q2)

• However there is convergence of QA standards

Recognised importance of a clear link between EQA and IQA of HEIs (Q2 and Q3)

Where there is no EQAA, institutions can refer to Q3 to set up IQA

Q4 applies where EQAA is responsible for National Qualifications Framework

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Progress of AQAF

• Approved in 2015 by AQAN

• Launched in 2016 EU SHARE Project (Policy Dialogues for QA, Kuala Lumpur)

• Developed Guidelines for Agency Review and Guidelines for Institutional Assessment (IQA)

• 2017-2018 Pilot test

– 4 EQA agencies

– 11 higher education institutions (8 countries)

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Next steps for AQAN and AQAF 2015- 2016

AQAN Affiliation

AQAF Review Guidelines

• Prepare guidelines ,

• workshops seminars and capacity building

Phase 2

2017-2018

AQAF

Promotion

• Dissemination of AQAF

• EU SHARE Piloting AQAF

• agency reviews and institutional assessments

Phase 3

2019 onwards

• Voluntary referencing by EQA/IQA

•New instruments

AQAF Quadrant 3 focus on IQA -Establishment and Systems

i. Institutional has primary responsibility for quality

ii. QA promotes balance between autonomy and accountability

iii. Participatory and cooperative process

iv. That quality culture underpins all institutional activities

v. A structured and functional internal quality systems with clearly defined

vi. Top management support vii. Sufficient resources viii. Formal mechanisms to approve,

review and monitor programmes ix. Regular monitoring for CQI x. That relevant and current

information of institutions is accessible to public

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AQAF IQA focus on IQA systems

AUN Institutional Instrument is an

instrument for assessment of institutions

effectiveness and excellence

AQAF (& IQA) and AUN IAI

AQAF (& IQA) • AQAF instrument for EQAAs to

assess/benchmark themselves • Principle based • Overall AQAF does not

describe nor enforce specific QA standards by EQAAs

• EQAAs demonstrate AQAF alignment

• EQAA empowered to accredit or audit programme and institutions

• Adopt, adapt any instrument or develop national institutional assessment instrument

AUN IAI

• IAI is developed for HEIs

• Enhances institutional effectiveness and excellence in 5 areas

• Application institutional based

• Similar to areas of core QA standards of EQAAs for institutional audit/ accreditation

• Outcome for institutions which applied for assessment

• CQI

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Q & A

Thank you, Zita Mohd Fahmi

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