Teaching at the University of Luxembourg:

Organization, quality assurance and evaluation of student achievements

fernand.anton@uni.lu

University of Luxembourg

Founded in 2003

5700 students

thereof 380 PhD-students

11 Bachelor degrees

26 Master degrees

9 other qualifications

Faculties (organized in research units and teaching units)

Five Focus Areas of Research

Security, Reliability and Trust in Information Technology

Molecular and Systems Biomedicine

International Finance

European and Business Law

Education and Multilingualism

External Evaluation

June 27, 2007

Committee

• Group of experts

• Established by the Minister

• Independence

Purpose

– Assist the University in reflecting constructively on its achievements

– Provide an element of international consultancy to the University in key areas of its activities

– Give the University the opportunity to plan its own future development through constructive evidence-based discussion with international colleagues

Main Characteristics

• Independence of Committee

• Specificity of the University of Luxembourg

• Peer review

• Final Public Report

Organisation

• Committee– Organisation and supervision of external

evaluation

• Panels for evaluation of– 6 priorities– Programmes

Areas evaluated

• Research and Innovation

• Teaching and Learning

• Organisation and Management

According to international standards and taking into account national impact

Teaching and Learning

• 3 Panels (one for each Faculty)Evaluation based upon representative samples of programmes from each faculty

• Composition :• 1 Committee member (chairing the panel)• 1 Expert per field of study

(number of fields to be defined)• 1 Student

University Input

• Self evaluation (Guidelines provided by the Committee)

• It is an evidence based process. It requires :– Basic data– Indicators– SWOT analysis (Central, Faculties, Priorities)– Full participation of faculty members, administration

and students

Tools

• Handbook

– Guidelines for self evaluation

– Protocol for external evaluation• Procedures • Grids of analysis for the three areas evaluated

Guidelines for the self-evaluation: Overview

• Setting up a steering committee responsible for the organisation of the self-evaluation and for the self-evaluation report

• Respond to strategic and reflective questions

• Grids for the three areas to be evaluated

• Specific guidelines for each area

Strategic and reflective questions

• What does the unit want to achieve?

• How does the unit operate?

• How does the unit monitor its performance?

• How dynamic / adaptive is the unit?

Teaching and Learning Grid

• Input: Physical/material and human infrastructure, student selection and intake

• Process: Objectives, curriculum, programme contents and teaching/learning processes, « learning outcomes »

• Output: Realisation of objectives (outcomes of learning, employability, mobility), efficiency

• Quality Assurance: Effective internal quality assurance and culture

Panels

• Selection of high quality panel members

(propositions and decisions)

• Information given to panel members

(data and training)

• Site visits

• Report to Committee

Content of Final Report

• Commentary on research and programmes with an assessment on a 4 point scale

• Commentary on organisation and management

• Recommendations for improvement of research, programmes and management

Use of Final Report

• Provides a public picture of the current state of the University

• Gives indications of possible developments and follow-ups

• Helps to prepare next strategic plan and next « contrat quadriennal »

Long-term perspective

• This exercise is a first step

• How to envisage long term arrangements for quality enhancement?

Evaluation of courses by students(each semester, Moodle)

Some information concerning evaluation of student achievements

• Notes/grades: max 20, below 10: insufficient, compensation within a module possible of individual note not below 7.5

• Seminars: homework and presentations considered and evaluated

• Written exams should be corrected by 2 teaching staff members

• ECTS credits: 60/year;

Bachelor programme: 3years: 180 ETCS

Master: 2 years: 120 ECTS

students who collect less than 25/year are dismissed

• Bachelor thesis: 14 ECTS

BY THECOMMITTEEOF EXTERNALEVALUATION

available hereavailable here

Handbookfor the second External evaluation of the University ofLuxembourg2012‐1013[version 6 ‐ 03/11/2011]

Handbookfor the second External evaluation of the University ofLuxembourg2012‐1013[version 6 ‐ 03/11/2011]

available hereavailable here

Thank you for your attention!