Quality assurance strategy and procedures for quality assurance at Goražde International University

Goražde, September, 2014

Pursuant to Article 53 (2) (b) of the Law on Higher Education in the Canton of Bosnia and Herzegovina (Official Gazette of the BPK No. 2/10 and 12/14), Article 35, paragraph 1. Under d. Statute of the International University of Gorazde, Senate at its session held on 26.09.2014. BRINGS quality assurance strategy and procedures for quality assurance at the International University of Goražde

1. QUALITY DECLARATION

The International University of Goražde is firmly committed to continually and systematically working to improve the quality of its study programs, teaching, research, textbooks and literature, equipment, non-teaching support, student evaluation and management processes.

The aim of quality improvement is to achieve, maintain and improve national and international standards in teaching, research and management at the International University of Goražde.

Quality Improvement The International University of Gorazde will implement through quality assurance systems, which are:

• Quality Assurance Commission,
• Rules of quality system with procedures, instructions and protocols.

All employees of the International University of Goražde participate in the process of quality improvement in the domain of their abilities and competences.

2. QUALITY ASSURANCE MEASURES

Measures to improve the International University of Gorazde include a series of activities that will achieve the desired goal of quality improvement:

• Harmonization of study programs in scope and content with study programs of renowned economics and information faculties in the countries of the European Union;
• Continuous investment in teaching space, audio-visual teaching equipment and scientific and research equipment that can be used in the teaching process, in order to reach national and international standards in the field; Harmonization of the number of teachers and associates with national and international standards;
• Respect for high criteria for the selection of teachers and associates and their alignment with national and international criteria;
• Continuous education of teachers and associates in the field of pedagogy, psychology and communication skills;
• Continuous investment in space and equipment for research, and regular servicing of existing equipment;
• Deepening and expanding scientific cooperation with renowned scientific centers in the world, through joint scientific projects and visits of our teachers and associates in these centers;
• Adherence to the high criteria for publishing textbooks of our teachers and associates, which are in line with national and international standards;
• Financing the printing of textbooks by our teachers and associates; Continuous procurement of nationally and internationally recognized textbooks in economics and informatics for the library for the International University of Goražde;
• Providing free access to the academic internet for all students through the server, from their homes, and from a large number of Internet connections in the building of the International University of Goražde and its teaching facilities;
• Harmonization of the number of non-teaching staff with national and international standards;
• Continuous education of non-teaching staff in their areas of competence, in communication skills and in managing information technologies;
• Providing a material basis for the work of student representatives in the evaluation of teaching;
• Providing professional assistance to students in establishing methodology and conducting teaching evaluations;
• Development and implementation of documentation and information management procedures in the governing bodies of the International University of Goražde. Continuous education of the members of the governing bodies of the International University of Goražde on the principles of resource management.

3. QUALITY ASSURANCE SUBJECTS

The quality assurance entities are all employees of the International University of Gorazde and students. They work to ensure quality through appropriate bodies:

• The Quality Assurance Commission (consisting of both employees and students),
• Control teams (which control the implementation of valid procedures),
• Senate and Student Parliament.

The rights and obligations of all subjects of quality assurance are regulated by the Statute of the International University in Goražde and the regulations for: publishing, teaching and exam maintenance, and quality assurance. All entities have the right and the obligation to participate in quality assurance in their workplace, and through participation in the work of quality assurance bodies.

4. QUALITY ASSURANCE AREAS

Areas of quality assurance are: study programs, teaching, research, student evaluation, textbooks and literature, resources, non-teaching support and management process.

The International University of Gorazde provides quality in each of these areas, according to the plan and procedures outlined in the strategic plan and procedures of the quality system for the respective areas.

5. DEFINITION FOR BUILDING A QUALITY ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE

International University of Goražde is firmly committed to building a culture of quality so that all employees and students are educated on the basics of the quality system, the standards to be achieved and their rights and obligations when it comes to quality. That is why the International University of Goražde will constantly organize education of employees and students on quality assurance.

Also, the International University of Goražde will stimulate and reward contributions to quality assurance in each area, according to the rules on quality assurance.

6. CONNECTION OF EDUCATIONAL, RESEARCH AND PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES

The International University of Gorazde requires all its teachers and associates to engage in both scientific research and professional work in their respective fields. In this way, they will introduce elements of research and concrete practical problems into the teaching content that they convey to students.

Also, students acquire knowledge, skills and attitudes through classical teaching, practice in companies and institutions in the environment and through participation in research projects of teachers and associates.

Most of the teachers and associates of the International University of Goražde are employed in enterprises and institutions and participate in scientific projects of the Ministry of Education, Youth, Science and Sport of BPK Goražde, which additionally ensures the connection of educational, research and professional activities.

Quality of study program:

1 – The subject

This document regulates the quality assurance process of study programs at the International University of Goražde.

2 – Scope

The procedure described applies to all study programs of the International University of Gorazde.

3 – Study programs

The study program is a cohesive and coherent whole that covers the goals, purpose, structure and content of the study program, student enrollment policy and procedure, learning methods and methods of assessment, as well as student learning outcomes and competencies.

The study programs of the International University of Goražde are in accordance with its mission and goals and contribute to their fulfillment.

The International University of Gorazde is firmly committed to continuously and systematically work on:

• Harmonization of study programs with new knowledge in science and profession
• Achieving compatibility of study programs with faculties in the immediate environment, an integrated European Higher Education Area and the world, in order to ensure the mobility of students and teachers, while preserving the specificity of the needs of the environment in planning, implementing and improving the quality of study programs

4 – Structure of the study program

General information

• Name and type of study program (vocational studies, integrated academic studies and where the study program is conducted)
• Purpose of the study program ie. the reasons for its introduction
• Aims of the study program
• Learning outcomes, knowledge and skills acquired during studies
• Professional, academic or scientific name and abbreviation
• Duration of the study program

Curriculum

The curriculum of the study program includes:

• The syllabus is presented in tables by year, with weekly classes per block / semester and ECTS.
• List of electives by year
• Relationship between general educational, general professional and specific professional subjects
• Structure and duration of practical classes (during the school year, part-time, boarding, study, etc.)
• Comparison with three similar foreign study programs
• Optimal number of students considering available space, equipment and teaching staff.

Teaching and non-teaching staff

The records of teachers and associates of the International University of Gorazde contain a list of teachers and associates who will participate in the implementation of the study program (first and last name, title, title, load, date of last election, status), as well as CV of teachers and associates and an optimal number of students per teacher and associate.

Data on non-teaching staff include a list of support staff directly involved in the study program.

Students

Data on students of a particular study program include:

• enrollment requirements for the study program,
• way of ranking
• entrance exam and more
• course selection and transition to the next year of study
• average duration of study
• grading and promotion of students according to ZVO.

5 – Assessment of the quality of the study program

Quality assurance of the study program is achieved through continuous review of all segments of the study program.

The essence of checking the quality of the study program is, first and foremost, checking the expected learning outcomes, knowledge and skills that students need to acquire. This check should be done through the resolution of clinical problems, before the completion of the final paper. In accordance with the results that students show in solving problems, the quality of the study program is evaluated.

Another form of quality assurance is the success that graduates show in practical work, which involves continuous monitoring and feedback from employers on a relevant sample of graduate students. The Dean contacts the labor market to obtain information about graduates that work in Goražde, the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina or the Republic of Srpska and forward the information to the Assistant Director of Education, who contacts companies and institutions to obtain information on the quality of work of graduates.

Once every three years, the goals of the study program are aligned with the basic tasks and goals of the International University of Goražde.

The role of the departments in the quality control of the study program is reflected in the permanent harmonization of teaching contents with the reference faculties abroad, which as a final result has comparability of the study program with curricula abroad and enables mobility of students and teachers, and above all the quality of graduates.

The role of students in ensuring the quality of the study program is reflected in the continuous participation of students in the work of the departments and suggestions for modifying or supplementing the teaching contents, as well as checking their overall workload and eventual correction of ECTS once a year.

6 – Responsibility for implementation

The Dean, the Vice-Rector for Teaching, the Commission for Quality Assurance, responsible teachers, associates and students of the International University of Gorazde are responsible for the implementation of this document.

QP procedure. Quality of teaching and assessment

1. The subject

This document regulates the process of quality assurance of the teaching process and grading of students at the International University of Goražde

2. Scope

The procedure described applies to all study programs of the International University of Goražde.

3. Teaching process and assessment

The teaching process is carried out according to the curriculum for each subject for a particular study program. At the beginning of the school year, students opt for electives.

At the beginning of the winter semester, the responsible teacher submits the curriculum to the Vice-Rector for teaching. The syllabus includes the total number of classes in the winter and summer semesters, as well as the Sunday class of classes. The course syllabus contains the course objective, method units, number of hours, number of ECTS credits and required literature. The syllabuses are approved by the Senate of the International University of Goražde.

The responsible teacher draws up a calendar schedule of teaching units. The calendar determines the teacher who performs the theoretical unit and the associates who carry out the practical teaching, as well as the place and time of teaching according to the general teaching schedule at the International University of Goražde.

Theoretical teaching is performed through lectures and through interactive work with students. The teacher records the presence of students and their interest in the records for monitoring and records of teaching, which is expressed through the points of each student’s pre-requisites.

Lectures cover topics for which this form of teaching is more rational than other forms. In principle, lectures should include:

Lectures cover topics for:

• synthetic review of the material of an area that will be processed in other forms of teaching, which determines the scope and emphasizes the importance of the material,
• recent findings that alter, modify or deepen important concepts included in the objectives of the course,
• topics covered in the objectives of the course which have not been adequately addressed in the existing compulsory textbooks,
• material that, in experience, is extremely difficult for students.

Quality of teaching and assessment

The lectures are delivered by the teacher to the administrator of the academic network, which makes the lectures available on the website of the International University of Goražde. At the same time, the content of the compulsory and supplementary literature is available on the website for each student. On the website of the International University of Goražde, students have the opportunity to obtain all information about teachers and associates in the subject who are listening that semester or module of the enrolled study program.

Practical classes are:

• Regular student work in teaching bases, including exercises
• Professional practice
• Field work and other forms of teaching that contribute to the acquisition of prescribed knowledge, skills and habits.
• Practical classes are conducted in laboratories, which enable successful monitoring and mastering of the curriculum of each method unit. Contributors and teachers conducting practical classes record the attendance and practical work of each student and enter their observations in separate sections in the file for monitoring the teaching process and student’s pre-examinations.

Classes delivered in the form of exercises for up to 40 students

Seminars or problem-oriented classes are organized in the course where students solve complex teaching problems through an interactive process. As a pre-exam part, pre-exam consultations are organized in agreement with the students in each subject, enabling the student to more easily and successfully master the exam requirements.

In the teaching process, students express their interests, and the teacher and teaching assistants record those interests in the teaching process. This forms the basis for curriculum innovation in the next school year.

Professional community practice

Professional practice is a form of teaching that is carried out in enterprises and institutions. During the internship, lectures and other forms of teaching are organized; seminars, exercises, consultations, etc.

Consultations

The consultations are part of the teaching work with students, and they are held by teachers and teaching assistants according to a set and pre-announced schedule. The timetable for the consultation is published in the bulletin board.

During the consultations the student is provided with assistance and guidance in preparing seminars, colloquiums, papers and exams.

Other forms of teaching

In order to improve the teaching, along with the mentioned forms of teaching, special forms of practical work are organized according to the curriculum of the International University of Goražde.

Internal quality control

The International University of Goražde, through the set standards of internal quality control of the teaching process, monitors the work of individual subjects:

The Internal Quality Control Commission delegates once a semester, for each subject, a teacher-reviewer who attends the class and gives its assessment of the content, presentation and understandability of the unit. The reviewer also controls the records of the lectures and the assessment of students’ pre-examinations. The reviewer adheres to the prescribed teaching control procedures.

The reviewer submits a report on the fulfillment of teaching standards at the meeting of the Committee for Internal Quality Control of the teaching process at the International University of Goražde once during the semester.

Teachers who do not adhere to the curriculum of the subject and who do not achieve the quality of the classes and exercises are given certain deadlines to correct it. Quality assessment for teachers and co-workers influences the grade for higher education.

The process of monitoring the quality of the teaching process includes students who conduct a survey on the quality of the teaching process during the semester.

Exam registration and records

After completing the course, the subject teacher certifies in the student index lectures, exercises, seminars and more. Based on the requirements, the student certifies the semester and gains the right to apply for the exam. The exam is reported through the Student Service through the exam application. The Student Service creates a record based on the applications submitted for the exam within the stipulated exam deadlines. The record and applications are taken by a co-worker or teacher in the subject. Students are scheduled to take the examiner if more than one teacher has taken classes. Each teacher schedules the exam term according to the result of the examiner’s choice.

After the exam is completed, the teacher fills in the application form with the grade and records it in the exam record. The examination application and the minutes shall be submitted to the student service officer, who shall submit the application to the student file. The Student Affairs Officer in the information system shall enter in the student’s file the grade, the date of the examination and the name of the teacher with whom the student took the examination. In the index the teacher enters the points for the pre-exam part of the exam (lectures, exercises, seminars and colloquiums) and the points for the exam part (test, practical and oral part of the exam), according to the assessment model. After that, based on the total number of points obtained, the teacher enters the grade in the exam.

Rating model

A written evaluation process is developed in each subject. Students’ pre-requisites may carry 30-70% of the final grade. The test, the practical and the oral exam may be integral parts of the examination process. At the end of the examination process, the teacher makes a conclusion about the student’s success through the number of points for each part of the examination process and the grade in the exam.

At the end of the school-academic year, each subject and each teacher is given an average grade in the exam, thus recording the criteria for each teacher.
Students, through their representatives in the internal quality control committee of the teaching process at the International University of Goražde, also make their comments and suggestions on the evaluation criteria.

For teachers with the highest number of negative ones, as well as for teachers with excellent grades in most cases, a detailed analysis of the teacher criteria for student evaluation is made. Suggestions are then made to improve the quality of student assessment and to harmonize the criteria of all teachers in the subject.

Each year, the Commission for Quality of Work at the International University of Goražde compares the quality achieved in the teaching process with the previous results at the International University of Goražde and similar higher education institutions, and on that basis sets goals for improving the quality of the teaching process.

 

No: 0-86-5/14

Date: September 26th, 2014