Quality Assurance in Philippine Higher Education: The Role of IQuAME

NENALYN P. DEFENSOR
Commissioner, Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Philippines
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Definition of Quality Assurance

Refers to an ongoing, continuous process of evaluating (assessing, monitoring, guaranteeing, maintaining, and improving) the quality of a higher education system, institutions, or programmes (UNESCO). is a process through which a higher education institution guarantees to itself and its stakeholders that its teaching, learning and other services consistently reach a standard of excellence. Such assurance is a necessary goal for the institution itself. Increasingly, it is also necessary for publicly funded institutions to be accountable, and provide assurances, to society and the state that they are delivering the services for which they are funded, thus ensuring that they are providing value for money. Therefore quality assurance incorporates all the processes internal to the institution, whereby quality is evaluated, maintained 2 and improved (Duff et al., 2000).

Quality Assurance in Higher Education

In higher education, quality assurance refers to explicit commitment and practices of higher education institutions to the development of an institutional culture which recognizes the importance of quality and the continuous enhancement of quality of services.

Importance of Quality Assurance in Higher Education

Quality assurance (QA) is fundamental in the pursuit of quality in higher education. Program-based QA is best defined through criteria and standards used by higher education Institutions (HEIs) and CHED.
Ex. the selection of CHED Centers for Excellence/ Development uses accreditation outcomes.

Institution-based QA is a way of checking out that higher education institutions are accountable and effective in delivering academic programs and services.
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Outcomes- Based Evaluation

Refers to evaluation/ assessment of the learning outcomes that students are supposed to achieve. These learning outcomes are translated into higher education qualifications that attest to skills that are transferable from the academe to the work environment and which contribute to national development.
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PHILIPPINE HIGHER EDUCATION QUALITY ASSURANCE SYSTEM

Internal Quality Assurance Mechanisms of HEIs and External Quality Assurance Mechanisms of CHED and Accreditation Bodies

PHILIPPINE HIGHER EDUCATION QUALITY ASSURANCE SYSTEM

INTERNAL QUALITY ASSURANCE MECHANISMS
COMMON KEY FEATURES OF UNIVERSITY & COLLEGE- BASED QA
Regulatory Policy Framework Admission Retention Assessment Graduation Requirements Process for Approval of New Degree Programs (Department to University Level) Periodic review of degree programs from Institute, School or College levels for approval at the University Academic Council/ Boards Annual Performance Reports Mechanisms for Monitoring Instruction, Research and Extension Faculty hiring and retention system Student/ faculty/ peer and administrator performance review Program and institutional performance evaluation system Involvement of External Evaluators in the assessment process and use of their reports

Desired Outcomes

EXTERNAL QUALITY ASSURANCE MECHANISMS Key Agencies Involved

Issuance of Certifications &Accreditation Levels Identification of COEs/CODs Identification of Autonomous and Deregulated HEIs Identification of Best Researches and Extension Programs Funding for: 1.Accreditation 2.Research 3.Faculty Development

!. Accrediting Bodies (Voluntary)

OUTCOMES
II. CHED QA MECHANISMS AND TOOLS Higher Education Regulatory Framework Provides: Supervision and Monitoring Programs Standards and Guidelines Issuance of Permits and Recognition of Programs Regional Quality Assurance Teams Institutional Quality Assurance through Monitoring & Evaluation (IQuAME)

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What is IQuAME
1.Institutional Quality Assurance through Monitoring

and Evaluation (IQuAME) looks at the effectiveness of an institution in its entirety, particularly, the development of an institutional system that ensures the quality and standards of programs. 2.CHED Memorandum Order Nos. 15 and 16. series of 2005 institutionalized the implementation of IQuAME as a mechanism for monitoring and evaluation of the outcomes of the programs, processes, and services provided by both public and private Philippine Higher Education Institutions.
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Cont. What is IQuAME

3. The monitoring and evaluation cover key result areas that include governance and management; quality of teaching and research; support for students; relations with the community; and management of resources.

Cont. What is IQuAME

4. It looks at the effectiveness of an institution in its entirety, particularly, the development of institutional systems that ensure the quality and standards of programs 5. The conceptualization of IQuAME was developed with the help of the British Council
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Objectives of IQuAME
To enhance an institutions capacity in designing, delivering and managing programs and services; To identify areas for reform and intervention along the key areas of: governance and management quality of teaching and learning support for students relations with the community and management of resources To ensure that quality learning outcomes are responsive to the changing needs and comparable to international standards; To provide accurate, up-to-date and accessible information on performance of higher education institutions to enable stakeholders to make informed choices; and To provide the Commission with bases for policy options on higher education and informed decisions for development assistance and incentives to HEIs. 11

Summary of Institutions visited through IQuAME IQuAME Categories Number of HEIs A ( r) Institutions 0 A ( t) Institutions 17 B Institutions 16 C Institutions 20 For Review 4 57 HEIs

The following are the issues and concerns, which need to be addressed to improve the implementation process of IQuAME: 1.On the Developmental Role of IQuAME. The original intent of IquAME should be pursued if HEIs are to be helped. This is the latest position of the Commission En Banc. 2. On the Advocacy. Conduct of Regionwide orientation on the implementation of IQuAME and in accomplishing the selfevaluation document should still be done Likewise, stakeholders have to fully understand the developmental role of IQuAME. 13

3. Continuous training of CHEDRO Officials/Staff and Assessors in the implementation of IQuAME.

CHEDRO Officials and staff need guidance in the actual monitoring and evaluation. Currently, there are differences in the level of support and consistency in the implementation of IQuAME processes.

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4. Temporary suspension of IQuAME related activities. A Task Force on Quality Assurance (TFQA) is rationalizing all QA Mechanisms in Higher Education. TFQA is expected to finalize its recommendations by the 1st quarter of 2011.
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THANK YOU
Have a good day.

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