A study on the feasibility of implementing a quality management system, based on the EFQM model in a School of Engineering

Ricardo Santos,António Abreu

doi:10.29352/mill0209.02.00232

Abstract

Introduction: Currently, and in a competitive context, Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) increasingly depend on the quality of their services, not only to satisfy their different stakeholders, but also to attract funding. In this way, HEIs tend to incorporate Internal Quality Management Systems (IQMS) into their strategy with a view to the continuous improvement of their performance. This work intends to analyze the applicability of an HEI, based on the European Foundation for Quality Management (EFQM) model, through its implementation in a public Portuguese HEI. Objectives: Contribute to a critical analysis of the applicability of an IQMS in the organizational performance of an HEI, based on the EFQM model, and implemented in a published HEI. Methods: A number of advantages and difficulties were obtained. For the difficulties obtained, it was proposed a set of suggestions for its overcoming. Results: A number of advantages and difficulties were obtained. For the difficulties obtained, it was proposed a set of suggestions for its overcoming. Conclusions: The application of the SIGQ in the HEI under study, proved to be beneficial, due to a set of perceived advantages, among them, the increase of the organizational efficiency. For each one of the disadvantages identified in the study, a set of solutions was proposed for its mitigation, thus allowing to reinforce the potential of applying the EFQM model in an HEI.

Highlights

And in a competitive context, Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) increasingly depend on the quality of their services, to satisfy their different stakeholders, and to attract funding
These evidences are related to the advantages, difficulties and ways of overcoming the difficulties encountered during the European for Quality Management (EFQM) implementation
Based on what was discussed in this paper, this difficulty can be surpassed if there is a greater organization and planning, regarding EFQM implementation, anticipating, the difficulties associated with the EFQM implementation, by employing the necessary private management techniques, as well as the training actions for the organization's employees

Summary

Introduction

In a competitive context, Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) increasingly depend on the quality of their services, to satisfy their different stakeholders, and to attract funding In this way, HEIs tend to incorporate Internal Quality Management Systems (IQMS) into their strategy with a view to the continuous improvement of their performance. HEIs increasingly provide services to their stakeholders, mainly through their laboratories and Research and Development (R & D) centers, which leads to a higher requirement in the scope of the quality provided into their services In this context, HEIs need to find effective and efficient ways to respond to A3ES certification requirements (Sa et al, 2011) by promoting quality through increased resource efficiency and at the same time improving the quality of the service provided (Hall et al ,2012). It will be analyzed, among other aspects, any difficulties encountered with the model implementation, namely the compatibility with other management procedures, already existed in the institution, as well as with legislation and other Portuguese entities, associated with the organization, namely QUAR1, A3ES2 and the Professional Engineering Society

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion