Risk management model for quality assuring of education at the university

Abstract

Introduction. The actual internal and external context of the university, in particular the COVID-19 pandemic, creates generates risks for the quality of education at the university. Risk management should be carried out systematically to reduce the probability of occurrence and negative consequences of risks. The purpose of the research is to develop and implement a risk management model involving systemic actions with risks for education at the university and to study the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on these risks. Methods. Identification of possible risks for quality of education was carried out for the Russian Technological University (Russia). The risk analysis was carried out by written survey with fixing the potential causes and consequences of the risk. The survey involved teachers of all institutes (8) and departments of the university (about 100). The number of participants was more than 2000 people including heads of institutes and departments. The risk method is the analysis of the types, consequences and criticality of failures – FMECA. Research results. The risk management model of the educational process allows organizing the management of internal and external risks for university is presented. The data obtained showed that "poor school preparation in mathematics for mastering the programs of the technological university" was recognized as an unacceptable risk (RPN=74.8). The risk of "full transition to distance learning technologies" was recognized as critical for the quality of the educational process of the university (RPN=40.8). The source of this risk is the existing epidemiological situation in the country and the world caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Control actions to reduce this risk have been developed within the university: reducing the probability of a risk event and reducing the consequences. The remaining risks were moderate or insignificant, a decision was made to accept them, continue monitoring and analysis in subsequent periods. Conclusions. Proposed risk management model allows the university to identify risks that could potentially have a negative impact on the educational process, to analyze and evaluate them. Priority risks are eliminated or minimized ensures the university's resilience to the impact of internal and external factors for quality of education.