Assurance Practices Research Articles

Internal Quality Assurance Policies and Practices in Colleges of Education in Ghana: Resource Dependency Theory Perspective

The study examined internal quality assurance policies and practices in managing colleges of education in Ghana to meet the requirements of the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission in the perspective of resource dependency theory. The population were staff of the colleges of education. Purposive sampling technique was used to select 2 Principals, 6 Quality Assurance Officers, and 12 Department Heads in the Colleges. Telephone interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim. The transcripts were imported into NVivo 11 for analysis. The study found that even though most of the Colleges are state-owned they have to depend on their internal structures to ensure processes meet government and regulatory body expectations. It was recommended that affiliate universities, in collaboration with the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission, should support the Colleges of Education to build internal capacity for Quality Assurance.

The calculated management of life and all that jazz: gaming quality assurance practices in English further education

ABSTRACT This paper examines emerging discourses and practices of quality assurance in English Further Education (FE), a sector currently undergoing significant change. Using a broadly ethnographic approach and Foucauldian theories of power, we discuss how ‘documentisation’ contributes to governance techniques in a specific institutional context. Documentisation, the transformation of concrete practice into discourse, reverses a common-sense view of the role of policy documentation and exemplifies a wide range of practices in both FE and the wider post-16 sector and includes the gamification of quality systems. Our analysis of the conditions and practices out of which the phenomenon appears identifies processes that are shaping present-day experiences and redefining the discourse of quality itself. Moreover, rather than situating compliance and/or resistance in practice per se, we argue that it is within the conditions of possibility expressed by such processes that the intertwining of compliance and resistance can best be appreciated.

Quality Control and Quality Assurance in Pharmaceutical Industry

Quality assurance can be defined as “the part of quality management aimed at ensuring confidence that quality must be performed”. The trust provided by quality assurance is dual internal to management and external to clients, government agencies, regulators, certification bodies and third parties. An alternative definition is “the complete performance of targeted and organized activities within the framework of a quality method that can be documented to provide assurance that the commodity or service will meet the required quality. Quality assurance is comprehensive and does not have to do with the specific necessity of the product being developed. Quality Assurance (QA), Quality Control (QC), and Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) are major considerations in the manufacturing, distribution, and marketing of pharmaceutical products to ensure their identification, potency, purity, pharmacological safety, and efficacy and effectiveness. (8) The terms Quality Assurance, Quality Control and Good Manufacturing Practices are defined in most international regulatory documents including WHO, USFDA, MHRA,TGA, MCC, etc. The quality of a pharmaceutical manufacturer's products depends on the fact that up to what satisfactory level of QA, QC and GMP system has been adopted in the process of production, distribution and marketing of products during their total shelf life. The main objective of this article is to demonstrate the fundamental difference between quality assurance, quality control and good manufacturing practice (GMP) and to emphasize their necessity for a pharmaceutical product. (8) This overview describes quality by design and identifies some of its elements. Process parameters and quality attributes are identified for every unit operation. The advantages, opportunities and steps involved in Quality by Design for pharmaceutical products are described. It is based on ICH guidelines Q8 for pharmaceutical development, Q9 for quality risk management and Q10 for pharmaceutical quality systems. It also provides the application of Quality by Design in pharmaceutical drug development and manufacturing.

Exploring the themes for Quality Assurance at Secondary Level in Punjab: A Document Analysis

Quality assurance (Q.A.) in education is the process of ensuring that educational programs and services meet established standards and expectations. This study aimed to explore themes for quality assurance in secondary schools at the Punjab level to enhance and evaluate the quality assurance process. In order to support in-depth realities, the exploration study is grounded in the interpretivism research paradigm. Data were collected by using the document analysis technique on quality assurance standards documents implemented in different countries around the world; In-depth qualitative analysis was performed with the use of NVivo 12 software. The study's various themes have been confirmed via the use of numerous methods, including Coding Nodes, Word Trees, Word Tag Clouds, and Treemaps. Documents from eleven countries were selected to achieve the study’s objective; the most updated and relative themes were extracted and presented diagrammatically and in tabular form. A total of twelve themes were found through a thematic analysis process. Twelve themes were explored and named 1)assessment;2)community involvement; 3)curriculum; 4)early childhood education;5)school environments; 6)school ethos and value;.7)Facilities for schools;8)H)school administration and management, 9)school quality management and improvement. 10)School Mission, Vision, and Objectives ,11)Teacher Standards,12)Student Standards This research study is applicable at the secondary school level in the quality assurance process. The research finding highlighted the most relevant themes/factors used in quality assurance process; to enhance or evaluate the quality assurance practices. The outcome of this research study bridges the gap in the existing literature by offering empirical knowledge on the school quality assurance process at the secondary school level. This is the first research done in an Asian setting to focus specifically on quality assurance and its associated themes and processes. This study may eventually improve educational standards and student performance.

Quality management of the newborn screening network: the Chinese experience.

Quality management of the newborn screening network: the Chinese experience.

Intra- and inter-city variability of PM2.5 concentrations in Greece as determined with a low-cost sensor network

Measurements of PM2.5 concentrations in five major Greek cities over a two-year period using calibrated low-cost sensor-based particulate matter (PM) monitors (Purple Air PA-II) were combined with local meteorological parameters, synoptic patterns and air mass residence time models to investigate the factors controlling PM2.5 spatiotemporal variability over continental Greece. Fourteen sensors nodes in Athens, Patras, Ioannina, Xanthi, and Thermi (in the Metropolitan Area of Thessaloniki) were selected out of more than 100 of a countrywide network for detailed analysis. The cities have populations ranging from 65k to 3M inhabitants and cover different latitudes along the South-North axis. High correlations between the daily average PM2.5 levels were observed among all sites, indicating strong intra- and inter-city covariance of concentrations, both in cold and warm periods. Higher PM2.5 concentrations in all cities during the cold period were primarily associated with low temperatures and stagnant anticyclonic conditions, favoring the entrapment of residential heating emissions from biomass burning. Anticyclonic conditions were also connected to an increased frequency of PM2.5 episodes, exceeding the updated daily guideline value (15 μg m−3) of the World Health Organization (WHO). During the warm period, nearly uniform PM2.5 levels were encountered across continental Greece, independently of their population size. This uniformity strongly suggests the importance of long-range transport and regional secondary aerosol formation for PM2.5 during this period. Peak concentrations were associated mainly with regional northern air flows over Greece and the Balkan Peninsula. The use of the measurements from dense air quality sensor networks, provided that a robust calibration protocol and continuous data quality assurance practices are followed, appears to be an efficient tool to gain insights on the levels and variability of PM2.5 concentrations, underpinning the characterization of spatial and seasonal particularities and supporting real-time public information and warning.

Service performance assurance for small charities: Experiences from New Zealand

Small charities in New Zealand are leading the way in service performance reporting and assurance, providing a unique context for exploring the existing practices and challenges. This study investigates small charities' assurance practices based on a content analysis of the performance reports of 120 small registered charities. We found that many small charities have complied with the assurance and reporting requirements of service performance information. However, their reported outcomes and outputs may not be significant, understandable, or sufficient. Auditors exhibit high tolerance towards these issues because of the subjectivity, auditability and materiality related to service performance information. Our study provides preliminary insights on service performance assurance for small charities, which presumably will continue evolving and hopefully improving. However, there is a concern that some charities and assurance practitioners view service performance assurance as a compliance exercise, which does little to improve accountability and transparency in the charity sector.

Meeting European exporting certification standards as a sustainable marketing choice among mango farmers in Ghana

Amidst the prevalence of certification and pursuit of global markets, there is a dearth of studies on compliance with EU certification standards and market outlet preference among mango farmers in Ghana. Therefore, this study sought to determine factors influencing mango farmers to produce to meet European standards and certification, and the marketing outlet choice of mango farmers in the Bono and Bono East regions of Ghana. A multistage sampling technique was employed to select 300 mango farmers. Data gathered were analysed using multinomial and binary probit regressions. Empirical results show that gender, age, farming experience, and access to the ready market are significant predictors of a farmer’s choice of the local market. On the other hand, farming experience, ready market, the quantity of harvest, fruit quality, market assurance, and good agronomic practices (GAP) significantly predict farmers’ preference for retail. The level of education, farm size, GAP, annual farm income, ready market, training, and access to credit are essential determinants of a farmer’s decision to practise EU standards and certification. Given the findings, it is recommended that farmers who sell and are likely to sell to processors should be targeted for pieces of training on EU market export as they are more likely to be convinced and already involved in relevant practices for such exports

The failure of transparency as self-regulation

PurposeThis paper aims to examine the existence of a transparency gap between voluntary external sustainability reporting and internal sustainability performance of an organisation arising from the operationalisation of transparency as an instrumental tool.Design/methodology/approachThis study combined an analysis of a firm’s sustainability report (secondary data) with a qualitative case study data (primary data comprising interviews, meetings and internal documents) to understand how the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) sustainability reporting guidelines are applied in practice.FindingsBy comparing what is reported with a range of primary case study data, this study finds evidence of transparency gaps, particularly in terms of the quality of measurement of sustainability performance, the materiality of issues covered and the completeness of the report. This study posits that voluntary disclosures following the GRI guidelines (transparency technique) shape the external expression of acceptable corporate behaviour (transparency norm) that is nevertheless at odds with actual behaviour or performance.Practical implicationsThe findings indicate the importance of mandatory sustainability reporting requirements that facilitate accountability to all key stakeholders and that are externally assured and enforced. Such requirements might take the form of standards that put boundaries on judgement and address material sustainable development impacts and that are accompanied by implementation guidance. Non-financial assurance practices must be developed to cover adherence to reporting principles and processes.Social implicationsTransparency gaps that result from voluntary disclosure guidelines or standards being used to imply a transparency norm may undermine accountability for the impacts of the organisation and hinder alignment of business models and corporate strategies with sustainable development.Originality/valueThe paper contributes to a theoretical understanding of transparency as a form of self-regulation and has implications for the further development of sustainability reporting standards.

Quality Assurance Practices in the Time of COVID 19: What Works in Tertiary Institutions in Tanzania

Despite natural disasters like COVID-19, tertiary institutions around the world should be more responsive and use a proactive approach to quality assurance. The COVID-19 eruption halted the operation of normal classrooms. Teaching was done from home, although many teachers were not aware of online facilitation. The current study examined the practice of quality assurance in Tanzanian tertiary institutions following COVID-19 eruption from 2020 to 2021. To achieve this, the study adopted a mixed-methods approach with the help of a sequential explanatory research design. The study involved 113 respondents, obtained randomly from four tertiary institutions. The study adopted an automated questionnaire and semistructured interviews for collecting data from the respondents. The two methods of data collection enabled the gathering of voluminous information with little bias. The data were analysed descriptively and by using content analysis for qualitative data. Results from this study revealed that both external and internal mechanisms were adapted to varying degrees in the practice of quality assurance amid COVID19. They also reveal that some tertiary institutions have adopted a blended online mode of teaching and learning. However, it was not successfully implemented because most tertiary institutions lacked the necessary resources and personnel to use digitalisation in teaching and learning. According to the study, digitalisation quality assurance systems should be improved further to overcome the current situation and the future effects of unpredictable disasters. Furthermore, higher education institutions must improve open and remote e-communication between tutors and students.

Investigating the influence of drone flight on the stability of cancer medicines.

Monoclonal Antibodies (mAbs) are being used in the treatment of both malignant and non-malignant diseases and whilst highly effective, certain products have very short expiry times. Clinical deterioration and supply chain disruption can often lead to wastage and there is a need to reduce this by improving efficiency in logistics practices between manufacturing sites and administration locations. This study aimed to investigate the influence of drone flight on the stability of cancer medicines. Clinically expired, premanufactured monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) were investigated, contained inside instrumented Versapaks, and flown in a Skylift (Mugin) V50 vertical take-off and landing drone through seven phases of flight, (take-off, hover, transition, cruise, transition, hover, and landing). Storage specifications (2-8°C) were met, and any vibrations emanating from the drone and transmitted through the packaging during flight were monitored using accelerometers. Vibration occurred largely above 44 Hz which was consistent with rotor speeds during operation and was significantly greater in amplitude during transition than in forward flight or in hover. Bench experiments validated assurance practices, exploring the edge-of-quality failure by applying extremes of rotational vibration to the mAbs. Aggregation and fragmentation represented a loss of quality in the mAbs and would pose a risk to patient safety. No significant difference was identified in the aggregation and fragmentation of all flown mAbs samples, indicating structural integrity. Flown mAbs in their infusion bags had similar particle sizes compared to controls, (Bevacizumab 11.8±0.17 nm vs. 11.6±0.05 nm, Trastuzumab 11.2±0.05 nm vs. 11.3±0.13 nm, Rituximab 11.4±0.27 nm vs. 11.5±0.05 nm) and aggregate content (Bevacizumab 1.25±0.03% vs 1.32±0.02% p = 0.11, Trastuzumab 0.15±0.06% vs. 0.16±0.06% p = 0.75, Rituximab 0.11±0.02% vs. 0.11±0.01% p = 0.73). The quality of the three mAbs was assured, suggesting that the V50 drone did not induce sufficient levels of vibration to adversely affect their quality.

Merging English Home Language and First Additional Language curricula: Implications for future quality assurance practices

South Africa has a uniquely differentiated English curriculum in a bid to cater for diverse proficiency levels prevalent among its learner population. While this stride made sense in a population with one of the highest inequalities in the world, it is equally important to reflect on whether the differentiated systems do serve the purpose of equal access in relation to the quality of provision. Surprisingly, very little research has been carried out to validate the merits of this curriculum and assessment differentiation to date. In this paper, I report on Umalusi’s commissioned study on English curriculum benchmarking with three countries: Kenya, Singapore and Canada. This four-country case analysis focuses on curriculum goals and the depth and breadth of English Home Language (EHL) and English First Additional Language (EFAL). The results of the analysis show that the objectives of EFAL and EHL are largely similar and that both compare favourably with these subjects taught in the three other countries under investigation. However, framing the study within theories of language acquisition and language variation, I argue that the EFAL/EHL differentiation at both curriculum and assessment levels is unmerited and serves the opposite intent: deepening inequalities and access to the English language. In the end, useful recommendations for repackaging an assessment of English into one that takes account of its diverse learner population are advanced and further research opportunities are highlighted.

Voluntary corporate social responsibility reporting and assurance practices among United Nations Global Compact member companies

Voluntary corporate social responsibility reporting and assurance practices among United Nations Global Compact member companies

Historical Progress of Stereotactic Radiation Surgery.

Radiosurgery and stereotactic radiotherapy have established themselves as precise and accurate areas of radiation oncology for the treatment of brain and extracranial lesions. Along with the evolution of other methods of radiotherapy, this type of treatment has been associated with significant advances in terms of a variety of modalities and techniques to improve the accuracy and efficacy of treatment. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of the progress in stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) over several decades, and includes a review of various articles and research papers, commencing with the emergence of stereotactic techniques in radiotherapy. Key clinical aspects of SRS, such as fixation methods, radiobiology considerations, quality assurance practices, and treatment planning strategies, are presented. In addition, the review highlights the technological advancements in treatment modalities, encompassing the transition from cobalt-based systems to linear accelerator-based modalities. By addressing these topics, this study aims to offer insights into the advancements that have shaped the field of SRS, that have ultimately enhanced the accuracy and effectiveness of treatment.

Implementing quality assurance practices in teaching machine learning in higher education

The development of machine learning and deep learning (ML/DL) change the skills expected by society and the form of ML/DL teaching in higher education. This article proposes a formal system to improve ML/DL teaching and, subsequently, the graduates' skills. Our proposed system is based on the quality assurance (QA) system adapted to teaching and learning ML/DL and implemented on the model suggested by Deming to continuously improve the QA processes.

INFLUENCE OF LEADERSHIP IN ENSURING SAFETY AND QUALITY WITHIN THE OIL AND GAS SECTOR: A REVIEW

The oil and gas sector plays a crucial role in meeting global energy demands; however, it is also one of the most hazardous industries, necessitating a strong focus on safety and quality assurance. Leadership within this sector significantly influences the safety of personnel, the protection of the environment, and the overall quality of operations. This research paper conducts a short review of existing literature to explore the impact of leadership on safety and quality within the oil and gas industry. The study delves into the relationship between leadership and safety culture and its influence on quality assurance practices. Additionally, it identifies challenges faced by leaders and presents best practices and success stories from exemplary organizations. The paper concludes with actionable recommendations for leaders to enhance safety and quality initiatives within the oil and gas sector.

INFLUENCE OF LEADERSHIP IN ENSURING SAFETY AND QUALITY WITHIN THE OIL AND GAS SECTOR: A REVIEW

The oil and gas sector plays a crucial role in meeting global energy demands; however, it is also one of the most hazardous industries, necessitating a strong focus on safety and quality assurance. Leadership within this sector significantly influences the safety of personnel, the protection of the environment, and the overall quality of operations. This research paper conducts a short review of existing literature to explore the impact of leadership on safety and quality within the oil and gas industry. The study delves into the relationship between leadership and safety culture and its influence on quality assurance practices. Additionally, it identifies challenges faced by leaders and presents best practices and success stories from exemplary organizations. The paper concludes with actionable recommendations for leaders to enhance safety and quality initiatives within the oil and gas sector.

The Course of Managerialism in Turkish Higher Education: An Analysis of Quality Assurance Policies and Practices

Neoliberal policies in higher education in Turkey started after the 1980s and manifested in managerial practices since the 2000s. This trend resulted in the commercialization of higher education and the increased managerial control over academic activity. The purpose of the paper is to study managerialism on the policies of the Council of Higher Education (Yükseköğretim Kurulu, hereafter YÖK) and its practices in universities in Turkey. The implementation of quality assurance policies through YÖK is a key component in understanding managerialism in the university context. The paper is based on documentary analysis of quality assurance regulations as well as internal quality assurance reports of Middle East Technical University (Orta Doğu Teknik Üniversitesi, hereafter ODTÜ). Documentary analysis gave us the opportunity to track the historical course of quality assurance policies and practices. We find out that managerial policies and practices are on the rise during the last two decades in Turkey through the requirement of quality assurance processes by YÖK, and that the reflection of YÖK requirements in university practices is variable in different managerial dimensions.

Quality Assurance and Accreditation Issues in Nepalese Higher Education

The issue of quality assurance has become the focus of many institutions to enhance quality of Higher Education (HE). There are six universities to provide higher education in Nepal. Tribhuvan University (TU) is the oldest and largest university which covers major stake near about 93 percent in Nepalese higher education system. With the aim of examining the practices of quality assurance (QA) in TU, this study has been conducted by selecting the faculty members and other staffs of the faculties of management, education and humanities & social sciences as its respondents. The internal and ordinal scale data were analysed by using descriptive statistics and chi-square test with the help of SPSS 13.0 and Microsoft Excel. Additionally, reliability of the responses on interval-scaled questions was test by calculating Cronbach’s Alpha and an analysis was also made for subjective or open-ended questions. It is found that faculties play prominent role in assuring the academic quality has the highest average value and strict affiliation criteria set by the university influence positively in the quality performance of an institution has the lowest average value. Average value of the responses regarding factor determining is the highest on well trained and experienced resource persons. Therefore, well trained and experienced resource person is the main factor to determine quality assurance in higher education. It is found that improvement on curriculum, faculty development, establishing reward system, discouraging political pressure and providing strict rules and regulations assure the quality in higher education of TU.

UPAYA MENINGKATKAN INFRASTRUKTUR PEMBELAJARAN DAN LINGKUNGAN UNTUK BERKELANJUTAN PRAKTIK MUTU PENDIDIKAN

ABSTRACTThe current study examines the state of the learning environment and infrastructure, along with their effect on teaching and learning activities and the extent to which they are maintained. This study uses a descriptive survey design paradigm. Respondents consisted of madrasah in the Darul NW Kamal Kembang Kerang Islamic boarding school with 5 madrasa principals and 127 teachers who were randomly selected using a multi-stage sampling technique from a group of 5 madrasah in the Darul Kamal Islamic boarding school Kembang Kerang environment. Data was collected using the Learning Environment Management Questionnaire (LEMQ), Teacher Instructional Task Performance Assessment Scale (SPKTIG), and Principal Interview Guidelines (IGP). The study revealed that teachers' perceptions of the quality of learning facilities and environments ranged from 41 to 60.5%, while schools with inadequate quality ranged from 19 to 59%. This implies that quality assurance practices are at the average level in secondary schools. The results also showed that there was a significant relationship between teachers' instructional tasks and students' academic performance (r = 0.645 at p<0.05). The study concludes that schools and other stakeholders in education must effectively collaborate and contribute significantly to the development of infrastructure and learning environments, so as to create a work environment that is more conducive to the practice of ensuring sustainable high-quality education in secondary schools.Key words: Infrastructure, Learning Environment, Quality of Education