Part Of Quality Assurance System Research Articles

Lost in translation: from the university’s quality assurance system to student evaluation practice

ABSTRACT Student course evaluation is a mandatory part of quality assurance systems in Norwegian higher education, aiming to enhance educational quality. However, several studies report that student course evaluation mainly is used for quality assurance and not for quality enhancement. Drawing upon translation theory, this paper analyses how the quality assurance system (QAS) that regulates evaluation, the actors and the arenas of translation at a Norwegian university affect student evaluation practice and its uses. Academic leaders were interviewed and evaluation documents analysed. Results show that the leaders were not familiar with the university’s established guidelines for an ideal evaluation practice in QAS. The academics described an evaluation practice that seems to be more internal-driven rooted in their values, previous experiences, local cultures and traditions rather than on regulations like QAS. Their translation of evaluation can be regarded as modified translation. The academics’ approach to evaluation seems to be based upon a logic of appropriateness. The different actors involved in evaluation processes seem to base their actions on contradicting logics. This can help understand why a de-coupling from evaluation described in QAS occurred. These findings and the academics’ perspectives should be taken into consideration when future evaluation systems are created. .

Method validation for the determination of fraction of modern (F14C) in wood samples using conventional method

Abstract The radiocarbon laboratory at the Lebanese Atomic Energy Commission is undertaking environmental studies, in order to determine the anthropogenic impact of technologies on the ecosystem through the determination of radiocarbon content in tree leaves and plants. Thus, it was important to validate the method used to demonstrate that the applied procedure gives reliable results. Method validation is universally applied in analytical laboratories as an essential part of quality assurance system and as a basic technical requirement of the ISO 17025 standard. The conventional method used for determination of Fraction Modern (F14C) is a standard method issued by the American Society for Testing and Materials in 2011 with a code ASTM-D 6866-11 Method C. According to Eurachem guide, internal validation was expressed in terms of accuracy that was evaluated by trueness and precision. Trueness was expressed in terms of relative bias, while for precision ten consecutive replicates were carried out to under repeatability conditions and five duplicates were analyzed under reproducibility conditions. The limit of detection and the minimum detectable activity (MDA) were calculated. Uncertainty sources were defined and their relative standard uncertainties were calculated in order to determine the combined standard uncertainty. Five reference samples of different matrices were analyzed; calculated z score values were acceptable as being between –2 and +2. The calculation and results are presented in this work.

Quality enhancement on e‐learning

PurposeBenchmarking, a method for quality assurance has not been very commonly used in higher education with regard to e‐learning. Today, e‐learning is an integral part of higher education, and so should also be an integral part of quality assurance systems. However, quality indicators, benchmarks and critical success factors on e‐learning have not been taken seriously into consideration, nor incorporated in ordinary national or international quality assurance systems. The purpose of this paper is to describe how The European Association of Distance Teaching Universities (EADTU) initiated and developed E‐xcellence+, a quality benchmarking assessment method and tool.Design/methodology/approachThis paper, which is part of a larger research project on European benchmarking, focuses on experiences from universities taking part in the E‐xcellence+ valorization process.FindingsThe results showed that benchmarking is a powerful tool to support improved governance and management in higher education, in alignment with national and international quality agencies. The tool can serve for quality improvements in teaching and learning. Additionally, the results showed critical success issues for e‐learning.Originality/valueThis original paper reports on a Europe‐wide study examining benchmarking of e‐learning and presents suggestions for tackling quality issues.