Quality Assurance Model Research Articles

Competence-based Quality Assurance of University Education Lessons Learnt from the OECD-AHELO Feasibility Study

The discourse that an educated workforce is essential for a prosperous and sustainable economy in a knowledge-based society has invited heightened policy interest in higher education. In effect, many industrialized countries are approaching, or have already reached universal access, with the majority of their age cohorts enrolling in higher education. This drastic expansion of higher education has invited new challenges to the system, particularly in relation to quality assurance. The focus of this paper is to explore models of quality assurance in the age of higher education expansion. In particular, this paper will focus on the Assessment of Higher Education Learning Outcomes (AHELO) Feasibility Study carried out by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). The study serves as a compelling model for improving the quality of higher education in two respects. Firstly, the AHELO Feasibility Study is a model showing how learning outcomes assessment can serve as an action scheme to engage faculty in generating a common understanding of competence frameworks. Secondly, it is a model showing that competence frameworks can be shared among diverse universities if they are sufficiently abstract, but also that abstract competence frameworks can be articulated into concrete learning outcomes that are attainable for students within a given timeframe, and assessable by faculty through the use of relevant assessment tools. The experience of participating in the AHELO Feasibility Study demonstrated that external learning outcomes assessments can help faculty in reaching substantive and tangible understanding of the competence framework, and in substantiating attainable and assessable learning outcomes from the abstract competences. Such shared understanding is indeed the foundation of competence-based quality assurance.

Legality, quality assurance and learning: competing discourses of plagiarism management in higher education

In universities around the world, plagiarism management is an ongoing issue of quality assurance and risk management. Plagiarism management discourses are often framed by legal concepts of authorial rights, and plagiarism policies outline penalties for infringement. Learning and teaching discourses argue that plagiarism management is, and should remain, a learning and teaching issue and press for more student-centred approaches to plagiarism management. Institutions must navigate these competing discourses in their attempts to design workable plagiarism management policies. After outlining plagiarism management contexts from the United Kingdom, Australia and Sweden to provide a sense of international work in the area, this article proposes a learner-centred quality assurance model (adapted from the work of Harvey and Newton (2004)) for plagiarism management. The proposed model refocuses on the learner and classroom practices in quality assurance processes. It offers a framework utilising learning, teaching and internal institutional research on plagiarism management to inform overall university policy.

Werden in Österreich Patienten mit psychosomatischen Störungen ausreichend versorgt?

Quality assurance in psychosomatic medicine in Austria is currently based on a voluntary continuing medical education programme in psychosocial, psychosomatic and psychotherapeutic medicine. It is questionable whether psychosomatic care can be sufficiently provided in this manner. In addition, a broadly based proposal to create a subspecialty in psychosomatic medicine in order to facilitate quality assurance, is investigated. The necessity to reorganize psychosomatic care was explored through semi-structured qualitative interviews with experts. Data-based analyses probed the labour market of the proposed subspecialty, and the literature was reviewed to look into the cost-benefit ratio of psychosomatic treatment. All experts expressed a need to restructure psychosomatic care in Austria. Examples exist for psychosomatic treatment with an efficient cost-benefit relation in diverse medical settings. Establishing a subspecialty in Psychosomatic Medicine seems feasible and could contribute to increased quality assurance and the nationwide provision of psychosomatic care.

Setting up a Quality Assurance model for newborn care to strengthen health system in Bihar, India

A Quality Assurance model was rolled out in Bihar, India. It had two components: external and internal monitoring and giving feedback for action. The parameters included infrastructure and policy, equipment maintenance, stock supply and aseptic measures. The performance and gradation into good/average/poor was measured based on the scores translated from the data collected after giving appropriate weights. 12%, 63%, and 25% units were categorized as good, average and poor based on infrastructure. For equipment, 68% of units performed poorly; for stock maintenance 64% and 35% of NBCCs fell under good and average categories respectively; most (54%) NBCCs had average scores for aseptic measures; 30% fell in the poor category. Involvement of government in monitoring and feedback mechanism, establishing a system of data collection at the grass root level and analysis at the state level were the positive outcomes.

SU-E-T-707: Evaluation of the Quality of Organs-At-Risk Dose Sparing in Anorectal and Prostate IMRT Plans

Purpose: To evaluate the quality of organs-at-risk (OARs) dose sparing in IMRT plans for anorectal and prostate cancer cases utilizing organ-based knowledge models to predict OAR DVHs.MethodsThe quality of OAR dose sparing in IMRT plans are evaluated by organ specific knowledge models. The knowledge models are built upon prior expert plans and accounts for patient specific anatomy. The knowledge models predict the optimal OAR sparing for bladder, small bowel and femoral heads in anorectal cases and bladder, rectum and femoral heads in prostate cases. We tested 20 anorectal plans and 20 prostate plans using the knowledge models for quality assurance. The reference dosimetric parameters for each test plan generated by knowledge models are compared with the corresponding actual plan values. The inter-quartile range of their differences is used as an indication of the quality variation of the dose sparing quality for a specific OAR for each site. Results: The inter-quartile-ranges of the deviations between reference dosimetric parameters and actual plan values in anorectal plans are (in percent of prescription dose): bladder D50%: 14.6%, D5%: 7.6%, small bowel D50%: 2.4%, D5%: 5.9%, femoral heads D50%: 11.6%, D5%: 9.6%. The inter-quartile ranges in prostate plans are: bladder D50%: 2.5%, D5%: 6.3%, rectum D50%: 9.6%, D5%: 3.9%, femoral heads: D50%: 10.9%, D5%: 13.9%. The significant smaller inter-quartile-range for small bowel indicates highly consistent dose sparing quality for this organ. The larger inter-quartile-range for bladder D50% in anorectal plans compared with that in prostate plans indicates the larger quality variation of bladder dose sparing in anorectal plans and should warrant improvement. Conclusion: Based on the patient specific OAR dose sparing references generated by knowledge models, we found the dose sparing quality for small bowel is highly consistent while there is larger variation in the quality of bladder dose sparing in anorectal plans. Partly supported by NIH/NCI and a Varian master research grant.

Development of Electro-thermal Model for Quality Assurance of Materials

This paper presents electro-thermal modeling using Resistance-Capacitance (RC) for transient heat conduction to inspect temperature variation over the surface of a material (AISI 316 steel) with defective and non-defective zones. An electrical based analytic approach for stepped infrared thermography is presented based on the correspondence between the fundamental laws of heat transfer and electricity. The construction of approximate analogous electrical models of thermal problem has been used in the mathematical analysis of heat transfer. A rigorous discussion of the heat dissipation mechanism over the material is performed, to show that the temperature over the defect region is always greater than the reference area and to prove the analogy of thermal to electrical parameter from the surface temperature evolution.

Conceptual and mathematical model for quality improvement in health care

Numerous studies have shown that implemented models for quality assurance or improvement in healthcare facilities differ, even those models that are based on the same guidelines, i.e. standards, regulations or concepts. The cause of diversity in implemented quality models could be found in the process of translating guidelines into the implemented model for quality assurance or improvements in healthcare facilities, while neglecting processes of healthcare facilities that are not clinical processes, but still responsible for the quality of healthcare services. Therefore, this research recommends a conceptual model that should be a link between guidelines, implemented models and mathematical models derived from the conceptual model, which could provide a means of evaluating quality values of any part of the healthcare organization.

A Conceptual Model for School-Based Management Operation and Quality Assurance in Nigerian Secondary Schools

This paper examined the School-Based Management Committee’s (SBMC) involvement and effectiveness in school governance, curriculum implementation and students’ learning outcomes in Nigerian secondary schools; the major challenges facing effective operation of SBMCs were identified as low capacity of key members of the SBMCs; poor attendance of members at meetings due to lack of incentives and financial support from the government; lack of cooperation from the schools; and PTA’s resistance to the SBMC initiatives; these resulted in ineffective school management and low level of students’ academic achievement. It was concluded that a conceptual model of inter-relatedness be adopted to strengthen the operational capacity of SBMCs for efficient service delivery and quality learning outcomes in secondary schools.

Experiments with the Knowledge Model for Quality Assurance in the Education Sector

Experiments with the Knowledge Model for Quality Assurance in the Education Sector

Disease Prevention: Data Integration

In his Perspective “Why a macroeconomic perspective is critical to the prevention of noncommunicable disease” (special section on Disease Prevention, 21 September, p. [1501][1]), R. Smith fails to acknowledge a fundamental flaw in the design of the delivery of health care: the lack of data integration among each patient's disparate health records. This structural issue in the healthcare system must be addressed in order to optimize preventive care. For example, research shows a relationship between diabetes and periodontal disease ([ 1 ][2], [ 2 ][3]). However, the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) was established by medical health plans that do not typically serve as payers for dental care. It is therefore difficult for the NCQA to require a periodontal screening of diabetes patients as part of a Health Effectiveness Data and Information Set measure, despite the importance of this measure according to the Wisconsin Diabetes Prevention and Control Program Guidelines ([ 3 ][4]). Furthermore, most private-sector electronic health records technologies fail to integrate medical and dental records. The lack of integrated data hinders the efforts of researchers trying to address the relationships between periodontal disease and diabetes. It also places a technical barrier in the path of disease registries set up to monitor the quality of preventive care delivered by medical home provider teams. The data about a given patient's medical and dental care are only available in separate claim streams and usually cannot be successfully integrated, given disparate and unarticulated patient identification schemes ([ 4 ][5]). Revising the model of care delivery would affect provider education, the structure and function of healthcare organizations, the design of electronic records systems and health information exchanges, models for quality assurance and meaningful use, and models and operations for payer organizations. True preventive care must be adequately integrated, and provider utilization must be optimized. Before undertaking macroeconomic remedies, let us first address the models of care delivery and patient records. 1. [↵][6] 1. B. L. Mealey, 2. L. F. Rose , Curr. Opin. Endocrinol., Diabetes Obesity 15, 135 (2008). [OpenUrl][7][CrossRef][8] 2. [↵][9] 1. G. W. Taylor, 2. W. S. Borgnakke , Oral Dis. 14, 191 (2008). [OpenUrl][10][CrossRef][11][PubMed][12][Web of Science][13] 3. [↵][14] Wisconsin Diabetes Advisory Group, Wisconsin essential diabetes mellitus care guidelines (Wisconsin Diabetes Prevention and Control Program, Madison, WI, 2008), chap. 9; . 4. [↵][15] S. Foreman, in Integration of Medical and Dental Care and Patient Data , V. Powell et al ., Eds., (Springer-Verlag, London, 2012), chap. 4.1. [1]: /lookup/doi/10.1126/science.1222569 [2]: #ref-1 [3]: #ref-2 [4]: #ref-3 [5]: #ref-4 [6]: #xref-ref-1-1 View reference 1 in text [7]: {openurl}?query=rft.jtitle%253DCurr.%2BOpin.%2BEndocrinol.%252C%2BDiabetes%2BObesity%26rft.volume%253D15%26rft.spage%253D135%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Adoi%252F10.1097%252FMED.0b013e3282f824b7%26rft.genre%253Darticle%26rft_val_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Ajournal%26ctx_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ctx_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Actx [8]: /lookup/external-ref?access_num=10.1097/MED.0b013e3282f824b7&link_type=DOI [9]: #xref-ref-2-1 View reference 2 in text [10]: {openurl}?query=rft.jtitle%253DOral%2Bdiseases%26rft.stitle%253DOral%2BDis%26rft.aulast%253DTaylor%26rft.auinit1%253DG.%2BW.%26rft.volume%253D14%26rft.issue%253D3%26rft.spage%253D191%26rft.epage%253D203%26rft.atitle%253DPeriodontal%2Bdisease%253A%2Bassociations%2Bwith%2Bdiabetes%252C%2Bglycemic%2Bcontrol%2Band%2Bcomplications.%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Adoi%252F10.1111%252Fj.1601-0825.2008.01442.x%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Apmid%252F18336370%26rft.genre%253Darticle%26rft_val_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Ajournal%26ctx_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ctx_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Actx [11]: /lookup/external-ref?access_num=10.1111/j.1601-0825.2008.01442.x&link_type=DOI [12]: /lookup/external-ref?access_num=18336370&link_type=MED&atom=%2Fsci%2F338%2F6112%2F1285.2.atom [13]: /lookup/external-ref?access_num=000253980800001&link_type=ISI [14]: #xref-ref-3-1 View reference 3 in text [15]: #xref-ref-4-1 View reference 4 in text

International Branch Campus Quality in a Segmented Quality Assurance Environment

"This policy paper addresses the question of how well quality assurance systems support the quality of international branch campuses (IBCs) in the United Arab Emirates. There are different systems of quality assurance for IBCs in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Ras Al Khaimah, and a federal system of accreditation that is unevenly utilized across the emirates. Furthermore, the UAE’s 38 IBCs hail from 13 countries, each with its own procedures for regulating branch campus quality1. This complexity results in a segmented quality assurance environment with different quality assurance models applied to the UAE’s branch campuses. This qualitative study is based on interviews with 47 IBC stakeholders conducted in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Ras Al Khaimah from January to April 2012. The paper begins with an overview of the dimensions of quality in higher education and a description of how the UAE’s current quality assurance systems approach quality assurance. The paper then presents the study’s findings on stakeholders’ perceptions of IBC quality assurance in the UAE. Finally, recommendations aimed at improving the alignment between quality assurance and stakeholders’ expectations for IBC quality are presented."

Editing Academic Books in the Humanities and Social Sciences: Maximizing Impact for Effort

This article explores the difficulties commonly experienced by academics seeking to edit multi-chapter, multi-contributor edited volumes. Edited volumes play important intellectual and community-building roles in the Humanities and Social Sciences (HSS) sector. Yet these significant positive contributions are not always apparent to or valued by tenure and promotion committees. The article identifies several key problems editors face in the formulation and execution of their volumes. It aims to assist prospective editors in ensuring that the time spent editing or co-editing a book remains proportional to the likely return for effort. The article concludes with the argument that the recent emergence of Google Scholar Citations will enable HSS-sector academics to break free of the hegemony of the science-based model for quality assurance that privileges Institute for Scientific Information (ISI) journal articles and will reveal the considerable impact of edited volumes and therefore increase their value as markers of quality scholarship.

EL ASEGURAMIENTO DE LA CALIDAD EN EL INSTITUTO CONSORCIO CLAVIJERO

This article reports our analysis of world enrollment growth in distance education programs promoted by governments to increase their competitiveness in a knowledge-based economy. Information is presented regarding Mexico´s distance education system, specifically its online programs and possible reasons for its slow development are reviewed. Furthermore, an analysis is undertaken on the different quality assurance models and the one used at the Consorcio Clavijero Institute is described to examine the following elements: relevance, legality, course design quality, teacher profile, access to technology, student preparation, student support, teacher support and performance, learning, student satisfaction, alumni follow up and the learning management system.

Radiation oncology and medical physicists quality assurance in British Columbia Cancer Agency Provincial Prostate Brachytherapy Program

To describe in detail British Columbia (BC) Cancer Agency (BCCA) Provincial Prostate Brachytherapy (PB) Quality Assurance (QA) Program. The BCCA PB Program was established in 1997. It operates as one system, unified and supported by electronic and information systems, making it a single PB treatment provider for province of BC and Yukon. To date, >4000 patients have received PB (450 implants in 2011), making it the largest program in Canada. The Program maintains a large provincial prospective electronic database with records on all patients, including disease characteristics, risk stratification, pathology, preplan and postimplant dosimetric data, follow-up of prostate-specific antigen, and toxicity outcomes. QA was an integral part of the program since its inception. A formal QA Program was established in 2002, with key components that include: unified eligibility criteria and planning system, comprehensive database, physics and oncologist training and mentorship programs, peer review process, individual performance outcomes and feedback process, structured continuing education and routine assessment of the program's dosimetry, toxicity and prostate-specific antigen outcomes, administration and program leadership that promotes a strong culture of patient safety. The emphasis on creating a robust, broad-based network of skilled providers has been achieved by the program's requirements for training, education, and the QA process. The formal QA process is considered a key factor for the success of cancer control outcomes achieved at BCCA. Although this QA model may not be wholly transferable to all PB programs, some of its key components may be applicable to other programs to ensure quality in PB and patient safety.

The evidence for a risk-based approach to Australian higher education regulation and quality assurance

This paper explores the nascent field of risk management in higher education, which is of particular relevance in Australia currently, as the Commonwealth Government implements its plans for a risk-based approach to higher education regulation and quality assurance. The literature outlines the concept of risk management and risk-based approaches to quality assurance across numerous private and public sector environments, primarily in the United Kingdom and Australian contexts. The objective is to shed some light on the appropriateness of such an approach, based on the success (or otherwise) of risk-based quality assurance models deployed elsewhere. In the final analysis, in seeking to find answers to the research question posed, this paper throws up many questions about this relatively new field. In doing so, it provides some sense of how this issue can be further explored to enhance the possibilities for achievement of Australia's higher education objectives.

Applying a quality assurance system model to curriculum transformation: Transferable lessons learned

As curricula are transformed throughout the world in response to the need for modern medical education, much attention is given to curriculum content and associated teaching, learning and assessment methodologies. However, an important component of any curriculum is its organisational management, how it is all held together, the way the process is conducted and what mechanisms are applied to ensure quality.In 2008, the Faculty of Medicine at Damascus University embarked on a journey of curriculum transformation. The transformation process was specifically and initially based on a quality assurance model. This entailed a concept for realising curriculum transformation; a framework for organisational management, which ensures that the necessary enabling conditions are met and issues of conflicts in roles and responsibilities are resolved; a plan for securing resources and creating the necessary governance structures needed to carry the transformation process forward; and a systematic analysis of risks facing the effective realisation of the transformation process and the corresponding mitigation measures to alleviate their impacts.Although a full evaluation of such an activity produces reliable results only after a period of time, this article demonstrates the principles and structures applied to the initial process based on some of the early lessons learned. We perceive that the lessons learned from this activity are capable of being translated to other Universities, in other similar developing countries; our hope is that others can learn from our experiences.

A Higher Education Quality Assurance Model for Small States: The Maldives Case Study

This paper presents findings of a case study in the Maldives of a holistic quality assurance model for higher education in Small States. Although case study is situated in the Maldives, an example of a Small State, the findings provided useful reference for policy makers, practitioners and professionals in other Small States. The study draws on a systems theory to investigate the systemic characteristics of quality assurance in higher education. It is a qualitative case study based and includes the use of document analysis and interviews data. The preliminary findings indicate that regulatory mechanisms, independence, one-tier system, guidelines and standards, transparency, academic audit, accreditation and collaboration emerged as critical areas for the system of quality assurance in higher education for Small States. Some of the mechanisms used by bigger nations to address the above critical areas may not be appropriate for Small States, adding weight to the ‘fit for purpose’ definition of quality. Keywords - Higher education accreditation, Higher education quality indicators, Standards of higher education, higher education quality regulations, Programme accreditation, institutional accreditation, institutional audit.

The Purposes and Practices of Quality Assurance in Ethiopian Higher Education: Journey, Adaptation and Integration

This article includes an analysis of quality assurance in higher education as a travelling idea. Based on interviews and site visits to stakeholders in Ethiopia’s higher education, work with Higher Education Relevance and Quality Agency (HERQA) staff over several years, and deskbased research, the idea’s “journey” from northern industrial settings to Ethiopia and its adaptation and integration into a developing higher education system is explored. The transfer of ideas is described in a context of a rapidly expanding system and a largely unregulated private market. Ideas of what higher education is for (culture, employability, democracy, entrepreneurialism) and methods of quality assurance (through quality assessment, quality audit inspection, location roles and relationships for quality assurance responsibility) are found to be valued and prioritised differently in Ethiopia. The article explores how ideas are adapted to the operation of differential power amongst stakeholders. Contradictions and dilemmas are described as resulting in creativity and tensions. The article concludes with the challenges faced by the emerging Ethiopian model of quality assessment and assurance, the relevance of different purposes and methodologies to the development context, and the consensus that has emerged from this process about values and processes for quality assurance.

Editing Academic Books in the Humanities and Social Sciences: Maximizing Impact for Effort

This article explores the difficulties commonly experienced by academics seeking to edit multi-chapter, multi-contributor edited volumes. Edited volumes play important intellectual and community-building roles in the Humanities and Social Sciences (HSS) sector. Yet these significant positive contributions are not always apparent to or valued by tenure and promotion committees. The article identifies several key problems editors face in the formulation and execution of their volumes. It aims to assist prospective editors in ensuring that the time spent editing or co-editing a book remains proportional to the likely return for effort. The article concludes with the argument that the recent emergence of Google Scholar Citations will enable HSS-sector academics to break free of the hegemony of the science-based model for quality assurance that privileges Institute for Scientific Information (ISI) journal articles and will reveal the considerable impact of edited volumes and therefore increase their value as markers of quality scholarship.

MUTU PENDIDIKAN PADA PERGURUAN TINGGI KEAGAMAA: Dari Manajemen Kelembagaan Hingga Konstruksi Kurikulum Interrelasi

The development of the quality of religious universities in general is still left behind. One of the causes, construction of the foundation of quality in religious colleges is still partial. This article attempts to identify the quality of general religious college education in Indonesia through critical analysis and offers alternative solutions to improve it. One of the right models to improve the quality of education is the global quality assurance model. This model is an integration of PD Dikti quality standards, quality standards of National Accreditation Board, internal quality audit, Webometric, and religious institutions distingsi standards. As for improving the quality of education and learning of lecturers and students are able to produce learning products in the form of books and scientific articles published in national and international scientific journals as well as increasing the competence of graduates. Therefore the aspects of ontology, epistemology and axiology in the integration of science in the curriculum of education need to be constructed with critical interrelation model. This model is relatively effective enough to anticipate the occurrence of pseudo interconnects, preventing hybridity and new hegemonic scholarship in the pattern of interconnectivity and protect the characteristics of every science.