Quality Assurance Organization Research Articles

Position paper of DGKL and DIVI on requirements for laboratory services in intensive care and emergency medicine

The timely determination and evaluation of laboratory parameters in patients with acute life- or organ-threatening diseases and disease states in the emergency room or intensive care units can be essential for diagnosis, initiation of therapy, and outcome. The aim of the position paper is to define the time requirements for the provision of laboratory results in emergency and intensive care medicine. Requirements for point-of-care testing (POCT) and the (central) laboratory can be derived from the urgency. Expert groups from the DGKL (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Klinische Chemie und Laboratoriumsmedizin) and DIVI (Deutsche Interdisziplinäre Vereinigung für Intensiv- und Notfallmedizin) developed a classification about the urgency for the determination of laboratory parameters as well as recommendations on the necessary organizational framework and quality assurance measures using national and international guidelines, review articles, and original papers. Three levels of urgency are defined, based on the turnaround time of the most common laboratory parameters: emergency 1, with a turnaround time of no more than 15 min; emergency 2, with a turnaround time of a maximum of 60 min; urgent case, with a turnaround time within 4 h. In addition, a recommendation is made when to provide the results for the main ward rounds in the intensive care unit and the emergency department. The recommendations allow the organizational and technical regulations for each hospital to be aligned with the urgency of the provision of the test results to the medical team based on the medical requirements.

How Artificial Intelligence Could Affect the Future of Architectural Design Education

There is currently a high level of uncertainty about the potential impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on architecture as a profession and consequently on architectural education. Some suggest that schools of architecture should prepare themselves for a dramatic reform that clearly integrates AI technologies into their study plans and pedagogical methods, while others argue that AI can’t fully replace the traditional methods and conventions in architectural education and that more time is needed to understand its potential impact in this regard. In all cases, AI is coming and will be soon or later an integral part of our work and teaching methods in architecture. This paper discusses this issue considering some AI applications in the different design stages from an educational perspective. The study concluded that there is an urgent need to explore and understand how AI could affect our educational systems and provoke changes in the architectural design process we currently follow. Quality assurance organizations should reflect this in their accreditation guidelines to offer the required guidance for the schools of architecture in this regard.

A critical review of global best practices elements in digital technologies: Advancing a theoretical architecture for quality engineering

Technological advancements and changes in local, regional, and global markets have prompted organizations operating in the quality assurance environments to develop competitive strategies that enhance operational excellence and business sustainability. The current global norm is digital technologies as a key enabler of competitive strategies. The ability to develop and integrate digital into quality assurance environments is a challenge with considerable focus on the development of a theoretical architecture.This study aims at identifying elements influencing the adoption of digital technologies, through a review of global best practices applicable to the integration of digital technologies in quality assurance environments. This study further aims at the consolidation of all elements into the development of an contemporary theoretical architecture specific to the quality assurance environment.This qualitative study utilised a systematic literature review (SLR) of papers published from 2012 to 2022 to assess the elements influencing the adoption of digital technologies and global best practices in quality assurance environments. In addition, to ensure that the most relevant theoretical architecture was developed in this study, a Resource-Based View, together with Dynamic Capabilities theory, and Technology Acceptance Modelling are adopted to ground the study.Key elements influencing the adoption of integrated digital technologies are identified from the results obtained from the SLR. Furthermore, the SLR identifies several theoretical frameworks that combine business sustainability and quality assurance environments principles, with Digital Technologies. Based on the review outcome, a theoretical architecture is developed for adoption in a quality assurance environment for organizations operating in the service sector.This study provides a new perspective on the elements influencing the adoption of integrated digital technologies in a quality assurance environment advancing business sustainability. Further this study also exhumes the Implications with regards to a theoretical architecture for quality assurance organizations that seek to adopt integrated digital technologies and operate within a service.

An Exploration of the Internal Quality Assurance System of Postgraduate Education in the UK

Universities in the UK are primarily responsible for the quality of postgraduate education. Through in-depth research on the educational quality assurance organization system, educational quality assurance process and educational quality assessment and feedback system of graduate students in British universities, it is found that universities in the UK provide all-round guarantee for the training of graduate students, forming a top-down quality assurance organization, diversified guarantee methods and student-oriented guarantee concept.

Investigating the Relevance of the Development and Implementation of Strategic Plans in Public Sector Education Institutions: A Case of Public Teacher Training Colleges in Malawi

The hub of every academic institution of higher learning rests upon key areas of policies and how they are developed, managed and championed. This research study investigated the relevance of development and implementation of strategic plans in public sector education institutions in Malawi. In 2019 and 2020, GIZ championed the development of strategic plans in TTCs. This was done by facilitating the training of Principals in the quest to develop strategic plans. Field data was collected using both qualitative and quantitative approaches through document analysis, questionnaires, and focus group discussion guide. The findings of the study indicate that the strategic plans are relevant in public TTCs because of the following factors: government policy, strong committed leadership, organizational culture, structure and effective communication. The study findings support Bryant (2013) in his evaluation report in Malawi and the study by Nyakeriga (2015) who identified the same factors as influencing the development and implementation of strategic plans. The structure is identified by the setup of the public TTCs, with the principal being the top manager, followed by the Deputy Principal, Heads of Departments, Teaching Practice Coordinator, and Assessment Committee chairperson. through the organizational culture, Quality Assurance and Monitoring and Evaluation work to track the progress of the implementation process in the TTCs. The study also showed plans the activities in the strategic plan inform TTC budgets. However, the study has firmly established that completing the activities in the strategic plans is a challenge. The study attributes this to erratic and inadequate funding, lack of knowledge on the implementation process and lack of political will. The study proposes investment in continuous professional development with all education stakeholders to fully understand the concept of strategic planning and implementation in order to achieve set objectives.

Educational philosophy for Vietnam in the present era

The present era witnesses rapid advancements in science, technology, and unforeseen transformations that impact all dimensions of the global economy and society, including Vietnam. Consequently, a comprehensive reform of the education system becomes necessary to address the evolving developmental requirements. This reform encompasses multiple aspects such as organizational structure, administrative management, curriculum content, teaching methodologies, and quality assurance. To navigate the changing landscape effectively, the establishment of an educational philosophy that can guide the activities of educational institutions within the national education system becomes imperative. This article acknowledges the crucial need, given the current state of education, to formulate an educational philosophy that will provide direction for Vietnam's education in the new contextual landscape.

Trust as a key element for quality communication and information management: insights into developing safe cyber-organisational sustainability

PurposeIn recent years, issues like untrusted or questionable sources of information are indisputably rampant in the digital era. The quality of information is now found to be challenging with its kind of issues, crisis and also clarity in which it requires to have a strategic scenario and practice to enhance quality assurance in order to creating safe cyber-spaces. The initiative to organise information at the organisational stage has widely emerged on the cyberspace. This paper aims to examine the insights of the element of trust in quality communication and information management to drive key performance indicator to support organisational sustainability. This approach is likely to play a significant role in enhancing critical inquiry in to issue of trust in information to ensure untainted integrity and quality assurance of the source of the information.Design/methodology/approachThe preparation of this paper used a systematic literature review according to four phases, namely, identification, assessment or examination, extraction and interpretation. This approach was selected to advance critical inquiry into the most current topic on the trust for quality of information as way of strategic communication management to achieve safe cyber-organisational sustainability. The process was made through the various sources of peer-reviewed articles including journals, book chapters, books and conference proceedings. The literature review was carried out through the search for keywords such as trust in information, strategic communication and safe cyber-organisational sustainability.FindingsThe results revealed that the trust in quality of information with its wide range of initiatives could be enhanced as an initial attempt to embrace comprehensive approach in establishing strategic communication to ensure organisational sustainability and quality assurance of safe cyber space. The result further indicated three points, which follows development of virtual interaction with information management for safe cyberspace, enhancing continued predictability assessment in digital information process and practice and developing trust in information and quality of communication for organisational sustainability.Research limitations/implicationsThis paper is expected to give an insightful value in contributing to quality measurement of the strategic communication to promote trust in quality of information. Hence, the design to expand strategic management to support digital social connections in the cyber space. As a result, the profound contribution would also lead to enhancement of organisational sustainability in the digital era, amid technological trends.Practical implicationsThe need to develop an approach to strengthen the trust in information in the digital cyberspace should focus on providing insights into the quality of information, authenticity and integrity to develop quality assurance for social connection. The awareness raising process in consolidating the trust in information has to start with exploring early social interaction in the digital age. This approach provides quality assurance to linking digital connection to develop trust in the quality of information. This would enable feedback to ensure accessibility and accuracy of quality of information dealing with critical elements relating to organisational sustainability.Originality/valueThe entire awareness in expanding the trust as information quality indicator has to be started with exploring the early social interaction in the digital age, to achieve quality basis on linking the digital connection as an attempt to build the information quality. This would give a feedback in ensuring the accessibility and accuracy of information quality together with dealing with an ultimate element to lead to the organisational longevity.

Accreditation of the Iraqi Medical Colleges: Urgent call for action

The National Council for Accreditation of Medical Colleges (NCAMC) has made some progress towards accrediting Iraqi medical schools. However, to date, NCAMC is not internationally recognized by the World Federation for Medical Education (WFME) which fulfils the requirements of the ECFMG’s Recognized Accreditation Policy (due for initial implementation from 2024). The policy requires that a medical school must achieve a recognized accreditation status by a recognized accrediting agency that in itself is recognized and reviewed by an external quality assurance organization. When the policy is fully implemented, only medical schools accredited in line with the Recognized Accreditation Policy will satisfy the requirements of the ECFMG. Medical graduates intending to pursue work, training, registration, research, volunteering or other opportunities are required to apply for verification of their primary medical qualification (PMQ). Certification and verification of PMQ for international medical graduates (IMGs) in the United States, Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom and an increasing number of countries globally is done via the ECFMG’s online system known as Electronic Portfolio of International Credentials (EPIC). Therefore, the future of Iraqi medical schools’ education standards is at stake as they do not meet the international standards risking the future of new graduates. The Ministry of Higher Education, universities, medical colleges and the Iraqi Medical Association (IMA) need to collaborate with the NCAMC to get it recognized by the WFME in order to safeguard Iraqi medical education and the future of new doctors from 2024.

Research on the Training Mechanism of Top-Notch Innovative Talents Based on Interdisciplinary

The construction of interdisciplinary top-notch innovative talent training mechanism is conducive to the cultivation of high-level interdisciplinary talents in my country, especially after the establishment of interdisciplinary categories, it puts forward new requirements for the integration of interdisciplinary development and talent training in universities. On the basis of the existing research, this paper puts forward the construction of five aspects of the training mechanism of interdisciplinary graduate student enrollment mechanism, interdisciplinary tutor allocation mechanism, interdisciplinary course setting mechanism, interdisciplinary expert organization and interdisciplinary quality assurance mechanism, in order to provide a certain basis for standardizing the cultivation of interdisciplinary top-notch innovative talents.

A Paradox of Applied Folk Arts. The Contribution of Cooperative Folk Arts to the Construction of the Notion of the Emblematic Creator

AbstractThe self-definitions of today's folk artists, as well as the concept(s) of folk art of official umbrella and quality assurance organizations, are rooted in complex, interrelated processes. In my study, I focus on the post-World War II concept of folk art, which is full of contradictions, but, despite all protests, has had an undeniable impact on the folk art of today. The system of applied folk arts paradoxically fostered the prominence of individual creators, in contrast to the communication of its novel cooperatives in the decades after World War II, which emphasized communal work. These creators – often possessing truly authentic folk art knowledge (some having gained their reputation before World War II) but no longer following the peasant way of life – were depicted by the media in rural or bucolic genre situations, thereby heavily aestheticizing the concepts of folk and folk art. At the same time, socialist cultural policy also emphasized their status as artists and creators, making them key figures in the cooperatives' work for decades as lead designers, prompting them to revitalize their local motif stock. At this point, another paradox of the Applied Folk Arts Council's perspective emerges, as the representation of the folk art of emblematic regions can increasingly be seen as the representation of the style of an individual (lead designer or charismatic artist). In my opinion, considering the 19th-century roots of the process, the definition of today's folk artists' products as unique works of art and the profound respect for design skills is rooted in this perspective that focuses on the work of iconic personalities, as I also point out in my case study analyzing Tiszafüred pottery through the work of several generations, a style that was adapted by Sándor Kántor and became known as Karcag pottery.

The relationship between organisational culture and service quality in private hospitals

The idea that organisational culture influences service quality, which, in turn, has an effect on both clients and employees, has gained extensive recognition in both academia and organisational practice. This study investigates the influence of organisational culture on service quality in private hospitals in Ghana. A positive organisational culture is significant for every firm as it increases employee commitment and impacts their performance (Fitria, 2018). The study adopted a mixed-methods approach using both qualitative and quantitative data. This study was carried out on a sample of 367 participants using a simple random sampling approach, and 15 participants were selected using a purposive sampling method from selected private hospitals located in Accra, Ghana. The study collected data electronically using both questionnaires and semi-structured interviews. The psychometric properties (validity and reliability) were statistically evaluated using factor analysis and Cronbach’s coefficient alpha, respectively. The quantitative data was evaluated using both descriptive and inferential statistics, and the qualitative data was examined using thematic analyses. There were high perceptions of organisational culture (involvement, consistency, adaptability, and mission) and service quality (reliability, assurance, tangibles, empathy, and responsiveness). This study specifies that there is no significant relationship between organisational culture and service quality in the context of private hospitals in Ghana.

Student perceptions of the impact of quality matters essential standards in an animal physiology course.

As online learning becomes increasingly popular in higher education, the quality of courses that utilize this modality is becoming a focus of inquiry. Quality Matters (QM) is a leading quality assurance organization that reviews online and hybrid (partially online, partially in-person) courses for standards of pedagogy and instructional design and certifies courses that sufficiently meet these standards. In this study, we examine student perceptions of course quality in a hybrid three-credit-hour animal science course that has been certified by QM. The class met twice a week for 1.25 h with one class period online and one in person. It consisted of 11 modules, each of which included learning content, learning activities, and assessments. Upon completion, 46 of 114 students completed a survey in which they rated the course on each of the 21 QM essential standards (Fifth edition). Descriptive analysis revealed that for 19 of the 21 specific review standards, 75% to 91% of students agreed or strongly agreed that the course reflected the best practice described in the standard. For the other two standards, over half of students (72%, 63%) agreed or strongly agreed that best practices were reflected in course design. Another way to examine the data is to collapse specific review standards into eight general review categories as specified by QM; the collapsed data revealed that 75% to 88% of students agreed or strongly agreed that the course design reflected the eight general course design standards. The percentage of students disagreeing that the course reflected each best practice was 11% or lower. Cronbach analysis to examine the internal consistency of the QM questionnaire (0.96), indicated instrument reliability and stability. A principal component analysis of the data conducted to further examine features and patterns of student responses revealed four primary factors that students rated highly (learning objectives, learner interaction and engagement, accessibility and usability, and clarity) that explained 78% of the data variance. This study demonstrates that the high quality of course design and delivery in a QM-certified course is clear to students. and provides justification for the investment in high-quality online and hybrid course design. In the future, we plan to compare student perceptions of course quality in a course that has not been QM-certified with one that has, as well as the impact of those revisions on student outcomes.

Evaluation laboratory prenatal screening performance based on biological variation of risk assessment in second trimester in China

Abstract Objectives This study intends to evaluate prenatal screening risk assessment performance based on biological variation to help clinical laboratories realize their own screening performance and set the appropriate performance specifications for prenatal screening risk assessment in China. Methods Fifteen samples with detailed clinical information were distributed to participants and the prenatal screening Down syndrome risk assessment of each sample were submitted. Three levels of performance specification (optimum, desirable, minimum) derived from biological variation were used to evaluate laboratory prenatal screening risk assessment performance. Results A total of 797 laboratories participated in the survey project. There are 216 laboratories using serological double-marker test and 581 laboratories using serological triple-marker test. For each screening protocol, more than 92.00% laboratories meet minimum performance specifications, more than 84.00% laboratories meet desirable performance specifications, and only about 62.50%laboratories meet optimum performance specifications. The Feltz and Miller test indicated that there were no significant statistical differences in the RCV for double-marker screening in 5 platforms and triple-marker screening in 6 platforms. Conclusions The risk assessment of prenatal screening in the second trimester in China can be improved further. It is appropriate to choose desirable performance specifications for external quality assurance organizations to evaluate the risk assessment performance.

Translating knowledge into practice for communication skills training for health care professionals

Despite the evidence that person-centred communication underpins all that we do in our interactions with patients, caregivers and team members, the knowledge about the implementation of systematic communication skills training is still in its infancy. This position paper describes some of the main contextual facilitators for translating knowledge about communication skills training for health care professionals (HCP) and recommends ways to guide practical implementation. Based on the literature that has been published over the last two decades, it seems evident that communication skills training programs should be underpinned by clinician self-reflection, be experiential, and focused on behaviour change and implementation of new skills into practice. The programs should be delivered by trainers possessing an understanding of communication micro skills, the skills and confidence to observe interactions, and coach learners through the rehearsal of alternative approaches. Communication skills programs should be flexible to adapt to individual learners, local needs, and circumstances. Interventions should not be limited to the empowerment of individual HCP but should be a part of the organisational quality assurance framework, e.g., by including communication skills in clinical audits.Implementation science frameworks may provide tools to align programs to the context and to address the determinants important for a sustained implementation process. Programs need to be embedded as ‘core business’, otherwise the culture change will be elusive and sustainability under threat if they are only dependent on provisional funding.

ПРОБЛЕМНЫЕ ВОПРОСЫ ЛЕКАРСТВЕННОГО ОБЕСПЕЧЕНИЯ НАСЕЛЕНИЯ В ОТДАЛЕННЫХ РАЙОНАХ

Abstract. Research on the study and improvement of certain problems of ensuring the quality of medicines (MP) in medical and pharmaceutical organizations (MO and FD) has been carried out in recent years by many specialists (Loskutova E.E., Maksimkina E.A., Yagudina R.I., Bagirova V.L., Telnova E.A., Bidarova F.N. and others). The use in practice of the previously mentioned works contributed to the achievement of modern results in matters of drug provision of the population. However, studies to improve the system of drug supply within the framework of the activities of MO (outpatient and inpatient levels) that have a license to sell pharmaceutical products have not been carried out. Given the great importance and social significance of the problem of ensuring the quality of medicines in MO, further research is needed to identify reserves for improving the processes of drug supply in MO with the right to implement them. This article discusses the causes of the problems of drug provision of the population in rural areas, remote and hard-to-reach areas and raises issues of insufficient efficiency of MO in the study region. Shortcomings in the work of the indicated medical organizations are identified, requiring the adoption of specific steps to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of their activities. The priority of the direction of the state policy on drug provision of citizens of remote settlements with high-quality, effective and affordable drugs should give a long-awaited result. Improving the management structure of drug quality assurance in medical organizations requires the creation of a unified methodological framework. On the basis of structural and system methods of analysis, criteria for evaluating the practical and economic activities of these MOs were formed.

A Consortium for Analytic Standardization in Immunohistochemistry.

The authors announce the launch of the Consortium for Analytic Standardization in Immunohistochemistry, funded with a grant from the National Cancer Institute. As with other laboratory testing, analytic standards are important for many different stakeholders: commercial vendors of instruments and reagents, biopharmaceutical firms, pathologists, scientists, clinical laboratories, external quality assurance organizations, and regulatory bodies. Analytic standards are customarily central to assay development, validation, and method transfer into routine assays and are critical quality assurance tools. To improve immunohistochemistry (IHC) test accuracy and reproducibility by integrating analytic standards into routine practice. To accomplish this mission, the consortium has 2 mandates: (1) to experimentally determine analytic sensitivity thresholds (lower and upper limits of detection) for selected IHC assays, and (2) to inform IHC stakeholders of what analytic standards are, why they are important, and how and for what purpose they are used. The consortium will then publish the data and offer analytic sensitivity recommendations where appropriate. These mandates will be conducted in collaboration and coordination with clinical laboratories, external quality assurance programs, and pathology organizations. Literature review and published external quality assurance data. Integration of analytic standards is expected to (1) harmonize and standardize IHC assays; (2) improve IHC test accuracy and reproducibility, both within and between laboratories; and (3) dramatically simplify and improve methodology transfer for new IHC protocols from published literature or clinical trials to clinical IHC laboratories.

Responding to the climate crisis – taking action on the IPCC 6th Assessment Report

Responding to the climate crisis – taking action on the <scp>IPCC</scp> 6th <scp>Assessment Report</scp>

ДОСВІД МІЖНАРОДНИХ АКРЕДИТАЦІЙ ОСВІТНІХ ПРОГРАМ В ЗАКЛАДАХ ВИЩОЇ ОСВІТИ УКРАЇНИ

The integration of Ukraine into the European educational space sets the country in front of the need for the development of international cooperation in the field of higher education, which determines the need for educational programs recognition offered by Ukrainian universities by foreign accreditation agencies and higher education quality assurance agencies. That is why, at present, the importance of international accreditations as a tool for external independent assessment of the quality of education is growing. This article is dedicated to the analysis of the conducting international accreditations experience in higher education institutions of Ukraine. The considered results of the international accreditation of educational programs as a procedure for establishing the accordance of the implemented educational programs quality or the activities of the higher education institution with international requirements and standards determined by one or another foreign organization. The concepts of accreditation and international accreditation are analyzed. The role of the Government in forming the prestige of Ukrainian higher education at the international level is assessed. Since 2019, a new national system of accreditation of higher education institutions was created in Ukraine. At the same time, international accreditation of educational programs acquires great importance, which gives a new competitive status to higher education in Ukraine and confirm of full compliance of the content and quality of education with European educational standards. It was found out which foreign accreditation agencies for quality assurance of higher education carried out the certification of educational programs in Ukrainian higher education institutions, and the experience of each of them was described. So, it was found that these were higher education quality assurance organizations of Germany, Lithuania, Latvia, Croatia, Great Britain and Kazakhstan. They conducted international accreditation of more than ten Ukrainian universities of state and private ownership forms and recognized their educational programs with international quality certificates. The leader in the number of such certificates in Ukraine is the Alfred Nobel University, which has already twice successfully passed the procedure of international accreditation of all bachelor's and master's educational programs. And three institutions of higher education received international institutional accreditation certificates, which allows the university the right to self-accreditation of educational programs and increases its rating and attractiveness among Ukrainians and foreigners.

The functions of NZQA moderation: Academic leaders’ perceptions

In New Zealand, education organisations that internally assess against nationally-set standards must engage in national moderation—such as that conducted by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA)—to quality assure those assessments. How policies are enacted by organisations is influenced by multiple factors and enactment may diverge from intent. One such factor is the people involved in policy work within organisations; however, little research has been done into their perspectives. In this mixed-methods study, we collected perception data from a sample of 215 academic leaders from three organisation types via an online survey. We explored their understandings of the functions of NZQA moderation and differences in views according to organisation type. We found that leaders perceive NZQA moderation to function in the areas of assessment quality, professional learning opportunities, organisational quality assurance and maintaining public confidence. Leaders from different organisation types mostly shared similar views in terms of the functions; however, those from private training enterprises considered NZQA moderation to place stronger emphasis on organisational quality assurance and to hold broader improvement functions than did those from other organisations. These findings are useful for informing the policy work of education organisations (and making better use of the opportunities afforded by moderation) and for NZQA, including to guide suitable framing of moderation communications to enhance alignment between policy intent and policy enactment. Such uses remain relevant in New Zealand’s current climate of educational reform, irrespective of any changes made to NZQA moderation policy.

Quality Assurance Management of Islamic Education at Fakultas Agama Islam Universitas Islam Sumatera Utara

The problems of quality assurance of Islamic education at the higher education level are related to the meaning of quality assurance, regulation, implementation, independent standards, and quality culture. This study aims to determine the planning, organizing, implementing, and controlling of education quality assurance at Fakultas Agama Islam Universitas Islam Sumatera Utara. The type of research is qualitative research. Data was collected by observation, interviews, and document studies. Data analysis is done by compiling, connecting, reducing, presenting and concluding. The findings show that Fakultas Agama Islam Universitas Islam Sumatera Utara implements quality assurance which philosophically refers to the Deming quality cycle, namely: plan, do, check, action. Practically based on regulations, quality assurance is carried out through four stages, namely: planning, organizing, implementing, and controlling quality assurance. Quality assurance planning is carried out by involving university leaders, faculty leaders, lecturers, faculty senate, experts, students and stakeholders in the preparation of vision, mission, policies, standards, and quality documents. Organization of quality assurance is carried out by allocating resources, implementing education and training, and monitoring organizational effectiveness. Implementation of quality assurance is carried out by strengthening quality leadership and managerial functions