University of Split Quality Assurance Handbook

University of Split Quality Assurance Handbook

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Class: 003-05/12-02/0011

Ref. no: 2181-202-12-0001
Split, 25 October 2012

UNIVERSITY OF SPLIT

QUALITY ASSURANCE HANDBOOK

The University of Split Senate, at the 77th session held on 25 October 2012, following the proposal of the University of Split Quality Enhancement Centre, adopted the text of the University of Split Quality Assurance Handbook.

Table of Contents

1. INTRODUCTION 3

2. THE AIM OF THE HANDBOOK 3

3. SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE UNIVERSITY OF SPLIT QUALITY ASSURANCE SYSTEM 5

3.1. Organisational structure of the University 5

3.2. University quality assurance system 6

3.2.1. Purpose, aim and strategy 6

3.2.2. Historical development and organisation 7

3.2.3. Main activities 10

3.2.4. Documents 11

3.2.5. Audit 12

4. DEVELOPMENT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF SPLIT QUALITY ASSURANCE STANDARDS 13

4.1. Procedures for quality assurance and enhancement 13

4.2. Approval, monitoring and periodic review of study programmes 14

4.3. Assessment of students’ work, learning outcomes and marking 16

4.4. Learning resources and student support 17

4.5. Quality assurance of teaching, associate, administrative and supporting staff 19

4.6. Scientific research and artistic activities 22

4.7. Professional activities 23

4.8. Mobility 24

4.9. Resources for teaching, scientific reaserch, artistic and professional activities 25

4.10. Information systems 25

4.11. Public information 26

5. REFERENCES 28

6. ANNEXES 29

7. TABLES OF ACTIVITIES IN THE AREA OF QUALITY ASSURANCE AT THE UNIVERSITY 30

1. INTRODUCTION

With the aim of ensuring quality standards in all of its activities, the University of Split (in further text: the University) is committed to permanent strengthening of the capacity of its constituents in achieving high academic standards and providing quality education to the students in the process of their professional development and acquisition of professional competencies. It is expected that the enhancement and assurance of quality, as an important strategic commitment, shall facilitate stronger development as well as specific national and international distinction and excellence. The quality of education provided to its students, the quality of teaching staff and teaching, scientific research, artistic activities and professional work, with notable contribution to the regional and national development, recognized at an international level are considered by the University as the key determinants of its competitiveness and appeal.

The University of Split Quality Assurance Handbook (in further text: the Handbook) represents the document of the highest level in the area of quality assurance at the University of Split, providing the description of:

·  the University quality assurance system,

·  the University quality assurance standards.

The handbook is used with the purpose of implementation of Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance in the European Higher Education Area (ESG).

To achieve the established objectives, the University promotes systematic development of the Quality Enhancement Centre (in further text: the Centre), whereas at the level of constituents of the University, active work of Quality Enhancement Committees (in short: Committees) is encouraged. Two-way communication is required between the Centre and the Committees that would enable data collection, exchange of ideas and examples of good practice, as well as the development of quality culture in all the constituents of the University. The structure of quality assurance systems at the constituents should follow the established organizational structure of the University and have the properties of the network structure, with the Centre as its focal point.

2. THE AIM OF THE HANDBOOK

The task of the Handbook is to bring together the past experiences and activities in the area of quality enhancement at the University and the ESG. The Handbook serves as a guide to the responsible parties at the University and its constituents, in the manner that describes the defined standards, aims, activities, timeframe for implementation, competences over the proposal and adoption procedures and benchmark indicators. The stakeholders in the quality assurance system (e.g. students, teachers, administrative services, management structures or employers) can use the Handbook to obtain information on quality assurance at the University.

The aim of the Handbook is to assist the stakeholders in:

·  setting up and developing the quality assurance system at the University and its constituents in accordance with adopted standards,

·  implementing the quality assurance procedures, analysing the said procedures and increasing the efficiency of the quality assurance system,

·  increasing the quality and the efficiency of teaching, scientific research, artistic and professional activities of the University and its constituents,

·  analyzing and reviewing the opinions and assessments of higher education stakeholders on the quality of the educational process and the achieved learning outcomes,

·  well-developed and detailed SWOT analysis of the University and its constituents,

·  promoting quality culture at the University.

The Handbook elaborates the areas of quality assurance defined in the Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance in the European Higher Education Area and the criteria for quality assessment for higher education institutions of the universities, developed by the Accreditation Council of the Agency for Science and Higher Education, as follows:

1.  Quality assurance and enhancement procedures

2.  Approval, monitoring and periodic review of study programmes

3.  Assessment of students, learning outcomes and marking

4.  Learning resources and student support

5.  Quality assurance of teaching and associate staff

6.  Scientific research and artistic activities

7.  Professional activities

8.  Mobility

9.  Resources for teaching, scientific research, artistic and professional activities

10.  Information systems

11.  Public information

In each area of quality assurance, the following components are defined:

A. Standard

Expected level of requirements and conditions according to which the quality is assessed.

B. Objective

Setting of benchmarks that are to be achieved, with the aim of complying with ESG standards and by which the achievements are defined.

C. Activities

Set of procedures whereby the defined objectives in quality assurance are achieved, including the implementation timeframe, the authorities responsible for proposal/elaboration and monitoring/adopting, and the benchmark indicators for the specific activity.

D. Examples of good practice

Applied procedures at the University and the constituents that demonstrated the enhancement in quality of teaching, scientific research, artistic or professional activities.

The internal quality assurance and enhancement system of the constituents regulated by the general act forms an integral part of the single quality assurance and enhancement system of the University.

It is implied that the University and its constituents, through the governing acts and the areas of teaching, scientific research, artistic or professional work, continuously develop the activities in accordance with defined standards, with the aim of reaching the highest quality standards, to the satisfaction of all stakeholders in the higher education system.

3. SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE UNIVERSITY OF SPLIT QUALITY ASSURANCE SYSTEM

3.1. Organisational structure of the University

The University of Split was founded on 15 June 1974. The University was established under the authority of the Republic of Croatia. The University represents a legal entity with the status of a public institution, registered with the Commercial Court Registry of Institutions, Registry of Higher Education Institutions and Registry of Scientific Organisations kept by the Ministry of Science, Education and Sports.

According to the adopted University of Split Statute (Article 2), the University is a public institution of higher education which organizes and performs scientific, artistic, and developmental research, especially the realization of the scientific programmes of strategic interests for the Republic of Croatia, artistic creativity and professional work, and undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate education based on such terms, and also the professional studies in accordance with the Law on Scientific Activity and Higher Education. The University realizes its tasks in accordance with the needs of the community in which it acts. The seat of University is in Split, Livanjska ulica 5. The Internet address of the University is http://www.unist.hr.

The University bodies are (Statute, Article 14):

·  Senate – in accordance with the Statute, authorized to decide on issues related to academic, professional, teaching, scientific and artistic work.

·  University Council – body in charge of the development of the University and its interaction with the society within it acts, it discusses and confirms the strategic and developmental decisions of the Senate. The Council overlooks the completion of the tasks of the University, especially the legitimacy of its work, rational usage of human and material resources, and the realization of the Senate's decisions.

·  Rector – the Rector is the head of the University. In his/her work, the rector has the rights and obligations of a director of the institution, the mandate and power predicted by the Law, the Statute, and other regulations. For his/her work, the Rector is liable to the Senate.

Scientific-educational, educational and scientific constituents of the University are:

1) Higher education institutions

-  University of Split, Faculty of Economics

-  University of Split, Faculty of Philosophy

-  University of Split, Faculty of Civil Engineering and Architecture

-  University of Split, Faculty of Catholic Theology

-  University of Split, Faculty of Chemistry and Technology

-  University of Split, Faculty of Kinesiology

-  University of Split, Faculty of Medicine

-  University of Split, Maritime Faculty

-  University of Split, Faculty of Law

-  University of Split, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Mathematics and Education

-  University of Split, Academy of Arts

2) University departments

-  University of Split, University Department of Marine Studies

-  University of Split, University Department of Forensic Sciences

-  University of Split, University Department of Health Studies

-  University of Split, University Department of Professional Studies

3) Other constituents of the University are:

-  University of Split, Student Centre - Split

-  University of Split, Student Centre - Šibenik

-  University of Split, University Library

-  University of Split, Quality Enhancement Centre

-  University of Split, University Centre for Scientific Computing

The University constituents listed as higher education institutions, the Student Centres and the University Library are legal entities. The University departments are constituents that are establishes as subsidiaries of the University in terms of the Law on Institutions.

3.2. University quality assurance system

3.2.1. Purpose, aim and strategy

University quality assurance system (hereinafter: QAS) represents the totality of quality assurance in higher education with the final goal of integration of the University in the European Higher Education Area.

The aims of the quality assurance system are:

·  Creating the quality assurance system at the university though initiating and coordinating the initiatives and implementing the program for the continuous enhancement of quality, defining indicators, standards and criteria for quality enhancement, ensuring internal assessment as one of the preconditions for quality management, encouraging and organizing professional training of internal users of the system and ensuring feedback from the users and following their suggestions, proposals and criticism,

·  Developing mechanisms and integrating the culture of quality enhancement into the normative documents and other aspects of university activity, and especially though development of the Quality Assurance Handbook of the University and its constituents.

The strategy of the quality assurance system is as follows:

·  Encouraging regular discussions on quality and fostering the culture of quality within the academic and wider community,

·  Developing, organizing and conducting evaluation and self-evaluation necessary for investigation of various aspects of quality in higher education, scientific and professional work,

·  Promoting continuous collecting of information from the students and the teaching staff, and taking action based on the information,

·  Defining quality standards,

·  Development of its own quality enhancement mechanisms,

·  Exchanging examples of good practice between the constituents of the University,

·  Securing advancement of teaching, scientific, artistic, professional and administrative staff.

3.2.2. Historical development and organisation

Historical development of the quality assurance system

Institutional development of the quality assurance system at the University of Split was initiated on 11 September 2008, with the establishment of the Quality Enhancement Centre (at the level of the University) and the Quality Enhancement Committees (at the level of constituents). The first text of Regulations on the Work of the Quality Enhancement Centre and Committees at the University of Split was adopted at the 27th session of the University of Split Senate, on 11 September 2008, thereby defining the mission, vision, strategy, aims and the evaluation area of the Centre and the Committees, whereas on 24 July 2009 at the 35th session of the Senate amendments to the Regulations were adopted, as well as the amended text of the Regulations. The University of Split Senate adopted the Regulations on Organisation and Role of the Quality Assurance System at the University of Split at its 71st session held on 21 May 2012.

The unified university student survey at the University of Split, as one of the important elements of the quality assurance system is conducted since the academic year
2008/09 in accordance with the Regulations on procedure of student evaluation of the quality of teachers and teaching dated 27 October 2008. The Quality Enhancement Centre of the University carries out the student survey for evaluation of the work of teaching staff each semester, covering all the constituents. The survey includes the questions on quality of teaching and associate staff and the questions important for review of the quality of teaching in individual courses. The survey is anonymous and voluntary and the teacher/associate is not present at the time of conducting the survey. The survey is conducted by filling out the questionnaires. The survey response rate increases each academic year. It is important to note that the student survey should be considered as a part of the integral process of teaching evaluation. The evaluation conducted by students is only one of the aspects of the complete evaluation of teaching and associate staff including evaluation of the comprehensive educational, scientific-research, artistic and professional activity.

Present organisation of the quality assurance system

Regulations on Organisation and Role of the Quality Assurance System at the University of Split (dated 21 May 2012) regulates the basic issues in relation to the organization and activities of the institutions that are part of the quality management system. As presented in Figure 1, the basic unit of the quality assurance system is the Quality Enhancement Centre (hereinafter: the Centre) established at the University level. In addition, the quality assurance is the task of Quality Enhancement Committees (hereinafter: Committees) established at the level of constituents and studies implemented directly by the University and other relevant entities. The quality assurance and enhancement system at the University is implemented by the following bodies: