QAA: International Quality Review – Action Plan
Updated January 2024
Acronyms
| GSR: Graduate Studies & Research | OSC: One-Stop Student Center | PR: Public Relations | OSL: Office of Student Life |
| CBA: College of Business Administration | IT: Information Technology | AQA: Accreditation & Quality Assurance Office | SO: Strategy Office |
| GSR: Graduate Studies & Research | |||
| OSC: One-Stop Student Center | |||
| PR: Public Relations | |||
| OSL: Office of Student Life | |||
| CBA: College of Business Administration | |||
| IT: Information Technology | |||
| AQA: Accreditation & Quality Assurance Office | |||
| SO: Strategy Office |
ESG: European Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance in the European Higher Education Area (EHEA)
Good Practice
| ESG | Good Practice | Action | Responsible Department | Status | Success Indicator |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.3 | 1. The wide opportunities for students to engage in the co-creation of research, as well as work-based projects, the solution of “real world” problems in industry and business, and international collaborative activity. | Expand research opportunities by creating more industry partnerships and projects | GSR | Ongoing | Announce the number of partnerships/research events/exchange programs created |
| Organize student-industry collaborative workshops and research fairs | Career Service | Ongoing | |||
| Develop international exchange programs focusing on collaborative research | International Programs Office | Ongoing | |||
| 1.6 | 2. The opportunities for students to engage in extracurricular activities, in particular peer to peer tutoring, opportunities for students to support peers with additional learning requirements, and volunteer work in the wider community, which support a broad sense of community. | Enhance peer tutoring and support services by recruiting and training more student volunteers | OSC | Ongoing | Provide certification to peer tutors and volunteering work |
| Launch campaigns promoting volunteering opportunities in the wider community | PR, OSL | Ongoing | |||
| Collaborate with clubs to organize inclusive extracurricular events | OSL | Ongoing | |||
| 1.6 | 3. The comprehensive support for student and alumni entrepreneurship and enterprise through, for example, the Incubation Lab, which has led to the creation of many student- and alumni-led businesses that support their local communities. | Expand the scope of the Incubation Lab to include more resources and mentorship opportunities | Alumni Office, CBA | Ongoing | |
| Conduct annual entrepreneurship competition | Alumni Office | Ongoing | |||
| Introduce a tracking mechanism to evaluate the long-term impact of student startups | Alumni Office | Ongoing | |||
| 1.7 | 4. The use of the Student Performance Enhancement and Active Retention (SPEAR) System to monitor, analyse and implement supportive measures to ensure students’ success. | Regularly evaluate and update SPEAR analytics to identify trends and improve interventions | OSC | Ongoing | Hold a workshop to introduce SPEAR during orientation and train faculty. Monitor the attrition rates annually to analyse the effect of SPEAR in student success |
| Train faculty and staff to interpret and act on SPEAR data effectively | IT | Ongoing | |||
| Use SPEAR insights to develop customized student success programs | Academic Affairs | Ongoing | |||
| ESG: | 1.3 | ||||
| Good Practice: | 1. The wide opportunities for students to engage in the co-creation of research, as well as work-based projects, the solution of “real world” problems in industry and business, and international collaborative activity. | ||||
| Action: | Expand research opportunities by creating more industry partnerships and projects | ||||
| Responsible Department: | GSR | ||||
| Status: | Ongoing | ||||
| Success Indicator: | Announce the number of partnerships/research events/exchange programs created | ||||
| ESG: | |||||
| Good Practice: | |||||
| Action: | Organize student-industry collaborative workshops and research fairs | ||||
| Responsible Department: | Career Service | ||||
| Status: | Ongoing | ||||
| Success Indicator: | |||||
| ESG: | |||||
| Good Practice: | |||||
| Action: | Develop international exchange programs focusing on collaborative research | ||||
| Responsible Department: | International Programs Office | ||||
| Status: | Ongoing | ||||
| Success Indicator: | |||||
| ESG: | 1.6 | ||||
| Good Practice: | 2. The opportunities for students to engage in extracurricular activities, in particular peer to peer tutoring, opportunities for students to support peers with additional learning requirements, and volunteer work in the wider community, which support a broad sense of community. | ||||
| Action: | Enhance peer tutoring and support services by recruiting and training more student volunteers | ||||
| Responsible Department: | OSC | ||||
| Status: | Ongoing | ||||
| Success Indicator: | Provide certification to peer tutors and volunteering work | ||||
| ESG: | |||||
| Good Practice: | |||||
| Action: | Launch campaigns promoting volunteering opportunities in the wider community | ||||
| Responsible Department: | PR, OSL | ||||
| Status: | Ongoing | ||||
| Success Indicator: | |||||
| ESG: | |||||
| Good Practice: | |||||
| Action: | Collaborate with clubs to organize inclusive extracurricular events | ||||
| Responsible Department: | OSL | ||||
| Status: | Ongoing | ||||
| Success Indicator: | |||||
| ESG: | 1.6 | ||||
| Good Practice: | 3. The comprehensive support for student and alumni entrepreneurship and enterprise through, for example, the Incubation Lab, which has led to the creation of many student- and alumni-led businesses that support their local communities. | ||||
| Action: | Expand the scope of the Incubation Lab to include more resources and mentorship opportunities | ||||
| Responsible Department: | Alumni Office, CBA | ||||
| Status: | Ongoing | ||||
| Success Indicator: | |||||
| ESG: | |||||
| Good Practice: | |||||
| Action: | Conduct annual entrepreneurship competition | ||||
| Responsible Department: | Alumni Office | ||||
| Status: | Ongoing | ||||
| Success Indicator: | |||||
| ESG: | |||||
| Good Practice: | |||||
| Action: | Introduce a tracking mechanism to evaluate the long-term impact of student startups | ||||
| Responsible Department: | Alumni Office | ||||
| Status: | Ongoing | ||||
| Success Indicator: | |||||
| ESG: | 1.7 | ||||
| Good Practice: | 4. The use of the Student Performance Enhancement and Active Retention (SPEAR) System to monitor, analyse and implement supportive measures to ensure students’ success. | ||||
| Action: | Regularly evaluate and update SPEAR analytics to identify trends and improve interventions | ||||
| Responsible Department: | OSC | ||||
| Status: | Ongoing | ||||
| Success Indicator: | Hold a workshop to introduce SPEAR during orientation and train faculty. Monitor the attrition rates annually to analyse the effect of SPEAR in student success | ||||
| ESG: | |||||
| Good Practice: | |||||
| Action: | Train faculty and staff to interpret and act on SPEAR data effectively | ||||
| Responsible Department: | IT | ||||
| Status: | Ongoing | ||||
| Success Indicator: | |||||
| ESG: | |||||
| Good Practice: | |||||
| Action: | Use SPEAR insights to develop customized student success programs | ||||
| Responsible Department: | Academic Affairs | ||||
| Status: | Ongoing | ||||
| Success Indicator: |
Recommendations
| ESG | Recommendation | Action | Responsible Department | Status | Success Indicator |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.1 | 1. Further develop the policy for academic integrity to articulate possible penalties arising from academic misconduct. | Revise and enhance the academic integrity policy to detail penalties for different types of misconduct | Academic Affairs | Ongoing | Organize at least one workshop on integrity and good practice next academic year |
| Ensure the policy includes examples, escalation procedures, and potential consequences | Academic Affairs | Ongoing | |||
| Communicate the updated policy to faculty, students, and staff through training sessions and student handbooks | Academic Affairs, OSC | Ongoing | |||
| 1.2 | 2. With the approval of institutional committees, introduce and embed an explicit institutional policy and procedure for the approval of new programmes. The institutional committees should check the alignment of the policy to Standard 1.2 | Develop a formal policy and procedure for the approval of new academic programs, ensuring alignment with Standard 1.2 | Academic Affairs & AQA | Ongoing | Disseminate the policy by the start of the next academic year |
| Consult with institutional committees and accreditation bodies during the drafting process | Academic Affairs & AQA | Ongoing | |||
| Inform academic departments on the implementation of the new policy | Academic Affairs & AQA | Ongoing | |||
| 1.3 | 3. Introduce a planning mechanism to link strategy and operation, driving the consistent implementation of the institutional learning and teaching goals across the university and sharing of good practice between colleges, departments and programmes. | Create a structured operational plan that directly links strategic goals with departmental initiatives | SO | Ongoing | Hold one leadership meeting per semester minimum to ensure strategic alignment |
| Establish a cross-departmental committee to review and align operations with institutional learning and teaching strategies | Academic Affairs | Ongoing | |||
| Develop reporting and feedback mechanisms to ensure the consistent application of the plan | SO | Ongoing | |||
| 1.3 | 4. Create and implement policies for the handling of student conduct and grade appeals to support the equitable treatment of students. | Draft comprehensive policies for handling student conduct issues and grade appeals | Academic Affairs | Ongoing | Launch the policies by next academic year |
| Ensure policies are clear, consistent, and accessible to students | Academic Affairs | Ongoing | |||
| Inform faculty and staff on the new policies to maintain equitable treatment of students | Academic Affairs | Ongoing | |||
| 1.4 | 5. Develop and implement a mechanism by which applicants can appeal negative admissions decisions, and ensure this policy is published. | Develop a transparent policy and process for applicants to appeal admissions decisions | Registration & Enrollment Management, Admission Department | Ongoing | A cross-departmental committee will be formed to develop and implement the policy |
| Create a committee to review and adjudicate appeals fairly | President Office | Ongoing | |||
| Publish the policy and guidelines on the university’s admissions portal | PR | Ongoing | |||
| 1.8 | 6. Develop a mechanism or tool that allows for the ongoing monitoring and review of published information. | Develop a tool or mechanism to ensure all published information (e.g., on the website or in brochures) is accurate and up-to-date | IT, PR | Ongoing | A full time employee will be hired to monitor and review the published information with the stakeholders |
| Assign a specific team or committee to periodically review and verify the information | IT, PR | Ongoing | |||
| Implement a version control system to track changes in published documents | IT | Ongoing | |||
| 1.9 | 7. Introduce an internal policy for periodic monitoring and review to give the university full ongoing assurance of all aspects of academic programmes. | Introduce a policy for the periodic monitoring and review of academic programs | President Office | Ongoing | Launch the policy and share it with all units by next academic year. |
| Create a schedule and framework for regular program evaluations, including feedback from faculty, students, and external stakeholders | Academic Affairs | Ongoing | |||
| Ensure alignment of the review process with accreditation standards and institutional goals | Academic Affairs, AQA | Ongoing | |||
| ESG: | 1.1 | ||||
| Recommendation: | 1. Further develop the policy for academic integrity to articulate possible penalties arising from academic misconduct. | ||||
| Action: | Revise and enhance the academic integrity policy to detail penalties for different types of misconduct | ||||
| Responsible Department: | Academic Affairs | ||||
| Status: | Ongoing | ||||
| Success Indicator: | Organize at least one workshop on integrity and good practice next academic year | ||||
| ESG: | |||||
| Recommendation: | |||||
| Action: | Ensure the policy includes examples, escalation procedures, and potential consequences | ||||
| Responsible Department: | Academic Affairs | ||||
| Status: | Ongoing | ||||
| Success Indicator: | |||||
| ESG: | |||||
| Recommendation: | |||||
| Action: | Communicate the updated policy to faculty, students, and staff through training sessions and student handbooks | ||||
| Responsible Department: | Academic Affairs, OSC | ||||
| Status: | Ongoing | ||||
| Success Indicator: | |||||
| ESG: | 1.2 | ||||
| Recommendation: | 2. With the approval of institutional committees, introduce and embed an explicit institutional policy and procedure for the approval of new programmes. The institutional committees should check the alignment of the policy to Standard 1.2 | ||||
| Action: | Develop a formal policy and procedure for the approval of new academic programs, ensuring alignment with Standard 1.2 | ||||
| Responsible Department: | Academic Affairs & AQA | ||||
| Status: | Ongoing | ||||
| Success Indicator: | Disseminate the policy by the start of the next academic year | ||||
| ESG: | |||||
| Recommendation: | |||||
| Action: | Consult with institutional committees and accreditation bodies during the drafting process | ||||
| Responsible Department: | Academic Affairs & AQA | ||||
| Status: | Ongoing | ||||
| Success Indicator: | |||||
| ESG: | |||||
| Recommendation: | |||||
| Action: | Inform academic departments on the implementation of the new policy | ||||
| Responsible Department: | Academic Affairs & AQA | ||||
| Status: | Ongoing | ||||
| Success Indicator: | |||||
| ESG: | 1.3 | ||||
| Recommendation: | 3. Introduce a planning mechanism to link strategy and operation, driving the consistent implementation of the institutional learning and teaching goals across the university and sharing of good practice between colleges, departments and programmes. | ||||
| Action: | Create a structured operational plan that directly links strategic goals with departmental initiatives | ||||
| Responsible Department: | SO | ||||
| Status: | Ongoing | ||||
| Success Indicator: | Hold one leadership meeting per semester minimum to ensure strategic alignment | ||||
| ESG: | |||||
| Recommendation: | |||||
| Action: | Establish a cross-departmental committee to review and align operations with institutional learning and teaching strategies | ||||
| Responsible Department: | Academic Affairs | ||||
| Status: | Ongoing | ||||
| Success Indicator: | |||||
| ESG: | |||||
| Recommendation: | |||||
| Action: | Develop reporting and feedback mechanisms to ensure the consistent application of the plan | ||||
| Responsible Department: | SO | ||||
| Status: | Ongoing | ||||
| Success Indicator: | |||||
| ESG: | 1.3 | ||||
| Recommendation: | 4. Create and implement policies for the handling of student conduct and grade appeals to support the equitable treatment of students. | ||||
| Action: | Draft comprehensive policies for handling student conduct issues and grade appeals | ||||
| Responsible Department: | Academic Affairs | ||||
| Status: | Ongoing | ||||
| Success Indicator: | Launch the policies by next academic year | ||||
| ESG: | |||||
| Recommendation: | |||||
| Action: | Ensure policies are clear, consistent, and accessible to students | ||||
| Responsible Department: | Academic Affairs | ||||
| Status: | Ongoing | ||||
| Success Indicator: | |||||
| ESG: | |||||
| Recommendation: | |||||
| Action: | Inform faculty and staff on the new policies to maintain equitable treatment of students | ||||
| Responsible Department: | Academic Affairs | ||||
| Status: | Ongoing | ||||
| Success Indicator: | |||||
| ESG: | 1.4 | ||||
| Recommendation: | 5. Develop and implement a mechanism by which applicants can appeal negative admissions decisions, and ensure this policy is published. | ||||
| Action: | Develop a transparent policy and process for applicants to appeal admissions decisions | ||||
| Responsible Department: | Registration & Enrollment Management, Admission Department | ||||
| Status: | Ongoing | ||||
| Success Indicator: | A cross-departmental committee will be formed to develop and implement the policy | ||||
| ESG: | |||||
| Recommendation: | |||||
| Action: | Create a committee to review and adjudicate appeals fairly | ||||
| Responsible Department: | President Office | ||||
| Status: | Ongoing | ||||
| Success Indicator: | |||||
| ESG: | |||||
| Recommendation: | |||||
| Action: | Publish the policy and guidelines on the university’s admissions portal | ||||
| Responsible Department: | PR | ||||
| Status: | Ongoing | ||||
| Success Indicator: | |||||
| ESG: | 1.8 | ||||
| Recommendation: | 6. Develop a mechanism or tool that allows for the ongoing monitoring and review of published information. | ||||
| Action: | Develop a tool or mechanism to ensure all published information (e.g., on the website or in brochures) is accurate and up-to-date | ||||
| Responsible Department: | IT, PR | ||||
| Status: | Ongoing | ||||
| Success Indicator: | A full time employee will be hired to monitor and review the published information with the stakeholders | ||||
| ESG: | |||||
| Recommendation: | |||||
| Action: | Assign a specific team or committee to periodically review and verify the information | ||||
| Responsible Department: | IT, PR | ||||
| Status: | Ongoing | ||||
| Success Indicator: | |||||
| ESG: | |||||
| Recommendation: | |||||
| Action: | Implement a version control system to track changes in published documents | ||||
| Responsible Department: | IT | ||||
| Status: | Ongoing | ||||
| Success Indicator: | |||||
| ESG: | 1.9 | ||||
| Recommendation: | 7. Introduce an internal policy for periodic monitoring and review to give the university full ongoing assurance of all aspects of academic programmes. | ||||
| Action: | Introduce a policy for the periodic monitoring and review of academic programs | ||||
| Responsible Department: | President Office | ||||
| Status: | Ongoing | ||||
| Success Indicator: | Launch the policy and share it with all units by next academic year. | ||||
| ESG: | |||||
| Recommendation: | |||||
| Action: | Create a schedule and framework for regular program evaluations, including feedback from faculty, students, and external stakeholders | ||||
| Responsible Department: | Academic Affairs | ||||
| Status: | Ongoing | ||||
| Success Indicator: | |||||
| ESG: | |||||
| Recommendation: | |||||
| Action: | Ensure alignment of the review process with accreditation standards and institutional goals | ||||
| Responsible Department: | Academic Affairs, AQA | ||||
| Status: | Ongoing | ||||
| Success Indicator: |
