Development and Quality Assurance

Excellence Through Effective Practice

The Development and Quality Assurance Unit (DQA Unit) was established in 2009 and the Development and Quality Assurance Committee had its first meeting in October 2010.

Vision

Its vision is to nurture a culture of excellence in the provision of higher education in meeting institutional, educational and societal requirements in the Saudi Arabian context.

Mission

Facilitates excellence in nursing education and scholarship by consistently exceeding the standards set by national and international accrediting bodies and KSAU-HS. Through effective quality management, CON-J will render the highest level of academic education to students and prepare them for ethical and competent professional practice to the satisfaction of students, employers of graduates, and clients who are in need for health care.

Mandate

Supports staff members in reflective practice, conducts practice reviews and ensures that the standards for national and international accreditation are achieved on a continuous basis. The Unit facilitates periodic evaluation of aspects such as the curriculum, courses and educational materials, teaching practices, students’ learning experiences, learning climate and competence of the graduates.

Role of the Development and Quality Assurance Unit

The DQA Unit facilitates the establishment and application of an integrated system of policies, procedures, criteria and tools applied to ensure that:

Standards (e.g. NCAAA standards) and procedures are adhered to, and a process (e.g. curriculum development), item (e.g. study material or examination paper) or activity (e.g. learning activity) is of the type and quality needed.

Delivered products (e.g. graduates) meet performance requirements.

Quality improvement interventions are applied to rectify identified limitations.

Strategic planning is done to support the continued relevance, effectiveness and quality of an academic program.

Decisions pertaining to the educational program and its improvements are evidence-based.

Its activities are directed at development and quality assurance and quality improvement by implementing a reflective practice model, and include:

Providing guidance to academic staff on all the matters related to quality management in KSAU-HS.

Conducting periodic surveys such as field experience and outcome evaluation surveys.

Compiling quality assurance reports which provide the necessary evidence required for strategic planning to improve the curriculum and its implementation, establish a conducive institutional climate and provide focused continuous staff development.

Maintaining input, process, output and outcome evidence which underpins performance management in CON-J in particular and KSAU-HS in general.

Underpinning Principles 

Where appropriate, the DQA Unit applies the principles and methods of research (quantitative and qualitative) to data collection, analysis, interpretation and dissemination of results. This enables the DQA Unit to make evidence-based recommendations for quality improvement to maintain academic accreditation. Academic accreditation is dependent upon educational excellence and the extent to which the qualities of graduates are compatible with or exceed the requirements of the health care sector.

Focus of Evaluation

Evidence of performance is compiled by using appropriate key performance indicators, methods and benchmarks covering input, process, output and outcome measurements. The scope of monitoring encompasses the meso-curriculum, micro-curriculum, curriculum implementation and learning context. In addition, the DQA Unit measures, the extent to which the program outcomes, and by implication the NQF Outcomes for Bachelor Degrees, have been achieved by a cohort of students.

The best practices for higher education as stipulated by NCAAA serve as reference for measurements and interpretation of results. CON-J strives to show that it complies with the stated best practices and provides evidence of the effectiveness of quality improvement initiatives to overcome identified deficiencies.

Data Sources

Data sources are documents (e.g. examination moderation and statistical reports), recipients of a service (e.g. students), stakeholders (e.g. employers of graduates) and independent reviewers (e.g. external examiners and accrediting bodies).

Contact Us

Development and Quality Assurance Unit:

conj-QAAA@ksau-hs.edu.sa

Accreditation Documents Manual

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