GENERAL INFORMATION
TAM title: Quality Assurance enhancement
Type of Event: Workshop
Modality: Presential
Location: Baku
Country: Azerbaijan
Dates: 11 and 12 March 2024
Participants: 31 people were present.
THEMES COVERED
- IQA tools and feedback mechanisms
- Student involvement in the decision-making process
- Involvement of local communities, NGOs as part of external engagement
- Approaches for increasing the awareness and participation
KEY OUTCOMES
During the workshop, participants:
- Received comprehensive information on effective QA tools and mechanisms.
- Recognised the importance of quality assurance tools and mechanisms by all stakeholders involved.
- Identified the weaknesses of existing approaches.
OVERVIEW
The two-day training session was implemented with strong support from ADA University’s management and QA team. The programme combined short expert inputs with practical examples, active discussions, and Q&A sessions, which participants found engaging and effective. Training materials and presentations were shared in advance, and no organisational or technical difficulties were encountered.
The event included meetings with senior leadership, Deans, department heads, and the QA office. Discussions focused on strengthening quality culture, improving internal engagement, and understanding the role of programme accreditation. The idea of establishing a coordination or communication council among administrative units was introduced to enhance information exchange and collaboration.
Feedback received from participants was very positive, with requests for more regular workshops to raise awareness and build capacity across all institutional levels. While management and the QA team showed strong knowledge of QA concepts, the sessions highlighted the need to further disseminate this understanding to all units.
THE FOLLOW UP ACTIVITY
Title of the activity: Workshop on enhancement of quality assurance processes with the academic advisors.
Dates: 9 April 2024
Audience: Academic advisors from each school of ADA University – 10 people in total.
Description: The follow-up workshop on enhancing quality assurance processes was held with academic advisors, aimed at sharing the insights gained during the recent Technical Assistance Mission (TAM) with a wider audience. The session opened with a presentation of the TAM outcomes alongside an overview of ADA University’s general QA policies. This was followed by an exchange of ideas on improving feedback mechanisms, including the introduction of new tools such as QR codes for short surveys.
A key focus of the workshop was the involvement of the main institutional stakeholders—students. Academic advisors shared their current practices, reflected on challenges they encounter, and discussed examples of best practices from other universities. The session also encouraged exploring new approaches to gathering and utilising student feedback.
Going forward, academic advisors will play an important role in increasing student awareness of QA practices. They will actively support and encourage greater student participation in surveys, contributing to a more effective and participatory quality culture across the university.
ENHANCING IMPACT: PROPOSED NEXT STEPS
Recommendations to the university management:
Establish feedback mechanisms to connect the administrative staff and the faculty.
Involve students the decision-making process.
Involve local communities, NGOsas part of external engagement.
Establish or revitalize the program review committees.
Ensure further professional development of the academic advisors and the establishment of the tools to measure the effectiveness of the processes.
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