Higher Education Commission

Tertiary Education Support Program

Reviewing and Updating the HE Quality Assurance Manual

Terms of Reference(ToRs)

Study (4):Improving the criteria set for defining outcome based education system, criteria for improving the quality of private & distance education systemand quality standards for affiliating universities

1.Background

The Higher Education Commission of Pakistan since its inception in 2002 has been striving hard to improve the standard of higher education. One of the major challenges the tertiary education system of Pakistan is facing is“quality of teaching and research conditions”. Enhancing quality was also recognized as one of the core cross cutting strategic aims of HEC reform frameworks-Medium Term Development Framework-I and II(HEC Report, 2002-08). In fact, the majority of functions and powers of HEC (Ordinance 2002) made it responsible for ensuring quality of research and education. In order to address theseissue, subsequent efforts were being made by HEC and reasonable progress achieved.

In 2003, the Higher Education Commission formally constituted a National Quality Assurance Committee (NQAC) with an aim to have national forum for developing QA related criteria and policies. The NQAC decided to establish Quality Assurance Department (QAD) for developing QA Criteria, Policies and Guidelines considering the global challenges & advancements,on the other hand Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) was mandated to serve as an independent body to implement and monitor Quality Assurance mechanism in Universities. Following Quality Assurance policies/ criteria have been defined since 2002:

  • Program Self-Assessment Manual
  • Institutional Performance Evaluation Standards for Higher Education Institutions
  • Program Accreditation- by Accreditation Council
  • Minimum criteria for admission in M.S/ M.Phil. and PhD programs
  • Criteria for award of M.Phil. /MS and PhD Program degree
  • Pakistan Qualification Framework
  • Tenure Track Statutes
  • Faculty Appointment Criteria
  • Plagiarism Policy
  • HEC Distance Education guidelines
  • Criteria for HEC recognized Journals

Moving forward on the Quality Assurance agenda, HEC published a Quality Assurance Manual( QAM) in 2006-07 to provide broader guideline to the stakeholders on QA framework. QAM was built on“The Quality Assurance and Accreditation handbook for Higher Education in Egypt “published by NQAAC in 2004.

2.Overall purpose of assignment

Over the time,certain developments and improvements have been observed in the international QA frameworks and feedback from internal stakeholders also requires HEC to revisit and update the Quality criteria. At the same time, HEC intends to track the effectiveness of the existing QA interventions/standards/policies in improving the quality of education system of Pakistan. Though it is generally understood that QA interventions upraise the standard of institutions but the latest drift is towards systematically evaluating and demonstrating the role and effectiveness of these QA interventions in improving the quality of academic institutions in HE sector. The Government and higher education providers have invested in developing & implementing these QA initiatives which are in place for years. The review of international practices and local situation analysis can contribute in improving, rearranging and strengthening the existing QA policies to be documented in Quality Assurance Manual.

The second Volume of Quality Assurance Manual would a be comprehensive framework definingall the updated Quality Assurance indicators, policies and guidelines supported by the Standard Operating Procedures for their adoption.

3.Objectives

Following are the main objectives of this assignment:

(i) to facilitate HEC, Program & Institution Reviewers and University Administration in assessing and adopting the Quality criteria (ii) to track the effectiveness of the QA programs of HEC and proposing appropriate modifications (iii) to update the Quality Assurance indicators, policies and guidelines of HEC in view of global developments & local stakeholders feedback and proposing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for their adoption (iv) to identify future capacity building requirements for institutions to improve the services of institutions towards a growing and more diversified tertiary education sector.

4.Specific Focus

1.In order to execute this assignment within the expected timeframes, contract would be awarded to four individual consultants under the major assignment of “Reviewing and updating of Quality Assurance Manual”. Each Consultant would deal with a separate set of quality criteria as per his/her experience and expertise i.e (i) Improving the criteria set for Program and institution Review (ii) Improving the criteria set for quality of post graduate programs (iii) Improving Criteria set for Faculty selection, appointment, retention & Promotion (iv)Improving the criteria set for defining outcome based education system and criteria for improving the quality of private & distance education system and quality standards for affiliating universities . As selected and approved by the Evaluation Committee, the senior Consultant (of the four consultants already selected for working on the major assignment) would taking up the lead role in compiling the final Draft of QAM and 30% additional remuneration would be paid for this deliverable to the senior consultant

2.This consultancy is focused on improving the criteria set for defining outcome based education system criteria for improving the quality of private & distance studentsand quality standards for affiliating Universities.

  • Pakistan Qualification Framework ( PQF) & Pakistan Qualification Register ( PQR)
  • HEC Distance Education guidelines
  • Setting Quality standards for affiliating universities

The Higher Education Commission in 2009 took an initiative of developing a generic Framework for Qualification offered in Pakistan. In this regard, a Pakistan Qualification framework, Pakistan Qualification Register and related guidelines were devised in 2011-12. It is now felt to undertake formal review of these criteria to respond to different matter e.g. ensuring cooperation of universities/ administrative support for adoption of criteria, recognizing online credits and equate it to the regular on campus programs, design learning outcomes, developing prerequisites for every discipline i.e. from generalized academic background to specific qualification etc. but formal review of these criteria could not be carried out

HEC launched a program in 2009 to improve the quality of private students. The idea was to increase opportunities to give them exposure of regular studies. To achieve this target, a distance education mode was introduced to discourage private enrollment, but, this resulted in increased private enrollment simultaneously distance education mode also flourished. Also, universities started adopting multiple modes e.g pure virtual mode, weekend class mode & blended mode. Hence , certain other clarifications on the current policy of HEC are also required e.g. LMS requirement for DE programs, criteria for faculty hiring & promotion for DE programs , disciplines to be offered in this mode, defining accreditation requirements/framework external degree programs. definition of distance education program, Synchronizing the current distance Education policy with virtual & open education system is another challenge., & Also, at national level there is a need to define Quality Assurance and Accreditation framework for virtual and open education system A clear and special scope of this study would be proposing & developing a new and comprehensive criteria/standards for Virtual / DE programs.

Higher Education Commission devised quality standards for affiliating universities / affiliation criteria is 2009. The study would also focus on review of these quality standards.

These assignments will contribute in refining the Quality criteria after a thorough review which will make a significant chapter of the Quality Assurance Manual Volume II

5.Scope of work– specific tasks contributing to the Contents of QAM

The quality criteria indicated in Section 4of the ToRswould be discussed in separate chapters of the second volume of QAM. The Consultant would undertake the following tasks in his/her respective field of study for documenting each Chapter.

  • Defining latest Quality Assurance Strategies and Procedures regardingdistance education modes, quality of private students, defining PQF & outcome based education system , quality standards for affiliating universities
  • Overview of theQA system ofHE sector of Pakistan-- HEC policies, standard, guidelines and SOPs.
  • Reviewing theInternational Scenario on quality ofdistance education modes, quality of private students, PQF and related areas & quality standards for affiliating universities-- reviewing the best practices, gap analysis and suggestions for improvement in existing policies on the basis of international trends
  • Assessment of the Current situation-- recent HEC/GOP’s measures and plans regarding improvingthe quality of distance education modes, assuring the quality of higher qualifications offered in Pakistan and their classification related areas, and quality standards for affiliating universities , making recommendations
  • Checking the effectiveness of HEC’s policy on quality improvement of private students, PQF,PQR and affiliation criteria -- situation analysis, and suggestions for improvement in policies on the basis of internal trends & experiences.
  • Defining Standard Operating Procedures and Stagesfor adoption of these relatedCriteria.
  • Elaborating the Role of stakeholders- e.g. HEC, HEIs other related bodies for implementation
  • Suggesting “Evaluation and assessment mechanism/ guidelines” forthese policies.(defining Implementation plan and a monitoring framework for these QA standards for HEC)
  • Proposing “Financialsustainability mechanism”for this respectiveQA program
  • Defining Future vision of QA in HE sector of Pakistan –Particularly regarding Qualityof:

a)Faculty

b)Facilities

c)Functionaries

d)Current, relevant Curriculum at levels 5,6,7,8 of Qualifications Framework

e)Research, Innovative, Basic and Applied

f)Institutional Data Validity, Reliability and Accuracy

g)Ranking Criteria

h)Identification of other important areas for which SOPs/criteria needs to be developedbesides the existing quality assurance policies

6.Guidelines on Methodology

First Level Effort (Consultative meeting and data gathering)

Some of the criteria adopters at the universities have already revised/tailored/ customized some of the QA criteria. In order to take benefit of what has already been done, the Consultants will have meeting with stakeholders to get overall picture, collect samples, get suggestions for future policies and develop instrument.

Second level Effort (Secondary data review):

As part of qualitative analysis, the Consultants would consult/reviewlatest international trends & best practices in the respective fields (listed at section 3), identify gaps on the basis of qualitative analysis and recommendations would be put forth for future policies.

Third Level Effort (In depth Primary Datagathering):

Quantitative and Qualitative data & information would be gathered from universities on a tool developed by the Consultant to check the effectiveness of QA program of HECmaking improvement suggestions. Feedback would be acquired fromuniversities (administration, Faculty, respective QA bodies (e.g. ACs). Gaps would be identified and recommendations put forth for improvement.

Fourth level Effort (Data Analysis and reporting)

Data would be analyzed and draft Policies (Program Self-Assessment Criteria, generic Guidelines for Accreditation Council & Institutional Performance Evaluation Standards) prepared in light of recommendations at all three levels

Fifth level Effort (Consultative Workshops):

The Consultants will facilitate consultative workshops on “draft policies”for getting updates and viewpoints from all the stakeholders concerned with quality assuranceon the policy presented. HEC concerned divisions would call these workshops and TESP would facilitate these activities. Consultant would record the feedback of stakeholders and final policies prepared and presented to HEC Higher management.

7.Deliverable

The Consultants would deliver the following products:

  1. A detailed inception report, within one week after contract signing.
  2. As is Report/ Current situation Report- within 11 weeks after contract signing

a)Record of existing customized changes in the QA standards and suggestions for future policies and instrument development – 4thweeks

b)Summary of latest and related International QA models/strategies and procedures – 6th week

c)Assessment report of the current situation e.g recent GOP’s measures and plans.-6th week

d)Analysis, findings and results of the data gathered from HEIs depicting the effectiveness of HEC QA policies(respective)- 11th week

e)Gaps identified in HEC existing policies& specific recommendations for improvement on the specific QA policy on the basis of stakeholders feedback, literature review & qualitative and Quantitative analysisi.e 7-II ( a, b, c & d)

  1. Policy document - within 20 weeks after contract signing

a)Draft QA policy and strategy including (i) Role of stakeholders defined for implementation of policy, (ii) Evaluation and assessment mechanism/ guidelines” on QA policies defined, (iii) Financial sustainability mechanism for proposed QA program-15th week

b)Finalized QA strategy and policy incorporating the findings and suggestions of the stakeholders’ consultative workshop (ii) recommendations based on the feedback on respective QA policy – 20th week

  1. The consultants would assist the Senior Consultant in compilation of final draft of Quality Assurance manual with reference to his/her portion of work.

Mid review meetings/presentations would be undertaken with the Consultants if desiredby Higher Education Commission

8.Qualification

The Consultant will have the following qualifications:

  • Having minimum of Master Degree, with preferably 15 years of experience in the higher education sector, preferably in the public sector universities, institutes and centers.
  • Preferably 5 years of proven experience in design, review and execution of Pakistan Qualification Framework(PQF) & Pakistan Qualification Register (PQR) , Distance Education guidelines and quality standards in affiliating universities
  • Understanding on the academic quality assurance issues and developments in the HE sector at national and international level.
  • Strong skills in quantitative and qualitative research.
  • Report writing

9.Financial/ remuneration and conditions

Consultancy fee

The assignment will be undertaken by 1 consultant having expertise in the respective domain. The fee for the Consultant would be decided on the basis of his/her qualification, expertise and level of effort.

Amount to be paid as under:-

  • 10% upon submission and acceptance of inception report within one week of signing the contract.
  • 30% upon submission and acceptance of As-Is Report within 11 week of signing the contract.
  • 40% upon submission and acceptance of the Policy Document within 20 week of signing the contract
  • 20% upon submission and acceptance of Quality Assurance Manual within 25 week of signing the contract
  • All the Consultants will provide both the soft and hard copies of all the reports& supporting documents to the Client.
  • In case of delay, HEC reserves the right to impose penalty @ 1% for each week of delay not exceeding 10% of the total contract value.
  • In case of any dispute, matter will be referred to the Executive Director Higher Education Commission ,whose decision will be binding on both parties

Reimbursements

  • HEC would pay the Consultant for Travelling, Boarding and Lodging as per actual expenditures incurred for conducting this study, subject to provision of actual bills and airline boarding passes

Operational expenses

  • TESP would bear the expenses for stakeholders meetings and stakeholders’ consultative workshops.

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