Oman’s System of Quality Management for Higher

EducationS. Razvi, M. Carroll, T. Goodliffe, A. Al-Hasnawi & F. Al-Habsi

For the Roundtable Meeting

Malaysia 2009

Session Outline

1.1. About the Sultanate of OmanAbout the Sultanate of Oman

2.2. Higher Education in OmanHigher Education in Oman

3.3. Entities with Quality Assurance Entities with Quality Assurance ResponsibilitiesResponsibilities

4.4. Oman Accreditation CouncilOman Accreditation Council

5.5. National Quality Management SystemNational Quality Management System

6.6. ConclusionsConclusions

1. About the1. About theSultanate of OmanSultanate of Oman

Where in the world is Oman?Where in the world is Oman?

2. Higher Education2. Higher Educationin Omanin Oman

Higher Ed History of Oman• 1970s & 1980s Government colleges

established, offering cert and diploma programs in the national priorities of health, teaching and technical skills.

• 1986: Sultan Qaboos University established, the first (and only) comprehensive university.

• 1990’s: Oman started importing higher education in earnest. 23 Private HEIs.

• 2006-9: Entering into a new phase: the establishment of a comprehensive system of quality assurance and quality enhancement.

Higher Ed Sector in Oman• SQU (established by Royal Directives)

• Public HEIs (supervised by MoHE)

• Public Colleges of Technology (supervised by MoMP)

• Public Health Institutes (supervised by MoH)

• Defence Institutes (supervised by MoD).

• Private Universities and Colleges (supervised by MoHE)

3. Entities with Quality Assurance Responsibilities

• Higher Education Council

• Oman Accreditation Council

• Supervising Ministries

• Directorate General of Private Universities & Colleges

• Higher Education Institutes (HEIs)

• Affiliate Institutes

4. Oman Accreditation Council

A governmental independent entity established to provide confidence to the

public that the quality of higher education in Oman meets international standards,

and to encourage continuous improvement in the management of the

quality of higher education.

Oman Accreditation Council

• Established by Royal Decree in 2001.

• Responsible for:- developing academic standards - accrediting higher education institutions

(HEIs) and programs- maintaining the national qualifications

framework (OQF)

• Led by a 10 member Board (all Omani), chaired by Dr Hamed Al-Dhahab.

• Supported by a (growing) staff nested within the Ministry of Higher Education

5. National Quality Management System

A comprehensive and integrated system of quality assurance and quality enhancement designed to

bring Oman towards international practice.

Quality Plan

• First iteration of standards and accreditation process was ROSQA, introduced 2004.

• In 2006, Draft Quality Plan developed (available at www.oac.gov.om).

• It proposes a significant overhaul of ROSQA, setting out a comprehensive system, OSQA, to align Oman’s HE sector with international best practice.

• Places equal emphasis on quality assurance and quality enhancement.

Elements of the Quality System• Oman Qualifications Framework• Oman Standard Classification for Education

Framework (OSCED)• Oman Institutional Classification Framework• HEI Standards• HEI Licensing• HEI Quality Audit (Accreditation Stage 1)• HEI Standards Assessment (Accreditation Stage 2)• Program Standards• Program Licensing• Program Accreditation and Recognition• Appeals

Provider QA ProcessesProvider QA Processes

HEI Accreditation Stage 2: Standards

Assessment

HEI Accreditation Stage 1: Quality

Audit

HEI Standards Reassessment

Appeal

HEIAccreditationTerminated

Not met

First cyclecommencing

2008

HEI Accreditation Certificate Met

Met

HEI Licensure

4 years ≤4 years

Process

Document

Start/End

KEYNot met

1-2 years onProbation

STAGE 1: QUALITY AUDIT

Provider QA ProcessesProvider QA Processes

HEI Accreditation Stage 2: Standards

Assessment

HEI Accreditation Stage 1: Quality

Audit

HEI Accreditation Certificate Met

4 years ≤4 years

Self Study

Quality Audit Portfolio

Self Study Activities

External Review

Quality Audit Report

External Review

Activities

STAGE 2: STANDARDS ASSESSMENT

Provider QA ProcessesProvider QA Processes

HEI Accreditation Stage 2: Standards

Assessment

HEI Accreditation Stage 1: Quality

Audit

HEI Accreditation Certificate Met

4 years ≤4 years

Self Assessment

AssessmentApplication

SelfAssessment

Activities

External Assessment

StandardsAssessmentReport

External Assessment

Activities

Quality Audit

1. Quality Audit is the first step in the Accreditation Process.

2. A method of public accountability.

3. A formative evaluation, which can be usedto help set a Quality Improvement Plan forthe HEI.

4. Two Pilot Quality Audits took place 2008. Ten Quality Audits are currently under way. Twelve will be every year.

5. The first cycle of HEI Quality Audits will be completed in 2013.

HEI

Program Standards

Assessment

Omani ProgramLicensing

Program Standards

Reassessment

Appeals

Program Recognition

Reassessment

Foreign Program Licensing

Program Recognition Assessment

OmaniProgram

After first cohort completes

After first cohort completes

ForeignProgram

Program Termination

Program Termination

Not met

Not met

Not met 1-2 yrs on Probation

1-2 yrs on ProbationNot met

Met

Met

Pass

MetProgram

Accreditation Certificate

5 years

Program Recognition Certificate

5 years

Met

Process

Start / End

Document

KEY

Program QA ProcessesProgram QA Processes

External Reviewers Register

Program AccreditationReview Panels

Quality Audit Panels

Provider Standards Assessment Panels

Ad hocAppeals Committee

Program ProbationReview Panels

Provider ProbationReview Panels

Good Practice Database Reviewers

· 50 Senior academics fromOman HEIs

· 20 Senior administrators fromOman HEIs

· 30 Senior academics from benchmark countries

· 10 senior administrators from benchmark countries

· 30 Captains of industry

External Reviewer Register

Oman Quality Network Oman Quality Network & Training Program& Training Program

Oman Quality Network

• Launched under patronage of H.E. Dr Rawya Saud Al Busaidia, Minister of Higher Education, on 20 September 2006.

• Controlled by an Executive Committee of Members which meets regularly.

• Supported by OAC and MOHE staff.

Oman Quality Network

• Responsible for:

– Organizing quality-related training for the sector based on the ‘train the trainer approach’

– Training resources are available at www.oac.gov.om/enhancement/training

– Providing networking opportunities

– First National Quality Conference on “Quality Management and Enhancement in Higher Education” held in October 2008

Some Training Program Topics1. ADRI: A QA model for self reviews and external reviews2. A Conceptual Framework for Standards3. KPI: Managing data for knowledge4. Using Statistics in Reporting5. Good Documentation: policies, procedures and guidelines 6. Preparing a Self Study Portfolio7. Good Teaching8. Process Mapping: a tool for quality improvement9. Benchmarking10. Strategic Planning11. Consulting Stakeholders12. Risk Management13. Getting the Most from Student Evaluations14. Maximising Student Learning Outcomes15. Quality Audits16. Curriculum Development17. Moderation of Assessment

6. Conclusions

A new national quality management system has been developed. It is comprehensive and aligns Oman’s higher education system with international best practice. The new system places equal emphasis on quality assurance and quality enhancement.