Abstract
Most HEIs have piecemeal partially linked QMS (Quality Management System) or mechanisms to manage the data, statistics and documents heavy quality management of its academic aspirations disjointed from the planning dimension. The integrated eIQA structured in 9 e-modules are aimed at integrating the quality-information-planning trilogy into a paperless online real-time era of quality-information-planning management working in full tandem in conjunctions with each other holistically to support the key management and institution performance management and informed decision making. The linkages are establlished via the key reports, statistics, documents and action plans and projects required of quality management and accreditation across the QMS-PMS (Planning Management System) duo, as supported by a data warehouse and its applications data marts that interlinks the 9 e-modules in in eIQA.
TopBackground Of Study
External Quality Assurance (EQA) as represented by any accreditation requirements has been prescribed voluntarily or mandated where all HEIs subscribe to or are mandatorily coerced into (Wells, 2014). While EQA hypes the protection of stakeholders’ values in learning outcomes and competencies, the accompanying and complementary Internal Quality Assurance (IQA) struggles to keep up with the pace of EQA progress and requirements (Kettunen, 2012). Systems and mechanisms in accomplishing and achievement EQA requirements falters or are sidetracked due to the mundane IQA with volumes of documents, reports, statistics and evidences requirements of quality measures of processes and results underlying education value (Prikulis, Raugvargers, & Rusakova, 2011).
In attempting to resolve this issue, this chapter explores the key components of quality, information and planning underpinning education excellence to align the integration of the 3 main IQA core systems of quality management (QM), information management (IM) and planning management (PM) as these encompass most aspects of the creation and delivery of the educational value of HEIs. The proposed integrated eIQA is strategically and tactically aligned top-down and bottom-up where quality management is aligned with planning management via information management leading to informed decisions affecting quality management at all levels of the institution, administrative units, colleges and programs. To illustrate these QM-IM-PM linkages via its key integrated e-modules, a case study of a leading university in the Middle East demonstrates this strategic integrated eIQA system.
Key Terms in this Chapter
IQMS (Integrated Quality Management System): This is an integration of the performance and quality management for 3 key education purposes of 1) Development Appraisal; 2) Performance Management; 3) Whole-School Evaluation ( De Bruyn, et al., 2007 ; ELRC, 2003).
eMIS (Electronic Management Information System): This is “an organized group of information and documentation services that collects, stores, processes analyzes and disseminates information for educational planning and management. It is (1) a collection of component parts that include inputs processes, outputs and feed backs that are integrated to achieve a specific objective; (2) a system for managing a large body of data and information that can be readily retrieved, processed, analyzed, and made available for use and dissemination; (3) a tool that uses systems theory and developments in computerization to create a comprehensive approach to management and use of vast quantities of information in the education system” ( Villanueva, 2003 ).
QMS (Quality Management System): A QMS is a documented set of policies and procedures that provide assurance to the customer of the product and service levels expected which is: systems-based; people-based; process-based with emphasis on prevention ( FASSET, 2000 ) and continuous improvements in all spheres to ensure and sustain efficiencies and effectiveness of educational quality and value.
eDRMS (electronic Document and Records Management System): This contains the secure and systematic management of unstructured or semi-structured data, statistics, information and documents; a reduction in redundancy and duplication of information; a reduced risk of not being able to retrieve information when required; improved security, thereby reducing the risk of unauthorized access; greater ability to discover and re-use information; better control of statistics, information, data & document versions; and a reduction in the response time for information requests. This includes institutional information and metadata management strategies, standards, policies and procedures, effective data management culture of understanding and appreciation of the value of making, keeping and managing full and accurate statistics, data, information and documents, standard operating procedures including roles and responsibilities and security models ( Queensland Government, 2010 ).
eIQA (electronic IQA): A collation of modular sub-systems which act inter-dependently for educational outputs that cover inputs, processes, output & outcomes (IPOO) modules inter-linked through the data warehouse (DWH), its data marts and use of Business Intelligence (BI) tools for analysis and ad-hoc reporting in assuring educational quality and performance excellence.