All
HEC's recognized HEIs of Pakistan have established their Directorates of
Quality Enhancement and have achieved W level of Internal Quality Assurance (IQA) mechanism. For the
purpose, the section administers the activities w.r.t. establishing: new
Quality Enhancement Cells (QEC) and IQA mechanism in HEIs. To reinforce its
objective, IQA holds periodic Progress review meetings and perform monitoring
visits. The quality of IQA mechanism in an HEI is measured quantitatively, on
annual basis, by means of a score card. The assessment period starts from 1st
of July each year and ends on 30th of June next year. The assessment is rated
in terms of percentage and reflected in terms of four quality levels/grades
i.e. W, X, Y, Z. The major outcome of a good IQA mechanism is an HEI ready for
external evaluations by QAA-HEC (or any 3rd party) as well as by accreditation
councils.
The
IQA section executes its policies through Quality Enhancement Cells [QEC],
established in universities/ Higher Education Institutes [HEIs], in Pakistan.
The establishment of Quality Enhancement Cells roots in the establishment of
Quality Assurance Agency (May 2005). Initially the PC-I of QECs was approved by
DDWP, in August 2006 which was executed from September 2006. Consequently the
phase wise establishment of QECs began [Listed below].
These
QECs, alongside undertaking many other measures for enhancing academic quality
in HEIs, also implements quality assessment mechanism of academic programs,
called Self-Assessment Process. The outcome of this process is Self-Assessment
Report [SAR]. The main objectives of preparing SAR are:
To
improve academic programs and ensure high academic standards by providing
feedback for faculty and administration to initiate action plan for
improvement.
To
provide students with essential skills to enter the workplace well prepared in
the core competencies: problem solving abilities, experimental and data
analysis techniques, team work experience, interpersonal skills, basic and
advance IT skills.