UBT pays a particular attention and especially to the Assurance and Quality Performance being referred to as (the “Quality Circle”).
The establishment of the Office for Quality Assurance and Performance (OQA) within UBT has at a high degree facilitated the process of involving all other groups, as well as attaining a continuous quality improvement. The Office for Quality Assurance and Performance has its organizational chart, which sets out the functions of all staff in the quality assurance process. The Office for Quality Assurance and Performance prepares an annual development plan, which sets out the indicators and criteria for quality assurance. Apart from others, OQA is required to issue an evaluation report for the entire calendar year by the end of each year. The measures provided for in the report are reviewed by the Quality Assurance Committee, which then decides to implement them in practice.
Consequently, UBT has also designed and created a modern quality assurance system that has been certified in accordance with the standards of ISO 9001: 2000 quality assurance standards. Meanwhile, this system is evaluated by external experts and a European and international accredited institution.
The quality circle involves key processes, management processes, and support processes. The main principle of the UBT quality assurance strategy relies on European standards and quality assurance guidelines. These can be summarized in the areas identified in the European Standard Guidelines for Internal Quality Assurance within Higher Education Institutions: (1) policies and procedures for quality assurance, (2) periodically approving, monitoring and reviewing programs; (3) student evaluation, (4) teaching resources and student support, (5) quality assurance of teaching staff, (6) information systems and (7) aspects which are related to public information.
The main purpose of the quality assurance work at UBT is to continuously improve the transparency of all UBT stakeholders and to include them in the quality assurance process of international forums, with such bodies responsible for maintaining quality as EOQ, ENQA etc.
Quality Assurance Instruments
In accordance with the Regulation on Academic Advancement and Quality Assurance and also as described in the Office of Quality Assurance and Performance annual plan, the evaluation instruments at the institution are presented to all stakeholders, ranging from students, academic staff, administrative staff, alumni and industrial partners. These instruments consist of questionnaires specially designed for each relevant stakeholder group. These questionnaires are prepared and approved by the Quality Assurance Committee at a special meeting. Assessments at the institution are foreseen to be conducted on a regular basis (per semester, per academic year).
Types of internal and external assessments:
- Reports of external examiners
- Reports of internal and external quality assurance staff
- Evaluation reports from funding agencies
- Feedback, both formal and informal, from industry partners and others
- Feedback and opinions from students, academic and administrative staff, graduates
- Course board comments
- Internal audit reports
- Department and School Meetings
In this regard, UBT has established the advancement of the electronic assessment system for students (online feedback).
Quality Assurance Procedures
UBT can be considered as a leader in the implementation and promotion of quality in higher education in Kosovo. The main aspects that affect this aspect are as follows:
- The work on continuous quality assurance in the institution is process oriented (process oriented).
- Certified by ISO 9001 from respected international institutions
- Functioning of the Quality Assurance Office
- Involvement of all stakeholders
- Preparation and development of quality assurance documents and regulations
- Involve international external experts in the process of quality assurance and self-assessment
- Partnership and Cooperation with Quality Assurance Offices from partner universities
- The main driver and supporter of the implementation of European and international quality standards in Kosovo.
Besides that, there have been taken efforts to improve and maintain quality represent an ongoing challenge of UBT. The system helps to continually improve quality (according to Deming Circle). Each evaluation result has been transformed into a strategy for improvement. Each GQA collects assessments and data from each faculty, which are considered in a separate meeting where recommendations for improvement are made. These evaluations and recommendations are sent to the Commission for review through the Office of Quality Assurance for decision-making and implementation. (Find attached the Administrative Instruction).
Furthermore, the Office for Quality Assurance is primarily oriented towards the fundamental principles of the European Union Standards for Higher Education and its plans are based on the Law on Higher Education in Kosovo and the Strategy for Higher Education in Kosovo. OQA strives to evaluate every university process and use this assessment to improve the quality and performance of the institution.
Moreover, participation in international quality assurance forums (EOQ, ENQA, etc.), increased inter-university quality assurance cooperation and exchange with partner universities has enabled inclusion of European quality trends and culture within UBT.