The University of Malta has a well-established quality cycle for the ongoing monitoring and periodic reviews of programmes. The separate yet complementary quality assurance processes take into consideration the feedback from internal stakeholders such as students and staff, and from external stakeholders such as persons from the world of work, industry and/or academics or researchers who specialise in the particular field of study. Feedback originating from various external sources such as, External Reviewers, External Examiners and the Stakeholders’ Committee as part of the distinct processes are value added for the continuous enhancement in quality and standards of programmes. The process identifies good practices and areas for improvement and further development of programmes as necessary.
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The Quality Assurance Committee established a comprehensive internal quality assurance framework which guides and promotes continuous enhancement of quality and standards in all academic programmes. The aim is to streamline and bring together processes which were already in place and being implemented across UM into one established and agreed-upon framework, and which will further strengthen the current QA mechanisms.
Following on the Bologna Process and reflecting the European Standards and Guidelines (ESG, 2015) which are replicated in the National Quality Assurance Framework for Further and Higher Education, the University of Malta, as a leading Higher Education Institution with self-accrediting status, has the primary responsibility for the quality of its provision and its assurance. This responsibility and commitment steered UM to further strengthen its QA framework.
This framework is based on a three-tier quality ‘defence’ system initiating at the programme validation stage, developing during Annual Programme Reviews within Faculties, Institutes, Centres and Schools (FICS) and ameliorating through the Periodic or Initial Programme Review.
IQA Framework [PDF]
UM is responsible for accrediting and validating all new taught programmes. Therefore, the first level of scrutiny for quality and standards of all programmes is triggered through programme validation.
The validation process aims to ascertain that proposed programmes are in line with the University’s overall vision and strategy, are responsive to market demands, and that their quality is comparable to that of our European and international counterparts. The procedure for the approval and validation of new programmes takes into consideration external stakeholders’ feedback such as an independent external reviewer and is designed to be rigorous and effective, whilst also encouraging appropriate innovation.
The programme validation process falls under the responsibility of the Programme Validation Committee (PVC) which is assisted in its task by the Academic Programmes Quality and Resources Unit (APQRU) .
The APR is UM’s core process for the quality assurance and enhancement of learning, teaching and assessment. Each FICS performs an annual programme review on the previous year’s delivery of programmes which is then submitted to QAC/QSU. The APR includes plans for actions as a result of the review which will also serve to guide continuous enhancement. As a result of the APR, FICS can identify areas for improvement, plan achievable actions for continuous enhancement and highlight good practices. The APR process aims to strengthen the link between quality enhancement and evaluation emanating from internal and external stakeholders’ feedback.
The APR ensures that the University regularly and consistently reflects on the learning, teaching and assessment of programmes and how these impact the students’ higher education experience. This process supports the University to meet the National Quality Assurance Framework for Further and Higher Education in Malta as required by Subsidiary Legislation 607.03 and the European Standards and Guidelines (2015) . Furthermore, it is a key characteristic of UM’s commitment to continuously enhance the quality of its educational provision and to permeate a culture of quality among all members of its community.
The Periodic Programme Review (PPR) is an integral component of the University of Malta’s internal QA. It is a rolling system of peer review, in which all academic programmes of UM are reviewed on a five- to six-year cycle.
The PPR process draws on Malta’s National Quality Assurance Framework for Further and Higher Education (NCFHE, 2015) and adheres to Internal QA standards as well as the principle of “ongoing monitoring and periodic review of programmes to ensure objectives are met and respond to the needs of the students and society” (NCFHE, 2015). Underpinning the PPR process and a prerequisite for success is continuous enhancement as embodied by the quality cycle.
The PPR is an evidence-based process that takes into consideration feedback from internal and external stakeholders. Review of evidence and analysis are complemented by critical reflection and exhibited in a Self-Evaluation Document (SED) which is compiled by FICS. The SED is reviewed by the Internal Quality Review (IQR) panel and discussed during the Quality Collaboration Visit. The SED is also shared with the Stakeholders’ Committee and discussed during a Stakeholders’ Meeting . Both the visit and the meeting serve as a platform where professional dialogue about quality may ensue.
