The Quality Assurance Committee (QAC) has spearheaded a strategic Business Intelligence (BI) solution initiative. Recognising BI as a pivotal technology, the University of Malta (UM) aimed to harness its potential to comprehend, make informed decisions, and take strategic actions based on data derived from diverse sources. This initiative seeks to strengthen and elevate the university's systematic collection, analysis, and evaluation of crucial information about both students and staff. The envisioned outcome is a streamlined process that will significantly influence the university's decision-making in the planning and management of academic and academic-support services.
Since September 2022, the QAC has coordinated a collaborative effort, convening a core working group to establish a comprehensive and centralised BI system. The overarching goal is to assist UM in its role as the leading research-intensive Higher Education Institution (HEI) in Malta in:
- continuous quality enhancement through data-driven decision-making;
- supporting and monitoring quality academic and operational processes;
- obtaining global recognition of the quality of its educational provision in international rankings;
- enriching institutional research.
UM has chosen Microsoft Power BI as its business intelligence platform, and has invested in a number of Power BI licences to cater for the needs of academic and administrative staff within FICS. This investment has been supplemented with information sessions and practical training, with plans for yearly training sessions for staff members yet to undergo training.
A dedicated Business Intelligence webpage on the Quality Assurance website has also been launched, featuring a manual on Using Power BI Data for Quality Enhancement.
FICS have been receiving guidance on utilising Power BI for generating timely and more accurate quantitative metrics as part of the Annual Programme Review (APR) submission for 2023. This information facilitates a more meaningful evaluation and analysis of academic programmes, aligning with the University's commitment to sustaining quality and standards. Importantly, the effectiveness of Power BI extends beyond the APR process, encouraging FICS to leverage the tool as they see fit.
The Quality Assurance Committee would like to express its gratitude to all those involved in the BI initiative, especially the Office of the Academic Registrar, the Quality Support Unit, IT Services, Office for Human Resource Management & Development as well as Finance Office.
This is another milestone in the University’s efforts to digitalise its processes and to work better. The BI project has been a mammoth undertaking spanning a number of years. It is through the continuous efforts of such dedicated individuals and offices that the quality culture at UM can be further nurtured and enhanced.
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