Quality Assurance of Higher Education in Sweden. Tomas Egeltoft

Transcription

1 Quality Assurance of Higher Education in Sweden Tomas Egeltoft Agenda The Swedish Higher Education System The Swedish National Agency for Higher Education Quality Assurance System of Higher Education

2 The Swedish Higher Education System 14 state universities, e.g. KTH, Uppsala University 22 state university colleges, e.g. University of Gävle 24 private universities and university colleges, e.g. Stockholm School of Economics and Chalmers University of Technology The Swedish Higher Education System, cont. Adopted to the Bologna system from 2007; three main levels: Bachelor, Master and Doctoral level Two parallel types of degrees: General degrees according to a main subject, e.g. Degree of Bachelor of Mathematics Professional degrees, e.g. Degree of Master in Science in Engineering

3 Degree awarding powers, general degrees State universities have degree awarding powers for general education programs leading to a degree on all three main levels. State university colleges have degree awarding powers for general education programs leading to a degree on Bachelor and One-Year Master level. They can apply for the degree awarding powers on the Two- Year Master level, and on the doctoral level.

4 Degree awarding powers, general degrees cont. Two private universities have degree awarding powers for general education programs leading to a degree on all three main levels. Private university colleges must apply for the degree awarding powers on all levels. Degree awarding powers, professional degrees All universities and university colleges, both state and private, must apply for degree awarding powers for all programs leading to a professional degree.

5 The Swedish National Agency for Higher Education Directly under the Ministry of Education Five main departments: Department of Quality Assurance Department of Legal Affairs Department of Qualifications Recognition Department of Higher Education Analysis Department of Communications The Department of Quality Assurance Two main tasks: -Granting the right to award degrees (new educational programs) -Evaluating of subject areas (existing educational programs)

6 Granting the right to award degrees (new educational programs) 12 Granting the right to award degrees: assessment methods and processes Assessment group: scholars, students and practitioners from the specific field Assessment material: the application including e.g. a description of the faculty members, program and course descriptions. Site visit/interviews.

7 13 Degree awarding powers, methods cont. Assessment fundamentals: regulations in the Higher Education Act and in the Higher Education Ordinance together with specific quality aspects: Teacher competence and teacher capacity Educational environment Infrastructure Design of the study programme Systems for obtaining degree objectives 14 Degree awarding powers: report and final decision With the report by the assessment group the final decision is made by the University Chancellor: Approval/denial

8 Evaluating of subject areas (existing educational programs) Evaluation of subject areas, background Earlier Qualitity Assurance System focused on prerequisites and processes. Increased autonomy for Higher Education Institutions. New QAS should focus on results. The outcome of the evaluation should effect some part of the funding to the HEI.

9 Background, continued All subjects and study programmes leading to a degree on bachelor and master level should be evaluated in four year cycles, starting Evaluation of subject areas, Focus on learning outcomes. If achieved learning outcomes meet the intended learning outcomes stipulated in the Higher Education Act and the Higher Education Ordinance. The assessment panel makes a selection of learning outcomes to be assessed for each degree and subject.

10 The Higher Education Act: Qualification descriptors For all degrees, general and professional, on all three levels. The descriptors are divided in three forms: Knowledge and understanding Competence and Skills Judgement and Approach Different degrees have different number of descriptors, e.g. professional medical degree: 14 descriptors; general bachelor degree: 8 descriptors. Examples of qualification descriptors b3a8c21372be32ace html

11 The assessment panel Each assessment panel should include: Subject experts Students Representatives from working life Assessment material: The following assessment material should be included when evaluating the outcomes of a study programme: The students degree projects The self-evaluations of higher education institutions Student experiences Questionnaires sent to alumni Students degree projects should comprise a key element of the overall appraisal for most study programmes. Site visits

12 Assessment result The expert panel should give an overall appraisal of the study programme s quality on a three-level scale: Very high quality High quality Inadequate quality The formal decision is made by the University Chancellor. Result of the evaluation: Very High Quality The government will give the HEI some extra funding.

13 Result of the evaluation: Inadequate quality If the assessment of a study programme reveals inadequate quality, the HEIs right to award the degree is questioned. Follow-up after one year. If no improvement The Agency withdraws the HEIs right to award the degree. Evaluation results so far, : 553 programs leading to a general or professional degree have been evaluated: 77 have been assesst having very high quality 345 have been assesst having high quality 131 have been assesst having inadequate quality

14 The end