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SMART-QUAL: Structured indicators to manage HEI Quality System Project seeks to address some existing important needs, as the lack of a comprehensive framework of harmonised quality indicators, or the lack of official recognition of Internal Quality Management Systems (IQMS) implemented by HEIs due to weak common criteria. Therefore, this project has intention to support and wide the IQMS of HEIs in the European Higher Education Area (EHEA). The main objective of the Project is to support HEIs in the implementation of effective internal QM system by designing a set of quality indicators to be implemented and improve in the short and long term the internal QMS (make them more efficient and effective) and the alignment of these indicators in a structured catalogue according to the three main levels of decision making (strategic, tactical and operational).

Specific objectives of the project are:

• Design of a set of quality indicators to implement an efficient and effective internal QM system. The set of indicators will be the basis for the monitoring, assessment and improvement of the HEIs main processes (teaching and learning; research; and relations with the society).
• Alignment of the designed quality indicators in a structured catalogue, according to the three main levels of decision making (strategic, tactical and operational).

Smart Qual Project

Higher education quality management systems (QMS) are often criticised for being too-process oriented, box-ticking and insufficiently focused on consequential and generalizable outcomes. One of the reasons underlying these critics relies on the fact that QMS tend to rely on a large quantity of quality indicators, which makes their accuracy and timely analysis difficult, and consequently undermine their adequate use for decision-making at different levels (strategic, tactical, or operational). In this context, the main objective of the SMART-QUAL project is to support higher education institutions (HEIs) in the implementation of effective internal QMS, by designing a set of quality indicators to support them. The indicators will be aligned in a structured catalogue according to the three main levels of decision making (strategic, tactical, and operational). The quality indicators to be designed are meant to be applied by the institutions within their QMS and, as such, contribute to improve in the short and long term these systems (making them more efficient and effective). In order to arrive at the planned structured catalogue of quality indicators, the SMART-QUAL project intends, in a first phase, to develop a Quality Indicators Scoreboard and a Smart-Qual Wiki (IO1). Step 1 of this first phase was the establishment of the state of the art of the QMS of higher education institutions across Europe (IO1.A1 - State of the art of the quality management system of higher education institutions). To do so, information was gathered on the current situation of QMS in 36 HEIs spread over 5 European countries (Portugal, Spain, Belgium, Lithuania and Italy), with particular emphasis being given to the quality indicators used in these systems. A template was designed to frame the data collection, which was then used by all the SMART-QUAL partners in their empirical work. This work included desk research (analysis of different institutional documents, such as quality manuals, strategic plans and activities plans, as well as the institutions’ websites), combined with formal and informal contacts with the institutions included in the sample.

The project plan will consist of several phases:

• Quality planning and control
• Achievement of objectives
• Project monitoring
• Quality and Evaluation surveys
• Risk management
• Corrective actions
• Communication and reporting

Partners

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  AQU Catalunya

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  A3ES

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  VUB

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  Politecnico di Torino

• AQU Catalunya

AQU-CATALUNYA

The Catalan University Quality Assurance Agency, AQU Catalunya, is the main instrument for the promotion and assurance of quality in the Catalan higher education system. AQU Catalunya is entrusted with the assessment, accreditation and certification of quality in the universities and higher education institutions in Catalonia. the Agency is full member of the European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (ENQA), the Spanish Network of Spanish Quality Assurance Agencies (REACU) and of the International Network for Quality Assurance Agencies in Higher Education (INQAAHE), of which the Agency hosts the Secretariat since 2013.

• Agência de Avaliação e Acreditação do Ensino Superior

A3ES

The Agency for Assessment and Accreditation of Higher Education (A3ES) has as main purpose promoting and ensuring the quality of higher education in Portugal. Its mission is the assessment and accreditation of higher education institutions and study programmes, and the auditing and certification of internal quality assurance systems. It also provides expertise and research in matters of quality assurance, having, for this purpose an Office of Research and Analysis. A3ES is registered in the European Quality Assurance Register (EQAR), is a full member of the European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (ENQA) and integrates the CHEA International Quality Group (CIQG), a forum established by CHEA – Council for Higher Education Accreditation (United States).

• Vrije Universiteit Brussel

The Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) is a Dutch- and English-speaking research university located in Brussels, Belgium. It has four campuses: Brussels Humanities, Science and Engineering Campus, Brussels Health Campus, Brussels Technology Campus and Brussels Photonics Campus (in Gooik). The university is organised into 8 faculties that accomplish the three central missions of the university: education, research, and service to the community. The faculties cover a broad range of fields of knowledge including the natural sciences, classics, life sciences, social sciences, humanities, and engineering. The university provides bachelor, master, and doctoral education to about 8,000 undergraduate and 1,000 graduate students. It is also a strongly research-oriented institute, which has led to its top-189th position among universities worldwide. Its research articles are on average more cited than articles by any other Flemish university.

• Politecnico di Torino

Politecnico di Torino

For 160 years, the Politecnico di Torino has been one of the most prestigious public institutions at both the International and the Italian levels concerning education, research, technological transfer and services in all sectors of architecture and engineering. The Politecnico di Torino was founded in 1859 as Scuola di Applicazione per gli Ingegneri (Technical School for Engineers), and it became Regio Politecnico di Torino in 1906. A long history, which bore out the University as a reference point for education and research in Italy and in Europe, a Research University of international level which attracts students from more than 100 countries and which activates about 800 collaborations per year with industries, public institutions and local organizations.

• Univeristy of Minho

Univesity of Minho

Founded in 1973, UMinho is nowadays one of the most important and prestigious HEIs in Portugal. It is renowned for the competence and quality of its faculty and for the level of excellence in research as well as the wide range of undergraduate and graduate courses offered and the remarkable degree of interaction with other institutions and the society in general.Located in the north of Portugal, UMinho has a campus in the city of Braga and two other in the city of Guimarães, which cover a student population of around 20000, 40% of which are master or PhD students. The University has 1200 teaching and research staff and around 800 technical and administrative staff. All 12 Schools/Institutes are quite comprehensive and are a reference for their academic and scientific quality at national and international level.

• Studijų kokybės vertinimo centras

Studiju Kokybes Vertinimo Centras

The Centre for Quality Assessment in Higher Education (SKVC) is a public administration institution, acting as external quality assurance agency for higher education and an academic information centre, responsible for recognition of foreign qualifications. The mission of SKVC is to contribute to the improvement of quality of studies through mutual accountability and fostering of a quality culture, and to create conditions for the free movement of persons in the world by increasing transparency of qualifications and the realization of value. SKVC was established in 1995, and is an active member of professional networks, such as ENIC and NARIC, CEENQA, ENQA, INQAAHE, also listed as a trustworthy agency on EQAR.

• CONEXX EU

CONEXX-EU

CONEXX-EU is a non-profit organisation based in Brussels (Belgium), which promotes research, cooperation and development activities within the EU and between Europe, Latin America, and other regions worldwide. The organization has 10 year of experience in writing and managing European funded projects, delivering trainings, offering advocacy and communication services, and assisting organizations in their internationalization processes.

• Univesidade de Aveiro

Universidade de Aveiro

Created in 1973, the University of Aveiro (UAVR) quickly became one of the most dynamic and innovative universities in Portugal. Now a public foundation under private law, it continues to develop and implement its mission to provide undergraduate and postgraduate education, to generate research and promote cooperation with society. Attended by about 13,700 students on undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, the UAVR has achieved a significant position amongst higher education institutions in Portugal, being one of the top universities regarding the quality of its infrastructures, the strength of its research and the excellence of its staff. The UAVR is a highly regarded institution of research led education, constituted by university departments, research units, polytechnic schools, interface units, and a vocational education network.

• UIC Barcelona
  

  UIC Barcelona

The Universitat Internacional de Catalunya (UIC Barcelona) is a non-profit private foundation that provides service to the wider society by undertaking teaching, research and transfer activities. The academic programs offered at UIC Barcelona include a total of 14 Bachelor’s Degrees and more than 80 official and professional Masters and Postgraduate courses. UIC is highly committed with its social mission, undertaking activities to promote culture, social inclusion and sustainable innovation.

Expected results

• Create a harmonized list of quality indicators to beused in IQMS.
• Qualty Indicators Scoreboard (QIS), a structured and organized catalogue.
• Guidelines to support the QIS practical implementation in HEIs.
• Quality assurance agencies acknowledgement and recognition of the proposed quality indicators and the QIS.
• Raise awareness on the harmonized indicators among the members of HEIs governance and management boards all over Europe.
• Develipment of an extended network of HEIs and stakeholders willing to implement the quality indicators and the QIS.

Other info

• SmartQual's site
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