Quality Enhancement Cell, KUST

There is quite a close relationship between prosperity of a nation and Quality of Education. To provide the Higher Education in Pakistan a global identity and to bring the country in the list of front-line competitors, there is a need to assess its institutions, universities within the Global perspectives. To achieve this task, Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) has framed some procedures to highlight the Research and Development. Such procedures must be adopted to take into account the diversity of situation and the academic culture in Pakistan. To enhance the quality of education at higher level, there is a need for the capacity building of faculty members to make them able to play the main role. For the said purpose, Quality Assurance Agency has established Quality Enhancement Cells (QEC) in thirty Public Sector Universities. Kohat University of Science and Technology is among those public sector Universities.


Making Assessment Reports
Self Assessment Report is the major function of QEC which helps the Head of the departments in knowing the weak areas of their departments which hinder the performance of their departments/Institutions. It is based on 27 standards on the basis of which departments are assessed against the available resources and infrastructure and quality education. QEC, KUST has completed the SAR of departments of Microbiology, Biotechnology, English and IIT. Self Assessment Reports were further assessed by the Assessment Team and reports were presented to the Vice Chancellor. On the basis of mentioned weaknesses VC, KUST took very supporting decisions to enhance the standard of education. The implementation plans were prepared by head of the departments and special resources were approved on the basis of implementation plan for remedial actions.

Assessment reports of other departments and institutions are in progress by respective focal persons.

Surveys:
There are ten proformas of surveys which are filled by the students and faculty to receive the feed back for further improvement. Teachers Evaluation survey is conducted in every semester from the students of all programs on teachers Evaluation form. The results are compiled and summary of feedback is given to faculty members for their further improvement. The students course Evaluation Questionnaire Survey has also been conducted and feedback is compiled to update the courses.Graduating Students Survey and Alumni Survey are also conducted and feedback of the students is communicated and mentioned in the Self Assessment Report.

Workshops Organized
For the orientation and implementation of Quality Assurance procedures, workshops have also been organized by QEC KUST according to the need of the time.

A workshop was conducted on August 16, 2007 on Quality Enhancement Practices for the orientation of Program Team members. The resource person for this workshop was Mr. Taimur Khan, Director QEC, University of Peshawar

A second workshop was organized by Ms. Asiyah Bukhari on May 15, 2008 titled “One day National Seminar on Quality Enhancement Procedures” for the orientation of faculty members. The resource person for this workshop was Prof. Dr. Ashraf, Dean of Sciences, Director QEC, Agriculture University Faisalabad and Air Commodore Muhammad Ismail, Director QEC, NUST, Rawalpindi. The third workshop was conducted June 25 2008, on Say No to Plagiarism for the faculty members. The resource person for this workshop was Prof. Dr. Naheed Zia, Dean of Sciences from Fatima Jinnah Women University Rawalpindi.

Meetings/ Workshops Attended
In a period of two years, QEC, KUST has assured its presence in all the Pakistan universities QEC, s meetings organized by QAA, HEC from time to time.

QEC participated in International Conference on Assessing Quality at higher Education level.

Participated in two days workshop on Assessment of Program outcomes in UMT Lahore.

Took part in a workshop on project management Skills by PIQC Lahore.

Participated in workshops organized by Pakistan Council for Science & Technology.

Data Collection
Data Collection and its provision to the national and International organization are also done by the Quality Enhancement Cell, KUST. So far data has been provided to the following organizations.
· University Statistics of all KUST departments to Higher Education Commission since 2001-2009.
· Data to Organization of Islamic Countries. (OIC).
· Data to Pakistan Council for Science and Technology.
· Data to Times Higher Education London.
· Data to Iranian Conciliate.

Distinction On Line Evaluation
QEC, KUST has got the distinction of being the first university which introduced on line evaluation. The practice was adopted in May 2009. On line evaluation not only saves time but also save cost and resources.

Lecture Recording of Faculty
It is also a credit of QEC, KUST that one of the lectures of all university faculty members is recorded to improve their method of teachings. The recorded clips are given to the teachers for their self assessment so that they should overcome their weaknesses and come to know about their areas of improvement.