SAR Clinic - Writing a Good SAR (Self-Assessment Report)

In serving the mission of raising the quality assurance of higher education in ASEAN, the AUN-QA Network and Education Quality International (eqi) collaborated to hold online training workshops to raise the quality of SAR as part of their community service to the AUN-QA community in this unprecedented times of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The “SAR Clinic: Writing a Good SAR” was mooted and due to the overwhelming demands, the online training was held in two batches. The first batch was held from 20 to 24 April 2020 daily over 5 sessions (9.00 -10.30am - BKK Time) and the 2nd batch from 27 April to 1 May 2020 daily over 5 sessions (9.00 - 10.30am - BKK Time). A total of 73 participants from 46 universities and agencies in Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam attended the SAR clinic which was facilitated by Mr. Johnson Ong Chee Bin, the Principal Consultant of eqi and AUN-QA Expert and assisted by Dr. Nguyen Thi My Ngoc (Jenny), Vietnam National University-Ho Chi Minh City . 

The learning outcomes for the SAR Clinic are listed and all of them were fully achieved at the end of the training.

1. Identify the AUN-QA Criterion requirements for writing

2. Apply the techniques for writing a good SAR

3. Improve the quality of good SAR for AUN-QA assessment

A survey was held at the each of each SAR clinic and at the survey showed a gain between 55% and 63% in knowledge and skills in SAR writing after the training. Feedback from the participants was positive and some of their feedback are listed below.

"After attending the course, I understand deeply the requirements of writing criteria, such as: defining life-long learning activities, doing internal and external benchmark for research activities, illustrating the constructive alignment, I will share these knowledge to my QA staffs and the faculties of our university so that they have a good preparation for the coming AUN-QA assessments and effective quality improvement plans as well."

"The discussion from the facilitator, the sharing on the difficulties in writing the different criteria of assessment and the examples given are good insights for me to consider in writing the SAR. In spite of the very short training time, the direct to the point suggestions are very enlightening that I can apply in my institution in writing the SAR for the upcoming assessment visit in the university."

"I benefited greatly from attending the writing a Good SAR training. AUN-QA Criteria, Challenges and suggestion learned from the course will be linked to the University's IQA team and will continue to be discussed."

Integrated AUN-QA, CDIO and OBE Framework for Programme Quality

An integrated AUN-QA, CDIO and OBE framework for programme quality was conceived by integrating the quality standards in AUN-QA Programme Framework, 12 CDIO standards and Outcomes-Based Education (OBE) principles as illustrated below.

Integrated AUN-QA, CDIO and OBE Framework for Programme Quality

AUN-QA Programme Framework Version 3

CDIO Framework Standards 2.1

OBE (EQI) Framework

The 3-in-1 framework allows universities to implement the three QA standards in a single framework instead of implementing each of them separately. The integrated framework facilitates the ease of  QA implementation and assessment under each certification or assessment framework. The integrated framework is aligned to both regional and international quality assurance framework as tabulated below. The framework is also aligned to the AUN-QA Programme Framework Version 4. The Framework is developed by Dr. Jenny Ngoc and Mr. Johnson Ong, and shared to the AUN-QA community.

Comparison of Regional and International QA Frameworks with the Integrated Framework

40th Intake Certified Quality Manager Course - Communication Skills and Abilities

The Certified Quality Manager (CQM) course is hosted by the Singapore Quality Institute (SQI) and Mr Johnson Ong Chee Bin is the appointed trainer for the Communication Skills and Abilities module which was held on 14 March 2020. The module covers the following topics:

• Communication Techniques
• Interpersonal Skills 
• Communications in a Global Economy
• Communications and Technology

The module objectives are as follows:

1. What communication is and how communication takes place?
2. What are the techniques and strategies for enhancing communication?
3. How to effectively communicate in the global economy?
4. How to use data to monitor and manage the organisation?

Applied Approach to Designing and Implementing Outcomes-Based Education at Ateneo de Manila University

The 4-day OBE workshop on "Applied Approach to Designing and Implementing Outcomes-Based Education (OBE) Framework" was held at Ateneo de Manila University from 4 to 7 February and 10 to 13 February  3 to 6 March 2020 in Manila, the Philippines. 

The 4-day workshop was designed and facilitated by Mr. Johnson Ong Chee Bin, Founder & Principal Consultant of Education Quality International. The workshop aims to achieve the following learning outcomes:

1. Explain the implications of Industry 4.0 on higher education
2. Describe the characteristics of Education 4.0
3. Apply OBE framework in programme design, implementation and evaluation
4. Select appropriate strategies to engage stakeholders in programme design
5. Apply the principle of constructive alignment to align stakeholders’ needs, curriculum, learning outcomes, teaching and learning, and student assessment
6. Apply revised Bloom’s Taxonomy in writing learning outcomes
7. Select appropriate instructional and assessment methods to achieve learning outcomes
8. Design student assessment rubrics and marking schemes to achieve learning outcomes
9. Evaluate the OBE programme for quality enhancement
10. Apply change management in implementing OBE

The workshop was attended by 36 programme chairs and key administrative personnel from Loyola Schools.

1st Happier Career Happier Life Workshop

The 1st "Happier Career Happier Life" workshop was held on 28 February 2020 at Rendezvous Hotel, Singapore. The outline of the workshop is as follows:

• Overview of the happiness DNA 
• The science of happiness in career
• Personality profiling tools to find suitable career choices including numerology, NERIS Type Explorer® and bazi (birthdate)
• Job crafting to redesign work to suit one’s values, strengths and passions
• Understand the kinds of work stress and how to manage them
•  Appreciate the future of work and how to stay relevant

A the end of the workshop, participants will be able to: 

• Understand the DNA of happiness
• Appreciate the science of happiness in career
• Use profiling tools to find happy career to suit your personality
• Apply job crafting to increase career happiness
• Manage work stress
• Plan your career for the future of work

The workshop was organised in collaboration with ASK Training Pte Ltd and Living Better and attended by 12 participants.

What participants said about the workshop:

"Job crafting and profiling help me to understand how I can try to redesign my job"

"Profiling which helps me to understand my character"

"Good examples given & practical exercises"

"Learning useful lifeskills"

"All useful. Make me more happier"

"Thank You for sharing with us how to actually be happy"

"How to de-stress"

Applied Approach to Designing and Implementing Outcomes-Based Education at Nguyen Tat Thanh University

Two 4-day OBE workshops on "Applied Approach to Designing and Implementing Outcomes-Based Education (OBE) Framework" were held at Nguyen Tat Thanh University from 4 to 7 February and 10 to 13 February 2020 in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. 

The 4-day workshop was designed and facilitated by Mr. Johnson Ong Chee Bin, Founder & Principal Consultant of Education Quality International and Dr. Jenny Ngoc from VNU-HCM. Two sessions on "Change Management" were also held during the workshops for both the participants and staff of the administrative departments. The workshops aim to achieve the following learning outcomes:

1. Differentiate between output and outcome
2. Distinguish between OBE framework and other accreditation frameworks such as AUN-QA framework, ABET and AACSB
3. Apply OBE framework in programme design, development, implementation and evaluation
4. Select appropriate strategies to engage stakeholders in curriculum design
5. Apply the principle of constructive alignment to align stakeholders’ needs, curriculum, learning outcomes, teaching and learning, and student assessment
6. Apply revised Bloom’s Taxonomy in writing learning outcomes
7. Select appropriate instructional and assessment methods to achieve learning outcomes
8. Design student assessment rubrics and marking schemes to achieve learning outcomes
9. Evaluate the OBE programme for quality enhancement
10. Apply change management at the workplace and in OBE implementation

More than 120 Participants from various faculties and administrative offices attended the two 4-day workshops.

Quality Assurance - The Key Factor of Institutional Transformation in Higher Education at Mae Fah Luang University

A 21/2-day event titled "Quality Assurance – The Key Factor of Institutional Transformation in Higher Education" was held at Mae Fah Luang University, Chiang Rai, Thailand on 20 – 22 January 2020 as part of its quality assurance transformation and change to raise the quality of education.

The event was kicked off with a 1-day seminar on Higher Education Trends in the Disruptive World/I4R and OBE for Quality Education: How We Can Achieve? This was followed by a series of workshops on AUN-QA and QA Frameworks, Success Story of VNU-HCM on AUN-QA Programme Certification, and Transforming Quality through Change Management. The objectives of the event were as follows:

• Appreciate the Impact of Industry 4.0 on Higher Education
• Describe the Characteristics of Education 4.0
• Explain the 4Cs Framework to Transform Higher Education Institution into an Innovation Producing Ecosystem
• Understand the OBE Framework and its Concepts and Principles
• Apply the 4Ps Approach to AUN-QA Programme Certification
• Understand the key success factors for AUN-QA Programme Certification
• Apply Change Management to Transform Quality in Higher Education

The event was attended by more than 60 participants from faculties and offices and new leadership team which was facilitated by Mr. Johnson Ong Chee Bin (eqi) and Dr. Jenny Ngoc (VNU-HCM).