57th AUN-QA Assessment for Programme Level at De La Salle University

The 57th AUN-QA Assessment for programme level at De La Salle University was held from 25 to 27 January 2016 in Manila, the Philippines. The Bachelor of Science in Applied Corporate Management Programme was assessed by Mr. Johnson Ong Chee Bin (AUN-QA Expert, Singapore) and A/Prof Le Quang Minh from Vietnam National University - Ho Chi Minh City, Viet nam. 

3rd AUN-QA Assessors Training Workshop

The 3rd AUN-QA Assessors Training Workshop was jointly organised by AUN Secretariat and De La Salle University from 21 - 27 January 2016 in Manila, the Philippines. The workshop was uniquely designed to give a "hyper-real" experience by incorporating both "simulated assessment environment" in the classroom and "live assessment" observation of the 57th AUN-QA Assessment at De La Salle University.

The workshop aims to equip participants with the essential competencies to carry out an AUN-QA programme assessment. It covers the following learning outcomes:

• Identify key changes in the 3rd version of the AUN-QA Model at Programme Level 
• Apply the PDCA approach in quality assessment;
• Prepare a quality assessment;
• Conduct a desktop assessment for a programme;
• Conduct a site assessment including stakeholders’ interviews, site tour and documentation review; and
• Write assessment feedback, presentation and report

The workshop was attended by 32 participants from universities in Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam. Mr. Johnson Ong Chee Bin, AUN-QA Expert was one of the two facilitators leading the workshop.

9th Happiness DNA Public Workshop

The 9th Happiness DNA public workshop was held on 14 & 15 January 2016. The workshop was facilitated by Chief Happiness Coach, Mr Johnson Ong Chee Bin of Living Better in collaboration with ASK Training Pte Ltd.

The 2-day workshop is based on the principles of positive psychology, and physical, mental and emotional therapies and techniques. It is taught in a unique change methodology where participants first determine the level of their happiness in the eight dimensions of the happiness DNA. How to nurture and sustain the eight dimensions of the happiness DNA is then introduced. The workshop concluded with an action plan to address the gaps in the happiness DNA.

Below are what some participants said about the workshop.

"Applying both internal and external happiness to life"
"Positive reframing helps in changing mindsets"
"Qigong and laughter yoga are useful"

The Ten Principles Behind AUN-QA Model at Programme Level (3rd Version)

Generally, accreditation or assessment system in higher education can be classified into two broad categories: Rules-based and Principles-based. Rules-based system focuses on compliance to standards and indicators while principles-based system focuses on a set of underlying principles of continuous quality improvement based on a framework (Lindsay H Heywood, Principles-based accreditation: the way forward?, 2007). Empirical and scholarly evidence suggests that principles-based system has a more gradual startup but a more enduring and sustainable gains in quality improvement over a longer time period than rules-based system as illustrated below.

Source: Lindsay H Heywood, Principles-based accreditation: the way forward?, 2007

A comparison of the characteristics of principles-based versus rules-based system is tabulated below.

The principles-based assessment system was behind the 3rd version of the AUN-QA Model at Programme Level.  The ten principles supporting the AUN-QA criteria are illustrated below.

Criterion 1 - Expected Learning Outcomes

Principle 1 - Vertical Alignment of Learning Outcomes and Stakeholder's Needs

Criterion 2 - Programme Specification

Principle 2 - Providing an Informed Choice through Course and Programme Specifications 

Criterion 3 - Programme Structure and Content

Principle 3 - Constructive Alignment of Curriculum to Learning Outcomes

Criterion 4 - Teaching and Learning Approach

Principle 4 - Alignment of Teaching and Learning Approach to Culture, People and System

Criterion 5 - Student Assessment

Principle 5 - Constructive Alignment of Student Assessment to Learning Outcomes and Teaching & Learning

Criterion 6 - Academic Staff Quality and Criterion 7 - Support Staff Quality

Principle 6 - Holistic Approach to Academic and Support Staff Quality

Criterion 8 - Student Quality and Support

Principle 7 - Quality and Retention of Graduates are dependent of Student Quality and Support Services

Criterion 9 - Facilities and Infrastructure

Principle 8 - An Integrated Facilities and Infrastructure Beyond Physical Boundary

Criterion 10 - Quality Enhancement

Principle 9 - A Planned Quality Enhancement for Continuous Improvement

Criterion 11 - Output

Principle 10 - Benchmarking for Seeking Best Practices

Certified Quality Manager 31st Intake - Training and Development Module

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 Training and Development Module. The module for the 31st Intake was held on 19 December 2015 at SQI. The module covers the following topics:

• Introduction to Training and Development
• Training and Development Process
• National Model for Training and Development
• Factors affecting the Future of Training and Development

At the workshop, the following Training and Development Model was introduced to the participants.

8th Happiness DNA Public Workshop

The 8th Happiness DNA public workshop was held on 17 & 18 December 2015. The workshop was facilitated by Chief Happiness Coach, Mr Johnson Ong Chee Bin of Living Better in collaboration with ASK Training Pte Ltd.

The 2-day workshop is based on the principles of positive psychology, and physical, mental and emotional therapies and techniques. It is taught in a unique change methodology where participants first determine the level of their happiness in the eight dimensions of the happiness DNA. How to nurture and sustain the eight dimensions of the happiness DNA is then introduced. The workshop concluded with an action plan to address the gaps in the happiness DNA.

Meditation - a Mindfulness Exercise for Mental Happiness.

Rotational Group Brainstorming - "Ideas for Doing Sweetness" to sustain Social Happiness

10th AUN-QA Workshop for Accomplishing Programme Assessment

The 10th AUN-QA Workshop for Accomplishing Programme Assessment was organised by AUN Secretariat from 1 to 4 December 2015 in Bangkok, Thailand.

The 4-day course aims to introduce the AUN-QA system and enhance quality assurance practices based on the latest version of AUN-QA criteria (3rd version). It is held for professionals who are in charge of quality assurance in higher education. The content of the workshop focuses on AUN-QA model at programme level and it encompasses:

• Introduction to quality assurance in higher education 
• AUN-QA model and criteria at programme level 
• AUN-QA quality assessment process 
• PDCA Approach to self-assessment 
• Self-assessment report (SAR) writing 
• Change Management 

The workshop was facilitated by Mr. Johnson Ong Chee Bin, AUN-QA Expert together with Dr. Tan Kay Chuan from the National University of Singapore. The workshop was attended by 34 participants from Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Viet Nam.