The RADICAL Approach to Innovation of Quality Assurance in Higher Education

Mr. Johnson Ong Chee Bin, Founder and Principal Consultant of Education Quality International was invited as a plenary speaker to share "The RADICAL Approach to Innovation of Quality Assurance in Higher Education" at the International Conference on Science, Technology, and Innovation for Sustainable Development (STISD 2023) on 25th - 26th August 2023, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

Abstract:

Quality assurance in higher education began receiving intense interest and attention in the late 1990s arising from the Bologna Process. Since then, quality assurance in higher education has evolved and grown in leaps and bounds mainly through the implementation of accreditation schemes as a national regulatory requirement, which was later expanded to include regional and international accreditations. The national regulatory policy has accelerated the pace of development and adaptation of different quality assurance frameworks among higher education institutions, which have converged over time. Hence, quality assurance practices (including prescribed outcomes and curricula standards) in higher education institutions have become less differentiated and less competitive which may compromise their institutional aspirations and innovation capability. 

With the convergence of quality assurance frameworks and practices, how can institutions continue to enhance the quality of higher education, fulfil their institutional aspirations, and at the same time be differentiated in today’s disruptive world? 

Innovation holds the key to the future of quality assurance amidst the waves of disruption and in differentiating higher education institutions. The RADICAL approach to innovation of quality assurance is the key to unlock the creativity and innovation capability of higher education institutions. 

The RADICAL approach embraces:

• Relentless innovation
• Advocates of innovation
• Demystifying innovation
• Innovation ecosystem
• Community of practice
• Autonomy and agility
• Learned skills

Assessor's Training Workshop for AUN-QA Programme Assessment at the National University of Management (NUM)

The assessor's training for AUN-QA programme assessment was a 9-day blended workshop consisting of online and onsite learning starting on 31 July 2023. It was jointly hosted by the National University of Management (NUM) and Educational Quality International (eqi) under the auspicious of AUN-QA Network as part of the AUN-EQI community projects for CLM Countries.

The workshop was graced by His Excellency, Prof. Hor Peng, Rector of NUM and attended by more than 40 participants from various faculties, departments and the IQA Office. It was facilitated by the project consultants Mr. Johnson Ong Chee Bin and Dr, Nguyen Thi My Ngoc.

The learning outcomes of the workshop are:

• Explain the principles of quality assessment;
• Distinguish between rules-based and principles-based quality assessment;
• Demonstrate the competences to carry out the PDCA approach for study programme assessment;
• Formulate questions for study programme assessment and stakeholders’ interviews;
• Conduct a desktop assessment for a study programme;
• Validate the constructive alignment of the study programme;
• Conduct a site assessment including stakeholders’ interviews, site tour and documentation review; and
• Write quality assessment feedback, presentation and report

A hyper-real learning environment was created to facilitate desktop assessment, constructive alignment validation, stakeholders' interviews and feedback writing using the drafted SAR for iBBA and BBA programmes.

14th Workshop on "Writing Self-Assessment Report (SAR) for Successful AUN-QA Programme Assessment (online)

The 14th workshop on "Writing Self-Assessment Report (SAR) for Successful AUN-QA Programme Assessment" based on AUN-QA Programme Framework Version 4 was held online from 10 - 13 July and 28 July 2023. The workshop was attended by participants from universities in Cambodia, Malaysia and the Philippines. The online workshop adopted both synchronous and asynchronous modes of delivery and hands-on assignment in writing SAR following a scaffolding methodology - I Do, We Do, You Do.

At the end of the workshop, the participants received feedback about their SAR writing assignments. They were given a template to guide them in writing the complete SAR for AUN-QA programme assessment. The workshop was facilitated by Mr. Johnson Ong Chee Bin, AUN-QA Expert and Founder & Principal Consultant of Education Quality International in collaboration with the AUN-QA Network.

Happy Employees Work Better

The 5th "Happy Employees Work Better" workshop was held on 5 - 6 July at Holiday Inn Atrium Hotel, Singapore. The workshop is a collaboration between ASK Training Pte Ltd and Living Better. The workshop was facilitated by Mr. Johnson Ong Chee Bin, Chief Happiness Coach of Living Better.

The outline of the workshop covers the following topics:

• The Happiness DNA
• Importance of workplace happiness
• The workplace happiness DNA
• Happy purpose – building a sense of purpose
• Happy people - nurturing the Happiness DNA
• Happy practices - keeping employees happy
• Happy culture – sustaining a happy workforce

Ecosystem Approach to Designing and Implementing Outcomes-Based Education (OBE)

The 4th AUN-EQI workshop on "Ecosystem Approach to Designing and Implementing Outcomes-Based Education" was held on 20 - 23 June 2023 in Bangkok, Thailand. The workshop was facilitated by Mr. Johnson Ong Chee Bin, AUN-QA Expert and Founder & Principal Consultant of eqi and Dr. Nguyen Thi My Ngoc, AUN-QA Assessor and OBE Case Author. The workshop is a collaborative capacity building initiative between ASEAN Quality Network (AUN) and Education Quality International (eqi).

The participants were from universities in Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam and the learning outcomes of the 4-day workshop are listed below.

328th AUN-QA Programme Assessment at Mae Fah Luang University

The 328th AUN-QA Programme Assessment at Mae Fah Luang University was held from 9 to 11 May 2023 at both Bangkok and Chiang Rai campuses for the following four study programmes:

• Bachelor of Science Program in Cosmetic Science
• Master of Science Program in Cosmetic Science
• Bachelor of Public Health Program, and 
• Master of Public Health Program in Border Health Management

The assessment was led by Mr. Johnson Ong Chee Bin and he was also the lead assessor for the Master of Public Health Program in Border Health Management.

Happier Career Happier Life

The 11th "Happier Career Happier Life" workshop was held on 5 May 2023 at Furama City Centre 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

The workshop was organised in collaboration with ASK Training Pte Ltd and Living Better and facilitated by Mr. Johnson Ong Chee Bin, Founder and Chief Happiness Coach. Various techniques to manage stress were shared and practised such as muscle relaxation, meditation, laughter yoga, stretching exercise and breathwork.