4 EVALUATION
4.8 Experiment Four – OBDM Performance
These bodies like Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Institute of Chartered Accountant of Nigeria (ICAN), etc. are involved in quality assurance process in the Universities. They visit the Universities to verify the quality of their curriculum content; practical; physical facilities;
staffing; laboratories and offer advise to the Universities on how to improve part of NUC s accreditation teams. Some of these professional bodies conduct qualifying examinations for University graduates before they are
registered.
SELF ASSESSMENT EXERCIS E 3
Enumerate and discuss the agencies/bodies used for quality assurance in
Nigerian Universities.
Elements for Assessing Quality Assurance in Higher Education
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programme development;
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entrants;
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educational resources human development;
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stakeholders; governance and management;
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reporting;
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quality assurance unit;
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the quality audit process; and
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stakeholder feedback.
3.5.1. Programme Development
The integrity of academic programme and examination system is to
control quality in higher education. A thorough procedure of course and programme development and approval is needed. Also the continuing currency, relevance and appropriateness of the offerings must beensured.
There is a need for a rigorously controlled examination system with clear procedures coupled with absolute confidentiality and impartiality.
In Nigeria s higher education, establishing and maintaining standards for the various qualifications is possibly the most difficult issues at hand. An urgent solution must be found to this. The problem could be
tackled effectively by going the internal quality assessment way.
3.5.2. Entrants
A fundamental contributor to the quality of an educational institution is the entry levels of its students and thus matriculation requirements that must be made known and subject to regular review. With the current pressure on institutions from government and the society to increase enrolment
numbers, it is important that entry levels of students are appropriate for the programmes. It is found in some of the higher institutions in Nigeria where students are being rusticated as a result of not meeting the required credentials for matriculation into higher education but just want to gain
access by all means. Many qualified candidates are also denied access into
the institutions as a result of limited number of students the programmes can accommodate. Offering a broad range of programmes is preferable toreducing entry standards on the basis of quota system. The post-JAMB screening exercise is alright step towards admitting qualified and academic-
inclined students into the Nigerian Universities and one of the sure ways ofcontrolling quality in admissions internally.
3.5.3. Educational Resources Human Resources
The most important resource in an academic institution is its academic
staff. The staff members must be appointed after a rigorous process of evaluation of their qualifications and past experience at work. An annual appraisal of each member of staff must be conducted for formative and developmental purposes. Regular professional development of all members of staff is important to maintain a high quality of service provision. Hence enough resources must be committed to this process.Adequate technical and administrative support staff should also be
available physical resources.
There must be adequate provision of physical resources appropriate to the programmes being offered and the quality and adequacy of
classrooms; library holding recent books and periodicals and other learning resources; well equipped laboratories; and information technology provision should be assessed at regular intervals. The budgetary allocation must be adequate for the recurrent cost of materials for teaching. Internal source of revenue generation should be intensified
in the higher education.
3.5.4. Stakeholders
The stakeholders are the recipients of the services of higher institutions.
The stakeholders in this case are the government; students; employers;
professional bodies; parents; and the society. These stakeholders have responsibility for the quality of the institution s work. The rights and
privileges accorded students should be complemented with corresponding
duties, obligations and responsibilities. Sanctions should be affectedanytime a student flouts the laid regulations that can threaten the Integrity
and image of the institution.
One important element of quality assurance system is the consideration of feedback and opinion coming from the stakeholders. The concerns of the students must be understood, accepted and responded to by the Institutions.
Institutions should also establish formal procedures and representational structures for receiving comments from students; graduates; employers;