Quality Assurance in Higher Education – Student Engagement in Quality Assurance

In responding to new developments in the education sector, the British Council has foreseen wider opportunities for a meaningful collaboration with the government of Sri Lanka in sharing UK expertise, insights and best practices and reforming the country’s education system.

  1. Contextual Background

The Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) has developed and finalised its master plan for education development, which mainly aims at education reforms at all levels of education in Sri Lanka. The new education reform agenda gives more importance to education quality assurance and standards, including establishing an independent education inspection system for quality assurance and systemic reforms, which enhance the standards in the education systems in Sri Lanka.

GoSL aims to ensure quality, continuous development and efficient performance of the higher education sector in accordance with internationally recognised evaluation mechanisms. The University Grants Commission (UGC) has achieved considerable progress in establishing a Quality Assurance system in the sector over the past two decades including milestones such as establishing Internal Quality Assurance Units in universities, membership of both the International Network for Quality Assurance Agencies in Higher Education (INQAAHE) and Asia Pacific Quality Network (APQN). In 2019, the UGC proposed the ‘QA and Accreditation Bill’ which will set up ‘the Quality Assurance and Accreditation Commission for Higher Education’. This commission will grant provisional or full accreditation to higher education institutes and programmes and review such accreditation periodically.

  1. Overview of TRANSFORM

British Council Sri Lanka is implementing a major education programme, known as TRANSFORM, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education (under a Memorandum of Understanding), the University Grants Commission, the Tertiary and Vocational Education Commission and the National Education Commission (MoUs in progress).

Programme aim:  All young people benefit from learning opportunities provided by a fit-for-purpose and relevant education system that allows them to fulfil their potential, achieve their aspirations and contribute to Sri Lanka’s economic and social development and growth.

The programme works in three main results areas: Professionalisation; Quality Assurance; and Transitions from Education to Employment.  Underpinned by a strong research, evaluation and learning component combined with strategic communications, the results areas focus on:

  • Professionalisation, including pre- and in-service teacher education, leadership, learner-centred HE classrooms, and other related areas
  • Quality Assurance, including inspection frameworks, qualifications framework, professional standards, policy development
  • Transitions from Education to Employment, including careers guidance, skills systems review and development, employer engagement.

The basic principles of our approach to systemic reform are:

  • our engagement needs to be evidence based
  • we use international benchmarking of good practice
  • we utilize British Council expertise in relevant fields of education
  • we build on current and previous work carried out by or through development partners
  • all interventions address GoSL priorities and align to policy.

We are now focussing on new opportunities for collaboration with UGC to support the ongoing development of an internationally benchmarked quality assurance system.

  1. Outcome

The aim of this project is to support the introduction of student engagement in quality assurance and learner outcomes.   

  1. Objectives
  • To support the UGC in expanding their knowledge and skills in the field of student engagement in quality assurance systems from the possible perspectives of policy and implementation as a way of enhancing quality provision of tertiary education
  • To provide professional expertise in developing framework on Student Engagement in Quality Assurance
  • To build the capacity of key professionals working within the tertiary sector with responsibility for implementation and monitoring of quality assurance.
  • To raise wider awareness of issues relating to student engagement in quality assurance
  1. Outputs

5.1 Research

  1. Carry out desk research on current approach to quality assurance to become familiar with context. (home)
  2. Carry out focus group discussions with relevant internal and external stakeholders, including representatives of Quality Assurance and Accreditation (field)

5.2 Enhance Knowledge and Competence (all field)

  1. Presentation of approaches to student engagement in Quality Assurance practices in UK to GoSL stakeholders.
  2. Capacity development of Standing Committee on Quality Assurance in relation to Student Engagement, including introduction to approaches
  3. Capacity development of representatives of Internal Quality Assurance Units in relation to Student Engagement, including introduction to approaches
  4. Conduct briefings for nominated student representatives

5.3 M&E and Communication

  1. Monitoring and evaluation (covered during total programme)
  2. Provide/develop relevant materials for capacity building, presentations and wider strategic communication
  3. Final planning meeting with British Council staff to discuss possible next steps based on suggestions for further engagement between University Grants Commission and British Council/UK in developing Student Engagement in Quality Assurance.

 

  1. Primary audiences
    • Officials of the Ministry of Higher Education
    • University Grants Commission
    • Quality Assurance Council of the UGC
    • UGC’s Standing Committee on Quality Assurance
    • State Universities
    • Academic staff engaged in Internal Quality Assurance
    • Student representatives

 

  1. Proposal Submission

British Council is pleased to invite proposals from higher education institutes and/or relevant government or private sector organisations with experience of delivering projects relating to Student Engagement in Higher Education. Previous experience working in South Asia, preferably in Sri Lanka preferred.

In response please highlight the following;

  • Organisational information
  • Track record
  • Approach to delivering the above scope of activities
  • Preliminary costing (Please note this should include consultancy fees, travel costs of consultant/s travel to Sri Lanka (flights and visas, average GBP750/flight). British Council Sri Lanka will directly cover in-country costs including external venues for meetings/capacity building, accommodation for consultants, in-country travel etc.

 

  1. Timeline

This project needs to be delivered between January – March 2020.

The deadline for receiving proposals is 5.00 pm BST on Thursday 28 November 2019.

Proposals need to be submitted to Nishika Hassim on Nishika.Hassim@britishcouncil.org

Please submit your proposals on or before Thursday 28 November 2019 to Nishika Hassim at Nishika.Hassim@britishcouncil.org