QUALITY MANAGEMENT
SYSTEM AT SQU
CONTENT
Quality Management System
The Quality Assurance Office at SQU
The Quality Assurance Management Structure at SQU
 An Overview of Main QAO Projects
Policy Management System
Performance Management System
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QAO: MISSION AND VISION
 Established in February 2010
• To enhance the quality of
academic, administrative,
financial and technical
performance and to
reinforce the culture of
quality in the University.
Mission
• To assist the University in
its quest for excellence in
order to attain and
maintain National and
International
accreditation.
Vision
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QAO: OBJECTIVES
• Spread the culture of quality assurance and enhancement among staff and
students at SQU.
• Carry out institutional research to aid informed decision-making.
• Support SQU units in developing their policies and procedures.
• Monitor the implementation of the University Strategic and Operation Plans.
• Enhance the involvement of stakeholders from the university and the community
in quality assurance processes.
• Assist the University in its efforts to achieve and maintain national and
international accreditation.
Objectives
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QAO ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE
SQU VC
QAO
Director
Deputy Director for
Institutional and Scientific
Research Quality
Deputy Director for
Administrative, Financial
and Technical Quality
Affairs
Deputy Director for
Academic Affairs and
Community Service
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Quality Assurance
Management Structure
Vice Chancellor
QAO Director
• Senior Management Quality Assurance Committee
• Institutional Quality Audit Committee
QAO DD for Academic
Affairs and Community
• Academic Quality Assurance Committee
Service
QAO DD for Administrative,
Financial and Technical
• Administrative, Financial and Technical QA Committee
Affairs
QAO DD for Institutional
and Scientific Research
• SQU Quality Assurance Online Forum
College QA Committee
• College Deans
Unit QA Committee
• Unit Directors
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MAIN PROJECTS CURRENTLY UNDERWAY
1) Developing and maintaining the University Policy Management
System
2) Training SQU units on developing their Key Performance
Indicators (KPIs)
3) Following-up and reviewing the Colleges Annual Performance
Reports
4) Monitoring the SQU Strategic Plan Implementation
5) Initiating the SQU Discussion Board
6) Maintaining the University Accreditation Roadmap
7) Initiating the Institutional Internal Quality Audit process
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PROJECT (1): SQU’S POLICY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
Key Terms:
1) Policy: a formal University document that regulates, governs, guides and
coordinates activities, processes and actions. It ensures compliance with
quality standards and helps achieve university mission, values and goals in a
systematic manner and with reduced risks.
2) Procedures: Statements that outline the detailed stages of policy execution
and determine the responsibility for implementation (posts/entities, not
names).
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Aims of developing institutional
policies
POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
Defining roles
and
responsibilities
Achieving SQU
Mission, Vision
and Strategic
Objectives
Mitigating or
minimizing
risks
Ensuring
consistency of
practices
Quality
Enhancement
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POLICY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
 In the SQU Quality Audit Report (March, 2010), The Oman Accreditation Authority recommended that
the University establish a Policy Management System.
 This became a priority for the QAO when it was established in 2010.
 A number of policies were drafted with a consultant.
 SQU management formed two committees to finalize all drafted polices and develop new polices, in
coordination with the QAO.
 All units were directed to identify required policies, keeping in mind the QA Report and SQU priorities.
 Polices go through a comprehensive cycle from drafting to approval.
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POLICY DEVELOPMENT CYCLE
Selecting policy
topics
Using the PoMUP
as a template &
reference
document
Developing the
1st draft in
consultation with
stakeholders
Submitting
Polices for
Approval
Making
amendments &
Translating the
Policy
Reviewing the
Policy at QAO
Publishing
Policies on the
QAO Website
Reviewing
Policies
Periodically
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POLICY OF MAKING UNIVERSITY POLICIES
Functional Fields
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POLICY OF MAKING UNIVERSITY POLICIES
Sections
Policy Title
Definitions and Abbreviations
Policy Statement
Policy Objectives
Principles
Scope of Application
Policy Owner
Procedures
Related Policies
Review
Responsibility for Implementation
Main Risks
Appendices
References
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POLICIES DEVELOPED AND IMPLEMENTED SINCE 2010







University
&
Academic
Councils
SelfPolicies of Making SQU Policies
Review Policy
Risk Management Policy
 Academic Staff Hiring Policy
Academic Program Review

Organizational
Structure
Policy
Policy

Academic
Staff
Performance
Review
Security Policy
Policy
Staff Bonus Policy
 Student Academic Misconduct Policy
Academic Support policy
Policies should be prepared in English and Arabic.
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CONTINUED
 Staff Academic Misconduct
Policy
 Academic Program External
Assessing Policy
 Postgraduate Program Review Policy
 Intellectual Property Policy
 Community Service Policy
 Student Counselling Policy
 Career Guidance Policy
 Staff Induction Policy
 Staff Mentoring Policy
 Staff Development Policy( Training & Scholarship)
 Non Academic Staff Performance Review
Policy
 Academic Staff Contract Renewal Policy
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PROJECT (2): THE KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
(KPI) PROJECT
Project Aims:
1. Spreading the culture of objective performance
measurement
2. Supporting units in developing their Operational
Plans and KPIs through training and consultation
3. Developing a bank of institutional KPIs and data
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PROJECT (3) COLLEGES ANNUAL PERFORMANCE REPORT
Project Aims:
1. Ensure the consistency of
performance data in all
Colleges
2. Establish a database for
institutional research
3. Support senior
management in informed
decision-making
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COLLEGES ANNUAL PERFORMANCE REPORT
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PROJECT (4): MONITORING THE UNIVERSITY SP
Project Aims:
 Administer the SQU SP Monitoring
Software (Corporater)
 Submit periodic SP implementation
reports to VC office
 Train staff on using the software
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PROJECT (4): MONITORING THE UNIVERSITY SP
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PROJECT (4): MONITORING THE UNIVERSITY SP
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PROJECT (5): QA DISCUSSION BOARD
Project Aims:
1. To create a channel for all SQU staff and students to
participate in an active discussion on university issues
2. To assist academic-support units in creating a direct
communication line with their clients
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PROJECT (5): QA DISCUSSION BOARD
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PROJECT (6): ACCREDITATION ROADMAP
Project Aims:
1. To create a central roadmap for all university
accreditation activities
2. To provide a regular update to the community and senior
management on accreditation initiatives and activities
3. To encourage all colleges to actively participate in
accreditation and to exchange expertise in this area
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PROJECT (6): ACCREDITATION ROADMAP
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PROJECT (7): INTERNAL INSTITUTIONAL QUALITY AUDIT (1)
Project Aims:
1. To assist the university in improving its themes/entities’
performance and defining their future direction.
2. To promote good practices identified from audits in the
university community.
3. To maintain and enhance the quality of university
processes and results.
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PROJECT (7): INTERNAL INSTITUTIONAL QUALITY AUDIT (2)
IIQAC
Develops/Updates
the IIQA
Manual
Units/Theme
Committee prepare
Action Plan
QAO Prepares &
Annual Audit
Schedule
Audit Visit & Audit
Report
Units/Theme
Committees
Prepare Self-study
IIQAC Forms the
Audit Panel
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PROJECT (7): INTERNAL INSTITUTIONAL QUALITY AUDIT (3)
General Principles:
Themes and entities to be selected by the Senior Quality Assurance Committee
A theme may be divided into sub-themes.
A theme may be the responsibility of more than one entity.
The audit shall be evidence-based.
Panel members are experienced staff from the university.
Panel members shall have easy access to any supporting materials and
documents referred to in the theme/entity Portfolio.
Approved themes for 2016/2017:
Health & Safety, International Relations, Omanisation, Postgraduate Student
Services, and E-learning.
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QUESTIONS?