The University Council of Jamaica (UCJ) celebrated its 13th Annual Quality Assurance in Higher Education Week from March 5-9, 2018. The theme for the week was, “Enhancing and Sustaining Quality in Institutions.”
Mrs Althea Heron, Executive Director, the UCJ, explained that, “Quality Assurance in Higher Education Week, provided an opportunity for the UCJ to inform and educate our stakeholders about quality assurance issues in higher education.” She added: “A key emphasis of the week’s activities was on practical and relevant workshops, that are geared toward aiding the development of higher education institutions by providing meaningful training to promote quality enhancement.”
The week commenced with a Workshop for Institutions that was held under the theme, “Quality in the Self-Study: Programme Accreditation,” at the Knutsford Court Hotel on Tuesday, March 6, 2018. During this workshop facilitated by the UCJ’s Accreditation Officers, the UCJ presented certificates of Registration and Accreditation to recently registered institutions and those with programmes that have been accredited or re-accredited since November 2017. The workshop also included a presentation on Credential Assessment by Dr Angela Penny, Director, Research and Development, the UCJ.
On Thursday, March 8, 2018, the UCJ hosted another Workshop for Institutions focused on “Quality in the Self-Study: Institutional Accreditation,” at the Knutsford Court Hotel. This workshop was facilitated by Dr Carol Lynn Anderson, Vice President of the Commission on Institutions for Higher Education, New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC). With over 20 years of experience in the field of higher education, Dr Anderson guided the representatives from the institutions through four modules during the workshop. These were: (i) The UCJ’s Revised Standards for Institutional Accreditation; (ii) Self Study: preparation, content and format; (iii) Appraisal and Projection the most important parts of the self-study, and (iv) Using data to prepare the self-study.
Both workshops were designed for Presidents/Principals/Heads of Institutions, Board Representatives, Chief Academic Officers, Deans, Senior Faculty Members, Registrars and Quality Assurance Officers at local and international higher education institutions.
The UCJ published supplements in the two national newspapers – Gleaner (Monday, March 5) and Observer (Wednesday, March 7). The publications were geared toward informing and educating students, parents, employers and, the public, in general, about its role as the National External Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education in Jamaica.
