University of Chakwal

Quality Enhancement Cell (QEC)

Introduction

The establishment of Quality Enhancement Cells roots in the establishment of the Quality Assurance Agency. With the vision "To promote, enhance and assure the quality of higher education across Higher Education Institutes in Pakistan" Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) was established in 2005 by the Government of Pakistan through Higher Education Commission (HEC). The QEC department has been established in the Private and Public Sector Universities and Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) of Pakistan and they are working under the guidance of HEC.
The Quality Enhancement Cell (QEC) has been established at the University of Chakwal in 2022. It started functioning under the supervision of Dr. Muhammad Bilal Khan, Vice Chancellor of the University of Chakwal. The University of Chakwal is a newly established university that has emphasized quality assurance very much earlier.

Vision

To employ the best academic practices for ensuring the highest quality education congruent with national and international standards.

Mission

To strive for the best possible quality education at UOC to empower the faculty and staff through capacity building and provide conducive teaching and learning environment aligned with international academic standards.

Objectives

To evaluate quality standards in each department as per QAA guidelines.
To ensure quality assurance aspects of higher education by monitoring the ongoing quality.
To gather feedback from the respective departments and analyze it.
To conduct regular training of the Program & Assessment Teams to explicate the self-assessment process.
To assess the current status of educational provision at the departmental level by holding meetings with the Program & Assessment Team.
To critically examine the data and formulate recommendations in consultation with the concerned Head/ In-charge of the department.
To follow the progress of the corrective actions highlighted in the Self-Assessment Report (SAR) by the respective departments.
To facilitate the respective departments in getting accreditation from the councils/ bodies prescribed by Higher Education Commission.
To acquire the membership of the international agencies working in the domain of quality assurance.
To verify whether Institutional Performance Evaluation Standards (IPES) devised for the betterment of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) are in accordance with the HEC guidelines.
To make sure that the university abides by the rules & regulations set by HEC in terms of faculty appointment, admission to MS/M.Phil and Ph.D programs, and importantly the plagiarism detection service by utilizing Turnitin Software.
To meet the challenges of global compatibility in higher education.

Q.E.C. Functions (As prescribed by HEC)

The Quality Enhancement Cell (QEC) is headed by the Director QEC; who directly reports to Vice Chancellor and corresponds with outside bodies.
QEC has the following responsibilities:

Develop program specifications that define the knowledge, understanding, skills, and other attributes of a student on successfully completing a specific program. It also helps the employees to know what they could expect from a candidate.
Define clear and explicit quality standards to affirm that the quality of provision and the standard of awards are being maintained to foster curriculum, student and staff development, research, and other academic activities at UOC.
Devise methods for evaluating the quality standards that fit in with the national arrangements.
Review the academic affiliations with other institutions in terms of effective management of quality standards.
Apply Pakistan Qualification Framework for curriculum development.
Help in devising university appointment criteria for faculty and staff in accordance with the revised/ updated HEC Eligibility Criteria.
Promote public confidence by ensuring that the quality standards of awarded degrees are preserved and enhanced.

Events Organized By QEC

Event 01: Workshop Report of Effective Teacher Training

Date: 22 July, 2022

Venue: Confrence hall, Engineering Campus, University of Chakwal

Presenter: QEC Team

Participants: Departmental Program Team

Event 02: Report of Training Session on Self-Assessment Report (SAR)

Date: 07 September, 2022

Venue: Confrence hall, Engineering Campus, University of Chakwal

Presenter: QEC Team

Participants: Departmental Program Team

Event 03: Seminar on Preparation and Maintenance of Course File

Date: 27 September, 2022

Venue: Confrence hall, Engineering Campus, University of Chakwal

Presenter: QEC Team

Participants: Departmental Program Team

Event 04: Training of Program Teams (PTs) of the Academic Departments about Self-Assessment Report (SAR)

Date: 31 May, 2023

Venue: Confrence hall, Engineering Campus, University of Chakwal

Presenter: QEC Team-II

Participants: Departmental Program Team

QEC-I conducted a training session covering the purpose of self-assessment, the criteria and indicators for evaluation, data collection methods, analysis techniques, and the overall process of preparing the SAR according to HEC guidelines. The participants were provided with a comprehensive understanding of the assessment procedure and its significance in maintaining and improving the quality of academic programs.

Event 05: One day Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Program on HEC's Ranking Metrics and Research Data Extraction

Date: 31 May, 2023

Venue: Confrence hall, Engineering Campus, University of Chakwal

Presenter: QEC Team-II

Participants: Departmental Program Team

One day Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Program on HEC's Ranking Metrics and Research Data Extraction and Management arranged by PHEC, Lahore

The one-day Continuing Professional Development (CPD) program titled "HEC's Ranking Metrics and Research Data Extraction and Management" arranged by PHEC was attended by the QEC team to gain a concentrated and comprehensive learning experience focused on understanding the Higher Education Commission's (HEC) ranking methodologies and developing skills in research data extraction and management. The program enhanced the professional capabilities of participants in academia and research.

Training Objectives:

Survey Reports: The training provided a concise summary of the purpose and scope of the surveys managed by the Quality Enhancement Cell and highlighted the significance of these surveys in improving the quality of education and programs.
Familiarity with HEC's Ranking Metrics: The program aimed to familiarize participants with the various ranking metrics employed by the Higher Education Commission for evaluating academic institutions. Participants were introduced to the criteria, indicators, and weighting factors used in HEC's ranking system.
Data Extraction Techniques:Trainees were educated about various techniques and tools for extracting research data from online sources, databases, and scholarly platforms. This included instruction on data extraction methods using HJRS, Scopus, and WoS.
Effective Data Management Practices: The CPD program focused on teaching participants best practices for managing research data efficiently. This encompassed aspects such as data organization, cleaning, storage, and security measures.

Event 06: Training of Faculty on Course Files and Lab Manuals Preparation by QEC-I, UoC

Date: 19 December, 2023

Venue: Confrence hall, Engineering Campus, University of Chakwal

Presenter: QEC Team-I

Dr. Sajid Mahmood
Additional Director

Engr. Safia Bibi
Deputy Director

Engr. Aneeqa Fakhar
Assistant Director

Participants: Departmental Program Team

1. Introduction: The Quality Enhancement Cell (QEC), University of Chakwal organized a comprehensive training session aimed at enhancing the skills of faculty members in the development and preparation of course files and laboratory manuals. The session was conducted on 19th December, 2023 at 10:30 am – 12:30 pm in Seminar Hall. The training session was attended by the faculty members from all academic departments within UoC.
This report provides an overview of the training.

Training Objectives:
The objectives of the training session were:

Understanding the components of a course file and its significance in effective teaching and learning.
Identifying the essential components of a lab manual and aligning them with the course objectives.
Best practices for drafting clear and concise instructions, safety guidelines, and experiment procedures in lab manuals.

2. Outcomes:
The training session yielded several positive outcomes:

a. Standardization:
The training facilitated the establishment of standardized formats for course/lab files and lab manuals, ensuring consistency across academic departments. The following format of course files was presented.

Course/Lab Plan (contents, weekly plan/list of experiments, assessments, grading criteria, text and reference books, visiting hours)
Time Table
Academic Calendar
Attendance (student & teacher)
Assignments/Lab Manual
Quizzes
Presentation/Survey/Project/Any other activity
Mid-Semester Exam
Final Exam
Results (sessional and final)
Course/Lab Completion Certificate

The following format of Lab Manual was presented.

Objective of Experiments
Assessment Criteria
Experiment Details
Safety Guidelines
Troubleshooting Tips

b. Positive Feedback:
Participants provided positive feedback on the effectiveness of the training program in improving their skills and confidence in course files and lab manual preparation.

3. Future Implications: Moving forward, the QEC-I plans to:

a. Implement Ongoing Monitoring: Establish a system for ongoing monitoring and evaluation to measure the sustained impact of the training on instructional materials.
b. Foster Innovation: Encourage faculty members to incorporate innovative teaching methodologies and technologies into their course files and lab manuals.
c. Expand Training to New Faculty: Extend the training program to new faculty members to maintain a consistent standard of instructional materials.

4. Conclusion
The training session on course files and lab manual preparation by the Quality Enhancement Cell, UoC has proven to be a valuable initiative in enhancing the quality of education within the institution. The continued commitment to faculty development will contribute to the sustained improvement of instructional materials and overall teaching quality.

Event 07: Phase-I of the Self-Assessment Report (SAR) external evaluation

Date: 18 December, 2023

Venue: Confrence hall, Engineering Campus, University of Chakwal

Presenter: QEC Team-I

Overview: The Quality Enhancement Cell (QEC), The University of Chakwal is thrilled to announce the successful completion of Phase-I of the Self-Assessment Report (SAR) external evaluation visits of ten (10) Academic Departments of UoC. The evaluation covered Electronics and Mechatronics Engineering, Botany, Zoology, Law, English, Business Administration, Human Nutrition and Dietetics, and Computer Science Departments marking a significant milestone in our ongoing commitment to ensuring and enhancing the quality of education at the UoC. The efforts were aimed at fostering continuous improvement and aligning our practices with the highest standards in education. We extend our heartfelt appreciation to the Chairpersons, Faculty of the mentioned departments, and the Estate office for their commitment. We are also very thankful to the Worthy Vice Chancellor and respected Registrar for their trust in the QEC team. As we move forward, we will remain committed to maintaining and elevating the quality of education at our institution In sha ALLAH.

Event 08: The Training of Program Teams (PTs) of Academic Department about Self- Assessment Report (SAR) of BS Program (GroupB)

Date: 12 October, 2023

Venue: Confrence hall, Engineering Campus, University of Chakwal

Presenter: QEC Team-I

Dr. Sajid Mahmood
Additional Director

Engr. Safia Bibi
Deputy Director

Engr. Aneeqa Fakhar
Assistant Director

Participants: Departmental Program Team

1. Introduction: The Directorate of Quality Enhancement Cell (QEC-1) has conducted a Training Session about the preparation of "Self-Assessment Report" of BS Program on October5, 2023, at Seminar Hall Engineering Block.

In the second phase, the Program Teams of ten academic departments were trained.
Petroleum & Gas Engineering Department
Mathematics Department
Physics Department
Chemistry Department
Information Technology department
Pharmacy Department
Economics Department
Urdu Department
Islamic studies Department
International relation Department

The training about SAR was started with the recitation of the Holy Quran by Mr. Maqsood Ahmed. The session started about the discussion of true meaning of quality in the context of education. The importance of ensuring quality in academic programs and institutions was emphasized. Following that, the complete procedure of assessment, as defined by the Higher Education Commission (HEC), was presented to the participants. This included the guidelines and requirements set forth by HEC for conducting self-assessment and preparing the Self-Assessment Report (SAR).
The presentation likely covered topics such as the purpose of self-assessment, the criteria and indicators for evaluation, data collection methods, analysis techniques, and the overall process process of preparing the SAR according to HEC guidelines. The participants were likely provided with a comprehensive understanding of the assessment procedure and its significance in maintaining and improving the quality of academic programs.

Moreover, to give insights into how to effectively write the SAR, a sample of a complete SAR was presented as an example.
By presenting the defined procedure of assessment, the participants would have gained clarity on how to effectively carry out self-assessment and meet the requirements outlined by HEC for preparing the SAR. Following Criteria of SAR were presented in detail,
• Criterion 1: Program Mission, Objectives and Outcomes
• Criterion 2: Curriculum Design and Organization
• Criterion 3: Laboratories and Computing Facilities
• Criterion 4: Student Support and Advising
• Criterion 5: Process Control
• Criterion 6: Faculty
•Criterion 7: Institutional Facilities
• Criterion 8: Institutional Support

The following timeline has been given to the Academic Departments and for the completion of Self-Assessment Report and Assessment process.

Timeline	SAR
October 05, 2023	Constitution of Program Team (PT) of selected Departments (GroupB)
October 05, 2023	Training of the PT of selected Departments
During last week of Fall semester 2023	Evaluation Through Performa
First week of February 2024	Analysis, and interpretation of Performa's by PTs and QEC
February 9, 2024	Deadline for the Submission of SAR by PTs to QEC
March 10, 2024	Evaluation of received SARS by QEC
March 15, 2024	Constitution of Assessment Team (AT) by the approval of WVC
March To April 2024	Evaluation of SARs by AT, and submission of Executive Summary to WVC