Quality Measures
The faculty of Education(FES) at AOU offers both undergraduate and post graduate Programmes of Education. The FES Deanship maintains academic oversight for all its programmes that are delivered in the different campuses of the Arab Open University. All offered education Programmes are licensed and recognized by the Higher Education Ministry in the branch country. The post graduate Programme in Education Technology is approved and validated by the Open University-United Kingdom according to a partnership agreement between the two universities. This partnership agreement entails students of AOU who are enrolled in OU-validated programmes to be awarded a dual degree upon successful completion of the programme requirements “OU validated awards have parity of esteem with similar awards offered throughout UK higher education". A validated award is exactly the same as an OU direct award in terms of employment or application for further postgraduate studies. The Education Programmes are developed in house by the FES Deanship, however as for the Masters Programme of Education Technology, the Programme was also developed locally in coordination and consultation between the Arab Open University and the Open University in the UK, as part of the partnership agreement between the two universities and in-line with the AOU mission and vision.
Academic standards & Academic quality are maintained by FES through the implementation of different quality measures that are specified by the partner institution(OU-UK) and AOU approved quality policies. These include all aspects of the Programme delivery i.e. well-managed approach to the curriculum and course design, teaching delivery and assessment & evaluation of students learning, student's guidance and support in addition to programme monitoring and validation. A brief explanation of quality approach is provided in the following:
Teaching delivery: is supported by effective use of appropriate teaching and learning methods and assessment is governed by soundly-based regulations, policies and procedures.AOU's Learning and Teaching strategy provides the framework for the quality of teaching practices and the learning strategies that academic staff are expected to implement. In its objectives, it states that 'Learning and Teaching methods and practices promote interactive learning where tutors act as facilitators and instructional materials include appropriate guidance and clearly defined learning outcomes' and 'Quality of the delivery of teaching is maintained through a highly qualified and committed academic staff and is supported by full integration advanced electronic and information technologies resources (Learning Management System, electronic library, etc.).
Curriculum Review: The Deanship periodically review the curriculum content of its programmes drawing upon students and tutors' feedback, external examiners' reports and reports from academic reviewers on the relevance of the course/module to the given context and time. The curriculua review includes an in-depth analysis of the relevance of the learning outcomes.
Peer review: Peer review is an important quality indicator on the delivery of a course/module. The teaching quality is monitored and assessed through the process of collegiate peer review. The process adopts a developmental approach and is supervised by the Branch Course Coordinators at the end of each semester. A well- structured template is deployed to assess and evaluate tutor's performance in terms of a well-specified criteria and provide their comments and feedback on the prescribed official tutorial monitoring form. Peer review reports are submitted to the Deanship for follow up and actions.
Student survey: A unified & standardized student feedback questionnaire is used for all AOU programmes. These surveys allow students to provide their feed -back on individual courses, tutors, teaching quality and student support and services. Students' responses are analyzed by the Quality Assurance department and results are shared with all concerned including the programme Deanship. Survey results are used as one of the indicators of quality of teaching and programme delivery. The Deanship seriously considers students' feedback. Corrective measures and actions are taken accordingly for the purpose of enhancing the quality of students' learning opportunities.
Tutor survey: Tutor surveys in parallel to the student survey complement the feedback process. Tutor views on the student experience, curriculum, assessment systems and the supporting physical infrastructural are elicited every semester. This feedback from tutors, coupled with that from students, gives a clearer picture of areas where there is dissatisfaction and a need for improvement both at the deanship level and Individual AOU branch level.
Annual Programme Evaluation(APE):
An annual Programme Evaluation (APE) is generated every academic year by the Deanship as a quality assurance requirement. The Deanship gives an account of all the matters concerning the Faculty and this includes the qualitative analysis of the student progression and retention, views and feedback on academic and administrative support The specified Annual Programme Evaluation(APE) template is provided by the Open University Validation & Partnership( OUVP) and it includes an analytical commentary of the course/module material, assessment design, and student learning outcomes, tutor performance, appeals and complaints, grievance systems, student and tutor feedback, external examiners' comments and responses to external examiners' reports in addition to Programme achievements and good practices. Essentially, the APE, documents the evolution of the Deanship and its academic programmes and is an evidence-based report for any policy changes that may be required.
External Examiners' Reports:
To assure academic standards and to safeguard the quality of student's assessment, all Programmes that are validated by OU UK are assigned external examiners (EE's) who monitor the implementation of the course and the teaching methodology. Samples of course work by students (Assessments and TMA's) are sent from all branches offering the course(s) to the Deanship which are then made available to the external examiners. The EE's provide comments on the marking and feedback of the samples received and on the teaching quality and students' performance and academic standards. The effectiveness of the overall assessment strategy of a course/module is monitored and reviewed by the Course Assessment Committee, the Faculty Examination Committee, and the Central Examination Committee. Assessment information and guidance is available in AOU Policy Documents and in course/module materials (assignment booklets, and tutor guides) issued to registered students and tutors. The FES Deanship follows due processes to ensure that assessment is conducted with rigor, probity and fairness and with due regards to the quality assurance security standards.
Programme Overview & Validation: Every five years, The Master Programme in Education Technology is subject to review and revalidation by the Open University's Validation and Partnership. This is a rigorous process encompassing all aspects of the Programme delivery and includes administrative audits of the University's infrastructure, administration and student services and support. The Deanship contribution to the process includes the production of the Programme appraisal document in addition to Programme specifications and modules specification along with supporting evidences covering all aspects of programme offering and delivery.
