Biomedical Engineering www tnw utwente nlbmt Development and

Biomedical Engineering www. tnw. utwente. nl/bmt

Development and Implementation of the Quality Assurance System for BME Jan A. van Alsté, Tycho C. Boersma University of Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands

Change of Attitude • 1970’s – Selection: 1 out of 3 students • 1990’s – Quality structure: visitations • Now after “Bologna” – Quality culture: the final goal

Basic Assumptions NVAO (Netherlands, Flemish Accreditation Organization) • • • Autonomy of education program Respect for teachers Following, nor leading Check: do what you promise Is it at an international level ? Not: we are here so long already, we know what we are doing

Internal Quality Control (Qanu) (Quality Assurance Netherlands Universities) • Describe quality control procedures • Found its cyclic nature • Evaluate results periodically, based on verifiable goals • Do results lead to testable improvements ? • Personnel, students, alumni and the labor market are actively involved

Internal Quality Control University of Twente • Plan-Do-Check-Act circles: the basis Execute what you planned Follow-up and evaluate Prepare and plan Adjust and anchor • Students participation at all levels – – – Management team Education advisory committee Evaluation committee Student-assistants Normal students Act Plan Quality – – Check Do Assurance Time

Quality Control Circles at the level of: • Courses • Semesters • Year • Accreditation (3 to 6 years) Semester Accreditation Year

Course Quality Circle • Plan: • Do: Course descriptions Course teaching, monitoring, adjusting • Check: Course evaluation, grading, discussion, success rate • Act: Assessment of teachers, adjustments, discussion in advisory board

Semester Quality Circle • Plan: Publication of schedule, preparatory talk • Do: Teaching, monitoring and adjusting in between • Check: Semester evaluation • Act: Review with participants, report agreed improvements to management team

Year Quality Circle (1/2) Plan: • Define rules and regulations • Make evaluation plan • Develop course schedule • Define annual plan • Determine education budget Do: • Teaching, in between monitoring, and adjustment, execution of improvement projects

Year Quality Circle (2/2) Check: • Investigate entering students • Students satisfaction • Determine success rate • Annual evaluation • Dutch monitor of academia Act: • Analysis of teachers and director of education • Action plan with points of improvement

Important Quality Aspects (1/2) Curriculum • • Expectations of pre-university education Relation goals and contents Internal coherence Size of program Execution • • Study load Input Relation form and contents Examination and grading

Important Quality Aspects (2/2) Personnel • Requirements of pre-university education • Number of teachers available • Quality of teachers Facilities • Housing, materials and equipment • Tutoring and coaching

Implementation • • Project From ad-hoc to steady state From information to communication Organization Personnel Finance Planning

Towards a Quality Culture Education is a people business! • • Awareness of BME mission statement Respect for teachers Enthusiasm in teaching Thriving for high success rates Responsible for results Active role in quality circles Appropriate career incentives

Thank you for your attention and interest Contact: email j. a. vanalste@utwente. nl