Quality Assurance: Internal Evaluation

About Internal Quality Assurance System

The internal quality assurance system to evaluate the quality of educational activities and learner’s instruction under degree programmes (hereinafter “internal system for quality assurance”) is in place at HSE University as per the University’s internal bylaws regulating the drafting and amendments to degree programmes’ documentation, as well as the provision of support to those processes underlying educational activities under respective degree programmes.

The objective of internal quality assurance is to improve degree programmes (hereinafter “DP”) and foster conditions, whereby violations of the requirements specified in respective educational standards for the provision of higher education, as developed and implemented by HSE University, (hereinafter the “ES”) would be impossible.

Internal system for quality assurance shall include elements ensuring the following:

Evaluation of the learning environment, as well as teaching and study content and materials;
Evaluation of the quality of learning activities on the part of a student and learning outcomes attained by them;
Feedback from students and teachers;
Evaluation of the quality of the teaching staff.

Internal quality assurance draws upon the principles, set out in the following document: Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance in European Higher Education– ESG

Key principles:

Teachers must possess testing and assessment methods and advance their skills in these fields;
The criteria and methods for assessments shall be published in advance;
Assessments must demonstrate the level to which the student has attained an expected learning outcome. An examinee shall receive feedback and, if necessary, advice on the learning process;
Whenever possible, examinations shall be administered by more than one examiner;
Assessments must be consistent and fair in relation to all students and be conducted as per the set rules;
Official appeals procedures must be put in place.

Description of elements of the internal system for quality assurance of educational activities and training of HSE University degree students

Quality assurance tool	Focus of assessment	Intervals / timeframes for application	Decision-maker in terms of the quality framework	Staff member responsible for ensuring the quality framework	Information systems applied	Internal bylaws governing the implementation of the tool
Element 1: Evaluation of a learning environment and study materials
Evaluating the quality of DP curricula	Compliance of DP curricula to ES or other internal bylaws	Every year/ upon the creation of a DP curriculum	Vice Rector for Academic Affairs	DP’s academic supervisor	ASAV module for designing curricula	Regulations on Curricula for Degree Programmes at HSE University Annual Methodological Guidelines for Designing Curricula for Bachelor’, Specialist, and Master’s Programmes in ASAV at HSE University
Evaluating the quality of course syllabi	Compliance with the DP’s objectives, whether the complexity of materials is adequate for students; relevance of utilized materials	No more than one time a year and at least one time every five years / before the start of the academic year	DP’s academic supervisor / DP’s academic committee chairperson	Head of the subdivision which was assigned to implement a given course	Syllabus Builder	Regulations on Course Syllabi for Bachelor’s, Specialist, and Master’s Degree Programmes at HSE University
Element 2: Evaluating the quality of learning and learning outcomes
Evaluating the quality and regular involvement of students in the learning process	Compliance of learning outcomes with the norms set in respective syllabi	As per dates for ongoing and interim assessments	Teacher who is responsible for delivering a course	Student	Information system for supporting learning processes	Regulations for Interim and Ongoing Assessments at HSE University
Checking student papers for plagiarism	Compliance with academic standards in student written works	As per deadlines for submitting written works by students, as determined by a DP’s curriculum	Supervisor of a student’s written work / board	Student	Antiplagiat system	Regulations on Checking Student Papers for Plagiarism and the Publication of Bachelor’s, Specialist and Master’s Theses on the HSE Corporate Website
Evaluating student academic performance over time	Academic achievements of students (in comparison)	Two times a year / after summer and winter examination period and periods for retakes	Faculty’s dean	DP’s academic supervisor	ASAV, LMS, HSE University’s portal	Regulations on the Rating System for Integrated Assessment of Knowledge of Students from Bachelor’s, Specialist, and Master’s Programmes at HSE University
The Final State Certification procedure	Quality of a graduate’s training, compliance with the DP’s expected learning outcomes and criteria of the relevant ES	During the final year of studies / as per the academic calendar in place	State Examination Board chaired by an external expert and involving representatives of employers	DP’s academic supervisor	LMS	Regulations on Final State Certification of Students of Bachelor’s, Specialist and Master’s Programmes at HSE University Regulations for Term Papers and Theses Prepared by Students of the Bachelor’s, Specialist, and Master’s Level at HSE University
Element 3: Feedback from students and teachers
Student evaluation of teaching quality	Compliance with the quality criteria set by HSE University	Every academic module before the start of the examination period	Vice Rector for Academic Affairs	Head of the subdivision where a given teacher works	LMS, a teacher’s personal account on the University’s portal	Procedures for Regular Mandatory Teaching Quality Assessment at HSE University Performed by Students to Assess the Organisation of the Study Process and Teaching Quality on Their Courses
Surveying students and academic staff on key aspects of the University’s activities and operations	Satisfaction on the part of students and academic staff with various aspects of studies and employment at HSE University; their attitude towards the University’s development strategy	Every year, as per the CIS plan	Director for Internal Monitoring and Student Academic Development	Head of a subdivision that oversees the respective field of the University’s activities	LMS, HSE University’s portal	Regulations on the Centre for Institutional Studies
“Hotline” channel with the administration responsible for the organization of learning processes	Evaluation of the quality of educational services provided by HSE University	Every month	Vice Rector for Academic Affairs	Head of a subdivision that is charged with dealing with the issues described in a complaint / query.	HSEUniversity’s portal	Regulations On the Feedback "Hotline" at HSE University
Element 4: Evaluation of the competence of academic staff
Evaluating professional qualifications of academic staff members at the University	Compliance of academic staff with requirements set by Russian legislation and those established at HSE University	As per the schedule for conducting preliminary screening of competition documentation	First Vice Rector for Educational and Academic Affairs	Head of the subdivision where a given academic staff member works	Electronic competition system, HSE University’s portal	Procedures for Preliminary Consideration of Selection Documents Submitted by Candidates for Faculty Positions at HSE University

Adherence of elements of the internal system for quality assurance to ESG principles

	Principles	Internal Quality Assurance Elements
	Principles	Evaluation of the learning environment and study content and materials	Evaluation of the quality of learning activities and learning outcomes	Feedback from students and teachers	Evaluation of the competence of the teaching staff
1	Teachers must know testing and assessment methods and enhance their skills in these fields		Evaluation of results of student assessments is governed by several internal bylaws and includes mechanisms for monitoring teachers’ qualifications and criteria for evaluating methodological work with students.		At HSE University, stringent criteria for selecting candidates for academic and administrative positions are in place, which are, in turn, governed by internal bylaws. Staff members receive advanced training every three years. The Centre for Staff Continuing Professional Development has been created, where academic staff may enhance their teaching skills, complete internships, e.g., international placements.
2	Assessment criteria and methods must be published in advance	All internal bylaws covering assessment criteria and the methods are published on HSE University’s portal and remain accessible for all participants in educational processes.
3	Assessment process must demonstrate the extent to which a student has attained an expected learning outcome. The student must receive feedback, as well as advice on further learning, whenever necessary.		At HSE University, grades are awarded on a 10-point grading scale; at the same time, this scale can be converted into a five-point scale, used in Russia, and the ECTS scale. This allows students to objectively gauge their knowledge and make respective conclusions. Every student may have a consultation with teachers, where the former can get feedback and advice on the learning process.	The feedback “Hotline” also allows for quality evaluation and providing feedback, whereby any participant in the educational process may submit a complaint, raise their concerns or state their attitude towards a given aspect of the learning process. Every query is brought to the attention of the head of the relevant subdivision and given a response. Another measure aimed at gaining feedback is student assessments of teaching quality.
4	Wherever possible, examinations must be conducted by more than one examiner		At HSE University, boards are often convened to administer examinations, retakes, or consider complaints and appeals.
5	Assessments shall be consistent and fair with respect to all students and conducted as per the set rules	At HSE University, a multifaceted system for monitoring the quality of assessing learning activities has been put in place and is governed by several bylaws, accessible by both students and teachers. Students have a right to file an appeal, complain via the feedback “Hotline” or contact the administration directly. Prompt responses are given to queries through any of these channels.
6	An official appeals process must be in place		As per the criteria established by Russian legislation and HSE University’s internal bylaws, appeals procedures have been put in place for both interim assessments and final state certification.

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Degree Programmes Department