• Programme/course content and delivery
• Research specialisation and supervision
• Educational and research resources (classrooms, bookshop, lecture theatres, labs, libraries etc)
• Non-academic student resources (accommodation, recreation, personal development opportunities etc)
• Educational infrastructure and administration
• Educational outreach and communications

 

OUR ROLE

The work of the Campus Quality Assurance Office involves:

• Conducting and/or coordinating research to assess stakeholders’ expectations, needs and levels of satisfaction. Stakeholders include students, potential employers, governments and employees of UWI Cave Hill.
• Identifying and/or implementing best practice in Campus operations
• Managing customer service standards
• Developing Campus quality policies and procedures
• Implementing the Campus quality planning framework

 

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CURRENT PROJECTS

Here is a snapshot of our current activities / projects:

 

Marketing Research for Student Handbook: This research project is being conducted on behalf of the Marketing Office, which wants to ensure that the New Student Handbook (2012-13) appeals to the students and meets their needs.  During a focus group session, participants will be asked to give their views on the style, content and user-friendliness of the current handbook.

 

Graduate Student Support Services Study:  This research project is designed to allow the Office of Student Services (OSS) to understand graduate students’ need for support services and amenities. The CQAO has conducted a series of focus group sessions, as well as a survey, among graduate students. The findings will help the OSS to develop appropriate services and support programmes.

 

School for Graduate Studies and Research Course Evaluations: The CQAO continues to support the School for Graduate Studies and Research with the analysis of student course evaluations for graduate taught programmes.

 

Online Course Evaluation Pilot Study: In partnership with the Faculty of Humanities and Education, the CQAO ran a pilot project for the online administration of course evaluations. This study gave undergraduate students registered with the Faculty in Semester 2 (2011-12) an opportunity to complete their course evaluations online (instead of using traditional paper questionnaire). This initiative is part of UWI Cave Hill’s continuing effort to improve standards of teaching and learning, specifically by enabling faster processing of, and reporting on course evaluation results, which should translate into greater efficiency in implementing improvements to course design and delivery (where necessary) based on student feedback.

 

IDU Certificate in University Teaching and Learning (CUTL) Research: The CQAO is working with the IDU to assess the application of CUTL learning outcomes by lecturers. The information will allow the IDU to adjust the structure, content and/or delivery of courses included in future CUTL prgrammes, where necessary. Information on existing hindrances to the implementation of new teaching practices may also inform decisions related to pedagogy and teaching support at the level of individual departments and faculties on the campus.

 

UWI Strategic Planning 2012-2017: The Campus Quality Assurance Office is part of the core team assigned to draft Cave Hill’s contribution to the overall strategic plan for the University of the West Indies for the period 2012-17. As a member of the team, part of the CQAO’s role involves working with the Campus Strategic Planning Coordinator to ensure that all departments incorporate quality assurance provisions into both their strategic (long term) and operational (short term) plans.

 

 

Campus Quality Policy: The Campus Quality Assurance Office is drafting (for consultation) a Cave Hill Campus Quality Policy that will offer guiding principles to all employees as they contribute, in the course of their daily activities, to the Campus’ development as a centre of excellence for learning, research, sport and creative activity.

 

 

Campus Conversations stakeholder feedback project: This project is designed to help academic and non-departments at Cave Hill to improve their methods of soliciting or receiving feedback from their stakeholders, including students and other members of staff. It began with a review of existing practices for receiving and responding to feedback, such as compliments, comments/suggestions and complaints. The review also paid specific attention to the way this feedback is used to inform decision-making and changes to programmes, systems or processes. This information has been documented in order to develop a forum for sharing best practice so that departments can learn from each other. The Campus Quality Assurance Office has also provided recommendations to departments on adopting effective practices.

 

Cave Hill Campus Institutional Accreditation: The Campus Quality Assurance Office is a member of the steering committee established to spearhead the Campus’ application for institutional accreditation from the Barbados Accreditation Council. The Quality Assurance Coordinator also represents the unit on Working Group 5, a sub-group of the steering committee, which has responsibility for preparing the Campus’ self-study review of its mechanisms for ensuring continuous enhancement of educational quality.