Three important 'keywords' for ensuring and assessing educational quality in the new period

GD&TĐ - The three important "keywords" in quality assurance and inspection work in the coming period are: Continued improvement, substance and international integration.

On the morning of October 7, the Ministry of Education and Training held a conference to review the implementation of Decision No. 78/QD-TTg of the Prime Minister approving the Program "Developing the system of quality assurance and accreditation of education for universities and pedagogical colleges in the period 2022 - 2030". Deputy Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Van Phuc chaired the conference.

The conference was organized in both in-person and online formats with about 2,400 participants at 411 university education facilities and 6 education quality assessment centers.

Important step forward

Concluding the conference, through reports and presentations, Deputy Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Van Phuc commented on the positive changes in ensuring educational quality assessment for universities and pedagogical colleges.

According to the Deputy Minister, 10 years ago, the number of higher education institutions and training programs that were externally assessed and quality-accredited was still small. However, in the past 10 years, especially the last 5 years, the number of institutions that were quality-accredited has reached more than 90%, with only a few new or specialized schools (culture, arts) remaining. This is a huge change. At the same time, the number of training programs that were externally assessed and quality-accredited has also increased sharply, currently reaching more than 40% in the university sector - an important step forward.

School leaders’ awareness of internal quality assurance has been significantly improved. According to the survey, most school leaders showed high interest and have implemented internal quality assurance systems. In addition, schools also showed a sense of international integration, learning from regional and global experiences to develop quality assurance and accreditation systems.

The quality assurance team, from higher education institutions to accreditation centers, has grown in both numbers and experience. This is a positive result, showing that we are on the right track.

The workshop was held online at more than 400 locations.

Sense of responsibility for quality has increased, but has not yet permeated evenly.

However, besides the achieved results, the Deputy Minister also frankly acknowledged the shortcomings and limitations to have solutions to overcome in the coming time.

Accordingly, the internal quality assurance system in schools has improved, but is not uniform. Some schools have good awareness, but others are still formalistic, even after the inspection is completed, they "leave it there", even wait until the next 5-year cycle to continue. The sense of responsibility for quality - which is the self-interest and survival of each school - has not been evenly instilled.

Regarding training program accreditation, the number is still low. Although it has increased quite well compared to before, it has only reached over 40% at university level, lower at master's level, and almost very few at doctorate level.

Regarding the quality assurance team, a large number have not been properly trained. Therefore, it is necessary to strengthen the training and development of this team as well as the inspectors at the centers in the coming time.

Investment resources for facilities, data systems, information, and infrastructure to ensure quality are still limited, even in testing centers. Regarding international integration, we are still in the early stages, not yet reaching the top group in the ASEAN region, and even further behind developed countries.

Deputy Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Van Phuc, Director of Department of Quality Management Huynh Van Chuong.

Three important keywords in the new phase

Regarding the upcoming period, implementing Resolution No. 71-NQ/TW, Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW and the Education Development Strategy to 2030, with a vision to 2045, the Deputy Minister emphasized three important keywords in quality assurance and accreditation work: Continued improvement, substance and international integration.

The Deputy Minister also noted that in order to contribute to achieving the goal of becoming a developing country with modern industry and high average income by 2030 and a developed country with high income by 2045, higher education must develop to a new level. There is no developed country without world-class universities. Therefore, we must do very substantially.

Therefore, each higher education institution needs to review, urgently complete and develop the internal quality assurance system as a core part. This is an essential need for the school to develop sustainably. At the same time, each school must conduct quality accreditation, external assessment, especially related to the training program, spread the culture of quality to each department, each lecturer and continuously improve.

To do that, it is necessary to have a team, resources, information systems and complete databases.

Regarding the testing centers, the Deputy Minister suggested that it is necessary to consider and consider the most suitable organizational model - learning from good models of developed countries: the US, UK, Australia, Japan, Korea, China, Europe - to build a system suitable for Vietnam's conditions. The centers must truly be the "gatekeepers" of quality, operating objectively, independently, honestly, and professionally.

We cannot allow one center to be serious while another center is lenient. We must create a fair, objective, transparent, professional and integrated “testing playground”.

Delegates attending the workshop at the Ho Chi Minh City University of Technical Education bridge.

The Deputy Minister also requested the centers to support the Ministry of Education and Training in giving comments and perfecting regulations and standards in implementing quality assessment.

The Ministry is amending and supplementing three laws in the field of education; implementing Resolution No. 71-NQ/TW, Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW and projects, strategies, network planning... All are aimed at creating an advanced, integrated, practical legal corridor, contributing to promoting the development of the system of quality assurance and accreditation of higher education.

The Department of Quality Management needs to have a summary report and advise the Prime Minister to consider adjusting and supplementing, if necessary, Decision No. 78/QD-TTg.

At the workshop, higher education institutions shared their experiences in building and developing internal quality assurance systems and university rankings. Domestic accreditation organizations presented the current status of internal quality assurance systems through accreditation results and policy proposals.

The discussion focused on internal quality assurance; enhancing the role of inspection organizations; building inspection capacity; national database and transparency; international inspection and regional linkages...

Deputy Minister Nguyen Van Phuc assessed that the presentations and discussions were carefully prepared; highly appreciated the Organizing Committee, specifically the Department of Quality Management, for conducting surveys with a large number of higher education institutions to have a report with complete and general data, assessing the current status of the quality assurance and quality accreditation system in higher education institutions.

Source: https://giaoducthoidai.vn/ba-tu-khoa-quan-trong-voi-bao-dam-kiem-dinh-chat-luong-giao-duc-giai-doan-moi-post751485.html