A two-day preparatory workshop on the African Quality Rating Mechanism (AQRM) institutional evaluation that was organized by the Association of African Universities (AAU), as one of the 5 partners of the Harmonization of African Higher Education Quality Assurance and Accreditation (HAQAA) Initiative consortium ended on a high note in Accra, Ghana. The workshop that was held from the 28th -29th of March 2017 at Mensvic Hotel in Accra Ghana brought together 30 participants from 15 universities selected from African countries, 12 Quality Assurance (QA) experts and 6 facilitators who are all experienced and seasoned QA experts too. The participants were drawn from the following countries: Kenya, Mozambique, South Africa, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Morocco, Sudan, Egypt, Algeria, Uganda, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Burkina Faso, Nigeria, Lesotho and Gabon. Above is a group photo of all the people who attended the workshop.
Yohannes Woldatensae
One of the AQRM designers and experts, Yohannes Woldatensae from the African Union Commission shed light on the AQRM instrument by explaining each of it’s sections and the kind of information that is required as well as the need to involve students as key stakeholders in higher education.
Emile Samon
The facilitators like Emile Samon from Cameroon, brought in a rich and practical experience of undergoing an institutional evaluation ranging from the challenges, the logistical issues and the nature of work to be done and how best the whole exercise can end up being profitable to the institutions.
Prof Goolam Mahomedbhai
Dr Maiki Udamu among participants
Prof Goolam Mahomedbhai, former Secretary General of the AAU (left) and Dr Mike Udam of Estonia (Right: Lady in Blue/white dress) were among some of the QA experts who also made very good presentations.
The consortium was also represented by the University of Barcelona (The HAQAA Initiative Coordinator) and the AAU who are the implementing partner of the HAQAA Initiative AQRM Institutional evaluations. Below are the members of the consortium who were present.
Prof Jonathan Mba (AAU)
Zeineb Mazouz (UB)
Dr Violet Makuku (AAU) HAQAA Initiative Project Officer & Nicole Font (UB)
Mr Maxwell Amo-Hoyte, the AAU Finance Director
Ms Rose Nintin (AAU)
The workshop which was meant to bring an understanding of the institutional evaluation process including the completion of the AQRM form brought experts and institutional representatives to the same page with a shared vision of what should happen. All the participants acknowledged that the workshop was an eye opener since a lot of contemporary issues regarding QA in Higher Education were discussed. The way forward regarding the implementation phase of the HAQAA Initiative AQRM institutional evaluations was agreed upon. The institutional evaluations are expected to commence Mid-June and end 30th July, 2017. Institutions were advised to quickly form AQRM evaluation sub-committees that will work on the filling in of the questionnaire survey which would be submitted to AAU by mid-May 2017 so that experts would get time to study the content before the actual 2-day site visits to institutions. The two day workshop ended on a very high note since all parties were contended and geared for the exercise that was meant to improve the quality culture of African Higher Education Institutions through the HAQAA Initiative.
