Internal evaluation of a bachelor’s or master’s programme
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Target audience
Since 2009-10, UCLouvain has conducted student surveys to gather their opinions on course quality. These surveys concern students at the end of their bachelor’s or master’s courses.
Programme evaluation objectives
The faculty dean (or, by delegation, programme manager) initiates a request for a programme evaluation.
This evaluation is carried out by the Academic Programme Quality Support Department (QOPA). Its purpose is to provide the teaching community with the means to analyse course strengths and weaknesses with a view to defining concrete lines of action for improving them.
Comparative analysis methodology
The questionnaires consist of about 60 standardised questions.
The use of a standardised questionnaire makes it possible to:
- compare a target programme’s evaluation results with those of all other UCLouvain programmes evaluated over the previous five years (reference group);
- observe the evolution of results for the same programme at different times and with different student cohorts (e.g. following the implementation of a major curriculum reform).
Faculties may add specific questions at the end of the questionnaire if they wish to ask their students about particular aspects of the course.
Using the results
When the survey concludes:
- each dean receives a raw report, presenting the results for each of the evaluated dimensions, as well as for each item;
- QOPA orally presents to the faculty a comparative analysis of the results and synthesis of comments; and
- the data are integrated into the dashboard application available to deans and programme managers.
On the basis of these results, faculties are able to take decisions to improve courses. Faculties are responsible for the implementation and communication of their decisions.
More information on internal programme evaluation (intranet, French only)
Internal evaluation of a continuing education programme
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Responsibilities
The internal evaluation of a continuing education programme is initiated by the academic manager of the continuing education programme. Quality management is one of his/her responsibilities, and he/she is responsible for the programme’s scientific, pedagogical and financial aspects.
The faculty intervenes at the time of accreditation (internal accreditation process), with a view to checking that the course complies with the institution’s quality criteria and the faculty’s priorities.
Evaluation
The manager chooses an evaluation tool and informs the Continuing Education Council (COFC) during the accreditation procedure. The standard tool proposed by the Continuing Education University Institute (IUFC) is generally used.
The data collected from participants by the standard IUFC tool concerns:
- general satisfaction;
- teaching and course quality;
- relevance;
- course suitability and usefulness;
- the system for evaluating participants’ achievements;
- workload;
- course content and teaching arrangements;
- programme coherence;
- mastery of skills by course end;
- impact on participant;
- impact on organisation;
- practical and logistical organisation.
Evaluation results make it possible to:
- measure whether course objectives have been achieved;
- make decisions;
- carry out reporting.
More information on the evaluation of continuing education programmes (intranet, French only)
Return to the list of quality loops for institutional processes