Internal Policy Framework

The Internal Circular on Internal Quality Enhancement Policy and Framework developed for UoJ, which was recommended by the Senate on 24/05/2016 and by the Council on 28/05/2016, states the following as regards the IQAC:

“(c) IQAC

The IQAC is the faculty- or institute level subunit of the IQES and shall be headed by a Coordinator appointed by the Dean with the approval of the Faculty Board, appointed from among the senior academic staff (i.e. Sr. Lecturer Grade 1 or above) of the Faculty on the parttime basis for three years, with the provision of extension. The Coordinator of the Cell shall be assisted by Coordinating Committee of the IQAC (CC/IQAC). The composition and the Terms of Reference of the CC/IQAC, and the Duties and the responsibilities of the Coordinator/ IQAC are given in Section 4.3.

4.3 Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC)

a) Composition of the Coordinating Committee of IQAC (CC/IQAC)

i) Dean of the faculty as the chair

ii) Heads of the Departments

iii) Coordinator/ internal Quality Assurance Unit

iv) Chairpersons of Curriculum Development,

v) Chairpersons of Higher Degrees Committee,

vi) Chairpersons of Research Committee,

vii) Deputy proctor (if any)

viii) One sr. student counsellor (representing students counsellors),

ix) Coordinators of other relevant units (i.e. education unit, career guidance unit, English Language Teaching sub-unit. etc.),

x) Librarian/Assistant librarian,

xi) Any other member/nominee, as relevant/appropriate, and

xii) the AR/SAR/DR of the faculty, as the Secretary of the Committee.

b) Terms of Reference of the Coordinating Committee of IQAC

i) Guide the IQAC in the adoption of relevant by-laws prescribed by the university for governance and management of the IQAC,

ii) In liaison with the Curriculum Development Committee, promote adoption of guidelines and benchmarks prescribed/adopted by the university in academic development and planning under guidelines prescribed by the UGC and Ministry of Higher Education such as Sri Lanka Qualification Framework Manual for level and qualification descriptors, Course Unit System, Unified GPA system, Outcome-based Education and Students-centered Learning (OBE-SCL) approach into curricula development of study programmers and courses, blended teaching and learning, and formative and summative assessments, etc.

iii) Guide the IQAC in promoting internalizing quality principles and dimensions prescribed by the UGC-QAAC within the Faculty – with respect to the study programme management, curricular design and development, course design and development, teaching and learning, student support and services, assessments, and other allied functions and services,

iv) Guide the IQAC to design and implement regular internal quality reviews,

v) Review the EQA review (both institutional and study programme reviews) & IQA review reports and adopt action plans based on recommendation coming from such reports,

vi) Guide the IQAC to implement quality enhance plans and monitor the progress of implementation of annual quality enhancement work plans, and

vii) Guide and assist the director/IQAC in executing his/her duties.

c) Duties and responsibilities of the coordinator of IQAC

The duties and responsibilities of the coordinator/internal quality assurance cell fall into three main categories:

i) Coordination of Academic Affairs and Related Activities

Liaise with the Curriculum Development Committee in internalizing the following academic reforms:

(1) Adoption of guidelines and benchmarks prescribed by Sri Lanka Qualification Framework Manual for level and qualification descriptors in designing the curricula of study programme and courses including the adoption of Course Unit System, unified GPA system, Outcome-based Education and Students Centred Learning (OBE-SCL) approach onto curricula development of study programmes and courses, and summative and formative assessments,

(2) Adoption of blended-teaching and learning – use ICT tools with conventional pedagogical methods, and

(3) Adoption of inter-faculty credit transfer, synchronization of academic programmes, and inter-faculty cooperation & resource sharing, and

ii) Coordination of Internal Quality Assurance Related Activities

Function as the officer-in-charge of internal quality assurance cell (IQAC) of the faculty and promote the following IQA related activities within the faculty hence in liaison with IQAU in liaison with internal quality assurance unit of the university:

(1) Adoption of university-approved by-laws for the operationalizing Internal Quality Assurance System that would empower IQAC to promote internalizing university-approved / prescribed by-laws/guidelines/manuals for curricular development teaching and training and assessments.

(2) Adoption and implementation of quality enhancement mechanism (such as PDCA Quality Development System) for internalizing quality principles and culture – i.e. promote adoption of best practices and standards, the conduct of IQA reviews on regular basis, and design and commence succeeding quality enhancement cycles based on preceding IQA review findings.

(3) Promoting the adoption of university prescribed procedures within the faculty (such as Manual on Academic Development and Planning. Examination By-laws, Students’ Disciplinary By-laws, Laboratory Manual, etc.)

(4) Liaising with the IQAU and UGC-QAAC and other external agencies, in facilitating the conduct of external reviews,

(5) Assisting IQAU in preparation of Institutional Self-Evaluation Report (SER) and coordination of the preparation of program-specific SERs for External Quality Assurance Reviews and

(6) Providing advice and guidance on QA matters to all departments/centres/units.