Objectives

The objectives of Quality Enhancement Cell of this University are as under:

1. QEC is responsible for the review of quality standards by auditing academic standards and the quality of teaching and learning in each subject area.



2. QEC is responsible to develop quality assurance processes and methods of evaluation to affirm that the quality of provision and the standard of awards are being maintained and to foster curriculum, subject and staff development, together with research and other scholarly activities.


3. QEC is responsible to ensure that the university's quality assurance procedures are designed to fit in with the arrangements in place nationally for maintaining and improving the quality of Higher Education. The best example for this is workshop, held on April 10-14, 2006, facilitated by international facilitator from Chinese University, Hong Kong and title of the work shop was Quality Assurance in Medical Education.


4. QEC is responsible to develop qualifications framework by setting out the attributes and abilities that can be expected from the holder of a qualification, i.e. Bachelors, Bachelor with Honors, Diplomas, Master's, M.Phil., and Doctoral.


5. QEC is responsible to develop program stipulation. These are standard set of information clarifying what knowledge, understanding, skills and other attributes a student will have developed on successfully completing a specific program.


6. QEC is responsible for the review of academic affiliations with other institutions in terms of effective management of standards and quality of programs.



7. QEC is responsible for defining clear and explicit standards as points of reference to the reviews to be carried out. It should also help the employees to know as to what they could expect from candidates.



8. QEC is responsible to develop procedures for the following:
• Approval of new syllabi/curricula
• Annual monitoring and evaluation including program monitoring, faculty monitoring and student's perception
• Departmental review as per instructions in Self Assessment Manual
• Student feedback as per instructions in Self Assessment Manual
• Employer feedback as per instructions in Self Assessment Manual
• Quality assurance of Master's, M.Phil. and Ph.D. degree programs
• Subject review
• Institutional audit
• Program specifications
• Qualification framework


9. Overall, QEC is responsible for promoting public confidence that the quality and standards of the award of degrees are superior and fortified.

UHS has been introduced the following measures for the quality assurance in the academic programmes, with an aim for the quality to be improved.

1. Examination System

UHS has introduced the unique system at Graduate & Post Graduate level. To avoid any chances of bias coming into play internal and external assessment of final examination has been introduced. In this evaluation system special emphasis has been laid on continuous assessment of students. Class room presentation has been made integral part of internal assessment. In Undergraduate program, special system has been developed and introduced to have a more comprehensive evaluation of student. Through this system the students of this University and its affiliated institutions are evaluated in their courses of study both externally and internally. The prominent educationists/teachers are sent to different colleges at the time of examination as external examiners to achieve the standard and quality of University evaluation system and credibility of the degree awarded by it.

UHS has introduced MCQs/SEQs, OSCE/OSPE, Internal Evaluation and Centralized Marking of Papers first ever in the history of Medical Education in Pakistan.

2. HEC Digital Library Links

UHS has provided access of this digital library to all of its affiliated institutions. This step will help build research culture and Advanced Learning Concept among young graduates.

3. Teaching and Learning Methodology

To impart quality education to students of this University, the innovations in the teaching methodology have been introduced. Interactive participative strategy has been promoted to imbibe comprehension and confidence among the graduates of this University. Classroom presentation has been made mandatory for each student in every course offered. High profile seminars featuring prominent scholars/ professionals have been launched as a permanent feature in University. International lecturers, Noble Laureates, and Scientists of Global Repute are invited to impart education to the students of UHS and its affiliated institutions. Teachers and Subject Specialists from affiliated institutions and colleges are invited as Master Trainers and International Instructors are hired to train these professionals so that quality education and evaluation system could be imparted at under and post graduate levels.

4. Curriculum Development

The development of curricula of UHS was undertaken with a view to modernize and up-dating teaching learning strategies and curriculum contents, keeping in line with national requirement and global trends. The organization of courses is made with intent to meet the national needs and to introduce contemporary trends and ensure quality of medical education. Syllabi of about 12 Post Graduate Diploma courses have been updated. Diploma programmes are being extended up to 2 years duration to produce mid level consultants especially for peripheral areas. Subject of Behavioural Sciences has been introduced in MBBS/BDS courses.

5. Personality Growth

Along with other improvements it has been realized that without grooming the personality of the students, the efforts to produce quality graduates could not be successful. Several remedial courses like communication skills and personality developments courses are introduced in the curriculum.

6. Unbiased/Vetted/Standardized Questions' Banks

QEC is keenly involved for the development of MCQs/SEQs Banks. In phase I of this project 5000 MCQs and 200 SEQs are being developed for each subject of basic medical sciences. To ensure quality of these Questions' Banks, each and every question is vetted and standardized by various subject specialists. Our question selectors and setters have been trained by international/foreign experts so that they could design healthy questions.

A bank of about 60,000 MCQs with keys has been developed.

UHS has also become member of IDEAL Consortium - Chinese University , Hong Kong.

7. Cultural Transformation

Along with curricular improvements, UHS has paid special attention for the cultural transformation in the University and its attached institutions. UHS always encourage recreational activities in its attached institutions. These programmes broaden the vision of the students and help make the environment congenial and harmonious for higher education.