Profile
The University Quality Centre (Pusat Kualiti Universiti, PKUSM), Division of Academic & International Affairs, Universiti Sains Malaysia is entrusted with the management of quality assurance for all academic programmes in USM. PKUSM monitors activities associated with academic programmes for meeting the standards set by the Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA) that are based on the requirements of the Malaysian Qualifications Framework (MQF) and also those of professional bodies.
The Institutional Audit is an external and independent audit conducted by Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA) through a panel of auditors, who evaluate the self-review as well as visit the institution to validate and verify information given by Higher Education Provider (HEP) and submit the final report to the MQA. USM was audited on 8th to 12th March 2010 and given the Self-Accreditation (Swaakreditasi) Status in May 2010.
The Code of Practice for Programme Accreditation (COPPA) is dedicated to programme evaluation for the purpose of programme accreditation. COPPA guides the HEP and the MQA in quality assuring programmes offered by the former. Having received the Self-Accreditation (Swaakreditasi) Status, USM needs to maintain and ensure quality in their academic programs. PKUSM was set up under the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic & International Affairs) Office in April 2010 and Quality Academic Programme Committee (Jawatankuasa Kualiti Program Akademik, JKPA) was formed in May 2010 to assist PKUSM in performing its duties.
The quality evaluation process covers the following nine areas in COPIA & COPPA:
1. Vision, Mission, Educational Goals and Learning Outcomes
2. Curriculum Design and Delivery
3. Assessment of Students
4. Student Selection and Support Services
5. Academic Staff
6. Educational Resources
7. Programme Monitoring and Review
8. Leadership, Governance and Administration
9. Total Continual Quality Improvement
The centre’s major activities involve coordinating internal audits and self-assessments of the institution (Code of Practice for Institutional Audit) and programmes (Code of Practice for Programme Accreditation).
