Directorate of Quality Assurance (DQA)

The University College envisages to be a globally esteemed University in teaching, research and outreach by generating, preserving, utilizing and disseminating knowledge for the advancement of humanity. The Directorate of Quality Assurance (DQA) plays a key role of safeguarding and guaranteeing the standards and quality of the University’s educational provisions. The Quality Assurance System is predicated upon cooperation between the University’s academic and administrative units in line with the University College Statute, the TUC Strategic Plan, and CUE and ISO standards.

Core Mandate

The mandate of the Directorate of Quality Assurance is to monitor, evaluate and maintain oversight of the quality and standards of teaching, research, the student learning experience, and service to the community. The Directorate further ensures that all internal quality assurance mechanisms are conducted in line with the provisions of the Turkana University College Legal Notice and Statutes, the Universities Act of 2012, CUE’s Universities Regulations of 2014, and the principles and guidelines for quality assurance in Higher Education in East Africa as provided by the Inter-University Council of East Africa (IUCEA).

Strategic Objectives

• To continuously monitor the quality of teaching at delivery points.
• To facilitate self-assessment of all academic programmes.
• To coordinate external assessment, self-assessment and emerging quality assurance issues of academic programmes.
• To act as a liaison office between the University and external bodies on matters related to Quality Assurance.
• To coordinate the functioning of all the Committees of Quality Assurance.
• To make appropriate recommendations to Management and the University College Academic Board on issues related to Quality Assurance.

Internal Quality Assurance Initiatives

1. Introduction of teaching tracking forms to check on teaching by both regular and part-time lecturers, and ensure compliance through regular audits of the teaching process.
2. Introduction of Class Attendance Record forms to ensure attendance is accurately captured and analysed at the end of the semester to determine students’ eligibility to sit examinations.
3. Introduction and enforcement of Class Make-up Records to ensure lecturers compensate for classes they miss.
4. Facilitating the training of Deans, Academic Heads of Departments and lecturers on how to conduct Programme Self-Assessment.
5. Coordinating and overseeing Programme Self-Assessment in departments.
6. Collating and analysing reports from External Examiners for discussion in the Deans Committee and the University College Academic Board.
7. Conducting Course and Lecturer Evaluation to determine the quality of instruction students receive in the different programmes offered by the University.
8. Participation in curriculum development and review to ensure this is done according to the procedures and guidelines of the Commission for University Education.
9. Conducting Student Exit Surveys to receive feedback from graduands regarding the programme studied, services offered, support services and facilities.