QA experts from the Quality Assurance Department (QAD) of the Ministry of Manpower (MoM) visited the college last 19th and 20th June to discuss the college’s second draft of the Quality Audit Portfolio. Dr. PN Ramani, QAD coordinator for NCT, headed the four-person QAD group. Other QAD members who visited the college include Mr. Ibtisam Abdul Khair, Dr. Nida Gatchalian, and Mr. Kunhamu Muhammed.

The latest QAD visit to the college revolved around NCT’s preparation of its quality audit portfolio. This is the third visit of QAD personnel to the college in regard the matter in a span of two months, and this latest visit centered on the discussion between QAD and NCT on the latter’s second draft of the QA Portfolio.

On the first day of the visit, QAD personnel met with working groups preparing the chapters on Student Learning by Coursework, Academic Support Services, Students and Student Support Services, and Staff and Staff Support Services. Working groups preparing the chapters on Governance and Management, Industry and Community Linkage, and General Support Services and Facilities, meanwhile, were met on the second day of the visit. On both occasions, QAD experts discussed with the working groups their observations, comments and suggestions on the second draft of the portfolio. They also shared ideas on how chapters of the portfolio can further be improved based on their knowledge and expertise on the requirements of the OAC, as well as their experience in developing the portfolios of other colleges of technology.

The visit of QAD experts provided the working groups with fresh insights on how to improve the chapters of the portfolio, how to better present trend data and other relevant information, and how to organize and format information so that it could be presented more clearly and more coherently. Each chapter was scrutinized and discussed exhaustively, and issues and doubts were clarified to ensure that the working groups are in the right direction in their preparation.

Although advanced copies of the review report of QAD on each chapter of the portfolio were sent to the college prior to the visit, Dr. Ramani intimated that a formal review report – incorporating major issues discussed during the visit – will be sent to the college to further guide the working groups in their writing tasks.

The Quality Assurance Department (QAD) of the Ministry of Manpower (MoM) visited Nizwa College of Technology (NCT) for a formal audit visit last 13th and 14th April 2010. The QAD Team which is headed by Dr. PN Ramani, NCT QAD Coordinator, was composed of Ms. Ibtisam Abdul Khair, Dr. Nida Gatchalian, Ms. Bamini, Ms. Prema Muralidhar, and Mr. Kunhamu Muhammed. The two-day visit of QAD Team was spent in the formal audits of all college centers/departments, QAD presentations on GFP Standards and Risk Management, and discussion / evaluation of the first draft of NCT Quality Audit Portfolio.

On 13th April, the morning activities were the QAD presentations. After the preliminary meeting with the College Dean and Head of QAFU, the quality audit team proceeded to the college MPH for two presentations. Dr. Ramani first gave a presentation on “Implementing GFP Standards OAC Requirements”, which was attended mostly by college staff involved in general foundation programme. Mr. Michael Reith, HoC of ELC, Mr. Sami Mustafa, HoD of IT, as well as various HoSs of the English Language, IT and Mathematics programs attended the presentation together with other college officials and members of the Quality Assurance Follow-up Unit (QAFU) of the college.  After Dr. Ramani’s presentation, Ms. Bamini gave a presentation on Risk Management, which was attended by the college risk management committee as well as other concerned staff.

A short break followed the two-presentations after which members of the QAD team proceeded to their assigned departments for the formal audits. Audited in the first day of QAD visit were English Language Centre, Engineering Department, Information Technology Department and Administration and Finance.

First part of second day’s activities is audits to the remaining center/departments, including the Educational Technologies Centre, the Business Studies Department, the Student Affairs, and the Academic Affairs. After the formal audits to these departments, the QAD Team divided themselves into five groups and met the different focus groups working on various chapters of the NCT QA Portfolio. The last three hours of the second day’s visit was allotted to the discussion / evaluation of the first draft of the college audit portfolio, as well as the QAD’s recommendations/suggestions to improve the portfolio. The strategies and approaches on how to move forward in portfolio writing and development were also decided, as well as the tentative deadline for submitting the second draft of the portfolio.

The Quality Assurance Department (QAD) of the Ministry of Manpower had recently visited the college as part of the QAD's series of formal audit visits to colleges of technology to monitor quality assurance activities in these colleges. (see related report) The formal visit to NCT was held from 25th to 26th of October, and the QAD Team was headed by Ms. Fatma Al-Barwani, Head of QAD.

As the college is busy preparing for the forthcoming accreditation of the OAC, the visit was focused on the presentations of various groups, led by QAFU, on the different activities that are currently being done in this regard. (check the QAD Visit schedule of activities here) Presentations during the two-day activity included "Overview of the QA Process" by Dr. Ahmed Al-Ghassani, College Dean;  "The NCT Self-Assessment Plan" by Dr. Rolando Lontok, Head of QAFU; "The NCT Experience: Checklists and Questionnaires" by Dr. Imran Hameed Khan, member of the NCT Survey Team; and "Self-Assessment Work Progress" by Dr. Bader Ahmed Al-Khalaf, AD Academics. The QAD team assessed the college’s preparations through these detailed presentations of various activities, and then provided invaluable suggestions and guidance on how to proceed further. Animated discussions on NCT's KPIs, as well as development of the Quality Audit Portfolio were also conducted as part of the visit. These discussions were attended by heads of various academic and non-academic departments, members of self-assessment groups, and members of QAFU. Other NCT staff , such as lecturers in various departments, attended the different activities in the two-day event.

The NCT College Dean, Dr. Ahmed Al-Ghassani, accompanied by the Head of Quality Assurance Follow-up Unit (QAFU), Dr. Rolando Lontok, met with the Ministry of Manpower Quality Assurance Department staff last 21st June 2009 at the QAD Office in Muscat. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the latest version (Version 2C) of NCT’s Strategic Plan, including suggestions by the QAD for its improvement. The meeting, which lasted for more than two hours, produced good results in polishing and improving the strategic plan that is currently being completed by the college.

Dr. Ramani, the QA Specialist that serves as the contact person of the QAD to NCT, led the group in reviewing some areas of the college strategic plan, which the QAD feels can still be improved. The QAD staff made several proposals on select key strategies identified in the latest version of the strategic plan, while the NCT officials tried to explain to them why these strategies are constructed in the existing manner or why they are included in the strategic plan. The group then made a consensus on each topic discussed towards the improvement of the overall plan.

After the meeting, the QAD requested the NCT officials to submit to them a new version of the strategic plan, incorporating all the changes that were agreed upon. They also requested the NCT staff to include an updated version of the college’s KPIs based on the changes made to the key strategies in the strategic plan. The QAD staff intimated that after the strategic plan is finalized, the next step is for the two groups to discuss and agree on the KPIs developed to accompany the said strategic plan. /junlontok

Dr. Bader Ahmed, NCT Asst. Dean of Academic Affairs, made a presentation on ADRI, the quality improvement model adopted by the college in its quality assurance activities, last 26th May 2009 at the NCT Multi-purpose Hall. Dr. Bader’s presentation of ADRI was focused on teaching and learning, and was attended by approximately 110 NCT lecturers, including heads of academic departments and the English Language Centre.

In his presentation, Dr. Bader emphasized the importance of using the model in identifying plans for teaching every academic year, strictly following the said plan, analyzing the results afterwards, and then providing suggestions for improvement to be carried out in the succeeding academic year. He expound on the use of the ADRI model in teaching by giving examples and activities a lecturer can provide/do in each stage of the ADRI model, from approach to improvement. He said that it is very important for the college to have a uniform implementation of the ADRI model, particularly in teaching and learning, so that an institutional standard can be followed in regards the quality assurance work in this area.

Dr. Bader’s presentation lasted for about an hour. He also answered several questions from the audience during the course of his presentation.

In a related development, Mr. Sivakumar, a lecturer from the IT department, won the “Best ADRI” competition that was initiated by the AD Academics. Mr. Sivakumar bested the other finalists by coming up with the most detailed ADRI for his course IT Project. For his efforts, Mr. Sivakumar won an external USB hard disk drive, courtesy of the Asst. Dean of Administration and Finance, Mr. Mohsin Ambusaidi. Mr. Mohsin presented the award to Mr. Sivakumar prior to the ADRI presentation of Dr. Bader. /junlontok

The different QA Working Groups (Self-Study Groups), through the coordination of the Quality Assurance Follow-up Unit (QAFU), held a workshop on key performance indicators (KPIs) for the college last 11th May at the College Multi-purpose Hall. The workshop started at 10:00 am and finished at 2:00pm. The activity was attended by the working groups / self-study groups in the areas of governance and administration, teaching and learning, program development, industry and community engagement, graduate outcomes, student services, staff services and general support and facilities.

During the workshop, the working groups reviewed the KPIs developed by QAFU, and subsequently made their suggestions and recommendations towards improving these KPIs. After the workshop sessions, the different groups submitted their recommendations to QAFU for finalization and compilation, and for the inclusion of the completed KPIs in the final strategic plan of the college.

The NCT Quality Assurance Follow-up Unit (QAFU) conducted the first of a planned series of seminar-workshops for the College staff last October 16 at the College Female Canteen. This is in line with the vigorous preparation of NCT regarding the forthcoming OAC accreditation which is slated to be conducted in early 2011.

The workshop tackled important and timely topics, including the proposed NCT Staff Appraisal scheme, the use of the Quality Audit Manual, and the use of the ADRI model in quality processes. Speakers in the workshop included both internal college staff and an external expert.

The first part of the activity witnessed two presentations. Dr. Rolando Lontok, NCT QAFU Head, talked about the proposed staff appraisal scheme for NCT. In his presentation, he stressed the importance of a comprehensive appraisal, that is, the complete collection of information from all sources. He also emphasized the need to develop standardized instruments for these, and to have a professional group of appraisers/evaluators that will be trained properly in the use of the said instruments. Meanwhile, Mrs. Anna Edgar, a professional development specialist working as a consultant in the Ministry of Manpower, shared her experiences in appraising and evaluating English Language staff. Her presentation also helped immensely in guiding the college on the right path in developing its appraisal scheme.

The second half of the activity saw Mr. Saravanan delivered his presentation on the use of QA Manual. He discussed the important components of the manual to the staff, and he also gave some recommendations on how to properly do the documentations. Dr. Bader, the Asst. Dean for Academic Affairs, on the other hand, explained to the participants how to effectively use the ADRI model in the various processes they are doing in the conduct of their work. He specifically provided an ADRI model related to course delivery and other related activities.

Lively and animated discussions followed each of the presented topics. The College Dean, Dr. Ahmed Al-Ghassani, gave the welcome address. He also assisted Dr. Bader in providing the concluding points of the workshop. About 190 college officials, lecturers and support staff attended the activity, including fifteen coming from other colleges.