The QEC is a Working Committee to quality assure new programmes that will be submitted to the Council on Higher Education for accreditation or applications sent to the Department of Higher Education and Training for the approval of Extended Curriculum Programmes. It will also ensure that the policy implementation is consistent with the university’s quality standards and requirements for the curriculum.
The Committee also plays a developmental role and makes recommendations to academic departments prior to them serving applications at faculty boards for recommendation to Senate. The decisions from the QEC are intended to assist departments, faculties and senate.
Another of the committee’s functions is to recommend approval of amendments to programmes.
In terms of benchmarking, CPUT is engaging with the Durban University of Technology (DUT) regarding the processes of evaluating academic programmes.
Norman Ronald, Acting Director of Quality Assurance at DUT and guest speaker at the launch, said the committee recommends new academic programmes in phases of programme development, approval and implementation.
Ronald highlighted success factors which he attributed to his university’s evaluations committee in areas including training and development, collegiality and professionalism, updates on trends and developments as well as contingency planning and adaptability.
Marianne Bester from the Fundani Centre at CPUT, presented an overview of the CPUT process and documentation and the staff members who attended the launch engaged her on the contents of her presentation.
