Academic Committee on the Quality of Teaching and Learning

1.1 This Regulation defines the status, tasks, and functions of the Academic Committee on the Quality of Teaching and Learning (hereinafter referred to as the "Committee") of the Faculties of the Non-Profit Joint Stock Company "Al-Farabi Kazakh National University", as well as the procedure for its formation and interaction with structural units and other collegial bodies of the University.

1.2 The Committee is established as an independent expert body responsible for assessing the effectiveness and efficiency of the educational processes implemented at the Faculty.

1.3 In its activities, the Committee is guided by the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan "On Education"; regulatory documents of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan; the Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance in the European Higher Education Area (ESG 2015); the Anti-Corruption Standard ensuring openness and transparency in higher and/or postgraduate education organizations, approved by the Minister of Education and Science Order No. 174 dated May 4, 2020; the University Charter, these Regulations, and other internal documents and acts of the University.

1.4 The Committee is accountable in its activities to the Member of the Board – Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs, specifically the Accreditation and Institutional Research Center, the Office for Educational Program Design of the Department for Academic Affairs, and the Dean of the Faculty.

2.1 The following abbreviations are used in these Regulations:

NJSC – Non-Profit Joint Stock Company;

ESG – European Standards and Guidelines (Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance in the European Higher Education Area (ESG, 2015));

EP – Educational Program;

AIRC – Accreditation and Institutional Research Center;

ATSS – Academic and Teaching Staff of the University;

DAA – Department for Academic Affairs;

CDMS – Course Discipline Methodological Complex.

2.2 The following terms and definitions are used in these Regulations:

Internal Quality Assurance System – a management tool and mechanism for achieving educational process outcomes in accordance with the needs of stakeholders.

Educational Program (EP) – a comprehensive set of key characteristics of education, including the goals, outcomes, and content of learning, the organization of the educational process, methods of implementation, and criteria for assessing learning outcomes.

Quality of Education – a balanced alignment of education as a result, as a process, as a value, and as a system with established needs, goals, requirements, and norms (standards). The quality of education is the result of the interaction between teachers, students, and the educational environment of the University.

Teaching Quality Monitoring – the process of tracking the compliance of a teacher’s pedagogical achievements and outcomes with the requirements of regulatory legal acts in the field of education and science, the qualification requirements for employee positions, and the internal regulatory documents of the University.

Learning Outcomes – a confirmed set of knowledge, skills, and competencies acquired and demonstrated by the student upon completing the EP, along with developed values and attitudes.

Quality Assurance in Education – the process of creating conditions that contribute to the quality of education (provision of educational resources, infrastructure, curricula, and programs).

Guarantee – an objective and justified evaluation of educational outcomes to ensure its quality level.

Quality Enhancement – the systematic activities of the university aimed at continuously improving the effectiveness and efficiency of processes.

Conditions for the Implementation of the Educational Program – a combination of personnel, material and technical, methodological, informational, financial, and social support for the educational process.

Key Competencies of a University Graduate – systemic thinking (critical, strategic), creativity, communication (cross-disciplinary, informational), multiculturalism and openness, project and process management, flexibility, awareness, objective evaluation and decision-making, creative abilities, readiness to embrace new ideas.

Quality Indicators – guiding principles for quality improvement, serving to measure and signal the quality of the educational process.

Categories of Quality Indicators – quantitative, qualitative, input, process indicators, output, strategic, actions.

Quality Culture – quality is consciously integrated into the daily activities of the faculty. The Faculty evaluates its own practices in consideration of external requirements and contributes to the improvement of personnel training.

SWOT Analysis – a method of strategic planning involving the identification of internal and external factors affecting the organization.

3.1 The purpose of the Committee's activities is to ensure the quality of education at the Faculty in accordance with the legislative requirements of the Republic of Kazakhstan in the field of higher and postgraduate education, to analyze and monitor compliance with the internal quality assurance system based on international standards, and to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of academic activities.

3.2 The primary objective of the Committee is:

- The organization of an internal quality assurance system for education at the university.

3.3 The main direction of the Committee's activities is the management of the Faculty's internal quality assurance system.

3.4 The Committee's main functions are:

- Evaluation of the quality of educational programs at three levels: bachelor's, master's, and doctoral studies;

- Participation in the organization and conduct of monitoring the external and internal conditions and the state of the educational process at the Faculty through surveys to promptly identify deviations in student training quality from established standards;

- Analysis of survey results of students and graduates regarding their satisfaction with teaching quality, quality of scientific advising, and the quality of the organization of the educational and research process at the Faculty;

- Analysis of the reasons for deviations, development of proposals for corrective measures and actions to prevent unsatisfactory training outcomes at all levels (such as improving curricula and educational programs, enhancing the training of teachers and other personnel, as well as improving information, material, and other support);

- Determination of the degree to which educational programs meet labor market needs;

- Development of recommendations for improving educational programs;

- Evaluation of the quality of course discipline methodological complexes (CDMS, syllabi);

- Control over the quality of classroom teaching, including open lessons;

- Control over the quality of examination materials for final assessments;

- Implementation of students' right to participate in the management of the educational process to ensure the protection of students' rights to receive quality education, as well as to assist the Faculty in solving tasks aimed at preparing competitive graduates;

- Monitoring the academic performance of students in educational programs to develop proposals for improving the quality of discipline teaching;

- Control over the accessibility of educational resources for university students;

- Monitoring students' awareness of educational process issues and informing the public about university news and activities;

- Review of cases of academic dishonesty by students and academic staff. The Committee's decisions on violations of academic integrity serve as a basis for disciplinary and administrative actions.

4.1 The Committee consists of teachers, students, and representatives of the administrative and managerial staff.

4.2 The personal composition and the Chair of the Committee are approved by the decision of the Academic Council of the Faculty.

4.3 The composition of the Committee is approved for a period of no less than two years, with the possibility of replacing members and including new members if necessary, upon the recommendation of the Academic Council of the Faculty.

4.4 The Committee operates according to a work plan, which is approved by the Academic Council of the Faculty for the academic year.

4.5 Meetings of the Faculty’s Committee for Quality in Education are documented in minutes. A secretary is appointed from among the members to maintain the minutes of the Committee meetings.

4.6 Issues concerning the quality of education are discussed at Committee meetings as necessary, but at least once per quarter.

4.7 A report on the work of the Committee is submitted for review to the Academic Council of the Faculty at least once a year.

4.8 Methodological support for key educational programs by the Chair and members of the Committee is provided through co-teaching. Accordingly, compensation for the Chair and Committee members (excluding students and representatives of administrative and managerial staff) is made according to the current regulations for calculating workload and teaching duties for the academic and teaching staff.

4.9 The Committee interacts with the Faculty's structural units, external organizations, and institutions within the framework of the Committee's various activities, if necessary to fulfill the tasks and functions assigned to it.

4.10 The Committee is responsible for the objectivity and quality of its decisions.

4.11 The Committee has the right to:

Submit to the Faculty’s Academic Council issues related to the Committee’s activities;
Present proposals to the Faculty Dean, organizations, and associations on matters within the Committee’s jurisdiction;
Request necessary reports and documents for the Committee's activities;
Support and participate in the assessment of the quality of the educational process at the Faculty;
Provide recommendations on improving the quality of educational programs, course discipline methodological complexes, teaching, and forms and methods of education;
Reject and return poorly or negligently prepared documents for revision;
Appoint and conduct expert evaluations and establish commissions for various types of audits;
Request necessary documents from any teacher of the department, staff member of the dean’s office, or any employee of the university within the scope of its competence;
Involve teachers in performing specific assignments.