FAQs

The Omani Higher Education Quality Management System uses both Quality Audits and Standards Assessment in the process for accrediting higher education institutions (HEIs). Quality Audits are the first step in introducing a comprehensive system of external, institutional quality assurance because it provides the most effective introduction to the principles and practices of quality assurance. The next process, Standards Assessment, involves measuring the HEI against externally imposed standards to determine whether it is performing at a satisfactory level.

The system here has been designed specifically for the Omani higher education sector, which has some unique features such as mostly very young HEIs and a heavy emphasis on programs sourced from foreign providers. Often, other countries use either standards-based accreditation or fitness-for-purpose quality audit for HEIs, and separate processes for accrediting programmes. However, there are many countries that use a combination of Quality Audit and Standards Assessment. South Africa requires its universities to undergo a quality audit process that includes standards assessment. Private HEIs in Australia undergo quality audit and institutional accreditation as two separate processes.

There is no pass or fail result for a Quality Audit. The Quality Audit Report is a text-based document with a number of recommendations, affirmations and commendations. A principle of Quality Audit is that every HEI is doing some things well, and other things in a manner that would benefit from improvements. 

Quality Audit and Standards Assessment both involve a self study followed by an external review. However, the purpose and nature of these activities differ. 
The emphasis of Quality Audit is on evaluating the effectiveness of an institution’s quality assurance and quality enhancement processes against its stated goals and objectives. This is useful for determining the HEI’s capacity and capability to achieve its aspirations and to continually improve. The result of Quality Audit is a public Quality Audit Report containing, amongst other things, Commendations, Affirmations and Recommendations. 
The second stage in Institutional Accreditation involves each HEI undergoing a Standards Assessment. The emphasis of Standards Assessment is on empirically measuring whether an HEI has met the institutional quality standards published by the OAAAQA. This is useful for determining whether an HEI is performing at a satisfactory level. The result of Standards Assessment is a private Assessment Report for the HEI outlining where the standards have and have not been met, and a public declaration of the HEI’s accredited status. 

No. The fact that Quality Audit does not result in a score or a pass/fail does not mean that the Panel Members will be less thorough in their investigations and reporting. Also, the Quality Audit Report is a public document, meaning that the Panel’s findings (positive and negative) may have some impact on the HEI’s reputation. 

Quality Audit is not based upon an external imposed set of standards. Rather, it looks to see how each HEI is identifying for itself the standards that are appropriate for its Mission (bearing in mind a range of external requirements), and achieving them. Quality Audit expects the HEI to exercise the leadership role expected of our country’s educators, and to demonstrate this role in the way it manages its affairs. This is one reason why Quality Audit is a helpful process to undertake prior to considering Standards Assessment. 

Each component of the ROSQA document is under review. Quality Audit is a newly developed element in ROSQA and was not included in the document. However, the “Standards of Good Practice” in ROSQA were used to help define the scope of Quality Audits (see section 4 of the Quality Audit Manual). The number of areas has been changed from 10 in ROSQA to 9 in Quality Audit. 

All eligible HEIs will be audited once within a eight year period. The OAAAQA publishes the National Quality Audit Schedule on its website. In preparing the schedule, the OAAAQA consulted with HEIs on their preferred timing and tried to accommodate these preferences where possible. 

Yes. Over a dozen visits were made to HEIs early in 2006 to discuss a wide range of issues to do with ROSQA. The proposal to introduce Quality Audits came out of those visits and was then written into the draft Quality Plan. The Quality Plan was then subject to extensive consultation, including a two day workshop with the sector on 23-24 January 2007. There was widespread support for the notion of Quality Audit as a first step in the overall Institutional Accreditation process.

No. The OAAAQA acknowledges on its public website those HEIs which have undergone a Quality Audit. The issuing of a certificate has the potential to be misleading, because for many people it implies a particular standard has been reached. Quality Audit does not provide an assurance of that.