self evaluation report - Universitatea de Ştiinţe Agricole şi Medicină ...

The university approach to the quality acquired a new relevance and dimension since 2008, when the QMS
was harmonized with the new requirements and its efficiency extended and increased. The Department of
Quality Assurance (DAC), the Commission for Quality Evaluation and Assurance at the university level (CEAC),
and the faculty representatives, were set up, and at the same time the students’ representatives were
involved, as partners within the quality evaluation and assurance processes.
The role of the Quality Assurance Department (DAC) was re-assessed, currently operating under the direct
supervision of the Vice-Rector’s for Quality Assurance. The activity of the quality structures is analyzed yearly
and the report is published on the university’s website. In this respect, it should be stressed that the
implication of the CEAC members is less extended as targeted, resulting in their limited participation in the
quality evaluation actions, staff training and quality data communication at the faculty and study program
level.
The QMS processes have been defined, covering all the activities of the university: education, research,
administration, relations with the extra-academic environment, students’ services and last, but not least, the
management processes (see: Appendix – QMS documents). Processes, mechanisms, procedures and
instruments for quality planning, management and assurance have been developed and published on the
university’s web site.
The priority has been addressed to the learning and research processes, therefore it is a current need for
completing the administrative and management instruments for quality assurance. The procedures are
developed by the DAC in cooperation with CEAC, are approved by the University Senate, are published on the
university website, and operate complementary to the University Internal Regulations. Every year new
procedures are completed and the existing ones are updated/ improved. This is an on-going process since the
legislation is changing and the procedures permanently need to be updated, and improved.
An important role in quality assurance has the quality internal audit, in multiple ways:
� Institutional internal evaluation is yearly performed by CEAC, with the support of DAC, resulting into a
report presented to the University Senate and published on the website. The conclusions are further used
by the top management in developing a SWOT analysis, aiming to address the identified weak points
within the action plan, for quality improvement.
� Internal evaluation of the study programs is performed annually, under the coordination of the study
program coordinator and with the support of the quality structures.
� External evaluation of study programs is performed by ARACIS. During the academic year 2009-2010, the
Institutional Evaluation was done, as well as a number of 5 study programs were externally evaluated (4
bachelor study programs and 1 master program ), all of them receiving the high confidence qualification.
� The evaluation of the research activity performed by the academic staff is annually performed, using
online evaluation software, based on national evaluation criteria and on internal standards.
� An online tool is also used for the evaluation of the academic staff by students, after each exam session,
but a weak involvement of students in evaluating teachers/ courses performance was registered until
now. Further positive developments are expected based on feedback actions to the students’ ideas
formulated during the evaluation process.
� The overall evaluation of teaching staff is annually performed within the university chairs, by the head of
the chair, including self-assessment, peer review and assessment by students. Individual assessment
results are used at the department, faculty and university level, to establish corrective measures and
decisions making on the teaching staff reward/ forfeit.
An increased pro-active attitude of the Alumni Association is also expected to improve the external evaluation
process. In order to enhance the functionality of the ALUMNI Association, USAMV Cluj-Napoca has developed
a database of contact information for its graduates and an Alumni Panel will follow.
Data collection, processing and analysis on quality evaluation are developed in a systematic way; the CEAC and
their branches at study program level are in charge with data collection and analysis. The results of evaluation
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