Introduction
The Total Quality Assurance and Institutional Planning Office is a component under the Office of the Principal and is a specific approach to quality management.
It primarily involves a holistic, organization-wide focus on continuous improvement and begins or ends with customer satisfaction.
The unit is based on 4 pillars
Fort Cox is divided into three programmes:
- Developing, compilation and updating Institutional Calendar.
- Developing, compilation and updating Prospectus.
- Strategy – Review: the strategy is reviewed annually.
- Institutional Performance – Developing, compilation and updating Quarterly and Annual Report.
- Review Audit & Risk reports and compliance.
- Records Management and Keeping – implementation and compliance on policies and signed partnership documents.
- Accreditation Bodies Requirements – CHE, SAQA and ECSA: Self Evaluation Report
- Institutional Self Evaluation: Periodical Evaluation of the institute for offering the programmes that were accredited to conduct. Implementing the recommendations by accreditation bodies.
- Teaching and Learning Evaluation - Through student lecturer evaluation, Course Delivery, Technical Knowledge, Assessment of Teaching Strategies and Methods.
- Client Satisfaction Survey: Holistic assessment of facilities, teaching and learning resources, administration, internet availability and student wellness.
- Revision of Academic Rules: Periodically updating of the Academic rules to meet the changes in the national policies and acts.
- Consultation – on the Gazette (Colleges transferred to DHET) stakeholders.
- Policies: All the signed policies are kept, if policies need to be reviewed, the TQA office will inform the section in question, as the office enforces adherence and compliance to the policies.
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Compliance with study materials: For quality teaching and learning, the TQA Office must ensure the required teaching tools are adhered to and available.
Currently, the office is embarking on the standardization of teaching materials for all programs within the Institute.
TQA Office
Duties
- Facilitation of strategic and operational planning of the Institute.
- Development of Annual Performance Plans.
- Liaise with the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA), Council of Higher Education (CHE), Quality Council for Trades Occupations (QCTO), Employer bodies and other statutory bodies on quality assurance matters and qualification accreditation.
- Liaison with internal and external auditors.
- Generate quarterly, midterm and annual reports in line with relevant prescripts.
- Develop and monitor risk and fraud register.
- Develop policies, standard operating procedures and strategies that are relevant to quality assurance.
- Be a custodian of all institute academic information and records.
- Render technical support to the Principal.
- Manage human and financial resources of the component.
Office Personnel
Duties:
- Supports the implementation of Total Quality Management systems across the institute.
- Coordinates and consolidates key institutional reports, including quarterly performance reports, Annual Operational Plan, audit responses, and annual report.
- Assists with programme accreditation processes and ensures compliance with regulatory body requirements.
- Promotes adherence to policies and procedures for admissions, registration, and examination processes.
- Coordinates student surveys and contributes to continuous quality improvement initiatives.
- Facilitates the updating of institutional publications such as the prospectus and academic calendar.