The decision to establish a quality assurance unit
The Quality Assurance Unit was established at the Faculty of Pharmacy - Ain Shams University with the beginning of the faculty's quest to obtain accreditation in accordance with the plan of the Ministry of Higher Education to develop education in Egyptian universities after the approval of the Faculty Council to establish the unit on 4/18/2005, and the members of the unit were carefully selected to achieve the maximum possible communication between the unit and those in charge of the educational and research process, the unit has also been supported by a group of administrators to help achieve the unit's goals and support its independence.
And in the Faculty Council on 9/29/2019, the name of the Quality Assurance Unit was changed to the Quality Assurance Unit, similar to the Quality Assurance Center at the university.
About the unit
In an attempt to prepare a distinguished graduate and to gain community confidence in efficient performance, quality assurance and continuous development of higher education institutions, systems and programs in Egypt, the Ministry of Higher Education established a Project Management Unit, and among its projects was the “Quality Assurance and Accreditation Project” for all faculties Accordingly, the faculty applied for a project to establish an internal quality system (QAAP) on March 30, 2005, then the faculty obtained the Continuous Development and Qualification for Accreditation Project (CIQAP) on 3/5/2008. The Faculty of Pharmacy obtained accreditation on 10/11/2011 from the National Authority for Quality Assurance of Education and Accreditation, and the accreditation was renewed for the second time on 7/19 / 2017 from the National Authority for Education Quality Assurance and Accreditation.
The Quality Unit is an independent unit affiliated to the Dean of the Faculty administratively and the Quality Assurance Center at the University technically. Its reference is the National Authority for Education Quality Assurance and Accreditation.
Attracting international students policy
Justice and non discrimination policy
Policies for excuses and appeals
Policy for documenting exam results
Policy for following up of assessment process by the exam board committee
Policy for rewarding distinguished students
Policy which ensures the fairness of assessment process
Assembly of Executive Committees and National Accreditation Standards
The quality assurance unit adopts12 national accreditation standards for institutions of higher education which comprise:
● Strategic planning
● Leadership and governance
● Quality improvement and management
● Academic staff and teaching assistants
● Administrative personnel
● Financial resources
● Academic reference standards and programmatic development
● Teaching and learning strategies
● Students and alumni
● Scientific research and scientific activities
● Postgraduate studies
● Social accountability and community service
Seven executive committees evolve from the quality assurance unit. These include:
- Strategic planning committee
- Strategic plan follow-up committee
- Head of standards committee
- Internal audit committee
- Training and awareness committee
- Questionnaire’s surveillance committee
- Teaching, learning, and assessment strategy follow-up committe
Based on the training needs of academic and administrative staff, the quality assurance unit organizes training sessions and workshops. Among the workshops held since 2020 till the present:
- Awareness sessions on authorship rights and copyrights.
- Awareness sessions on the main concepts of continuous quality improvement and the national accreditation standards adopted by the Faculty.
- Activities of the institutional review board and research ethics.