Academic Audit

The academic audit exercise being undertaken by the University aims to provide faculties, institutes and centres (F/I/C), and the University as a whole, with an opportunity to evaluate their quality of service.

Academic and support staff together with students have an excellent opportunity to evaluate the extent that F/I/Cs contribute to the academic, professional and social aspirations of their members.

Academic Audit Teams (AATs), composed of an external auditor, the Dean's or Director's delegate (DDD) and a Quality Assurance Committee (QAC) member will be looking at the quality of teaching and research output, as well as the administrative and support efficiency of the F/I/C they visit.

Preparations are also in hand for an audit of the University's administrative and finance sectors. AATs will be aware of the limitations under which F/I/C have to operate: it is for this reason that two out of the three members of each team are University of Malta staff.

In the QAC communication last December, F/I/Cs were asked to nominate their respective external auditor, a task that has now almost been completed. The External Auditors are academics from other universities who are authorities in one or more of the subjects taught in the F/I/C they visit.

It is expected that while external auditors will look at and evaluate the F/I/Cs' work from a critical international perspective, they will do so with an understanding of the Maltese context.

The role of the DDDs is to facilitate the process and ensure the successful conclusion of the Academic Audit exercise in their respective F/I/C.

In consultation with their Dean or Director, and with the support of the senior administrative officer in the F/I/C, they are responsible for collecting the required documents, data and materials. They are also responsible for setting up meetings with staff, students and others the AAT may wish to meet. They are the link between the F/I/C and the Academic Audit Team.

The function of the QAC representatives is to ensure that the aims of the Academic Audit are achieved through a smooth, complete and transparent process. They can answer questions and clarify issues that may arise prior, during and following the proceedings. The QAC representatives are not expected to have expert knowledge on areas taught or researched in the F/I/C they visit.

The members of the QAC, together with the members of staff in the F/I/Cs, are on a learning curve in this exercise. Although members of the QAC have researched extensively on how other universities conduct their academic audits, we have to keep in mind that this is our first attempt, a factor that permits certain allowances without jeopardising our professional objectives.

Using the Academic Audit document (available on the QAC Web page) as a guide and the documents provided by the F/I/Cs as valuable data, the AAT will hold meetings with the Dean or Director, Heads of Departments or Divisions, the Faculty/Institute/Centre Board, students and support staff.

Where appropriate the AATs will also meet past students as well as present or prospective employers of the F/I/Cs graduates. At the end of the audit, the team will use the academic audit template to draw up its report, which will be presented to the respective F/I/C Board, their staff and Senate.

At this point it is best to remember that the overall aim of this academic audit is to identify our strengths and weaknesses to suggest ways to enhance the first and remedying the second.

This exercise should enable the University to gauge its services with those of overseas institutions - and in the process help to maintain its rightful place among other European universities.