Quality Enhancement

Quality Enhancement

Stakeholders’ needs and feedback serve as input to curriculum design and development

The PBP is built based on the framework issued by MOET, adjusted and updated periodically according to the Regulations and Guidelines of VNU. The study program was first built in the 2006-2007 academic year and officially put into training since 2008. So far, the PBP has undergone three adjustments (2012, 2015, 2019). The process of building and adjusting the curriculum is implemented according to the PDCA cycle to make plan, conduct surveys, analyze results, propose changes and improve the study program according to the feadback of the stakeholders (students, employers, alumni, academic staff, educational managers, experts in the same field etc.). In the adjustment of study program, the lecturers are key persons in receiving feedback from stakeholders for designing and modification of study programme.

In the first and the next of subsequent adjustments and updates, the Faculty has invited experts, prestigious scientists and educational managers to participate in discussions and suggestions for amendments. In addition, the Faculty also conducts a referendum on the feadback of lecturers, students, alumni and employers, especially to the employers who have been recruiting graduates and who have potential to continue receiving our graduates.

Based on the feedback of the stakeholders, the expert group will develop proposals for The adjustment of current curriculum. The Education and Science Council of the Faculty has meetings to give reviews, comments and approvals. The Faculty Board will propose the evaluation and complete the acceptance procedure at the University level. The appraisal council will give comments, then the expert group will continue editing the curriculum based on the acceptance record. USSH will make a request to VNU for final evaluation and officially the issuance of the curriculum after that.

In 2019, the Faculty of Political Science conducted a survey of alumni, lecturers, students, and employers. The feedback of stakeholders was an important basis for the Faculty to promptly adjust the study program and the ELOs, ensuring that the learners were competent in accordance with the requirements of the labor market and society. Survey results in 2019 showed that more than 80% of employers recommended the faculty to focus on training special skills for students such as: Communication and presentation skills, especially foreign languages. Moreover, it is advisable to adjust the ELOs in the direction of raising Bloom's cognitive scale from understanding, mastering to applying, analyzing and evaluating. Acquiring the feadback of employers, the Faculty has adjusted to increase the duration of a number of modules focusing on skills training such as: the method of writing essays and presentations on politics (from 2 credits to 3 credits); the module of approaching and dealing with political situations (from 2 credits to 3 credits); professional practice (from 4 credits to 5 credits); graduation practice (from 2 credits to 5 credits). Additionally, the Faculty also organizes free English classes and establish English and reading clubs to help students improve their foreign language and professional level.

The Faculty also conducted a survey to get feedback from students about the quality of modules and teaching activities of lecturers. This survey was conducted by questionnaire following the form of VNU. Evaluation criteria included: Teaching activities, Objectives, curriculum and content, assessment and facilities conditions. According to the survey results in 2019, over 80% of the students assessed the satisfaction with the above criteria, from 4.1 to 4.7 on a scale of 1 to 5 (1: The least satisfied; 5: The most satisfied). The results were sent to each lecturer in charge so that lecturers could adjust their teaching activities accordingly.

Based on feedback channels from alumni, employers, feadback of the network of institutions receiving internships, the Faculty has proposed and implemented plans to adjust and update the study program such as: : revising and adjusting the syllabus accordingly, pilot teaching using modern teaching methods etc.

The curriculum design and development process is established and subjected to evaluation and enhancement

The process of designing, building and adjusting the curriculum of the PBP is based on two basic principles: (1) Strictly complying with the provisions of the Law on Higher Education as well as other relevant regulations, the inspection and supervision of MOET, VNU on curriculum; (2) properly and fully implementing the VNU's Regulations and specific guidelines from the University, accordingly, the curriculum developed, reviewed and adjusted must be based on the feadback of the stakeholders.

Based on the feedback of the stakeholders, the expert group will develop proposals for the current curriculum framework. The Education and Research Council gathers for a meeting to make review, comments and approval. The Faculty Board will propose the evaluation and complete the acceptance procedure at the University level. Next, the appraisal council will give comments, and the expert group continue to edit the proposal based on the acceptance record. After that, the University will make a request to VNU for final evaluation and officially issue the curriculum after the evaluation. The study program will be officially published on the website so that students, lecturers and others have the opportunity to learn about it.

According to the training regulations of VNU and MOET, basing on the needs of stakeholders and the labor market, the undergraduate degree program of Politics is periodically adjusted. Each time, the adjustment rate ranges from 10% to 15% and does not exceed the maximum of 20%. As mentioned in section 10.1, the curriculum of the undergraduate program in politics was revised 3 times in 2012, 2015, 2019.

When designing, adjusting or updating the curriculum, the Faculty always refers to and compares it with the ones of prestigious universities in the world, namely: National University of Singapore, Harvard University, University of Pennsylvania, New York University, Washington University. Some modules that the Faculty has referenced to develop the curriculum are: Introduction to Political Science, Introduction to International Relation, International Politics on World Stage, Introduction to Comparative Politics, Public Policy, Political Parties, Research Methods in Political Science, Introduction to Public Administration etc.

In 2014, VNU officially issued Guidelines on quality assessment through feedback from stakeholders in order to build a training quality assurance database system for study program and training institutions. Specifically, at the University level, the Faculty of Political in collaboration with the USSH-CEQA collect feedback from students, alumni and employers about the curriculum content, employment status of graduated students, quality of students at work. In addition, at the end of the academic year, lecturers must also evaluate their own teaching activities. The results of this annual survey are the database system for the Faculty to build short-term and long-term quality improvement solutions for the study programs.

After each revision of curriculum, the Faculty also periodically checks the compilation of module syllabus and textbook development to meet the ELOs. The module syllabuses are assigned to the instructors who are directly in charge of the compilation. The module syllabuses are assessed at 2 levels, at the Faculty level (chaired by the Faculty’s Education and Research Council) and at the University level (chaired by the University’s Education and Research Council). The syllabus of the module is assessed in terms of the necessity, the training quality of the module, the professional quality, the balance of training content, pedagogy, and the feasibility to meet the ELOs so that it can be applied in training.

In 2017, the PBP was peer assessed by the VNU on the quality of training according to the set of standards for the quality assesment of AUN-QA. Based on this evaluation report, the Faculty revised the ELOs and study program framework in 2019 to review and re-evaluate all strengths, weaknesses and limitations to improve the training quality.

 

The teaching and learning processes and student assessment are continuously reviewed and evaluated to ensure their relevance and alignment

According to VNU's training regulations, the USSH has clear and detailed regulations on testing and quality assurance, inspection - legislation to properly implement activities of organizing examinations, testing and assessing students to ensure the quality of learning to meet the ELOs of the academic modules and curriculum.

The Faculty of Political Science complies with the regulations on training activities, testing and evaluation of students' learning results, which are specified and detailed in the VNU’s regulations on higher education. Each semester, the University has also issued specific instructions on how to organize exams for all modules, making exam questions, printing the exam question papers, marking the students’ answers and exam monitoring. The process of testing - checking and assessing students' learning results is carried out according to ISO standards.

In addition, the assessment and evaluation of learners' learning results are conducted closely by lecturers of the Faculty of Political Science following the module outline. In each module outline, the regulations on the forms of examinations, tests and assessments are clearly stated. The forms of assessment for each module are diversified on demand and decided by the teachers, meeting the ELOs of the module, including: individual exercises, group exercises, class discussions, essays, oral exams etc.. These proposals are carefully evaluated before being applied.

 As for internships and thesis modules, the Faculty holds meetings to build the plan, as well as assign the officer in charge of the internship group or assign instructors, reviewers, and grading committee for graduation theses in accordance with the regulations of the University and VNU Hanoi.

The issue of exam questions is taken seriously by the Faculty. The lecturers are directly responsible for the exam questions, while the Head of the Department is responsible for reviewing the professional aspects and forms to ensure compatibility with the ELOs of the modules.

Regarding grading and evaluation of tests, examinations, lecturers of the Faculty of Political Science always ensure the fairness, objectivity and transparency. With each form of examination, lecturers have a clear requirement for the content and inform clearly about the grading scale.

After the examination process, if the students have questions about the test results, scores or feel that their results may not reflect their expectations, the Faculty of Political Science complies seriously the regulations of VNU and the University on the exam result review procedure with the participation and supervision of the Office of Inspection and Legislation, and Office of Academic Affairs. In order to ensure the fairness and objectivity in the examination and evaluation of students' learning results, the exam result review has now been implemented on training management software in order to promptly handle complaints and questions about students' scores.

The University has issued specific instructions in every semester on how to organize examinations for all modules, sample test papers and grading scale, printing the exam papers, marking the exam answers, and clearly announcing the exam schedule on the student portal. The question bank is built, the organization of exams and marking the exam answers ensures a strict and rigorous process under the supervision of the University's Office of Inspection and Legislation. The exam and evaluation results of students are publicized transparently within the prescribed time limit. All violations of examination regulations are recorded in writing and strictly handled. The inspection on examination process in each semester is conducted by the Office of Inspection and Legislation in accordance with ISO standards.

Lecturers in the Faculty regularly attend training modules on modern methods of teaching and evaluating students according to ELOs.

 

Research output is used to enhance teaching and learning

The Faculty of Political Science is one of the faculties which have strong focus on research. The research works are increasingly applicable, making a significant contribution in improving teaching and learning.

The research works in English of officials and lecturers have contributed to improving the quality of teaching and learning, especially in teaching the contents of the Vietnamese political system, e-government, public administration reform in Vietnam etc.

The scientific research movement in the Faculty has the active participation of not only lecturers but also students. Many research topics or theses of students, are also aspects addressed in the major scientific research of lecturers.

Based on scientific research topics of the students, the lecturers consider adding practical and topical information and knowledge in accordance with the students' learning trends in the curriculum and lectures. Thus, lecturers can provide students with more lively, practical, and attractive lectures, in accordance with the students’ research interests shown through their scientific research.

Based on the scientific research of learners and lecturers, the Faculty of Political Science encourages learners and lecturers to have interactive research. A typical example is that the Faculty has actively organized seminars and conferences in accordance with the scientific research needs of lecturers and students. In addition to creating a diverse learning environment approaching the world academics, these seminars also provide learners with new research directions on practical issues in the learning process that learners have little chance to experience.

Quality of support services and facilities (at the library, laboratory, IT facility and student services) is subjected to evaluation and enhancement

Students of the Faculty can use the common library system of VNU, which is the Library and Information Center, with a system of textbooks and reference materials for study program in Politics. In order to improve the quality of service for students, the Library collects feedback from students every year. Students are satisfied with the quality of reader support, and the proportion of learners access tends to increase.

At the end of the academic year, the University's Quality Assurance Center cooperates with the Faculty of Political Science to collect feedback from learners about the evaluation of teaching quality of lecturers, activities of evaluating and assessing, facilities and conditions to ensure quality for teaching and learning activities. All of the modules in the PBP receive feedback.

According to the assessment report in the last 3 years, the student feedback on facilities for teaching and learning according to the scale of level 1 - Strongly disagree to 5 - Strongly agree, the results in Table 1 show the students' feadback on each aspect, specifically as follows:

Table 47. Average rating score of students' assessment on facility conditions

for teaching - learning from the 2016-2017 academic year to the 2018-2019 academic year

TT	Evaluation criteria	2016-2017	2017-2018	2018-2019
1	Lecture halls/classrooms meet the demands of teaching and learning	3.72	4.17	4.21
2	Equipments in the lecture hall (audio-visual media, internet utility applications etc.)	3.54	4.10	3.93
3	Conditions of facilities for self-study activities of students	3.57	4,13	4.01
4	Laboratory equipments that meets academic requirements	3.65	4.02	3.90
Average score		3.62	4.11	4.01

In general, students tend to satisfy with current facility conditions. The rating score in the academic year 2017-2018 was 4.11/5 and did not decrease significantly in the academic year 2018-2019 which was 4.01/5. Based on the feedback of students on a regular basis, the Training Quality Assurance Center sends quality improvement recommendations to the Board of Rectors, and Office of Administration. Recommendations for quality improvement will be put into an overall improvement plan, which is implemented periodically during the summer vacation period, or the maintenance and repair of computer equipment, projectors, microphones will be done promptly upon request from lecturers, the Faculty and University. In the last 3 years, students are satisfied with facilities. There are only a few feadback around the request of having more air conditioner in the campus, the low quality of wifi network, and so on. Basing on those comments, since the academic year 2019-2020, the University has installed air conditioners at 80% of lecture halls.The systems of fans, projectors, and sound are replaced and checked regularly by service units.

The equipments are fully exploited and used at maximum capacity. Most teachers, and students are satisfied with the quality of the equipments.

Every year, the University sends a team for the inventory of fixed assets to all the units in of the University in general and the Faculty of Political Science in particular to check and evaluate the quality of equipments. The equipments which are old and heavily damaged will be liquidated and replaced with new ones.

The University also signed periodic contracts with a number of partners to promptly repair and maintain informatics equipment, elevators, and printers such as contracts with 3COM Co., Ltd., Tan Hong Ha and Misubishi Vietnam to ensure the best conditions for the University's operation.

The matters of hygiene, environment, and disease prevention of the Faculty and University are responsible by Green Planet Co., Ltd. and Thanh Cong Cooperative according to the contracts signed between these companies and the University. Every year, Hanoi Department of Health supervises and inspects the environment at the University and the result is always good.

The fire prevention and fighting work of the Faculty/University is inspected and supervised annually by the Hanoi City Fire Prevention & Fighting Police Department. The University set up the Fire Prevention and Fighting Committee to monitor, supervise and regularly check the fire prevention and fighting work.

Feedback of learners, officials, lecturers in annual surveys will be the basis for the University to consider renewing contracts with service providers or not.

In addition to students' evaluation of facility conditions that directly serve the learning, the Faculty collects students' feedback on other support activities related to students' life such as: quality of dormitory rooms, health care for students, academic advising, etc.

With the assessment of students on student support activities in the academic year 2018-2019, the survey results are presented in Table 48.

Table 48. Average score of students' assessment of the quality of student support activities

(Survey data in 02 academic years from students of Political Science)

STT	Evaluation criteria	Academic year 2017-2018	Academic year 2018-2019
11	Academic advisors support learners effectively	3.21	3.88
22	The class board works effectively	3.85	3.97
33	Students are supported effectively in scientific research	3.88	3.86
44	Students are fully informed about the guidelines and policies of the Party, laws of the State, rules and regulations of VNU	3.85	4.12
55	Students are allowed to contribute ideas to the University/Faculty (on all issues).	3.91	3.88
66

Students are rewarded promptly and satisfactorily3.853.9677Students are provided regularly with scholarship information4.004.0588The student selection for scholarships is done fairly3.914.0699The selection of participants for exchange programs ensures fairness3.853.96110Quick approval procedures for student loan3.884.05111The service attitude of staff in charge of student is good3.793.97112Arts/sports activities for students are held regularly3.854.05113Extracurricular/volunteer activities for students are well organized3.914.04114Effective vocational training for students3.683.83115Activities of clubs are useful for students3.743.86

Through the survey data in the last two academic years, we see that students are satisfied with the quality of the Faculty and University's support to learners. Table 10.5.2 shows that students are highly satisfied with the criteria: “Application process for scholarship granting” (Average score = 4.06), “loan approval” (Average score = 4.05), “ Students are fully informed about the guidelines and policies of the Party, laws of the State, rules and regulations of VNU” (Average score = 4.12),” Students are provided regularly with scholarship information “ (Average score = 4.05). The criteria “ Good service attitude of staff in charge of students”; “The selection of participants for exchange programs ensures fairness”; “ The class board works effectively “ was rated as satisfactory in the second highest score group (Average score = 3.96). The remaining evaluation criteria are in the score range of 3.83 - 3.88. In general, students are satisfied with the activities to support learners from the Faculty and the University.

The stakeholder’s feedback mechanisms are systematic and subjected to evaluation and enhancement

USSH-CEQA under USSH was established on June 21, 2006. Currently, the Center is the focal point for implementing the educational quality assessment at the University level, evaluating the educational quality of the study programs and implementing quality assessment activities through the feedback of the parties involved.

Feedback mechanism of stakeholders is implemented systematically, evaluated and improved continuously and regularly. USSH-CEQA has built and completed a system of questionnaires to collect feedback from stakeholders to have information to evaluate the quality of the study programs periodically as well as at the university level. Annual QA meeting makes review on the feedback mechanism.

The self-assessment/external assessment/internal peer assessment of education quality of curriculum and University are built into the unified implementation procedures in faculties/Departments/University. The process of self-assessment of study program quality and self-assessment of University-level education quality is implemented according to ISO standards.

Every year, the quality assessment activities through feedback from stakeholders are carried out in collaboration with the Faculty in accordance with the Guidelines of VNU. Currently, according to the regulations and guidelines of VNU, in the first week of May every year, all members of the Faculty have to perform self-evaluation of 4 tasks: the task of teaching; scientific research and technology transfer task; the task of training management and the task of learning and fostering to raise professional qualifications. Periodically, the Faculty of Political Science coordinates with the USSH-CEQA to carry out the activities of collecting learners' feadback about the modules and collecting feedback on the quality of student support activities.

  In addition, activities of collecting feedback from employers about the quality of graduates, collecting feedback of alumni on study programs are implemented once a year and reported before Nov 30^th every year. The feedback of stakeholders is used in the activities of evaluating the quality of study program in Politics in particular and the curriculum of the University in general.

            In the stages of adjusting and updating the curriculum of the undergraduate program in Politics, the results of feedback from stakeholders about the ELOs, the amount of knowledge in the study program are used as the basis for adjusting the ELOs and the amount of knowledge of modules in the study program. During the adjustments, the questionnaire system has been adjusted accordingly to collect the most accurate information.

 The Faculty of Political Science often organizes seminars, using a variety of media forms to listen to suggestions and feedback from officials, lecturers, students, alumni, employers in order to improve the quality of training. The Faculty of Political Science has built a website of the Faculty (http://khct.ussh.vnu.edu.vn/) to regularly update the news and activities of the Faculty, set up a network of students, graduate students, and PhD students in Politics on social media to regularly exchange information and listen to the needs, aspirations and feedbacks of students and alumni.