Quality management embraces both the teaching & learning processes and the organisational management of a VET institution.  It is also an explicit function, perhaps with a specific department being responsible for the implementation and promotion of all quality-improving activities in these two areas. Quality management can even include the monitoring of these activities, through an assessment and evaluation of quality achievements on which proposals for further quality improvements within the VET institution will be based. A fully operational internal quality management system (QMS): covers a range of basic tasks or activities; employs a variety of tools for assessment and analysis; illustrates and communicates plans and results achieved; and uses particular instruments to promote a quality culture within the VET institution and externally with partnerships and various stakeholders. Management processes within the organisation are designed to ensure an appropriate environment and optimal preconditions for teaching and learning. Among the many management tasks, the most important for quality are the promotion and further training of teachers and trainers, providing adequate facilities and equipment to support teaching and training, and last but not least the efficient management of financial resources.

These activities are generally coordinated and implemented by a core quality team within a VET institution, bringing together quality officers and experts under the overall responsibility of a quality manager. The quality manager, in charge of personnel and the quality system, should:

• be responsible for the functioning and improvement of the quality system;
• design, approve and issue documents within the quality system;
• hold annual meetings to assess the functioning of the quality system;
• plan and organise internal audits of quality, and suggest revision and preventive actions;
• encourage staff to make use of the quality system and to submit proposals for improvement;
• manage the activities of internal auditors and quality representatives in departments and divisions.

The IQAM course is recommended to headmasters, teachers and managers of educational institutes who are working in both the formulation of a quality culture, and in the coordination of quality improvement activities. It is aimed at transferring knowledge and upgrading practical skills for planning, establishing and operating institutional quality assurance system, and for the coordinating of the work of the QA team of the institute. The course combines practical experience of the European Union's initiatives in the field of improvement of education quality, and it illustrates ICT-based practical quality management methods as well.

Level of award: IE NFQ SPA Level 8, EQF Level 6

Credit: 30 credit in the Hungarian Teacher Further Training program (1 credit = 30-40 hours)

Certificate: "Institutional Quality Assurance Manager" - certificate issued by the OpenQAsS consortium

Target Group: headmasters, teachers, two years experiences recommended

Prior knowledge/experiences - entry prerequisites: ICT basics, basic skills in MS Office

IQAM course was developed in the OpenQAsS (http://openqass.itstudy.hu/) Erasmus+ project by the experts of five countries, Hungary, Italy, Ireland, Spain and the UK.

Assignments and performance criteria

The tasks the participants are expected to fulfil within the course, used to calculate the global performance level of the participant:

1. Activity in online collaboration and in the discussion Forums related to the modules. (0-20 points)

2. One credited Assignment for each module (0-10 points/assignments=30 points)

3. Online Test - after completing the three modules (0-50 points)

Assessment methods

The activities and the result of the online test will be evaluated by the tutor.

^[1] Pioneer of quality management: a Romanian-born American engineer and management consultant (1904 – 2008).