Peter Munkebo Hussmann

Improving Quality Assurance with CDIO Self-Evaluation: Experiences From a Nordic Project

The main goal of the Nordic project Quality Assurance in Higher Education was to develop and implement a self-evaluation model in the participating Higher Education Institutes (HEIs) to support their quality assurance work and continuous curriculum development. Furthermore, the project aimed at strengthening the cooperation of HEIs in quality assurance (QA) and disseminating good practices of QA. The framework of development is based on the CDIO approach and the CDIO self-evaluation process. The main results are a detailed definition of the self-evaluation process, well-documented self-evaluations of the participating degree programmes, and the identification of the main development areas and actions in each participating degree programme. Furthermore, the project has increased the partners’ understanding of other partners and their challenges. Finally, quality assurance has been enhanced in each participating programme and new ideas and support for quality assurance work in other higher education institutes have been produced. DOI: 10.4018/ijqaete.2012040106 56 International Journal of Quality Assurance in Engineering and Technology Education, 2(2), 55-66, April-June 2012 Copyright

QUALITY ASSURANCE WITH CDIO SELF-EVALUATION - FIRST RESULTS OF A NORDIC PROJECT

This paper describes the Nordic project „Quality Assurance in Higher Education‟. The main goal of the project is to develop and implement a self-evaluation model in the participating Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) to support their quality assurance work and continuous curriculum development in the field of engineering. Furthermore, the project aims at developing cross-evaluation methods for international use as well as strengthening the cooperation of HEIs in quality assurance and disseminating good practices of QA. The framework of development in this project is based on the CDIO initiative and the CDIO selfevaluation model. The project started in October 2009 and will continue until the end of October 2011. The project is divided into two phases. The first phase focused on selfevaluation and the second will focus on cross-evaluation. This paper describes the first project phase. The main results are a detailed definition of the self-evaluation process, welldocumented self-evaluations of the participating degree programmes, as well as identification of main development areas and actions in each participating degree programme. The development actions included, for example, a) implementing a capstone project into the curriculum, b) practical training – improving the connection between the industry and a HEI, c) integration of teaching activities – CDIO awareness, and d) programme organization – programme management team including student representatives. Furthermore, the project has increased the partners‟ understanding of other partners and their challenges. Finally, the quality assurance has been enhanced in each participating programme. Hopefully, this project will provide new ideas and support for quality assurance work on other higher education institutes.

Peer Evaluation of Master Programs: Closing the Quality Circle of the CDIO Approach?

A quality assurance project was conducted within the framework of the Nordic Five Tech Alliance (N5T), a strategic alliance of the five leading technical universities in Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden. The project concerned the development of a common quality enhancement tool for conducting peer evaluations of educational programs to enable their further development and close the quality circle. In addition, the project will contribute to the consolidation of the N5T alliance by facilitating contacts between faculty members and providing them with an in-depth knowledge of the study programs within their field at another N5T institution. The article describes the quality enhancement tool in detail, its contribution to the development of the involved programs, and how international peer evaluation can contribute to closing the quality circle. Finally, it assesses the value of the approach to contribute to the creation of long-term relationships in educational networks.

Peer Evaluation of Master Programs - Closing the Quality Circle of the CDIO approach?

This paper describes a Quality Assurance project which is conducted within the Nordic Five Tech (N5T) Alliance, a strategic alliance of the five leading technical universities in Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden. The project is concerned with the development of a quality enhancement tool. The tool is described and its impact on curriculum development quality of teaching and learning within the involved programs is analysed. The paper argues how international peer evaluation contribute to closing the quality circle in the CDIO approach, and assess the value of the approach to contribute to the creation of long-term relationships in educational networks.