MUST Takes the Lead in Completion of “Institutional Quality Audit”,
Highly Commended by International Quality Assurance Agency

Macau University of Science and Technology (MUST) voluntarily participated in the “Pilot Project on Institutional Quality Audit” (IQA) planned by the Tertiary Education Services Office of the Macau SAR Government (GAES). After 9 months of the IQA work, , the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA), the authoritative UK tertiary education quality assurance agency, has issued an very inspiring IQA report for MUST. The QAA assessment Panel, consisted of four international QA experts, made strong commendations that MUST has the inclusive approach to develop the strategic planning and to implement the strategic priorities highly effectively; the annual monitoring process which has a valuable and positive impact upon the day-to-day management of quality at the University; and the institution’s commitment to the involvement of employers, who provide advice on program development, support for internships, career advice and mentoring of students. In addition, the IQA Report well affirms the actions being taken by the University to continuously increase student involvement in the university and faculty committees and to maintain contact with its graduates and to further develop its engagement with alumni.

This IQA is conducted by the renowned international quality assurance agency, the UK Institute of Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA), thus it has significant international credibility and academic impact. The IQA conducted by QAA is the first case for institutional academic evaluation according to the “Higher Education Evaluation in Macau: Guidelines on Institutional Quality Audit” issued by GAES among higher education institutions in Macau, thus provides an experience for establishing the high-quality institutional academic evaluation and quality audit systems with international standards in Macau. The IQA examines three major areas of university operation: 1) Mission and objectives; 2) Institutional management, planning and accountability and 3) Quality assurance, including operational efficiency and effectiveness, academic planning, management and development, teaching and learning, research, social services and cultural heritage and innovation.

Under the QAA’s quality audit requirements, MUST should prepare its Self-evaluation Report in terms of the “Higher Education Evaluation in Macau: Guidelines on Institutional Quality Audit.” The IQA self-evaluation report was carefully reviewed by QAA’s Panel, followed by a three-day onsite examination. MUST submitted a self-evaluation report of 166 pages with over 300 annex files, covering the University’s mission and objectives, university and faculty governance structures, management systems, operating capacity, academic planning, management and development measures, teaching and learning, research, community services, cultural heritage and innovations, operating efficiency and effectiveness and documentation systems, etc.

The QAA Panel held meeting with representatives of MUST Council and Executive Team

The QAA Panel performed an onsite visit at MUST on September 4-6, 2017, with face-to-face meetings with about 100 representatives of the University Council, senior management teams, faculty members and administrative staff, students, as well as local employers and alumni, to thoroughly examine and evaluate the University’s mission and development strategies and actions, and the operating mechanisms of academic governance and administrative systems, the policies and quality assurance environment on delivering high-quality education and excellent research, faculty qualification, students’ learning attitude and academic performance, employment and career development of graduates, and the capability of social services and contributions.

The QAA Panel members interviewed MUST student representatives

This IQA is conducted by QAA in terms of the international high-quality academic standards and the GAES’ IQA Guidelines. The QAA Panel’s positive commendations and affirmations are based on a thorough review and evaluation of the high-quality education being pursued by the university over the 17 years since its establishment. The IQA report demonstrated that the quality assurance systems, mechanisms and outcomes for higher education at MUST have reached international standards. Chair Professor Liu Liang, University President, expressed that the QAA’s IQA is a new milestone in MUST’s development. The University will continue to emphasize on “quality” and “innovation” in conjunction with the IQA results, by further strengthening the all-round and high-quality operations in education, research and management, continue to deliver high-quality education and excellent research, and nurture more intellectual talents who are patriotic and loyal to the country and Macau with excellent innovative spirit and practical competency, thus make greater contributions to the social and economic development, and technology advancement in Macau and the nation and beyond.