Quality Evaluation in MEDA Quality Evaluation in MEDA Higher Education: EngineeringHigher Education: Engineering

JEPJEP 30092-2002 30092-2002

1. Submitted at the beginning of process.1. Submitted at the beginning of process.2. Harmonizes with UJ’s quality drive.2. Harmonizes with UJ’s quality drive.3. Focuses on quality of education with reference to 3. Focuses on quality of education with reference to engineering.engineering.4. Some ambiguities and changes regarding subject.4. Some ambiguities and changes regarding subject.5. Finally got the following title: “Quality Evaluation 5. Finally got the following title: “Quality Evaluation in MEDA Higher Education: Engineering”.in MEDA Higher Education: Engineering”.6. Submitted by OIRP and FET.6. Submitted by OIRP and FET.7. UJ suggested JUST.7. UJ suggested JUST.8. Consortium Partners from: Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, 8. Consortium Partners from: Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Egypt, Tunisia, Algeria, and Morocco.Egypt, Tunisia, Algeria, and Morocco.9. CIEP was initiator and leader + help from German 9. CIEP was initiator and leader + help from German experts.experts.

I. Some facts about the project:I. Some facts about the project:

1. Paris Conference;1. Paris Conference;a. January 2004a. January 2004b. Two representatives of each institution b. Two representatives of each institution

attendedattendedc. Discussed country reports and other c. Discussed country reports and other

matters.matters.

2. Amman Conference;2. Amman Conference;a. September 2004a. September 2004b. Two representatives plus one country b. Two representatives plus one country

representativerepresentativec. Discussed self-assessment reports and other c. Discussed self-assessment reports and other

mattersmatters

II. What materialized:II. What materialized:

1. There is a great deal of benefit coming from Arab countries joining the 1. There is a great deal of benefit coming from Arab countries joining the consortium. At a comparative level, Arab universities benefit from consortium. At a comparative level, Arab universities benefit from comparing notes, and from the perspectives of European experts, as comparing notes, and from the perspectives of European experts, as well as developments affecting European systems of education.well as developments affecting European systems of education.

2. Putting the specific project within the context of the country (each 2. Putting the specific project within the context of the country (each individual country), the region (the MEDA region), as well as the globe individual country), the region (the MEDA region), as well as the globe is of great value. Universities cannot function in isolation anymore and is of great value. Universities cannot function in isolation anymore and collaboration and collective thinking is a must. Contexts have also to be collaboration and collective thinking is a must. Contexts have also to be taken into account. This has materialized.taken into account. This has materialized.

3. The idea of having each institution evaluate itself is both wise and 3. The idea of having each institution evaluate itself is both wise and effective. First of all, this is a new practice at many Arab universities effective. First of all, this is a new practice at many Arab universities (especially in this sustained, serious way). Secondly, it enables those (especially in this sustained, serious way). Secondly, it enables those involved to subject their own work to perusal and assessment, which involved to subject their own work to perusal and assessment, which enables them to become more conscious of the strengths and enables them to become more conscious of the strengths and weaknesses.weaknesses.

4. External assessment is crucial. For a long time, universities 4. External assessment is crucial. For a long time, universities (especially in our part of the world) functioned without any sustained, (especially in our part of the world) functioned without any sustained, professional external feedback. If the final stage of the project professional external feedback. If the final stage of the project materializes, it will be a great asset.materializes, it will be a great asset.

III. Advantages:III. Advantages:

1.There was not enough time for preparation and active involvement of 1.There was not enough time for preparation and active involvement of the partners in submitting the application. The invitation to join comes the partners in submitting the application. The invitation to join comes almost last minute. While this may be blamed on the fact that this almost last minute. While this may be blamed on the fact that this particular project came early on in the process, we still find similar particular project came early on in the process, we still find similar behavior with respect to some new projects.behavior with respect to some new projects.

2. There was throughout a problem with correspondence. Many e-mails 2. There was throughout a problem with correspondence. Many e-mails did not reach us or our partners for some reason, and therefore many did not reach us or our partners for some reason, and therefore many in the consortium were in the dark about some of the decisions.in the consortium were in the dark about some of the decisions.

3. There are some management problems. The decisions about what 3. There are some management problems. The decisions about what happens, how, and where were at times not made collectively. At a happens, how, and where were at times not made collectively. At a related level, our European partners seem to have the upper hand. related level, our European partners seem to have the upper hand. While this is not a serious problem, it would be a lot better if the While this is not a serious problem, it would be a lot better if the partners – as in marriage – feel like partners.partners – as in marriage – feel like partners.

4. There is the budgeting problem. What was originally requested was not 4. There is the budgeting problem. What was originally requested was not granted. What was granted was not enough to cover the expenses granted. What was granted was not enough to cover the expenses especially of the last stage – the most important, I believe: external especially of the last stage – the most important, I believe: external evaluation.evaluation.

5. Some members of the consortium already follow the American system 5. Some members of the consortium already follow the American system of education. How relevant the European system of education is, is of education. How relevant the European system of education is, is worth pondering.worth pondering.

IV. Challenges and Problems: IV. Challenges and Problems: