Institutional Projects
International Evaluation
What Is International Evaluation?
The aim of the El Rosario 2004 - 2015 Integral Development Plan (known a PIE for its initials in Spanish) is to move forward resolutely in the internationalization of the University and in the management of its internal quality assurance processes. The University has therefore entered the Institutional Evaluation Programme of the European Universities Association (EUA).
International Evaluation is designed in such a way that the universities that decide to participate in this process can strengthen their institutional development through the application of effective strategic management and quality assurance processes which, in turn, guarantee improvement.
EUA's evaluation of El Rosario University is in the hands of a very high level group of peers, who are outstanding former rectors of European universities. Their critical analysis of the University's processes will be made from an international point of view, applying standards of quality appropriate to the Colombian context.
The European Universities Association model was reviewed and adjusted for application to Rosario University within the context of the conditions of the Colombian higher education system. The process, in accordance with this model, was carried out by the Quality Assurance Centre of the University.
How does Rosario University Benefit from the Evaluation Process?
The International Evaluation Programme has been specifically designed to contribute to the development and improvement of the strategic administration and quality of higher education institutions.
The Association's conceptual evaluation and final recommendations support the development of universities' quality assurance programmes, and contribute to strengthening their autonomy, all of which is expected to enhance their potential for institutional change.
This project will facilitate interlocution and exchange with European universities, provide the University with greater visibility in the international context, and reorient its improvement processes by establishing international parameters and standards.
The institutional self-assessment phase will be conduced by a committee that will represent the different areas of the University.
Its task, in addition to contributing to the organization of the information gathered and to the final report, is to guarantee global participation of the El Rosario community.
What Stage of the process have we reached?
The analysis and adaptation of the EUA's self-assessment model are led by the Quality Assurance Centre.
International evaluation ensures both growth and quality.
The project is comprised of three main phases: self-assessment, a preliminary visit and a final visit by the international peers.
The University is continuing the international evaluation process established in the EUA's Institutional Development Programme. The programme specifically seeks to contribute to the development and improvement of the strategic management and quality of higher education institutions. The EUA evaluation and final recommendations support universities' quality assurance, while strengthening their autonomy.
El Rosario presented its self-assessment report on the 21st July 2007, which consists of replies to four strategic questions.
What does the Institution seek to do?
In this respect, we emphasize that the universiy’s Mission provides an identity and a sense of belonging; it constitutes a systematic, strategic guide to its Institutional Educational Project (PIE), Internal Development Plan (PDI), and policy formulation, and is defined and exemplified in each faculty. Certain opportunities, such as university autonomy, national accreditation and the international FTA and GATS treaties are likewise highlighted.
How Is the Institution Trying To Accomplish This?
Strengths in integral education, pedagogic renovation and curricular flexibility were have been identified in Rosario’s academic activities, as well as a sound, consistent professorial policy; there is also a growing number of “seeds” of research, contracted research projects and a young researchers programme.
Financial activities were found to be sound, with a disciplined spending culture. In management terms, the practices of planning, control, implementation and decision taking were cohesive and articulated, as were the committees which ensure broad participation. The evaluation process also identified weaknesses a well as a plan to improve these weaknesses.
How does the University assess that this is succeeding?
Positive aspects, among others, were the evaluation and control structure, a good organisation, a quality culture appropriate to the university community, resources and staff specifically assigned to monitoring, evaluating and control activities, as well as a variety of evaluation strategies and instruments.
In addition, quality management shows the achievement reflected in the recognition of five undergraduate programmes, superior quality institutional accreditation and, most importantly, the direct connection among policy evaluation, planning and definition.
Strategic Management and Capacity for change
In this area, it was concluded that Rosario University is moving in the right direction, with strategies for communication and dynamic interaction with its environment.
The university can count on stable Administrative leadership which assures steady management of change; in addition there are external representatives in the governing and advisory bodies, which assure sound management of changes in the University.
The evaluation of the institution will be carried out by a group of high level peers, comprised of former outstanding rectors of European universities, whose analysis of the processes will have an international perspective, with quality parameters appropriate to the Colombian context.
On the 28th and 29th August 2007, these international peers visited El Rosario for the purposes of familiarisation with the University itself, its culture and the context of Colombian higher education. The aspects to be analysed and evaluated in the final visit at the end of the year were also defined. The peers also aimed at evaluating the commitment of the members of the Rosario University community to the evaluation process.
International Evaluation is designed for universities which decide to participate in this process in order to strengthen their institutional development through the application of adequate strategic activities and quality assurance processes to guarantee change for improvement.
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