A Proposed Web Application for Quality Improvement of Academic Programs in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs)

Authors

  • Dr. Eng. Yousef Sabbah Al-Quds Open University
  • Dr. Bassam Tork Al-Quds Open University
  • Dr. Derar Eleyan Palestine Technical University- Khadori

Keywords:

Academic Program, Evaluation, Web Application, Quality Assurance, Accreditation, Standards, Weighting, Scoring, Mathematical Model, Softwate Engineering.

Abstract

In this research, we have proposed and developed a web application as an evaluation tool for academic programs in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). The purpose of this tool is to explore and report strengths and weaknesses in different practices within academic programs based on specific standards. In addition, the tool proposes corrective actions to enhance the strengths, as well as interventions to overcome the weaknesses. This evaluation tool consolidates continuing improvement of academic performance and learning outcomes. The implementation of this web application has included weighting and scoring of indicators automatically in order to reduce time and efforts. It has utilized the AArU standards for programmatic evaluation. Internal or external reviewers or evaluation teams can use it. The responses to quantitative and qualitative indicators have been filled online by the relevant evaluation teams during data collection. Then, the weights and scores of each program in all domains have been computed using a novel mathematical model for weighting and scoring.
The researchers have used a focus group discussion to explore the current situation regarding quality evaluation of academic programs in the Palestinian HEIs. Moreover, they have discussed the target situation and the actions required to bridge the gap between both situations. The focus group consists of directors of quality in these HEIs. The outcomes of the research highlights the necessity of having such a tool to evaluate the academic programs and propose corrective actions for improvement. After implementation of the web application and training its users, we have conducted a survey for testing and validation based on four dimensions, usability, performance, security and acceptance. Results show that the application has achieved very good scores in the four dimensions. According to users’ suggestions and comments, we have improved the application’s usability and fixed some security issues in the latest version.

 

DOI

Author Biographies

Dr. Eng. Yousef Sabbah, Al-Quds Open University

Yousef W. Sabbah was born in Qaffin, Palestine, 1974. He is assistant Professor of ICT. He earned his PhD in ICT at Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt, 2012. Before that, he earned M.Sc. in computing at Birzeit University, Ramallah, Palestine, 2005, and B.Sc. in computer engineering at Baghdad University, Baghdad, Iraq, 1997.

Currently, he is the President's assistant for Quality Affairs at Al-Quds Open University (QOU), secretary of the Board of Trustees, and member of University, Quality and Academic Boards. Formerly, he was director of Open Learning Center (OLC), head of Research and Development Department, Director Assistant of ICTC, Head of Training Department, IT Manager, and Network-System Engineer. He has experience in process engineering and development of ISO-based procedures and workflow diagrams. This experience has been extended in two main projects; Self-Evaluation project 2014-2016 and Procedure Manual Development project 2014-2016. He is a reviewer for QIF projects, the World Bank. Also, he was the lead researcher of e-learning action research for the Palestinian MoEHE in the PEI, funded by the Belgium Agency (BTC).

Dr. Sabbah joined the Human and technology Development Foundation (HDF), Cairo, Egypt, 2011. He is also a member of the founding body of the Palestinian Association for Academic Development (PAAD), 2016. In December 2015, he won a research fellowship to the Open Polytechnic of New Zealand through Zamala program on “Cheating-Free Online Exams”. In December 2013, he also conducted a fellowship through the Staff Exchange 2013 by the AAOU at WOU, Malaysia in developing a "Self-Evaluation Model Based on the AArU and MQA Standards”. His current research interests include but not limited to university governance, quality assurance, e-learning, e-assessment and computer networks and security.

Dr. Bassam Tork, Al-Quds Open University

Dr. Bassam Tork is the Director of the research unit at ICTC.

Dr. Derar Eleyan, Palestine Technical University- Khadori

Dr. Derar Eleyan is the President's assistant at Palestine Technical University- Kadoori.

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Published

2019-03-05

How to Cite

Sabbah, D. E. Y., Tork, D. B., & Eleyan, D. D. (2019). A Proposed Web Application for Quality Improvement of Academic Programs in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). Palestinian Journal of Technology and Applied Sciences (PJTAS), (2). Retrieved from https://journals.qou.edu/index.php/PJTAS/article/view/2086

Issue

No. 2 (2019): No. 2 - Rabia AL-thani - 1440 H/January 2018

Section

Research

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