Quality of programme portfolios

Results of systematic quality assurance work at the institution shall be included in the knowledge base for annual and periodic evaluation, and in the development of the overall programme portfolio.

Quality assurance work at the programme portfolio level shall highlight the quality of the overall programme portfolio, individual programmes of study, and potential systematic challenges across programmes of study. This work shall form the basis for the development and improvement of quality and reveal any instances of poor quality.

Periodic assessment of the programme portfolio

For each board period, the University shall conduct a strategic review of the entire programme portfolio, based on needs of the region, national guidelines and international trends. This review shall assess to what extent the programme of study contributes to solving social challenges, meets the strategic goals of HVL, and provide an overview of the quality of the programme of study and its economic sustainability.

The University Board shall adopt a model as a foundation for the assessments. The Pro-Rector for Education is responsible for conducting a periodic evaluation of the programme portfolio in accordance with adopted guidelines. This includes ensuring participation from the academic environment, and from the community and labour market.

Annual assessment of the quality of the programme portfolio

Throughout the academic year, faculty management has access to various forms of documentation and data:

• Documentation from the quality assurance system at the programme level, including
  - results from student and candidate surveys
  - periodic evaluations
  - minutes from the programme council
• Data from the Common Student System (FS) and the Norwegian Universities and Colleges Admission Service (Samordna opptak (SO)) (via Star/tableau)
• Indicators related to annual reports and plans at the institution and faculty level

Based on documentation from the quality assurance system, including minutes from the programme council, faculty management shall conduct a yearly assessment of the quality of programme portfolios and the quality assurance system work in the faculty, including:

• The need for measures for individual programmes of study at the institute or faculty level (incorporated into the plans at the relevant level at HVL).
• Proposals for changes to the programme portfolio for the following year (incorporated into the yearly case for the programme portfolio).

The Rector and Pro-Rector for Education will facilitate a meeting with the Dean based on the faculty’s assessments.

HVL’s strategy and development agreement with the Ministry of Education and Research include strategic ambitions and aims along with assessments by the faculties. National guidelines in the letter of allocation provide a basis for the evaluation of yearly assessments of the quality of the programme portfolio and the systematic work on quality assurance for study programmes at HVL.

The Education Committee reviews reports and plans of relevance for the educations. HVL reviews programme portfolios and planned admissions at the end of November, and the annual report and plan for HVL in mid-March each year. The Pro-Rector for Education is responsible for following up measures in the plan related to the systematic work on the quality of education programmes.

In mid-March, the Dean determines the annual plan for the faculty based on the Rector’s assignment letter, as well as any needs for measures identified in the annual assessment of quality for the programme portfolio, and the systematic work on quality assurance for study programmes. The plan states who is responsible for following up measures related to the systematic work on quality assurance for study programmes.