Internal Quality Assurance of Institutional Learning Outcomes: United States Case Study and Implications for Vietnam Higher Education

Authors

  • Nhung Tuyet Thi Pham University of Foreign Languages - Hue University, Vietnam
  • Binh Thanh Thi Nguyen University of Foreign Languages - Hue University, Vietnam

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.52296/vje.2021.56

How to Cite

Pham, N. T. T., & Nguyen , B. T. T. (2021). Internal Quality Assurance of Institutional Learning Outcomes: United States Case Study and Implications for Vietnam Higher Education. Vietnam Journal of Education, 5(2), 1–9. https://doi.org/10.52296/vje.2021.56

Abstract

Higher education institutions (HEIs) are under pressure to provide evidence of student success. In addition to traditional performance indicators such as GPA, grades, and rates of retention, graduation and employment, stakeholders also required institutions to provide evidence of institutional learning outcomes (ILOs). ILOs encompass the knowledge and skills that all students regardless of disciplines from a specific university are expected to demonstrate upon their graduation. This case study examines a complete internal quality assurance (IQA) cycle from a U.S. comprehensive university, including the adaptation of national authentic assessment measures, the use of technology in data analysis, the best practices to communicate assessment results to multiple internal stakeholders to facilitate leadership decision-making, the challenges encountered, and the improvement plans to sustain the procedure. Researchers also make recommendations to Vietnam HEIs that want to adopt IQA of ILOs for both quality improvement and accountability purposes.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Asia-Pacific Quality Network (APQN) (2008). Higher education quality assurance principles for the Asia Pacific Region. Paper presented at the APQN, Shanghai.

Bassis, M. (2015). A Primer on the transformation of higher education in America. Retrieved from http://www.learningoutcomeassessment.org/documents/BassisPrimer.pdf

Brown, S., McGrevy, J., Berigan, N. (2018). Evidence-Informed improvement through collaborative professional integration. New Directions for Teaching and Learning, 155, 55-64. https://doi:10.1002/tl.20303

Bruce, R. T. (2018). Assessment in Action: Evidence-Based discussions about teaching, learning, and curriculum. New Directions for Teaching and Learning, 10(2), 1-7. https://doi.org/10.1002/tl.20260

Council for Higher Education Accreditation. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.chea.org/regional-accrediting-organizations

Creswell, J. W. (2014). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approach (4th ed.). Sage Publications, Thousand Oaks, CA.

Fletcher, L., Meyer, H., Anderson, P., Johnston, M. R. (2012). Faculty and students’ conceptions of assessment in higher education. Higher Education, 64(1), 119-133. http://www.jstor.org/stable/41477923

Hutchings, P. (2018). Helping students develop habits of reflection: What we can learn from the NILOA Assignment Library. Urbana, IL: University of Illinois and Indiana University, National Institute for Learning Outcomes Assessment (NILOA).

Jones, D. A. (2009). Higher education assessment - Who are we assessing, and for what purpose?. Retrieved from https://www.aacu.org/publications-research/periodicals/higher-education-assessment%E2%80%94who-are-we-assessing-and-what-purpose

Kuh, G. D., Ikenberry, S. O., Jankowski, N. A., Cain, T. R., Ewell, P. T., Hutching, P. & Kinzie, J. (2015). Using evidence of student learning in improve higher education. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.

Le, C. L. (2020). Suggestions to improve the internal quality assurance system to meet the requirements of educational innovation. Conference proceeding: Quality assurance of higher education in the new context. VNU-HCMC Publishing House, 72-89.

LEAP. (2018). Retrieved from https://www.aacu.org/leap

Macdonald, S., Williams, L., Lazowski, R., Horst, S., & Barron, K. (2014). Faculty Attitudes toward General Education Assessment: A Qualitative Study about Their Motivation. Research & Practice in Assessment.

Martin, M. (2017). Internal Quality Assurance: Enhancing higher education quality and graduate employability. UNESCO Publishing.

McConnell, K. D. & Rhodes, T. L. (2017). On solid ground. Retrieved from https://www.aacu.org/OnSolidGroundVALUE

Merriam, S. (1998). Qualitative research and case study applications in education. Jossey-Bass Publications, San Francisco, CA.

Ministry of Education and Training (MOET) (2007). Decision No. 65/2007/QD-BGDDT promulgating regulations on standards for accreditation of universities.

Nelson, C. (2014). Assessing assessment. Retrieved from https://www.insidehighered.com/views/2014/11/24/essay-criticizes-state-assessment-movement-higher-education

Nguyen, T. (2012). Internal quality assurance in Vietnam higher education: the influence by international projects. Master thesis, University of Twente.

Nguyen, T. S. (2020). Application of information technology in the internal quality assessment of Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology. Conference proceeding: Quality assurance of higher education in the new context. VNU-HCMC Publishing House, 46-60.

Penn, J. D. (2011). The case for assessing complex general education student learning outcomes. New Directions for Institutional Research, 149, 5-14. https://doi.org/10.1002/ir.376

Pham, T. T. N. & Koch, D. (2019). Closing the assessment loop in General Education Program. In Smith, M. Generally speaking: The impact of General Education on Student Learning in the 21st Century. Myers Education Press.

Pham, T. T. N. (2020). Multiple meta-assessment measures of a quality process: toward institutional effectiveness. Quality Assurance in Education, 28(2),123-136. https://doi.org/10.1108/qae-08-2019-0080

Pham, X. T. (2013). Higher education quality assurance in Vietnam. Paper presented at the 2013 AQAN seminar and roundtable meeting.

Rhodes, T. (2009). Assessing outcomes and improving achievement: Tips and tools for using the rubrics. Washington, DC: Association of American Colleges and Universities.

Schoepp, K., & Benson, S. (2016). Meta-assessment: Assessing the learning outcomes assessment program. Innovative Higher Education, 41(4), 287-301. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10755-015-9347-2

Stanny, C., Gonzalez, M. & McGowan, B. (2015). Assessing the culture of teaching and learning through a syllabus review. Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education, 40(7), 898-913.

Swarat, S. & Wrynn, A. M. (2017). Assessment with Benefits: Faculty engagement and community building through GE assessment. (Assessment in Practice). Urbana, IL: National Institute for Learning Outcomes Assessment (NILOA).

Van, T. T. & Phan, H. P. (2020). Internal Quality Assurance of Initial Teacher Education Programs in Vietnam: A Descriptive Study. International Journal of Innovation. Creativity and Change, 12(10), 226-244.

Vo, D. N. & Ngo, K. C. (2020). Internal quality assessment of training program in accordance with the internal standards at Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology, Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh City. Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology, 25-45.

Wehlburg, C., Carnahan, J. & Rhodes, T. (2017). Multi-State collaborative to advance quality student learning. Retrieved from https://www.aacu.org/sites/default/files/MSC_Demonstration_Year.pdf

Yin, R. K. (1994). Case study research: Design and methods. Sage Publications, Thousand Oaks, CA.

Downloads

Published

2021-06-29

How to Cite

Pham, N. T. T., & Nguyen , B. T. T. (2021). Internal Quality Assurance of Institutional Learning Outcomes: United States Case Study and Implications for Vietnam Higher Education. Vietnam Journal of Education, 5(2), 1–9. https://doi.org/10.52296/vje.2021.56

Issue

Section

Original Articles