Quality assurance at FOM

1. Quality assurance at FOM Quality assurance committee Dr Opio C K (TM)

2. Mission of FOM "We are dedicated to improving the health of the people of Uganda and beyond and promoting health equity by providing quality education, research and health services. We achieve this by enhancing capacity and participation of stakeholders; strengthening systems and partnerships; and harnessing the power of new sciences and technology so as to build and sustain excellence and relevance." Dr Opio C K (TM)

3. What has been done • We have developed a working document that we hope will be the basis for Q&A in the department of medicine • Currently we are in the process of receiving additional input regarding the best and most cost effective manner of achieving the goals set in the working document through the current committee frame work. • A work shop is planned to this order with the relevant stake holders Dr Opio C K (TM)

4. Operational definitions • Quality: The totality of features of a product or service that bear on its ability to satisfy a given need. • Quality assurance: This is a management process which ensures that properly defined systems are in place to deal with the most important problems. • A problem is defined as failure to achieve the appropriate objectives. • Important refers to prioritization and the process of prioritization should involve stakeholders • Total quality Management • Quality control Dr Opio C K (TM)

5. General objective • To maintain and enhance quality in the functions of the FoM (teaching and learning; research and health services) and to identify and disseminate good practice and to satisfy external audit procedures Dr Opio C K (TM)

6. Methods • The quality assurance/management system will provide and ensure continuous, systematic, critical analysis of the quality of education, research and health services provided by the FoM.  • This will be done through continuous SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) analysis at the stages AND within the stages of planning and implementation of goal directed activities of FOM. • It will emphasize internal (vertical and horizontal) and external participation (stake holders/ consumers). All this will be done within the context of available resources and current university policy.  Dr Opio C K (TM)

7. Education To adopt, strengthen and promote a system that will ensure that: • SMART objectives for education are set and documented (and are distributed) • Strategies (work plan) to achieve these objectives exist and conform to the university policy • The work plan is time bound, has defined responsibility, activities, mode and means of implementation of activities (Resources& Empowerment), in addition to having mechanisms for evaluation and monitoring  • The work plan is revised following appraisal at the different stages of implementation • Standards, performance indicators and targets are available. They must enable objective evaluation of the appropriateness of the objectives and the adequacy of the strategies. • There is a mechanism for action when performance indicators identify a quality shortfall. Dr Opio C K (TM)

8. Research and evidence-based medicineTo adopt, strengthen and promote a system that will ensure that: • Objectives for human and non human research are set and documented and are SMART • Strategies to achieve these objectives exist and conform to current guidelines and policy on research • Guidelines and policy on research are present and relevant • Ethics form the core of research • Research should market FOM and be a source of financial and material resource • Objectives for development and implementation of evidence-based medicine are set, documented and are SMART • A work plan for these objectives is available and is implemented Dr Opio C K (TM)

9. Specific issues that will be assessed for quality through the system • Academic programs (curriculum development, curriculum implementation/ realization, curriculum review, teaching methods, assessment, communication etc.)  • Human resource (qualifications, number, gender? recruitment, development, scholarly activity, management etc.) • Non-human resources especially infrastructure for support (communication, library, IT, student services, transport, core-laboratories, training and learning materials etc. ) • Financial resources (access to sources of funding, mechanisms for soliciting or attracting funding for activities, guidelines and procedures of financial activities etc.) • Students (entry levels, access, equity, etc.) • Graduates (achievement outcomes, employment, etc.) • Critique (team approaches, feedback from students, peer review, external accreditation) • Research (publications, IRB, international research awards, development and adoption of appropriate technology, etc.) • Health care /services Dr Opio C K (TM)

10. Means of quality assessment • Situational analysis/surveys • On-going reports • Check lists • Critical path analysis • Audits • Evidence based research • Meetings • External examiners • Others Dr Opio C K (TM)

11. Summary of process of implementation Dr Opio C K (TM)

12. Work plan 1 Dr Opio C K (TM)

13. Work plan II Dr Opio C K (TM)

14. Reporting format was not clear i.e. who does Q&A report to lack defined resources or mechanism acquisition of these resources for Q&A failure of dissemination of work to various stake holders Duplicity of duties by members of the committee leading to reduced output short comings Dr Opio C K (TM)

15. Ms. R. Baingana Dr. G Bimenya   Dr. H. Oboke   Dr. W. Buwembo  Dr. K. Opio Ms. R. Muwesa Dr. Galukande Dr. Wabinga Dr Kijjambu Acknowledgements Dr Opio C K (TM)