The audit team from InQKA was in
the faculty and people were all like
running for cover or something. I just didn’t understand . I have been an
auditor for quite sometime and now being audited gives me some awkward moments
but not as defensive as my colleagues here. For three days, we ran all over the
faculty trying to get documents that were never there, called the missing
lecturers for interview and hoped the students would say the things right
rather than saying the right thing. Our head was burning through the ass trying
to meet the demands of the audit panels. “Could you get me this document,
please?”, “No, not this one but the one you mentioned here” “ I don’t think
this is the one, could you get the right
one please?”.......the thing just never-ending, it could go like that all day.
The reason is because quality is not our culture. We do things just to get them
done without meaning or without purpose.
The exit meeting was a blow kaw! kaw!; but then it was expected. So no
surprise there. The degree of concern , however, was phenomenal. I mean we blew
off every single rule in the book. From the OBE, the design, implementation and
up until the assessment of students. I guess the panel had no problem finding a
problem just pick anything, anyone up and there is one fatal error there. The
state of chaos in everything is really unbelievable. I wonder how this faculty survives up to this
very day; because from the findings it is hard to believe that anything can
stay intact for so long.
Areas of concern
1.
Implementation of OBE(Outcome
Based Education) is not on the right track. The practice is at Sem 4 level but
the OBE impementation is not in perspective from every dimension ( ie:
students, lecturers, syllabus or content delivery).
2.
Awareness of OBE is still at an
early stage although lecturers should havebeen practicing it in the classrooms two years ago. What happen since then? How
did they manage? No answers because no one really asked the questions.
3.
There is no report on the feedback
from the industrial panels and external examiners.What their comments were
and the actions taken in response to
their comments. I am sure there is such document lying around somewhere we just
could not find it. But again there might not.
4.
Syllabuses are not updated. I
think this one is not really serious, although important, as updating is an
on-going process.
5.
Students assessment is a total
failure. Inconsistencies in marking the answers and awarding marks are every
where in almost every single code investigated. The saying “ timbang kati” is
really an irresponsible action but commonly accepted. I heard it all the time
but had never imagined that someone would’ve
really done it. We were trusted to
evaluate people and give some indication of what they have done good and
what not; some of us have violated that trust. This is a “big sin” in academia
and if I had it my way I would skin it to the bones; find the culprit and make
him/her pay the consequences dearly. The lesson must be taught and learnt one
way or another.
6.
COs and POs are not measured. CDL
and CQI are not fully implemented. Well, OBE stuff again. We really need to get
this through as soon as possible at PPSK.
7.
There is no rubrics for assessing
students written works (lab, report, presentations,etc)
8.
It seems that PhD (CS990)or
Research Students (CS780) who resubmit their thesis longer than the designated
time given have no actions/penalty taken. Ipsis matter so let them take this
one on.
9.
As the faculty is expecting 14 new programs by next year, there is no
document to justify our resources; be it physical or human resources. The
documents are yet to be completed---that was the answer when asked by the
auditor the other day. Maybe we can get away with it for now but do we really
take this into considerations? My enquiring mind wants to know...
10.
Management roles are not clear.
That’s it , that’s the answer for
the whole chaos. And for as long as
this issue is not resolved at least at the faculty level, things will
remain upside down as they are now.
I don’t know where to start in addressing
these concerns. Time to digest and put everthing in a proper perspective. But
we have to start somewhere. Let start
with us ---you and me. Good luck!
---
PM Dr Nordin Abu Bakar
KPPSK
