The Office of Institutional Quality Assessment and Effectiveness (IQAE) at Superior University mainly ran program self-assessments and reported to the Rector. PSG-2023, the revised Pakistan Precepts, Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance in Higher Education, expands this role considerably. It was developed jointly by QAA UK and QAA Pakistan, based on consultations with Rector, faculty, QEC Directors, and students.

Structure of PSG-2023

The Quality Assurance Framework is divided into four parts. Part 3 deals with external quality assurance and Part 4 deals with internal quality assurance, each split into program-level and institutional-level components. Three review instruments sit within this structure:

RIPE (Review of Institutional Performance and Enhancement) This works at the institutional level. It evaluates institutional performance, growth, and advancement, covering academic achievement as well as governance, research, community engagement, and infrastructure. RIPE contains sixteen standards.

PREE (Program Review for Effectiveness and Enhancement) This works at the program level and focuses on academic programs. It has eight standards: program mission and outcomes, curriculum design, subject specific facilities, student advising and counselling, teaching faculty, institutional policies and process control, institutional support and facilities, and institutional general requirements.

Mapping the 10 QEC Functions to PSG-2023

1. Director reports to Rector, liaises with outside bodies This role now sits with the Head or Director of IQAE. The reporting line to the Rector stays the same, but the office also becomes the institutional contact point for QAA-HEC reviews and RIPE cycles.
2. Promoting public confidence in degree quality and standards Addressed through RIPE’s institutional performance categories, where institutions are classified by color-coded categories showing their level of quality improvement and commitment.
3. Review of teaching and learning quality in each subject area Covered under PREE Standards 1 and 2, which deal with program mission and outcomes, and curriculum design and organization.
4. Review of academic affiliations with other institutions Covered under RIPE Standard 5, Affiliated colleges and institutions. Each affiliated college is expected to run its own QEC or IQAE, supported by a formal responsibilities’ checklist.
5. Defining clear standards as reference points for review Handled directly by the PSG-2023 Precepts and Standards themselves, sixteen under RIPE and eight under PREE, rather than being defined independently by each QEC.
6. Ensuring the qualifications framework and expected abilities per qualification level Feeds into RIPE’s institutional standards and aligns with the National Qualifications Framework.
7. Ensuring program specifications are clear Covered under PREE Standard 1, program mission, objectives and outcomes.
8. Developing QA processes and evaluation methods for curriculum, staff, and research Split between RIPE at the institutional level and PREE at the program level. IQAE is expected to use structured, evidence based self-assessment tools rather than informal methods.
9. Aligning university QA procedures with national HEC arrangements Direct alignment with QAA-HEC policy and the PSG-2023 framework.
10. Developing procedures for approval of programs, feedback, SARs, program reviews, memberships and rankings Now formalized through PREE self-assessment reports and the Self-Graduate Program Review (SGPR) for MS, M.Phil, and PhD programs, along with the Yearly Progress Report (YPR). If HEC has conducted a Program Review in a given year, the university must assess implementation status in its Self-Review and submit a compliance report with the YPR. Sub-campuses running MS, M.Phil, or PhD programs must be reviewed separately, each with its own report.