University of Gondar Received First Level National Award of Excellence in Quality
Quality, generally defined, at least in the education context, as “fitness for purpose,” should be undoubtedly the core mission of education institutions. Addressing this central issue requires these institutions producing competent, compassionate, committed and ethical generations that can shoulder local and national responsibilities and can at large be global citizens. Addressing quality and creating responsive system, especially in the Ethiopian context, where expanding higher education for more access and equity is equality important, has been a big challenge.
This challenge has been given top priority in the second growth and transformation plan of Ethiopia. Parallel to the commencement of this national plan, the University of Gondar responded to a call for quality competition posted by the Ethiopian Quality Award (EQA) for its 4th round contest of applicant organizations and institutions against criteria set around seven broader areas including:
1. Leadership (7 sub-criteria, 15 themes & 49 items)
2. Policy and strategy (3 sub-criteria, 4 themes & 18 items)
3. Resource management (5 sub-criteria, 11 themes & 67 items)
4. Process management (5 sub-criteria, 14 themes & 102 items)
5. Customer satisfaction/focus (4 sub-criteria, 14 themes & 73 items)
6. Organizational performance (3 sub-criteria, 6 themes & 18 items), and
7. Impact on society (2 sub-criteria & 12 items)
|
No |
WQA criteria |
Weight |
|
1 |
Leadership |
150 |
|
2 |
Policy and Strategy |
80 |
|
3 |
Resource Management |
120 |
|
4 |
Processes Management |
150 |
|
5 |
Customer Satisfaction/Focus |
250 |
|
6 |
Organizational Performance |
150 |
|
7 |
Impact on Society |
100 |
|
|
Total |
1000* |
* This total was converted into 100% in the final analysis.
- EQA received applications from four operations/categories namely,
- Manufacturing
- Service not for profit
- Service for profit, and
- Construction
University of Gondar was announced to be qualified for a second round application upon the result of the first round evaluation based on a 200 pages self assessment document. After this, EQA send members of its technical committee for institutional visit and confirmation of our self assessment through legal documents and personal observations of the reality on the ground. Assessment results of the technical committee were then approved by the jury of EQA usually composed of renowned professionals and personalities from diverse disciplines.
It was after such rigorous evaluations that University of Gondar awarded yesterday, June 10, 2016, the first level award of excellence in Quality by his Excellency Dr. Mulatu Teshome, President of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, on the special event organized by the EQA held at the Sheraton Addis.
On behalf of the Quality Assurance and Audit Directorate of the University of Gondar and my colleagues, I would like to say congratulations to all the University community, our customers and stakeholders on this remarkable achievement. I would also like to extend my appreciation and thanks to the members of the task force who worked day in and day out to produce the impactful self assessment document.
Yemataw Wondie, PhD
Director, Quality Assurance and Audit Directorate
University of Gondar
