gms | German Medical Science

Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara (UMFVBT) is currently developing its quality assurance process based on recommendations of Romanian Agency for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (ARACIS), which is the national body responsible for quality external evaluation of higher education institutions.

The “Quality Barometer 2010”- report issued by ARACIS concluded that academics, students and employers perceive the Romanian higher education system as a highly qualitative one, although selfcentred and rather not involved in the society. UMFVBT intends to develop a quality management system by applying the “total quality management” principle. For this, UMFVBT created the Quality Assurance Department (QAD), having as objectives: to develop the quality management system and to implement it within the faculties and departments, to change the mentality by encouraging the excellence in teaching and research and by continuing improvement of quality and to constantly develop the infrastructure.

The 2010 Report of QAD revealed as strengths of UMFVBT the professional competence of academic staff, combined with a comprehensive set of internal regulations for teaching, research and administration, as well as many partnerships with EU recognised universities. A step forward was done by raising the awareness of academic staff and the students regarding the quality based on the experience acquired in EU funded programmes for medical education. In the university, research competence evaluation and student/professor evaluation programmes are in place. The Report has also identified the weaknesses of the process, such as the lack of a coherent strategy and of an implemented quality system, and the lack of a quality assurance-oriented management. The misperception of the provider-client principle is another drawback, this being linked with the deficient communication and feedback system, inadequate departmental management, inconsistent involvement

of students in the assessment of teaching. Concerns are raised by the insucient use, as well as the shortage of human resources in certain departments.

The goal set by QAD is to implement the European standards for higher education regarding the quality of applicants (prospective students), student performance, research level (quantitative) and productivity, level of teaching and research resources, governance and university management practices.