Quality Unit

Introduction

Quality assurance has been a fundamental component of the College of Medicine, King Khalid University, ensuring continuous improvement in academic standards, educational effectiveness, and institutional performance. The College initially established a Quality Unit to oversee quality assurance activities and promote a culture of excellence across all academic and administrative functions. Recognizing the growing importance of quality management and academic development, the College restructured this unit in 2012, establishing the Vice Deanship for Academic Development and Quality (VD-ADQ) to provide stronger leadership and a more comprehensive framework for quality assurance and accreditation activities.

The VD-ADQ was established with clearly defined terms of reference that streamlined quality processes and aligned the College's strategic objectives with national standards for higher education. Over the years, the Vice Deanship has played a central role in planning, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating quality initiatives aimed at enhancing teaching, learning, assessment, research, and community engagement. It also oversees the preparation of program reports, performance indicators, self-evaluation processes, and continuous quality improvement plans. Following an institutional decision in the year 2022, the Vice-Deanships of Quality were closed for all programs at the university and the duties and responsibilities were delegated to a restructured Quality Unit.

The operational strength of the Quality Unit is supported by the Academic Development and Quality Committee (ADQC). The committee comprises representative faculty and staff members from both the male and female sections, ensuring broad participation and effective coordination across departments. Responsibilities are distributed among committee members according to clearly specified tasks and timelines, enabling systematic implementation of quality assurance activities and timely achievement of institutional objectives.

The Quality committee operates under the guidance and supervision of Dean at the College of Medicine and the University's Deanship of Quality, which provides continuous support through policies, guidelines, and professional development programs. Regular workshops and training sessions are organized to familiarize ADQC members and faculty with quality assurance concepts, accreditation requirements, performance measurement, curriculum evaluation, and continuous improvement methodologies. These capacity-building initiatives have significantly strengthened the College's quality culture and enhanced faculty engagement in quality-related activities.

The sustained efforts of the VD-ADQ and the commitment of the College leadership, faculty, and staff culminated in a major institutional achievement when the MBBS Program was granted full accreditation by the National Center for Academic Accreditation and Evaluation (NCAAA) in 2019 for a full term of seven years. This accreditation reflects the program's compliance with national standards for medical education and demonstrates the effectiveness of the College's quality assurance system. The Quality Unit continues to lead strategic quality initiatives, ensuring continuous monitoring, evidence-based decision-making, stakeholder engagement, and ongoing enhancement of the MBBS program to meet evolving national and international expectations.

The Quality Unit: Core Functions & Accountability Framework

The Quality Unit at College of Medicine strives to achieve the vision and mission of the college by promoting high quality academic environment by implementing quality standards specified by ETEC-NCAAA and other international organizations.

The core functions and entrusted duties and responsibilities are listed herewith

• Promote and support the vision and mission of the College of Medicine and its academic programs through the implementation of recognized quality standards (ETEC-NCAAA and international frameworks) 
• Ensure wide dissemination of the program’s vision, mission, and objectives, and obtain structured feedback from relevant stakeholders 
• Periodically review and update the vision, mission, and objectives to maintain alignment with institutional goals and stakeholder expectations 
• Identify, monitor, and address issues related to academic accreditation, and coordinate all accreditation-related activities 
• Develop, recommend, and implement policies, procedures, and guidelines to ensure effective quality assurance practices 
• Promote a culture of quality management and enhance awareness among faculty, staff, and stakeholders 
• Ensure compliance with national quality standards and best practices, particularly those specified by NCAAA 
• Draft, review, and standardize policy and procedure guidelines (PPGs) for all academic and administrative processes 
• Orient and train faculty and staff regarding institutional policies, procedures, and quality expectations 
• Prepare, compile, and manage all documentation required for accreditation applications and periodic reviews  
• Propose and support strategies aimed at improving teaching, learning, and overall academic effectiveness
• Define and standardize job descriptions for all staff and faculty positions 
• Collect, compile, and analyze feedback from students, faculty, and staff to inform quality improvement initiatives 
• Ensure closure of the assessment loop by translating data analysis into actionable recommendations 
• Organize faculty development programs, workshops, and training sessions to maintain high teaching standards 
• Monitor faculty performance through regular evaluations and support their professional and academic development 
• Identify challenges in implementing quality initiatives and propose corrective measures 
• Conduct awareness programs and workshops on academic development and quality assurance 
• Develop frameworks, terms of reference, and guidelines for academic activities within programs 
• Oversee the implementation of academic policies and ensure continuous program improvement 
• Establish mechanisms to identify stakeholders, evaluate their input, and measure satisfaction levels 
• Develop and implement systems for data collection, analysis, and reporting to support decision-making 
• Establish and maintain comprehensive databases, repositories, and archival systems for program and institutional data 
• Promote the development and use of technological solutions to improve efficiency, reduce errors, and support quality processes 
• Support the development of software tools for assessment management, data analysis, and reporting 
• Ensure effective establishment, operation, and continuous improvement of the Central Assessment Unit (CAU)  
• Develop and maintain a comprehensive question bank across all courses and specialties 
• Facilitate automation in assessment design, processing, and archival
• Contribute to continuous quality improvement across academic and administrative domains of the college.

Location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/WTWaRJcCFAs9QbTt8?g_st=am

Building number W1; Room: number-0-18-Floor 3; College of Medicine, King Khalid University 

Academic Development and Quality Committee- Members