QA of Existing Programmes

Departmental Academic Advisor (DAA) Scheme

1. Implementation Cycle
   
   As originally planned, approximately one-third of departments would appoint DAAs and the order of which would correspond with that of the ACP visit schedule in a six-yearly cycle.  That is, the appointment of DAAs would be made on a staggered basis so as to ensure continuity of the DAA process.  Subsequently, in light of the positive experience in the debut operation, it was decided that the implementation scope of this Scheme be extended to a full-scale basis with effect in mid-April 2015 to enable all Departments to benefit from the advice of their DAAs.


2. Nominations
   
   The DAA appointment is for a non-renewable term of three years.  Departments are invited to nominate renowned scholars (at the rank of full professors or above) to the Dean/Director of Academy of Visual Arts (AVA), who will make recommendations to the Provost for approval.


3. Scope of review
   
   The DAAs will make a holistic assessment of the Department and its development, and evaluate the Department relative to international standards. The assessment should cover the following areas:
   
   
    1. Scope of activities and strategic direction of the Department/Programme
   
    2. Staffing 
        - Resources
        - Recruitment
        - Development
        - Achievements
   
   3. Teaching and learning
       - Academic programmes
       - Pedagogical design
       - Academic standard and student achievement
       - Quality assurance mechanisms
   
   4. Research and scholarly activities
   
   5. Engagement with an impact on the community
   
   6. Internationalisation
    
   To facilitate the DAA’s evaluation, the Department is required to provide its DAA with the latest ACP Report (including recommendations), Annual Programme QA Reports, and any other relevant documents as it sees fit.  Each DAA will be required to conduct at least one visit to the Department within the 3-year term. 


4. DAA Report
   
   A written report on the Department is required from the DAA to be given to the Department in March/April of each academic year.  The DAA Report is expected to be formative with an emphasis on advising the further development of the Department.  The Department must make a written response to the DAA Report.  Both the DAA Report and the Department's written response should be submitted to the Faculty/School/AVA Board⁺ for discussion and then to the QAC for scrutiny.
   +For General Education (GE) programme and Centre for Holistic Teaching and Learning (CHTL), the individual written responses of GE Office and CHTL, along with the corresponding DAA reports, should be submitted to QAC for scrutiny via the GE Committee and the Teaching and Learning Policy Committee respectively.
   
   Last updated on 24 October 2017