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ERIC Number: ED498646
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2007-Sep
Pages: 9
Abstractor: Author
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Assessment of Teaching Quality: Survey of University Graduates
Stankeviciene, Jurate
Online Submission, Paper presented at the European Conference on Educational Research (University of Ghent, Sep 19-21, 2007)
Purpose: The purpose was to investigate higher education quality because there are links between the main society and university graduates and the university. Methodology: This research sought aspects of the teaching quality of the Faculty that could be improved. The spheres were: improvement in qualifications of the teachers; finding ways to improve theory and practice unity, improve faculty student interaction; listening to the needs of the students, and development of Faculty communication skills. A quantitative closed survey questionnaire was completed by 305 graduates in the Social Sciences at Siauliai University, Siauliai, Lithuania. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package of Social Sciences (SPSS)). Results: Graduates with either a Bachelor's or Master's degree were surveyed for their opinion of the Social Sciences Faculty at Siauliai University. The research objective was an assessment of teaching quality through a survey of the opinions of university graduates about the teaching process. The aims were to reveal the dimension of teacher quality in theoretical aspects; to prepare a social opinion and judgment questionnaire; to conduct empirical research; and to draw conclusions from the research. Most assessment procedures are insensitive to the broad framework of a faculty's responsibilities. Evaluation of teaching is inseparable from evaluation of the institution. A broad and effective evaluation of teaching requires critical study of institutional goals, classroom environment, administrative organization and operation, curricular content, student achievement, and the impact of programs on state and society. As described in The Personnel Evaluation Standards, various kinds of information gathering procedures, observations and situations should be used. Evaluation of teaching in higher education has evolved from informal to systematic approaches as pressures for accountability increased. As administrators became concerned about measuring outcomes, concerns increased among the faculty about fairness and use of evaluation results for making administrative decisions, such as tenure, promotion and salary increases. Conclusions: The survey results indicate that graduates have their own view on the administration and development of the educational institutions where they graduate that can help create a policy of education and practice. Teachers' and graduates' collaboration can create higher standards of education. Follow-up reactions to the survey both negative finding of weak points of the process and positive results for filling in knowledge gaps can improve the quality of teaching and learning. The research identifies spheres that need to be improved for raising the teaching quality of the Faculty: to raise the competence of teachers who work at the Bachelor's level; to work out common theory and practice skills for problem solving; to improve individual interaction with students; and to better listen to the needs of the students. (Contains 3 figures.)
Publication Type: Reports - Research; Speeches/Meeting Papers
Education Level: Higher Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Lithuania
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A