The Quality Assurance Agency (QAA), a division working under Higher Education Commission (HEC) visited LUMS on October 9-11, 2018 for an external review of Institutional Performance Evaluation (IPE). The IPE is one of the key initiatives taken by the Higher Education Commission to promote good governance and enhance the quality of Degree Awarding Institutions (DAIs). The purpose of the IPE review visit was to facilitate LUMS and gauge the performance effectiveness of the institute from the perspective of predefined 11 qualitative standards. The standards provide a holistic baseline to measure and evaluate HEI’s effectiveness in nurturing a quality education culture and satisfaction of key performance indicators.
QEC at LUMS prepared a detailed University Portfolio Report (UPR) based on the guidelines of Higher Education Commission. UPR is a pre requisite document which provides responses to all queries listed in each standard of IPE manual. QEC worked effectively with all academic and administrative departments for over 8-10 months to prepare the University Portfolio Report.
Preceding to the external visit, UPR was self-reviewed in June 2018 by a panel of three internal and one external faculty member. Dean QEC, Dr. Syed Mubashir Ali, facilitated the self-review process along with his team. The UPR along with the results of self-review were shared with the HEC on the basis of which the institution selected LUMS to be reviewed against IPE Standards on a cycle of 3 years in the current academic year.
The three-day external review visit of the HEC was centred around IPE manual. The activity was headed by the Vice Chancellor of Iqra University Prof. Dr. Wasim Qazi, while the other panel members included educationists, Prof. Dr. Noor Jehan, Vice Chancellor, University of Swabi; Prof. Dr. Ali Ahsan, Dean Business & Technology, Foundation University; Prof. Dr. Gul Hassan, Director, University of Turbat; Dr. Usman Ghani, Joint Director, Institute of Management Sciences, Peshawar; Dr. Muhammad Farooq, Associate Professor, Bahria University and Mr. Muhammad Ali Baig, HEC QAA representative.
The entire review process was executed successfully by the QEC in collaboration with all administrative and academic departments at LUMS. On the first day of the visit, the panel was welcomed by team QEC and RO. The panel then met the LUMS Vice Chancellor, Dr. Arshad Ahmad for a briefing on the university processes and policies. Afterwards, the panel settled in the faculty lounge with all necessary arrangements where they comprehensively went through the report and checked all the evidences. The second day of visit was dedicated to meeting the LUMS Deans, administrative head of departments, faculty members and students (Undergraduate, Graduate and Postgraduate) representing each degree programme to assess the quality of academic and administrative processes at LUMS. On the third day of the visit, the panel took a tour of the campus to have a broad view of the facilities available. The panel visited all schools, labs, Moot Court, Library, Sport Complex, Aquatic Centre and the National Incubation Centre (NIC).
At the end of the visit, the panel appreciated the efforts of the team and advised all stakeholders to continue strengthening their efforts to maintain and enhance the culture of quality at LUMS. Later, Dr. Syed Mubashir Ali extended his gratitude to all Deans and Administrative HoDs for their active participation in the activity. An official report shall be received soon from HEC regarding the review activity.
