The study investigated the impact of accreditation, a process of external quality assurance (EQA) on university libraries in Kenya. The study demonstrated that globalization and commercialization had affected higher education systems. An increasing emphasis was towards outcomes of higher education and evaluators were looking for new data and indicators that demonstrate that students have mastered specific objectives because of their education. The philosophy of pragmatism formed the basis of this study and the mixed research method was used for data collection. This study adopted a sequential mixed model design and data was collected in two phases. Questionnaires and interview survey methods were used to collect both quantitative and qualitative data for this study. A total of 27 (87%) of the 31 respondents from private and public universities completed and returned the questionnaires. Based on the findings from the questionnaire survey five heads of university libraries were interviewed. The findings of the study established that accreditation had made significant impacts on university libraries in Kenya. It was evident that the university librarians did not undertake self-assessment as a step prior to the accreditation visit. The standards used for evaluation of university libraries only covered inputs. The types of measures collected were only descriptive inputs of the libraries. From the findings, it was evident that there was no collection of statistics nationally. It was also evident from the findings that there were no specific performance indicators to facilitate self-assessment and benchmarking between university libraries.The study recommended that CHE should also advocate the use of self-evaluation in university libraries and evaluate university libraries based on evidence of normative practice, hence the need for revision of the standards. The standards should focus on outputs and outcomes of the library programs as primary indicators of quality. The study further recommended that university libraries in Kenya adopt the use of standardized instruments for data collection such as LibQual. In order to develop a culture of assessment in university libraries in Kenya the study recommended a performance evaluation model with a set of nine criteria including 26 indicators. / Information Science / D. Litt. (Information Science)

Made available in DSpace on 2016-06-02T19:50:22Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 5781.pdf: 1740434 bytes, checksum: 87cd892ed73f7bca1a84e2813ef47f5c (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-12-17 / Universidade Federal de Sao Carlos / The demand for improving the health care services from social actors (Government, Insurance Companies, Patients and Payers) has carried out the hospitals to implement actions of performance improvement. In Brazil, it occurs in a context of deficiency in the management and efficiency of the processes. This thesis analyzes the implamentation impact of NAO‟s Accreditation practices (the brazilian certification most required in the healt care services) on the hospital performance as well as the moderators factors (hospital ownership, hospital size, Accreditation level and Accreditation time) influence in this relationship. A survey research involving the 32 Accredited hospitals from Sao Paulo State was carried out during six months. The survey evaluated the managers‟ perception about the hospital performance improvement comparing the current hospital performance with the hospital performance before the adoption of Accreditation practices. A statistic analysis determined the statistical significance between the Accreditation practices and the hospital performance improvement. Moreover, the most critical Accreditation practices for improving the hospital performance were identified. Finally, managerial actions were proposed to improve the performance of hospitals clusters composed by hospitals with similar management characteristics. The statistical analysis results identified a significant influence of the Accreditation practices in operational efficiency under the action of size and Accreditation time of the hospitals. The critical practices to the hospital performance improvement are the risks management practices and the managerial inovation practices. The first improve the hospital infection rate and the latter improve the medication errors rate. / A exigência dos atores sociais (Governo, Planos de Saúde, usuários e financiadores) para melhoria dos serviços tem conduzidos os hospitais à busca de ações de melhoria de desempenho. No Brasil, isso vem ocorrendo em um contexto caracterizado pela precariedade em termos de gestão e eficiência dos processos. Esta tese analisa o impacto da adoção das práticas de Acreditação da ONA, uma das ações e certificações mais requisitadas atualmente, sobre o desempenho hospitalar e a influência de fatores intervenientes (porte e propriedade dos hospitais, tempo e nível de Acreditação) nesta relação. Um survey coletou informações de 32 hospitais Acreditados do Estado de São Paulo durante 6 meses a fim de avaliar a percepção dos gestores quanto à melhoria do desempenho hospitalar, comparando o desempenho atual da instituição com o desempenho anterior à adoção das práticas de Acreditação. A partir de técnicas estatísticas, determinou-se a significância de influência das práticas de Acreditação sobre o desempenho hospitalar e suas dimensões, identificando as práticas mais críticas à melhoria deste desempenho. Complementarmente, foram propostas ações gerenciais focadas em características comuns de gestão dos hospitais pesquisados, que podem ser implementadas pelos mesmos para que melhorarem seu desempenho. Houve influência estatisticamente significativa das práticas de Acreditação na Eficiência operacional dos hospitais, sob ação do porte e do tempo de Acreditação. As práticas mais críticas à melhoria do desempenho foram as de gestão de riscos e aquelas com foco em inovação. Ambas geram melhorias diretas na taxa de infecção hospitalar e de incidência de erros de medicação, respectivamente.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-06-02T19:51:47Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 3476.pdf: 1426306 bytes, checksum: 16ac1aa2521059b79533957793763438 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-02-16 / Universidade Federal de Sao Carlos / The brazilian s Public Health System is characterized, in general, by precarity from its procedure and its services. This situation can be observed in the high time of waiting by an appointment, in the lack of beds, in the lack of training and education of the professionals from the Healthy Sector. This setting results in accumulation of procedure s errors and, in consequence, in a fall in the Health services quality. This reality exists, in part, because of the deficiency in the public health care service s management system. Nowadays, there are efforts from the government and the health care institutions in order to implement Quality Management programs and a management s structured systematic. These efforts aim to promote the guarantee and the improvement of the health care services. This dissertation aims to carry out the adjustment of the management of a public Health Care institution of smallsized localized in the interior of Sao Paulo (Institution A) according to the NAO s (National Accreditation Organization) requirement for Full Accreditation level by means of an Action Research. Besides, it proposes an orientative systematic for implementation of the level Full Accreditation in health care institutions of the small or medium-sized. As a subsidy for the Action Research, a Case Research was carried out in six health care institutions. This thematic needs more studies and experiences. The professionals of Health Brazilian Sector don t understand the Accreditation s concepts. The Action Research to begin to the adjustment of Hospital School s management, but it didn t was concluded integrally due to the short time period. A systematic was proposed for Health Care Institutions of small or medium-sized to adjust the management according to the NAO s Full Accreditation level. / procedimentos e serviços, a qual pode ser expressa pela demora de atendimento aos usuários, pela falta de leitos e, ainda, pela falta de capacitação e treinamento de considerável parcela dos profissionais da saúde, resultando numa acumulação de erros em procedimentos e atividades e, conseqüentemente, na falta de qualidade. Essa realidade se deve, em parte, a deficiências na gestão do sistema público de prestação de serviços médico-hospitalares. Isso tem justificado esforços governamentais e das instituições hospitalares para implantação de programas de Gestão da Qualidade e de sistemáticas estruturadas de gestão, com o objetivo de promover a garantia e a melhoria dos serviços prestados. Esta dissertação tem por objetivo adequar, por meio da realização de uma pesquisa-ação, a gestão de uma Unidade de Serviços Médico-Hospitalares pública, de pequeno porte, do interior de São Paulo (Unidade A), aos requisitos de Acreditação Plena da ONA (Organização Nacional de Acreditação), além de propor uma sistemática orientativa para implantação desses requisitos de Acreditação Hospitalar em Unidade de Serviços Médico-Hospitalares de pequeno e médio porte. Como subsídio à pesquisa-ação, foi realizada uma pesquisa exploratória em seis Unidades. Foi possível observar que a temática encontra-se, nacionalmente, incipiente, necessitando de um maior número de pesquisas e de melhor compreensão dos profissionais do setor de Saúde quanto aos conceitos da Acreditação. A pesquisa-ação iniciou a adequação da gestão da Unidade A aos requisitos de Acreditação Plena da ONA, porém, em virtude do curto horizonte de tempo, não foi realizada integralmente. Foi proposta uma sistemática que orienta Unidades de Serviços Médico-Hospitalares de pequeno e médio porte a adequarem sua gestão aos requisitos da ONA para obtenção da Acreditação Plena.

Magister Commercii - MCom / The South African government plays a direct and active role in facilitation the development of a skilled workforce. The effective mobilisation, development and utilisation of South Africa's human resource capacity are critical for the success of the economy, institution building and the transformation process. In this context, the development of a system of Recognition of Prior Learning is one of the government's significant initiatives. This research examined whether the policy documents of the universities in the Western Cape comply with the requirements of the National Government Recognition of Prior Learning policy. / South Africa

В работе произведен анализ нормативной документации в области аккредитации испытательных лабораторий. Описаны основные этапы подготовки испытательной лаборатории к подтверждению компетентности. Разработан проект программы подготовки санитарно-промышленной лаборатории ПАО «МЗИК» к подтверждению компетентности. Магистерская диссертация включает в себя 93 страницы, 8 рисунков, 6 таблиц, 6 приложений, 28 литературных источников. / The paper analyzes the normative documentation in the field of accreditation of testing laboratories. The main stages of testing laboratory preparation for confirmation of competence are described. The program project of preparing the sanitary and industrial laboratory of PJSC "MZIK" to certification of competence is done. The master's thesis includes 93 pages, 8 figures, 6 tables, 6 appendices, 28 literary sources.

Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2005. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Introduction: Quality assurance in Nuclear Medicine is of utmost importance in order to ensure optimal scintigraphic results and correct patient management. A customised Quality Management System (QMS) should be documented and implemented by following the international guidelines set by the International Standardisation Organization (ISO). Materials & Methods: A Quality Control Manual (QCM), defining the departmental quality policy, mission, vision and objectives was customised following the framework of a tried and tested design. As ISO focuses on client satisfaction and staff harmony, the following departmental objectives were audited in working towards the accreditation of the Nuclear Medicine Department of Tygerberg Hospital: referring physician satisfaction, patient satisfaction as well as staff satisfaction and harmony. Information was collected by means of questionnaires completed by referring physicians and staff members. One-on-one interviews were executed on patients. An international ISO accredited Nuclear Medicine department was visited to establish the suggested path to follow en route to successful ISO accreditation and certification. Results: Referring physicians indicated overall satisfaction with service provision, but a need for electronic report and image transfers seemed too dominant. The patient satisfaction survey resulted into overall satisfaction with personal service providing, but the provision of written and understandable information, long waiting times and t equipment must receive attention. Staff questionnaires indicated a general lack of communication between different professional groups and the need for interpersonal loyalty and team building. Improvement measures were identified to ensure the continuous improvement of the QMS by focusing on these quality parameters. Conclusion: The department has QA procedures in place, but does not meet all criteria for external accreditation. In order to ensure departmental harmony and sustainability of client and staff satisfaction, the departmental objectives in measured and improved where needed. The successful implementation and continuous improvement of a customised QMS, following the guidelines outlined in the QCM will lead to successful accreditation. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Inleiding: Die belangrikheid van kwaliteit versekering in Kerngeneeskunde vir die versekering van optimale flikkergrafiese resultate en korrekte pasient handtering kan nie onderskat word me. 'n Klantgerigte Kwaliteitsbeheersisteem (KBS) moet gedokumenteer en geimplimenteer word vir die Kerngeneeskunde Departement deur die riglyne te volg soos uiteengesit deur die Internationale Standardiserings Organisasie (ISO). Materiale & Metodes: 'n Kwaliteitskontrol handleiding (KB), wat die departementele kwaliteitsbeleid, die missie en visie asook die departementele doelwitte definieer is ontwerp en saamgestel vir die Kerngeneeskunde departement van Tygerberg Hospitaal. Hierdie ontwerp is gebaseer op die raamwerk van 'n aanvaarde kwalteitsbeheersisteem. ISO fokus op klante tevredenheid asook personeel harmonie en tevredenheid. Vir hierdie rede is daar 'n tevredenheidpeiling uitgevoer op die klante en personeel in die strewe na ISO akkreditasie en sertifikasie. Inligting was versamel deur vraelyste wat ingevul was deur die verwysende geneeshere, pasiente en personeel. Resultate: 'n Kwaliteitskontrole handleiding was saamgestel VIr gebruik in die Kerngeneeskunde department. Die interne audit resultate het aangedui dat die verwysende geneeshere tevrede is met die algehele dienslewering. Die behoefde aan elektronies versende verlae en beelde was dominerend. Die pasient tevredenheidspeiling het bevestig dat die pasiente tevrede is met persoonlike dienslewering, maar 'n tekort aan verstaanbare en geskrewe inligting was geidentifiseer. Die lang wagtye en stukkende apparaat is ook gebiede wat verbertering benodig. Algemene gebrek aan komminukasie tussen die verskillende beroepsgroepe, die behoefte aan interpersoonlike lojaliteit en span werk was die hoof bevindinge van die personeel tevredenheidspeiling. Verbeterings maatreels, gefokus op hierdie departementele doelwitte, was geidentifiseer ten eide te verseker dat die KBS voordurend verbeter en in stand gehou word. Samevatting: Alhoewel die departement wel KB prosedures in plek het, voldoen dit nie aan al die criteria vir eksterne akkreditasie nie. Ten einde departementele harmonie en kliente tevredenheid te verseker, met die oog op ISO sertifikasie, moet die departmenteIe doelwitte deurlopend gemeet en verbeter word.

Thesis (PhD)--University of Stellenbosch, 2001. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: "Quality" has different meanings to different people. Even quality experts do not agree on a single definition: Juran's definition of quality revolves around his concept of "fitness for use", Crosby defines quality in terms of performance that produces "zero defects" and Deming defines quality as a "never ending cycle of continuous improvement". One element, however, that is common to all three approaches is that management must accept and demonstrate leadership if quality is to be achieved. Quality is rarely thought of as others perceive it. What is apparent is that if providers of care wish to maintain leadership in defining quality, they need to - Actively participate in the public debate about quality. Review the way in which they have been defining quality. Question whether their definitions are aligned with what the purchasers of health care define as being important. Develop meaningful measures of quality and data collection systems that will allow them to demonstrate quality and value. - Willingly share data not only on outcomes, and also measures that are specific to individual procedures and service providers. The PhysioFocus practice accreditation programme attempted to achieve the above factors. By realising the goal of the research this was determined. The goal of the research was to evaluate the PhysioFocus practice accreditation programme and to make recommendations on the educational programme for accreditation in private physiotherapy practices. This goal was realised by means of an exploratory and descriptive research design with a qualitative orientation. The evaluation of the PhysioFocus practice accreditation programme was performed by means of a validated evaluation instrument. The group interview revealed components of the PhysioFocus practice accreditation programme that require remediation. Recommendations included professional-ethical issues, business management and legislative issues. The recommendations will be implemented by the PhysioFocus practice accreditation committee. The PhysioFocus practice accreditation learning programme was evaluated by means of a semi-structured questionnaire, containing eleven questions and a section for comments. The general consensus was that the PhysioFocus practice accreditation programme is essential in private physiotherapy practice in South Africa. The implementation of the PhysioFocus practice accreditation programme resulted in the facilitation of quality physiotherapy; professional and personal development; monitoring of quality improvement processes; and the evaluation and remediation of these processes. This supported the central theoretical assumption of the research. Concerns were voiced about the lack of standards, lack of quality improvement skills, the public image of the physiotherapy profession and the lack of basic business management training. The researcher concluded that the implementation of the PhysioFocus practice accreditation programme is essential in private physiotherapy practice in South Africa. At present the current PhysioFocus practice accreditation programme does not address all the needs of private physiotherapy practices. Recommendations based on the research included remediation of the current PhysioFocus practice accreditation programme, formal education included business management, professional-ethical-Iegal issues, standards and scientific methods to analyse process variation and the development of improvement strategies in quality improvement. Other recommendations include informal education, physiotherapy management and structured quality improvement activities. The issue of the image of the professional physiotherapist was also addressed. Topics for future research were identified. The uniqueness of the research lies in the fact that this is the only physiotherapy practice accreditation programme implemented in South Africa. It is also the only physiotherapy practice accreditation programme in South Africa that has been evaluated. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: "Gehalte" het verskillende betekenisse vir verskillende mense. Selfs kenners op die gebied van gehalte stem nie saam met 'n enkele definisie nie. Juran se omvattende definisie is "gebruikswaarde", terwyl Crosby gehalte in terme van produksie, naamlik "zero defek", definieer. Deming definieer gehalte as "'n nimmereindigende siklus van voortdurende verbetering". Die een aspek wat al drie die kenners egter gemeen het, is dat bestuur leierskap moet aanvaar en demonstreer indien gehalte bereik wil word. Geen twee persone ervaar gehalte eenders nie. Indien diensverskaffers leiding wil behou ten opsigte van gehalte-definiëring, sal hulle verplig wees om: aktief deel te neem aan openbare debat oor gehalte; die aanvaarde definisie van gehalte te herevalueer; die aanvaarde definisie van gehalte op te weeg teenoor dié van die mediese hulpfonds-administrasie; gehalte- en data insamelingsisteme te ontwikkel om gehalte en waarde te bewys; en gewillig alle data te deel - nie net uitkomsdata nie, maar ook data wat spesifiek op individuele prosedures en diensverskaffers van toepassing is. Die PhysioFocus praktyk-akkreditasieprogram het gepoog om bogenoemde te bereik. Die navorsing het gerealiseer deurdat die doelstelling bereik is. Die doelstelling van die navorsing was om die PhysioFocus praktykakkreditasieprogram te evalueer en aanbevelings te maak vir 'n leerprogram vir die akkreditasieprogram. Die doelstelling het gerealiseer deur "n verkennende en beskrywende navorsingsontwerp vanuit 'n kwalitatiewe oriëntasie. Die evaluering van die PhysioFocus praktyk-akkreditasieprogram het deur middel van 'n gevalideerde evalueringsinstrument geskied. Die groepsonderhoud het areas van die PhysioFocus praktyk- akkreditasieprogram wat remediëring benodig, geïdentifiseer. Aanbevelings het professionele-etiese aspekte, besigheidsbestuur en wetlike aspekte ingesluit. Die aanbevelings sal deur die PhysioFocus praktykakkreditasiekommitee geïmplementeer word. Die evaluering van die PhysioFocus praktyk-akkreditasieleerprogram het deur middel van 'n semi-gestruktureerde vraelys met 11 oop vrae, tesame met 'n afdeling vir opmerkings, geskied. Die algemene aanname was dat die PhysioFocus praktyk-akkreditasieprogram noodsaaklik is in privaat fisioterapiepraktyk in Suid-Afrika. Die implementering van die PhysioFocus praktyk-akkreditasieprogram het gehalte fisioterapie, professionele en persoonlike ontwikkeling, die monitering van gehalteverbeteringsprosesse, asook evaluering en remediëring van hierdie prosesse, tot gevolg gehad. Dit het die sentraalteoretiese aanname van die navorsing ondersteun. Daar was egter kommer oor die gebrek aan standaarde, die beeld van die fisioterapieprofessie, asook die gebrek aan besigheidsbestuuropleiding. Die navorser het tot die gevolgtrekking gekom dat die implementering van die PhysioFocus praktyk-akkreditasieprogram noodsaaklik is in privaat fisioterapiepraktyk in Suid-Afrika. Die huidige PhysioFocus praktykakkreditasieprogram voldoen nie aan al die vereistes van privaat fisioterapiepraktyk in Suid Afrika nie. Aanbevelings vanuit die navorsing sluit die volgende in: remediëring van die huidige PhysioFocus praktyk-akkreditasieprogram; formele opleiding, insluitende profesionele-etiese-wetlike aspekte; standaarde; wetenskaplike metodes om die praktykprosesveranderinge te analiseer; en die ontwikkeling van 'n gestruktureerde gehalteverbeteringstrategie. Die beeld van die fisioterapieprofessie is ook aangespreek. Onderwerpe vir toekomstige navorsing is geïdentifiseer. Die navorsing is uniek omdat die PhysioFocus praktyk-akkreditasieprogram die enigste akkreditasieprogram vir fisioterapie in Suid Afrika is. Dit is ook die enigste fisioterapie-akkreditasieprogram wat in Suid Afrika geëvalueer is.

The purpose of this research was to provide a descriptive and critical analysis of the function of evaluation teams in regional accreditation of senior colleges and universities--how evaluators perceive their roles, how they spend their time on site, and how they make decisions. The objectives of the study were (1) to determine the extent to which regional accrediting visits do what they are purported to do in regional policy and procedure statements, and (2) to determine the strengths and weaknesses in the onsite evaluation process as perceived by regional evaluation team members. The methodology involved a three-step process: (1) a content analysis of regional policy statements regarding the evaluation visit, (2) a survey of evaluators from five of the six regional associations, and (3) a review and comment on the draft findings by professional staff of the participating regional commissions. An overall response rate of 82 percent was obtained from the sample of 349 evaluators--without the use of follow-up mailings. Regional cross tabulations of evaluator responses, together with Chi-square statistics and standard errors of the percentages, provided the basis for the analysis. Major conclusions of the study were: (1) The lack of clear specification of the purpose of the evaluation team visit rendered it difficult to determine whether the purported purposes of the visit were being met. (2) The major strengths of the evaluation visit lay in the expertise and dedication of the volunteer evaluators, and in the willingness of the commissions to adapt their procedures to changing needs and new technologies. The major weakness in the evaluation visit was the lack of an evaluation framework or model to guide the work of the evaluation team. The researcher's recommendations included (1) the regional commissions should clearly specify the intended purposes of the evaluation visit in light of the overall purposes of regional accreditation, and (2) the regional commissions should utilize a coordinating group such as the Council on Postsecondary Accreditation and the evaluation expertise within academe to develop a framework, or genre, to guide team members in accomplishing the purposes of the visit.

<p>Акредитација, као један од<br />елемената квалитета, омогу-ћава<br />пословној организацији да стекне<br />конкурентску предност, а<br />купцу/кориснику да има<br />повјерење у њен производ<br />/услугу. Развијен национални<br />систем акредитације и интегрисан<br />у регионалне и међународне<br />системе акреди- тације омогућава<br />присуство на инотржишту. То се<br />постиже уз непрекидну обуку и<br />образова-ње за квалитет свих<br />заинтере-сованих страна.</p> / <p>Akreditacija, kao jedan od<br />elemenata kvaliteta, omogu-ćava<br />poslovnoj organizaciji da stekne<br />konkurentsku prednost, a<br />kupcu/korisniku da ima<br />povjerenje u njen proizvod<br />/uslugu. Razvijen nacionalni<br />sistem akreditacije i integrisan<br />u regionalne i međunarodne<br />sisteme akredi- tacije omogućava<br />prisustvo na inotržištu. To se<br />postiže uz neprekidnu obuku i<br />obrazova-nje za kvalitet svih<br />zaintere-sovanih strana.</p> / <p>Accreditation as one of the elements<br />of quality, enables the business<br />organization to gain competitive<br />advantage, and customer to have<br />confidence in its product/ service.<br />Developed national accreditation<br />system and integrated into regional<br />and international systems of<br />accreditation allows the presence<br />international market. This is<br />achieved through continuous training<br />and education for the quality of all<br />parties interested in it.</p>

The purpose of this study was to identify a selected set of perceived indicators of institutional quality for Bible colleges accredited by the Accrediting Association of Bible Colleges (AABC). From the literature, 67 indicators of institutional quality in higher education and Bible colleges were identified and collected in a questionnaire, the Inventory of Determinants of Quality for Bible Colleges (IDQBC). The IDQBC was mailed to Bible college presidents, faculty members, alumni, and alumnae representing all 73 Bible colleges in the United States accredited by the AABC. Of the 448 surveys mailed, 309 were returned for a response rate of 69%. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) procedure was executed for each of the 67 IDQBC indicators to determine if the group means of the four study groups were significantly different. Of the 67 indicators evaluated, 12 were found to have significant differences among the study groups at the .01 level. Therefore, the study groups were in agreement as to the relative weight they assigned to 55 of the 67 indicators. Of these 55 indicators, 46 were rated as important or very important when considering the quality of a Bible college, while 9 were rated as less important when considering the quality of a Bible college. The results of this study point to four conclusions regarding the study groups' assessment of quality in Bible colleges. First, there was a high degree of agreement reported as to the importance of indicators of institutional quality in Bible colleges. Second, student outcomes were reported to be the most important indicators of institutional quality in Bible colleges, especially outcomes related to Biblical values and ideals. Third, indicators related to the teaching mission of Bible colleges were reported to be the next most important determinants of institutional quality. Fourth, indicators related to institutional demographics, resources, and student services were reported to be among the less important indicators of institutional quality.