Program Quality Assurance Process Audit (PQAPA)
The need for a new provincial standard for postsecondary program quality assurance was identified as a co-requisite to colleges gaining greater authority over their own programs as provided for in the New Charter for Ontario Colleges (2002). This led to the establishment of the Ontario College Quality Assurance Service (OCQAS) which oversees two self-regulatory components for Ontario colleges, the Credentials Validation Service (CVS) established in 2005, and Program Quality Assurance Process Audit (PQAPA) established in 2007.
While it is now the responsibility of each college and its Board of Governors to manage the quality of their programs, PQAPA provides the provincial standard for quality assurance processes against which existing practices at Ontario colleges are reviewed. PQAPA also supports the college's and board's "ownership of results" as a key characteristic of effective quality assurance processes.
Mohawk College took part in its first PQAPA audit with on-site consultations on March 4, 5 and 6, 2009. A team of three trained and accredited auditors visited our facilities, and reviewed a self study report on five standardized criteria that measure the Program Quality Assurance Process in place at Mohawk. Mohawk is pleased to report that the auditors concluded that the College met all five criteria. The "Executive Summary"portion of the "Final Audit Report and Executive Summary" is found at PQAPA Executive Summary - March-09.
We encourage all staff and students to familiarize themselves with the PQAPA process and invite your comments on maintaining and improving the Quality Journey at Mohawk College.
