The Education Department sees to it that quality education is being delivered at the University of Antwerp at all times. We continuously innovate and professionalise the education we offer while assisting the Education Board in its policy, support and coordinating tasks.
In the Education Department, we continuously reflect upon the education offered at the University of Antwerp. Our core activity is safeguarding quality but we are also concerned with deciding what we want to provide to students. For example, we believe it's important for students not only to excel in their field of study, but also to develop the skills needed to manage others, think creatively and communicate clearly.
We keep an eye on the regulations
Anyone looking for information about procedures, regulations, decrees and agreements has come to the right place. We deal with both internal regulations (such as the Examination Rules) and external regulations (when introducing a new programme, for example).
The Education Board and working groups
The Education Board is the highest advisory body at the University of Antwerp. The Board has three main objectives:
- To develop and implement the university's educational vision
- To prepare the general education and examination rules
- To coordinate curriculum reviews and educational assessments
In addition, seven working groups are involved in educational policy and the preparation and execution of investments in education.
Quality assurance and innovation tailored to the needs of each faculty
In 2004, a Unit for Innovation and Quality Assurance in Education (CIKO) was founded for each faculty. Their mission is to support quality assurance policies in the faculties and the Educational Commissions. The CIKOs can take either a top-down approach, for example to individual lecturers, or a bottom-up approach, such as to the Educational Commissions and faculty and institute policy.
Quality assurance
Every lecturer is bound to be familiar with the role of the faculty CIKO from the evaluation of programme components. The CIKO staff plan evaluations, organise student participation and provide feedback. In consultation with the Dean and the Educational Commissions, they then take remedial action if necessary. This is perhaps the most visible of the CIKOs' tasks. They are also involved in programme evaluations, study time measurements, the preparation of external reviews and institute reviews.
Innovation
In terms of innovation, we follow up on projects run by UFOO (the University's Fund for Educational Development), support curriculum reviews and develop an educational professionalisation policy.
The coordination and support of all the university's CIKOs is carried out by the Unit for Quality Assurance in the Education Department. The Education Board's Working Group for Quality Assurance and Innovation (WIKO) outlines the institute's quality assurance policy and follows it up. In consultation with all CIKOs and the Education Department, agreements are made about instruments, processes and procedures for quality assurance and educational innovation.
Media and learning environments
In order to provide our lecturers with the opportunity to develop an effective learning environment for student-centred, competence-driven education, the Education Department makes a mix of traditional and electronic tools available. The department also makes sure that students have access to study areas with computers.
Other educational initiatives
Finally, the Education Department offers a range of other educational initiatives. Our Open University study centre enables students to participate in flexible distance learning. Centrum WeST offers students the chance to combine working and studying. Last but not least, we keep an eye on the internationalisation of study programmes, which is an important development at the university. In order to achieve this, the Unit for the Internationalisation of Study Programmes was founded.