kmtc qa policy document 2016

Kenya Medical Training College

Quality Assurance Policy

© 2016


QUALITY ASSURANCE POLICY

Policy Details

Name: Quality Assurance Policy

Category: Academic

Policy Reference Number:

Policy Effective From:Policy Last Revised:

Director …………………………….. Signature …………………… Date ………………

2016

iiQuality Assurance Policy

© Kenya Medical Training College 2016. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form, or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning or otherwise, without the

prior permission in writing of the Kenya Medical Training College.

iii Quality Assurance Policy

TABLE OF CONTENTS

FOREWORD ivACKNOWLEDGMENT vLIST OF ABBREVIATIONS viGLOSSARY OF TERMS vii

1.0 INTRODUCTION 11.1 KMTC Vision, Mission and Core Values 1 1.1.1 Vision 2 1.1.2 Mission 2 1.1.3 Core Values 21.2 Legal and Institutional Framework 21.3 Quality Assurance Policy Statement 21.4 Strategic Context 21.5 Situation Analysis 31.6 The Purpose of the Policy 31.7 The Objectives of the Policy 41.8 Guiding Principles 4 1.8.1 Quality Teaching, Learning and Research 4 1.8.2 Facilities and Resources 5 1.8.3 Outreach Professional Services 5 1.8.4 Collaboration 5 1.8.5 Commitment to Change & Innovation 5

2.0 POLICY ELEMENTS 62.1 Quality Assurance Policy Governance 62.2 Features of the Quality Assurance Process 62.3 Responsibility for Policy Implementation 62.4 Monitoring and Evaluation 72.5 Review of the Policy 7

LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS 8

ivQuality Assurance Policy

FOREWORD

The Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) is a Semi-Autonomous State Agency (SAGA) under the Ministry of Health entrusted with the role of training of the various health care workers, to serve the local, regional and international markets. The College aligns its strategies to those of the health sector, which in turn draws its focus from the National Agenda. The College has defined obligations towards achieving the right to health as stipulated in the Kenya Constitution (2010) and plays significant role in attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Vision 2030.

This policy specifies the college’s approach to quality assurance and continuous improvement and is an outcome of its’ principles, features, structures and standards. The College has therefore, put in place mechanisms for regular review and improvement if its processes, standards, objectives, outcomes and outputs.

The College aims to provide a stimulating and innovative environment for teaching, learning, and research and community service. KMTC approach to continuous improvement is aimed at putting in place quality assurance and quality improvement systems benchmarked locally and internationally, against leading research and medical training institutions.

The Quality Assurance activity is a continuous process. Each key area has precepts and general guidelines on quality assurance mechanisms which may be revised whenever its principles are significantly affected by changes in policy or procedures.

It is therefore hoped that the implementation of this policy will lead to quality improvement in training systems and overall achievement of the mission of the College.

Peter K. TumDIRECTOR, KENYA MEDICAL TRAINING COLLEGE

v Quality Assurance Policy

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

We wish to acknowledge the contribution and support of the Director KMTC for conceiving the need for having a QA policy and availing the technical group to develop this policy. We also thank IntraHealth’s USAID funded FUNZOKenya project for providing technical and financial support for the successful development of this Quality Assurance policy. We also thank the Ministry of Health and its regulatory bodies for providing invaluable inputs.

Finally we appreciate the technical group for working tirelessly to actualize the QA policy document.

viQuality Assurance Policy

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS

ICT Information and Communication TechnologyKMTC Kenya Medical Training InstituteMOH Ministry of HealthPEPFAR President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS ReliefQA Quality AssuranceQI Quality ImprovementSDGs Sustainable Development Goals

vii Quality Assurance Policy

GLOSSARY OF TERMS

Assessment: Is the process of identifying and ensuring that appropriate internal procedures are in place and operational and that outcomes of academic programs and activities are in accordance with established standards.

Audit: Is a process of identifying and ensuring that appropriate internal quality assurance processes are in place and operational.

Curriculum: Refers to educational plan that spells out which goals and objectives should be achieved, which topics should be covered and which methods are to be used for learning, teaching and evaluation.

Evaluation: Refers to the process of measuring outcomes and impact of QA guidelines.

Knowledge: Is the acquisition or awareness of facts, data, information, ideas or principles to which one has access through formal or individual study, research, observation, experience or intuition.

Monitoring: Is the process of following the progress of the implementation of planned activities and their outputs (using process/output indicators) against expected outcomes.

Professionalism: Means adherence to a set of values comprising both a formally agreed-upon code of conduct and the informal expectations of colleagues, clients and society.

Program Review: Is a process of holistic appraisal of a course/program and resources, with a view to its further improvement.

Quality Assurance: Is a system of procedures, checks, audits, and corrective actions to ensure that all training, research, testing, monitoring, sampling, analysis, and other technical and reporting activities are of the highest achievable quality.

Quality Management: Refers to all the processes that are in place to facilitate achievement of quality in an institution.

Quality: Refers to fitness for purpose for which they were designed.

viiiQuality Assurance Policy

Regulatory Body: Is a licensing organization that exercise a regulatory function, that include imposing requirements, restrictions and conditions, setting standards in relation to any activity, and securing compliance or enforcement.

Research: Is the scientific inquiry or an organized quest for new knowledge and better understanding, such as of the natural world or determinants of health and disease. Research can take several forms: empiric (observational), analytic, experimental, theoretical and applied.

Skill: Is the ability to perform a task well, usually gained by training or experience; a systematic and coordinated pattern of mental and/or physical activity.

Staff members: Includes the professionals and employees of the college, as well as formally appointed administrators in their capacity in making non-academic decisions (deans, head of departments and executive officers).

Stakeholders: Include government agencies, public and private institutions, individuals, groups that are affected and participate in the implementation of this policy.

Standard in Education: Refers to model design or formulation related to various aspects of medical education and presented in a manner that enables the assessment of graduates’ performance in compliance with generally accepted professional requirements.

1 Quality Assurance Policy

1Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) was established in 1927 as a Training Depot at the Kenya Institute of Administration–Kabete, the then Jeans School, near Nairobi. The College developed over the years as a Department of the Ministry of Health and was relocated to Kenyatta National Hospital, formerly King George VI Hospital. The college become a State Corporation established through an Act of Parliament vide Cap. 261 (1990), of the Laws of Kenya. The college is ISO 9001:2008 certified.

As a state agency, KMTC is entrusted to train and develop human resources for health for local, regional and international markets. The College aligns its strategies to those of the health sector towards the attainment of socio-economic development as outlined in Kenya Vision 2030.

This policy specifies the college’s approach to quality assurance and continuous improvement as well as its principles, features, structures and standards. The college endeavors to provide quality teaching, learning, research, consultancy and service delivery through continuous quality improvement in an enabling stimulating and innovative environment. The Policy is premised on the need to provide high standards in teaching and learning and is based on best practices locally, regionally and internationally benchmarking against leading research and training institutions.

The main strategic intent of this policy is to ensure:

• Training and developing competent health professionals.• Expanding and sustaining health training opportunities. • Developing and sustaining quality management systems in teaching and learning. • Enhancing research capacity in health training.• Institutionalize consultancy services. • Embracing (ICT) Information and Communication Technology. • Attracting, developing and retaining qualified human resource.• Expanding facilities for competitive college education.

KMTC embodies and delivers training for health professionals with particular regard to delivery of healthcare. This policy seeks to enhance quality training and development of health professionals for strengthening health care delivery in the health sector. This document is anchored to the College’s vision, mission and core values.

INTRODUCTION

2Quality Assurance Policy

1.1 KMTC Vision, Mission and Core Values1.1.1 VisionA model institution in the training and development of competent health professionals.

1.1.2 MissionTo produce competent health professionals through training and research and provide consultancy services.

1.1.3 Core Values• Accountability and integrity• Responsiveness• Equity• Teamwork • Professionalism• Creativity and innovation

1.2 Legal and Institutional FrameworkThe Constitution of Kenya (2010) under the bill of rights provides the right to the highest attainable health for all Kenyans. KMTC established under Cap 261 (1990) endeavors to contribute to the attainment of this right by production of human resource for health for the country. The Kenya Vision 2030 under the social pillar envisages social and economic development which is dependent on healthy citizens. This policy therefore is instrumental in ensuring that health practitioners graduating from KMTC have the requisite knowledge, skills, attitude and competencies for effective practice.

1.3 Quality Assurance Policy StatementKMTC shall adhere to its training standards in the design, delivery and evaluation of its training programs. In addition, it will recognize the relevant regulatory bodies and other internationally recognized institution. KMTC shall seek to provide its training, teaching and research programs to the highest level of quality to ensure the graduates are safe and competent to practice.

1.4 Strategic Context The strategic intent of this policy contributes to the achievement of the KMTC mandate as stipulated in the Act Cap 261 (1990) of the Laws of Kenya including:


a) To provide facilities for College education for national health manpower requirements.

b) To play an important role in the development and expansion of opportunities for Kenyans wishing to continue with their education.

c) To provide consultancy services in health related areas.d) To develop health trainers who can effectively teach, conduct operational

research, develop relevant and usable health learning materials.e) To conduct examinations for and grant diplomas.f) To determine who may teach and what may be taught and how it may be taught

in the College.g) To examine and make proposals for establishment of constituent training centers

and faculties.

1.5 Situation Analysis Currently Quality Assurance at KMTC takes a variety of methods both internal and external. Internal Quality Assurance takes the form of setting of examinations, moderation of examination papers by internal and external examiners and review by academic board of the various programs.

KMTC has embraced Kenya Quality Model for Health and therefore looks at training as a continuous process. In many cases, emphasis has mainly been on controlling inputs, with comparatively little attention given to the processes and outcomes. At institutional level, there has been challenges in monitoring educational performance in a systematic manner as well as in implementing quality training related decisions. Implementation of decisions and outcomes of reports related to quality have been affected largely due to lack of Quality Assurance policy.

To address these critical issues, KMTC needed to develop a Quality Assurance Policy that spells out the principles, guidelines and procedures for implementing the institutions quality assurance processes.

1.6 The Purpose of the PolicyThe purpose of the KMTC quality assurance policy is to:

• Harmonize various quality assurance aspects/activities within KMTC. • Ensure effective performance of staff and students.


• Improve the campus environs in order to attract and retain staff and students.• Strengthen ties with County, National, Regional and International Quality

Assurance agencies and institutions.• Continuously improve the QA system, through reviews, streamlining and

modernizing of QA function, policies, procedures and their supporting protocols.• Provide leadership in the transformation of the KMTC core Quality Assurance

business processes through the implementation of Quality Assurance initiative.• Establish and maintain KMTC as a center of excellence in health professional

education.

1.7 The Objectives of the Policy1. To provide guidance in development and implementation of internal and external

quality assurance procedures and practices.2. To ensure that the quality of training programs at KMTC meet standards expected

by stakeholders.3. To ensure that KMTC graduates have attained knowledge skills and attitude for

effective practice. 4. To ensure KMTC implements quality assurance processes in all its programs and

colleges.5. To provide a mechanism for implementation of internal and external standards

and criteria consistent with internationally recognized standards.6. To facilitate development of a culture of continuous quality improvement to

achieve academic excellence.7. To enable identify areas of strength and excellence as well as areas in need of

focused attention for continuous improvement. 8. Outline and strengthen roles and functions of the Quality Assurance Policy in all

the KMTC Campuses.9. Provide a guarantee to the public and employers of quality education attainment

at the colleges. 10. Standardize the health care professional competency of graduates from all its

campuses and colleges.

1.8 Guiding Principles

Quality assurance initiatives within KMTC will be based on the following principles:

1.81 Quality Teaching, Learning and ResearchEnsuring that the College environment meets students and staff needs through


rigorous academic planning and evaluation. The need to focus on results, performance and outcomes of both students and staff, and provide leadership and motivation, to support staff development, career progression and high completion rates.

1.8.2 Facilities and ResourcesKMTC shall ensure provision of adequate facilities and resources to support quality training.

1.8.3 Outreach Professional ServicesIdentifying and disseminating good practices within and from outside the College upholding the highest standards of professionalism, ethics, gender mainstreaming and equal opportunities for all students and staff.

1.8.4 CollaborationThe College shall provide an overview of the college’s precepts, principles and guidelines on collaboration with other organizations and interdepartmental in offering taught programs and other areas either at external level or between departments. This policy takes cognizance of functions assigned to two levels of collaboration as outlined in the KMTC collaboration policy with the resultant synergy accrued from the collaborative activities with other institutions and agencies.

1.8.5 Commitment to Change and InnovationQA initiatives will promote change through innovative culture and continuous quality improvement. This will build on the past experiences, seeking opportunities for needed change and promoting creativity among staff and students within the college.


22.1 Quality Assurance Policy GovernanceThe KMTC board of management shall provide the overall approval on the implementation of the QA strategy and guidelines on the recommendation of the academic board.

There shall be established Quality Assurance Committees at departmental level, constituent college level and the KMTC headquarters. This policy shall be implemented in all the constituent campuses of KMTC and centrally coordinated by the Senior Management headed by the Director. The Principal of the respective campuses shall provide leadership at the campus level.

2.2 Features of the Quality Assurance Processa) KMTC commits to a QA process that includes self-evaluation, evidence collection,

peer review, external assessment, feedback to relevant stakeholders and action plan.

b) The Policy shall apply to all units of the KMTC campuses through internal quality assurance mechanisms on a continuous basis and external quality assurance strategies which will be periodic.

c) KMTC shall focus on efficient management, planning and resource utilization to achieve excellence and to ensure continuous improvement.

d) A commitment to judging outcomes and processes against internal standards, national health training standards and internationally recognized standards.

e) KMTC shall periodically appraise its education system using recognized quality health education assessment tools to determine the readiness of colleges to improve their training management systems as well as scale up trainings.

f) The Internal Quality Assurance mechanisms shall focus on the quality of programs and courses, faculty, teaching and learning resources, practicum experiences, staff and student performance assessment, support services and infrastructure.

g) The College shall employ quality improvement tools and standards that include Health Professional Management tools, optimizing performance and quality and such other tools as may be determined from time to time.

h) External quality assurance from peer reviewers and regulatory entities shall be incorporated for enhanced quality improvement.

2.3 Responsibility for Policy ImplementationThe Director KMTC shall oversee the implementation of the policy. Designated persons

POLICY ELEMENTS


at the KMTC Colleges shall take a responsibility to implement the policy in the Colleges.

2.4 Monitoring and Evaluation The College shall conduct monitoring and evaluation of this policy implementation with the objective of promoting continuous improvement.

2.5 Review of the PolicyThis policy shall be reviewed from time to time but not later than five years or when need arises.


LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS

S/No Name Designation Station 1. Mr. Peter K. Tum Director, KMTC KMTC 2. Dr. Leah Bii Ag. Deputy Director,

Academics KMTC, HQ

3. Mr. John Anyira Ag. Deputy Director, Finance & Administration

KMTC, HQ

4. Dr. Lucy Waweru Ag. Registrar Academics

KMTC, HQ

5. Mr. Gordon Agalo HOD, Medical Engineering

Nairobi Campus

6. Mr. Peter Kariuki HOD, Laboratory Sciences

Nairobi Campus

7. Mr. Daniel Kangutu HOD, Physiotherapy Nairobi Campus 8. Mr. Bernard Kamuti Principal Machakos Campus 9. Mr. David Okach Principal Lake Victoria Campus 10. Florence A. Hawa Principal Port Reitz Campus 11. Isaac Cheptiony Lecturer KMTC, Nairobi 12. Mr. Jeremiah Sakuda Chief Examinations

officer KMTC, HQ

13. Mr. Bernard Kariuki Deputy Chief Examinations officer

KMTC, HQ

14. Mr. David Maingi Assistant Director Regulatory Systems

USAID|FUNZOKenya Project

15. Mr. Isaac Munene Senior Manager Systems Strengthening

USAID|FUNZOKenya Project

16. Salome Mwangi Program Officer USAID|FUNZOKenya Project

17. Ms. Charity Ngugi Personal Secretary KMTC, HQ


Kenya Medical Training College,

P.O Box 30195- 00100

Nairobi, Kenya

Phone (254) – 020-2725711/2/3/4

Fax (254) – 020-2722907

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.kmtc.ac.ke

This publication is made possible by the generous contribution of the American people through the United States Agency for InternationalDevelopment (USAID). The contents are the responsibility of Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) and do not necessarily reflect the views of

USAID or the United States Government.

kmtc qa policy document 2016

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