Pillar IV
Operational Audits.
Systematic, evidence-based audits of academic and administrative operations to find non-compliance, risk, inefficiency and opportunities to improve.
Internal Quality Audit Programme
How an audit works.
The Vice-Chancellor approves the Annual Internal Quality Audit Programme (IQAP) at the start of each academic year. The schedule is risk-based: units with earlier non-compliance findings or significant student impact come first.
Scheduled
CQAD schedules the audit in the approved IQAP and informs the unit.
Audit team
A CQAD officer, a faculty peer (for academic audits) and an administrative representative.
Checklist
Every item on the standard audit checklist is rated on the four-point scale, with evidence.
Audit report
Findings go to the unit head, the Dean or Director, and the Vice-Chancellor.
Corrective action plan
Any finding rated 1 or 2 needs a corrective action plan within 30 days of the report.
Verification
CQAD verifies the actions and signs the plan off when the evidence shows they work.
Rating scale
One scale for every audit.
- 1 · Does not meet standard
- 2 · Partially meets standard
- 3 · Meets standard
- 4 · Exceeds standard
- N/A · Not applicable
Working with Internal Audit
CQAD coordinates with the Director of Internal Audit to avoid duplication between financial and quality audits, to share findings, to keep a joint Integrated Risk Register, and to report consolidated outcomes to the Vice-Chancellor twice a year.
Support services
Support-service audit protocols.
| Service | Audit focus | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Library Services | Collection currency and relevance, digital access, student usage, staff qualifications | Annual |
| Information Technology | System uptime, cybersecurity, e-learning platform quality, support responsiveness | Annual |
| Counselling & Career Services | Accessibility, staff qualifications, outcome tracking, student satisfaction | Annual |
| Facilities (per campus) | Classroom quality, laboratory standards, safety compliance, accessibility | Biannual |
Audit checklist (Appendix B)
What auditors look at.
| Area | Audit item |
|---|---|
| Academic standards | Are programme learning outcomes clearly defined and communicated to students? |
| Academic standards | Are course syllabi current and aligned with accreditation standards? |
| Academic standards | Is the student-to-staff ratio within GTEC-prescribed limits? |
| Teaching quality | Are student teaching evaluations conducted each semester? |
| Teaching quality | Are peer observation records available for all academic staff? |
| Research (SGSR) | Are research supervision ratios within recommended limits? |
| Student services | Are student feedback mechanisms operational and outcomes acted upon? |
| Records | Are student academic records securely maintained and accurately updated? |
| GTEC compliance | Are all pending GTEC directives tracked and actioned within 60 days? |
| Facilities | Do teaching spaces meet minimum quality and safety standards? |
| IT & library | Do students have adequate access to digital resources and library materials? |
| HR compliance | Are all academic staff qualifications documented and verified? |