Praxis (Nov 2013)
Undergraduate self-evaluation process for obtainment of quality accreditation
Abstract
The Law 80 of 1992 regulates, directs and defines politics concerning High Education in Colombia. It appeared conveniently in a moment when modernizing of the State and recognition of University Autonomy was required. Self-evaluation of University Academic Programs is a constant exercise, pointing towards quality improvement and obtainment of accreditation. Being the latter core of the university reflection, its process is analytic, interpretative, and comprehensive and takes decisions. This process is accomplished with support of the tasks that facilitate formative learning and, in addition, is receptive and ready to carry out the institution’s integral transformation. It also implies teachers who are permanently advancing in their profession. As a result, self-evaluation centred in teachers produces an innovated style that influences professional practice transformation, due that it develops reflection about nowadays social and scientific demands. A successful accomplishment of self-evaluation requires the institution to take for granted its leadership in favouring a broad participation of its academic community, maintaining the culture of quality evaluation and integral labour, besides the recognition of criteria, characters, variables and quality indicators. The former mentioned are present in the “Lineaments for accreditation”, a document belonging to the “National Council of Accreditation”, in its second edition. It is moreover useful to consider the model design, the structured improvement politics towards quality, all defined by the university direction board.
