Quality Assurance Process Audit

Quality Assurance Process Audit (QAPA) is an external review process based on information provided by the institution to ensure that rigorous, ongoing program and institutional quality assessment processes have been implemented.

All British Columbia public institutions participate in QAPA once every seven to eight years. The audit ensures an institution:

continues to meet the program review policy requirements outlined in the DQAB’s Exempt Status Criteria and Guidelines and the Degree Program Review Criteria and Guidelines, as application to the institution
has and continues to meet appropriate program review processes and policies for all credential programs; and
applies its quality assurance process in relation to those requirements and responds to review findings appropriately.

The Quality Assurance Process Audit for North Island College occurs in 2023 - 2024 year

QAPA Background

In 2015, the British Columbia Ministry of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills tasked the independent advisory Degree Quality Assessment Board (DQAB) to undertake a periodic quality assurance audit of internal review polices and processes at all BC public post-secondary institutions.

DQAB convened a standing committee, the Quality Assurance Audit Committee, to make recommendations on the development and implementation of the review process. The committee developed the process and initiated the Quality Assurance Process Audit (QAPA) pilot in 2016 with five volunteer institutions. The committee endorsed the definition of an audit as:

An evidence-based process undertaken through peer review that investigates the procedures and mechanisms by which an institution ensures its quality assurance and quality enhancement.

(p.21 2011 Review of the Degree Approval Process in British Columbia)

Following the pilot, the committee evaluated the process, made refinements, and then rolled out across the BC post-secondary system. The details are outlined in the QAPA Handbook.

QAPA Process

NIC submits an institutional report covering key aspects of quality assurance and details about the program review process with the goal to provide evidence of the three goals of the QAPA audit. NIC also submits a list of programs which have completed, are currently engaged or are soon to engage in NIC’s program review process.

Three selected programs are interviewed by an external review panel. This panel consists of three members chosen from other institutions who will interview members from the campus community.

The panel writes a final report with affirmations and recommendations. The recommendations often include implementing and updating policies and procedures that will support NIC’s ongoing commitment to quality student learning experiences. NIC responds to the panel report with its reactions, plans and next steps.