Educational Quality Enhancement Directorate

Adama Science and Technology University (ASTU)

About EQED

The Educational Quality Enhancement Directorate (EQED) of Adama Science and Technology University (ASTU) is the University’s internal organ for quality assurance and enhancement. Formerly known as the Academic Standard and Quality Assurance Directorate, EQED operates under the Academic Vice President and is mandated to coordinate, monitor, evaluate, and promote continuous quality improvement across all academic and administrative functions.

Educational quality at ASTU is recognised as a shared institutional responsibility and a continuous process of planning, implementation, monitoring, evaluation, feedback, corrective action, and improvement. EQED’s scope therefore extends beyond academic standards to encompass teaching and learning, research and innovation, technology transfer, community engagement, and administrative services.

Areas of Focus

1. Teaching and Learning Quality

EQED promotes continuous improvement of programmes, curricula, teaching methods, and student assessment. It monitors attainment of Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs), Programme Outcomes (POs), and Programme Educational Objectives (PEOs); facilitates staff development; evaluates assessment and grading systems; and ensures adequacy of laboratories, libraries, classrooms, ICT, and student support services. Key activities include:

• Monitoring course completion and CLO/PO/PEO attainment audits

• Conducting course and programme-level audits

• Organising awareness and capacity-building training for faculty and students

• Supporting hybrid and digital learning programmes

2. Research, Innovation and Technology Transfer

EQED promotes the quality, relevance, and impact of research and innovation. It encourages evidence-based improvement, supports collaboration, and facilitates translation of research outputs into technologies, products, and services that address national and community needs. Key activities include:

• Supporting probeducation-quality-improvementlem-solving and applied research

• Encouraging research capacity-building and collaboration

• Promoting innovation and technology transfer mechanisms

3. Community Engagement and Outreach

The Directorate enhances the quality and effectiveness of outreach, consultancy, training, and extension services. Emphasis is placed on societal relevance, stakeholder participation, sustainability, and impact assessment. Key activities include:

• Promoting demand-driven community services

• Organising extension training and consultancy programmes

• Using feedback to improve community engagement

4. Administrative and Support Services

EQED recognises that educational quality depends on efficient, transparent, and accountable systems. Its scope includes student services, human resources, procurement, ICT and library services, governance, communication, and feedback mechanisms. Key activities include:

• Assessing and evaluating infrastructure and laboratory standards

• Monitoring student support systems and service delivery

• Strengthening governance, planning, and accountability mechanisms

5. Quality Assurance, Review, and Accreditation

EQED strengthens internal quality systems through audits, self-evaluations, accreditation, and evidence-based follow-up. It supports programmes in preparing data documentation for national and international accreditation and assists six programmes currently engaged in ABET accreditation. Key activities include:

• Conducting annual institutional audit reports as per Education & Training Authority (ETA) requirements

• Supporting accreditation processes with ETA, ABET, HCERES, etc.

• Preparing readiness review reports for international accreditation

• Organising training on accreditation and ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System and following

up certification processes

6. Evidence-Based Continuous Improvement

Institutional audits, programme reviews, performance indicators, and stakeholder feedback inform corrective actions and continuous improvement. EQED provides evidence-based recommendations to university leadership to close quality gaps. Key activities include:

• Developing institutional quality enhancement policies, guidelines, and KPIs

• Conducting diagnostic assessments of internal quality systems

• Following up corrective and preventive actions

Our Approach

EQED fosters a university-wide culture of quality, accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement. Quality enhancement is not the responsibility of a single office but requires coordinated participation from academic units, research centres, community engagement offices, administrative services, students, staff, industry, government, alumni, and other stakeholders.

Through this integrated approach, EQED supports ASTU in producing competent graduates, advancing research and innovation, transferring technology, engaging communities, and delivering responsive institutional services.

COMMITMENT

EQED is committed to assuring and enhancing quality across all University functions, strengthening accountability and stakeholder satisfaction, and advancing educational, research, innovation, technology transfer, community engagement, and administrative excellence for meaningful societal impact.

 Vision

To advance a culture of quality and continuous improvement through robust quality assurance and enhancement systems that strengthen teaching and learning, research and innovation, technology transfer, community engagement, and efficient service delivery, thereby contributing to ASTU’s aspiration to be the first choice in Ethiopia and a premier center of excellence in applied science and technology in East Africa.

 Mission Statements of the office

▪ Ensuring Academic Excellence through Continuous Quality Improvement

▪ Driving Institutional Success with Quality Standards

▪ Promoting Excellence through Quality and Innovation

▪ Building a Culture of Quality and Accountability