Quality Assurance Department

DESCRIPTION OF THE QUALITY ASSURANCE DEPARTMENT


INTRODUCTION



The Quality Assurance Department plays a pivotal role in the development and continued maintenance of the quality assurance mechanisms of the Caribbean Maritime University. The principles on which quality assurance is built in the University are developmental, and are part of the strategy for ensuring the highest quality teaching and learning curricula, research and academic operations. This provides, maintains and enhances the processes by which the CMU assures the quality and standards of its awards.

Mandate of the Quality Assurance Department


In line with the Caribbean Maritime University’s transitional framework, the mandate of the Quality Assurance Department is to ensure the establishment of quality management systems by:

  • Promoting quality achievement and performance improvement throughout the University
  • Implementing policies and setting quality assurance objectives aimed at achievement of the University’s strategic plan
  • Maintaining awareness of the business context and profitability, including budgeting
  • Organising and coordinating staff training and sensitization sessions to foster compliance and to develop a culture of quality within the university.
  • Promotion of customer satisfaction throughout the organization
  • Liaising with external quality assurance bodies, and facilitating their respective external audits of the CMU
  • Conducting annual internal quality audits of all functional areas
  •  Enforcing quality policies and procedures
  •  Maintaining the ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System database and all supporting quality records
  • Overseeing the University’s compliance with Occupational Health and Safety Standards

Principles


The guiding principles which underpin the CMU’s quality assurance system are built on the ISO9001:2015 Quality Management Standards. These speak to:

  • Customer focus Evidence- based decision making
  • Leadership Relationship management
  • Engagement of people
  • Process approach
  • Improvement
  • Evidence-based decision making
  • Relationship management


Additionally, other university-wide quality assurance mechanisms are:

  • Designed to meet internal and external approval, accreditation and recognition requirements
  • Ongoing and form part of the University’s strategies for continuous improvement and excellence
  • Transparent, systematic, rigorous and equitable
  • Focused on input, processes, outcomes and impact