Ontario Quality Assurance Framework
Quality Council of Ontario
The Ontario Universities’ Council on Quality Assurance (Quality Council) was established in 2010. The Quality Council operates at arm’s length from universities and recognizes the institution’s autonomy to determine priorities for funding, space, and faculty allocation. The Quality Council gives final approval for proposed new programs to commence, and receives an annual report on major modifications to existing programs.
The Quality Assurance Framework
The Quality Assurance Framework was developed by a special task force within the Quality Council, which worked closely over a two-year period with the Vice-Presidents Academic; it was approved by the Executive Heads of Ontario universities. The Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities (now the Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Development) was also consulted during the Framework’s development.
In 2018, the Quality Assurance Framework underwent review, and revisions coming out of this review were completed and approved in February 2021. The revised Framework and Guide can by clicking on the link below:
University of Windsor's Institutional Quality Assurance Process
University of Windsor's IQAP
The Quality Council approves each university’s Institutional Quality Assurance Process (IQAP) and conducts a periodic audit of how each university’s IQAP is administered to ensure that the manner in which each university conducts its program reviews conforms both to the university’s IQAP and the Quality Assurance Framework.
The University of Windsor's revised IQAP incorporates the Quality Assurance Framework’s revisions and was approved by the Quality Council. The latest version is provided in the following link:
University of Windsor's Microcredential Processes
For-Credit Microcredentials
The processes followed for For-Credit Microcredentials can be found on pages 10-11 and 22 in the University of Windsor's IQAP.
Non-Credit Microcredential Programs
These are subject to rigorous quality assurance processes administered by external credentialing bodies, such as the Ontario College of Teachers and the Ontario College of Nurses.
Currently, there is no formal internal mechanism for quality assurance specific to non-credit microcredentials. Units interested in developing new non-credit microcredential offerings are encouraged to explore quality assurance pathways in collaboration with relevant external credentialing organizations.