Internal Quality Assurance and Evaluation System

The Internal Quality Assurance System for educational, creative and other related activities and the system for conducting internal evaluations of the quality of the educational, creative and other related activities of the USB (hereinafter only referred to as the “Internal Quality Assurance and Evaluation System”) is detailed in several interdependent internal regulations and other relevant USB documents, all of which are aimed at defining, describing and developing the Internal Quality Assurance and Evaluation System of the USB, its individual processes, tools and elements in compliance with the mission of the USB. The fundamental principle behind the development of the Internal Quality Assurance and Evaluation System of the USB is taking a coordinated, cross-sectional approach, and looking for common and unified solutions and tools for the USB to use.

Apart from the USB Statute, the Internal Quality Assurance and Evaluation System is laid out particularly in the Rules of a Quality Assurance System for Educational, Creative and Related Activities and Conducting Internal Evaluations of the Quality of Educational, Creative and Related Activities of the University of South Bohemia (hereinafter “the Rules”). The Rules follow from efforts to continually improve the quality of activities in the fields of education, science and research, development and innovation, art and other related activities which drive the development of study programmes, students, teachers, scientists and other members of the staff of the USB, for which purpose the USB makes use of feedback processes. Therefore, external stakeholders are involved as well, particularly by means of specialised colloquia, sessions, questionnaire surveys and enquiries.

The Rules follow from the long-term strategic documents of the USB, in particular:

• The strategic plan for activities in the fields of education, science and research, development and innovation, art and other creative activities of the USB (hereinafter the “USB Strategic Plan”) and the annual Plan for the Implementation of the USB Strategic Plan,
• The USB Code of Conduct,
• the missions and vision of the USB as a public university-type higher education facility, developed over the long term,
• applicable legal regulations,
• Standards and directives for quality assurance in the European Higher Education Area,
• Declaration of Socially Responsible Conduct of the University of South Bohemia in Relation to Educational Activities.

A quality evaluation of the USB can be found in the Report on an internal evaluation of the quality of educational, creative and related activities of the USB, as well as in balance sheet documents, annual activity reports and annual economic management reports of the USB, and, to a certain extent, in the strategic documents of the faculties and annual activities and the economic management reports of the various faculties.

Apart from these Rules, quality assurance is also based on other internal regulations and standards, in particular:

• The Study and Examination Code of the USB,
• The Bursary Code of the USB,
• The Rules of Academic Staff Recruitment at the USB,
• The Statute of the USB’s Internal Evaluation Board,
• The Guidelines for the Composition and Activities of the Board of Degree Programmes,
• The Standards for Accreditation and Implementation of Degree Programmes of the USB (including its Annexes),
• as well as Rector’s and Deans’ ordinances and methodological guidelines of the Bursar, the Vice-Rector and Vice-Dean and officials of other constituent parts of the university, which are interconnected with these internal regulations and standards.

Quality assurance is a part of the USB’s strategic development, and it is therefore governed principally by the Rector’s ordinance issuing Rules for the Creation, Approval and Publication of USB Strategic Documents, as well as related ordinances of individual faculties and other constituent parts of the university.

The Internal Quality Assurance and Evaluation System at the USB has been developed over the long term, which means that amendments to the Higher Education Act only require an adjustment of the system in place pursuant to the requirements of the Higher Education Act and applicable standards for accreditation be made. As for its content, the Internal Quality Assurance and Evaluation System at the USB is based on three vital areas: ensuring the quality of educational (including life-long learning), creative and related activities. Each of these three areas has their own mechanisms and procedures for ensuring, evaluating and ensuring the continual improvement of quality.

Educational activities and related creative activities represent an integral whole, whose principal goal is to ensure that the university studies follow the current state of scientific knowledge, potentially based on the professors’ artwork, and using modern methods, forms of education and study aids. The quality of educational and creative activities is assured and evaluated both in relation to the degree programmes on offer and the implemented lifelong learning programmes. Apart from the Higher Education Act, minimum requirements for the quality of educational activities, i.e. ensuring a degree programme, are given by government decree No. 274/2016 Sb., on accreditation standards in higher education and by government decree No. 275/2016 Sb., on fields of education in higher education, evaluation outputs, recommended procedures and methods of evaluating the activities of the National Accreditation Bureau for Higher Education (hereinafter the “NAB”) as the guarantor of external evaluations of the USB and the system of higher education in the Czech Republic in general, the Statute of the USB, the Code for Habilitation Procedures and the Procedure for Appointing Full Professorship at the USB, the Study and Examination Regulations of USB, the Rules and Standards of accreditation of the degree programmes at the USB (including attachments) and related internal regulations of the USB and individual faculties. The same requirements in terms of quality assurance and evaluations apply to all fields of education offered at the USB. The uniform criteria apply to all undergraduate, graduate, follow-up graduate and doctoral study degrees, with regard to the specifics of academically and vocationally focused degree programmes and with regard to the requirements of applicable approval bodies concerning the necessary training to be able to exercise regulated professions.

Evaluations of members of the academic staff and evaluations of other members of the staff represent a basic common framework of evaluation for the entire USB. Evaluations of members of the academic staff focus on the pedagogical load and the scientific, artistic and other creative activities and the performance of the members of staff (in connection with the guaranteed courses and degree programmes), the performance of tasks by all members, their career development, and the needs of further education, and for graduate, follow-up graduate and doctoral degree programmes, the guarantor unit must also ensure grant projects outside the USB at an acceptable level.

Evaluations of the quality of educational activities

As part of the Internal quality evaluation of educational activities, particularly the evaluation of degree programmes and related theses, the evaluation of processes of feedback from members of academia, prospective students, graduates and employers of graduates are monitored. Furthermore, professional opportunities for graduates, the rate of the completion of studies, the rate of termination of studies other than by completion, and the rate of failure in the admission procedure are also considered.

Degree programmes are evaluated based on a Self-Evaluation Report of a Degree Programme submitted by the Guarantor of each particular degree programme. The self-evaluation report of each degree programme is discussed by the Internal Evaluation Board of the USB with the participation of the Quality Coordinator of each Faculty, the Dean, the Chair of the Academic Senate of the Faculty, the Guarantor of the degree programme and other selected representatives of the evaluated degree programme (Teachers and Heads of Departments taking part in the degree programme). In case the USB Internal Evaluation Board expresses concerns as to the quality of the self-evaluation report submitted, the Guarantor of the degree programme must be present at the meeting of the USB Internal Evaluation Board.

The evaluation of the quality of Lifelong Learning Programmes

The internal evaluation of the quality of educational activities also includes an evaluation of the scope and quality of the existing Lifelong Learning Programmes. The main focus of this evaluation is the feedback obtained from students and graduates of individual Lifelong Learning Programmes. The main subject of the evaluation is the quality of teaching and the organization of programmes within each faculty concerned, the way each Lifelong Learning Programme´s promotion is ensured, the trends in interest in the programmes offered and the demand for Lifelong Learning Programmes. The organization, records and quality evaluation of Lifelong Learning programmes are governed by the Code of Lifelong Learning at the USB and related Rector’s Ordinances and internal regulations of individual faculties. The Lifelong Learning Council at the USB is appointed pursuant to the Code of Lifelong Learning and draws up the evaluation report of the Lifelong Learning Programmes offered at USB. The evaluation outcomes are communicated to the Rector’s Advisory Board and the Internal Evaluation Board of the USB. The latter may make recommendations and suggestions for improving these activities, including making recommendations regarding the content and form of the evaluation report.

Evaluation of the quality of creative activities

The quality of creative activities is evaluated with regard to the strategic documents of the USB, the strategic plans and the overall development policy for the creative activities at the USB and within its individual faculties in compliance with faculty strategic documents and their specialization. The alignment of creative activities with individual degree programmes and fields of education. Creative activities are evaluated with respect to differing approaches taken towards publishing and quoting in different programmes and the evaluation follows from making a comparison of the performance of similar programmes at the USB, in the Czech Republic as well as from the international benchmarking of various programmes, with the contribution of opinions and recommendations by the International Council of the USB. The evaluation of the quality of creative activities follows from making an evaluation of the quality of outputs and bibliometric analyses, as well as from the Self-Evaluation Report of the Faculty submitted by the Dean after it has been discussed by the Scientific Board of the Faculty together with the minutes of the discussion (the respective part of the minutes from the Faculty Scientific Board meeting) to the USB Internal Evaluation Board through the Vice-Chair of the USB Internal Evaluation Board.

The evaluation of the quality of related activities

The quality of related activities refers to the quality of activities supporting the principal mission of the USB, i.e. the quality of educational and creative activities. Pursuant to the Rules, related activities include the following:

• management and administration of the university,
• infrastructure,
• personal and financial resources,
• information and consultancy systems and services, including libraries,
• publication and publishing activities,
• student accommodation and canteens,
• providing facilities for student leisure activities (sports grounds, student clubs, etc.).

In general, the evaluation of related activities takes place in connection with the preparation of the USB Strategic Plan, making partial adjustments in terms of the annual Plan for updating the USB Strategic Plan, in compliance with the evaluation of the development needs of the USB as a whole, in particular in connection with USB investment strategies. The evaluation of the quality of related activities is based upon the Report on the Quality of Related Activities, submitted to the Rector by the Director of each respective university unit or the head of a different unit or section responsible for the implementation of related activities. The evaluation of the quality of related activities is administered by the Rector, as far as the evaluation includes other activities of the faculties or the Rectorate as a whole. The outcomes of evaluation of the quality of related activities are communicated to the Rector’s Advisory Board and the Internal Evaluation Board of the USB. The latter may make recommendations and suggestions for improving these activities, including making recommendations regarding the content and form of the evaluation report.

The internal quality evaluation usually also includes the following:

• feedback mechanisms based on regular questionnaire surveys focused on receiving feedback from clearly defined target groups, such as students in various stages of their studies including students leaving the USB for various reasons, graduates, members of staff, employers and other external stakeholders,
• student evaluations of teaching (particularly course surveys and their analysis by Guarantors of degree programmes),
• national or international surveys and sociological surveys conducted by ministries and other authorities in the Czech Republic or the EU,
• international and national quality rankings with the aim of making the USB one of the best universities in the Czech Republic and representing the USB and the Czech Republic in international rankings, or sector rankings focusing on international comparison in those fields where an international comparison makes sense regarding the international publishing platforms and functional publishing platforms for various fields,
• performance indicators (public and internal) ensuing from the long-term strategic goals of the USB,
  quantitative and qualitative analyses (particularly monitoring the success rate in the admissions procedure, failure rates for degree programmes, the rate of completion of studies within a degree programme, the rate of the employability of graduates and any problems concerning their employability); an assessment of equal treatment of all candidates and students is an integral part of these analyses,
• bibliometric analyses,
• quality evaluations of the USB in compliance with the applicable methodology of evaluating research organisations and an evaluation of the purpose-built support of research, development and innovation,
• an evaluation of the faculty, aiming to align the development needs of the USB with the financial limits and resources of the USB, particularly in view of the strategy for drafting the USB budget.

The basic structure and activities of USB bodies, USB faculties and other constituent parts in terms of quality assurance and evaluation are governed by the Higher Education Act, the Statute of the USB, the Rules, USB Regulations and other internal regulations of the USB, all of which are conducted in compliance with the organisational structure of USB. The Internal Quality Assurance and Evaluation System is jointly created and developed by USB Bodies (the Rector, the management of the USB, the USB Internal Evaluation Board, the Academic Senate of the USB, the Scientific Board of the USB, the Board of Trustees of the USB, the International Council of the USB), the bodies of individual constituent parts of the USB (deacons and the management of faculties, directors and the management of other constituent parts of the USB, academic senates of faculties, scientific boards of faculties, Quality Coordinators, Guarantors of degree programmes, Guarantors of courses, heads of departments/institutes, Board of degree programmes, Doctoral Studies Board, Faculty Accreditation Committee), as well as members of the academia of the USB who assist in developing prerequisites for continually improving USB activities, and implementing the measures ensuing from the evaluation of the individual activities of the USB.

The Rector coordinates the activities in the field of quality assurance and evaluation as the Chair of the Internal Evaluation Board of the USB together with its Vice-Chair and the Vice-Rector, who has competence over internal evaluations, and the Rector´s Advisory Board.

The Rector´s Advisory Board advises the Rector; it is made up of individual members of USB management, i.e. the Rector, Vice-Rectors and the Bursar, Deans of Faculties and other persons appointed by the Rector. Members of USB management are jointly responsible for the assurance of quality in terms of their entrusted agendas, as detailed in the USB Regulations.

As part of the Internal Quality Assurance and Evaluation System, the Internal Evaluation Board of the USB fulfils tasks detailed here.

In terms of Quality Assurance, the Academic Senate of the USB ensures mainly the following:

• approves the USB Internal Regulations related to quality assurance,
• approves the Report on the internal evaluation of the quality of educational, creative and related activities of the USB and amendments to this Report.

In terms of Quality Assurance, the Scientific Board ensures mainly the following:

• approves the intent to apply for institutional accreditation for one or more fields of education or to expand institutional accreditation by one or more fields of education,
• approves the intent to apply for accreditation of a habilitation procedure or the procedure for an appointment of full professorship and it assesses the recommended criteria set out for the candidate in the given field,
• approves the intent to give up institutional accreditation, the intent to abolish a degree programme and the intent to give up the accreditation of a habilitation procedure or the procedure for the appointment of full professorship,
• discusses the draft of the Rules of the quality assurance system concerning the quality of educational, creative and related activities and the internal evaluation of the quality of educational, creative and related activities of the USB,
• discusses the draft Report on the internal evaluation of the quality of educational, creative and related activities of the USB and draft amendments to this Report,
• discusses the intents of the Rector to appoint or dismiss members of the Internal Evaluation Board of the USB.

In compliance with the Rules of Procedure of the USB Scientific Board, the Scientific Board also exercises its competence during the procedure for appointing full professorship and the habilitation procedure within the limits laid out by law. In compliance with the ethical principles and the USB Code of Conduct, the USB Scientific Board and the Scientific Boards of Faculties make sure that there is no conflict of interest (in particular concerning closely related persons within the meaning of Section 22, 1) of Act No. 89/2012 Sb., the Civil Code) during the appointment of habilitation committee members and the members of a committee for granting full professorship. Similarly, such persons shall not assess habilitation theses or make recommendations to open a procedure to appoint a full professorship. Similarly, closely related persons may not be members of review committees assessing the nullity of an associate professor appointment. Other powers defined by the Higher Education Act as part of the competence of the Scientific Board of a public university (i.e. the approval of degree programmes and the approval of the intent to submit an application for accreditation, expansion of the scope or duration of accreditation of degree programmes) were entrusted to the Internal Evaluation Board of the USB by the USB Statute.

The USB Board of Trustees fulfils its role in the quality assurance system mainly by discussing the Report on the internal evaluation of the quality of educational, creative and related activities of the USB and amendments to this Report.

The International Council of the USB is the advisory body to the Rector for making assessments of progress trends and the quality of educational and creative activities of the USB, or, as the case may be, assessing the management system and the funding or other related activities that the Rector requires to be discussed at his or her discretion. The International Council of the USB was established at the beginning of 2018. The permanent tasks of International Council of USB include:

• contributing to the involvement of the USB in international scientific and educational networks, elevating the international position of the USB, the international relevance and excellence of outcomes of educational and creative activities of the USB,
• facilitating and promoting the involvement of the USB in the global transfer of scientific knowledge and the international mobility of students and researchers.

In faculties and other constituent parts of the USB, the respective Deans and Directors of the constituent parts coordinate activities in terms of quality assurance and evaluation. Outside the scope of competence and responsibility laid down by the Higher Education Act and the Statute of the USB, the Dean of the Faculty, (and, to a certain extent, the Director of other constituent parts of the USB):

• appoints and removes the Quality Coordinator of the Faculty,
• appoints and removes the Guarantor of a degree programme after holding a discussion with Vice-Deans,
• submits to the USB Internal Evaluation Board the intent to apply for the accreditation of a degree programme, as well proposing a degree programme in case it is approved,
• explains any discrepancies of the respective scientific intent with the strategic documents of the USB and the Faculty,
• raises objections to the intent to apply for the accreditation of a degree programme submitted by other USB Faculties (particularly in view of the possible duplicities or the quality of the degree programme),
• submits applications for the accreditation of the institution in one or more fields of education after discussing the intent to submit this application with the Rector’s Advisory Board,
• proposes the terms of cooperation on the degree programme pursuant to Section 47a of the Higher Education Act with another university abroad implementing a degree programme similar in content.

The Dean of the Faculty (or a proposed Guarantor of a degree programme) may also require the review of a decision by which the USB Internal Evaluation Board decided not to grant or to take away the authorization for a degree programme. The Dean of the Faculty may also take part at meetings of the USB Internal Evaluation Board where a Self-Evaluation Report of a Degree Programme at the Faculty is being discussed. The Dean submits the Faculty Self-Evaluation Report that contains the evaluation of creative activities at each faculty.

Quality Coordinator of the Faculty:

• coordinates and manages the activities of the Board of Degree Programmes at each faculty,
• mediates contacts with other faculties and the Internal Evaluation Board of the USB, or the Scientific Board of the USB and scientific board of other faculties in order to coordinate the processes of quality assurance and evaluation,
• is responsible for documenting the quality in each given constituent part of the USB,
• along with the Dean of the Faculty or the Director of the given constituent part of the USB, the Quality Coordinator makes decisions on whether a discrepancy (a deviation from the desired condition) reported by a member of the staff of the constituent part in question is actually a discrepancy, and assesses its severity in terms of consequences for the quality of activities provided by the constituent part of the USB.
• carries out oversight and control over the management of approved remedial and preventive measures and fulfils reporting obligations in relation to the USB Internal Evaluation Board.

The Quality Coordinator in a constituent part of the USB which is not a faculty is responsible for managing the processes of ensuring and evaluating the quality of related activities provided by the given constituent part of the USB.

In case of institutional accreditation for a field of education provided by multiple faculties, the Quality Coordinator in the faculty which is coordinating the drafting and discussion of the application for institutional accreditation shall also fulfil the role of Quality Coordinator for the entire field of education across all participating faculties. There may be a maximum of 2 Quality Coordinators per faculty (one for doctoral degree programmes and for habilitation procedures and procedures for the appointment of full professorship and the other for other educational and creative activities at the faculty), other constituent parts of the USB have one Quality Coordinator (there can be two Quality Coordinators for Dormitories and Refectories – separately for residential and catering services). The Director of the constituent part or the Dean may also appoint themselves to be in charge of quality coordination. It is generally accepted that the Dean or the Vice-Dean, or the Director or Deputy Director of a constituent part of any faculty can be the Quality Coordinator.

As for quality assurance processes, the Academic Senate of the Faculty mainly does the following:

• discusses proposals for a degree programme after the approval of the intent to apply for the accreditation of a degree programme by the USB Internal Evaluation Board,
• discusses the intent to acquire or give up the institutional accreditation in one or more fields of education taught at the field of education in the faculty,
• discussing the terms of cooperation on a degree programme pursuant to Section 47a of the Higher Education Act with another university abroad implementing a degree programme similar in content.

As for the quality assurance processes, the Faculty Scientific Board is mainly responsible for the following:

• approving the intent to apply for the accreditation of a degree programme, as well as approving a proposal for a degree programme after it has been approved by the USB Internal Evaluation Board,
• approving the intent to acquire institutional accreditation in one or more fields of education taught at the faculty, and discussing the giving up of such accreditation,
• proposing the intent to apply for accreditation of the habilitation procedure or the intent to apply for the accreditation of a procedure for the appointment of full professorship through the Dean of the Faculty to the Rector,
• discussing the terms of cooperation on a degree programme pursuant to Section 47a of the Higher Education Act with another university abroad implementing a degree programme similar in content,
• discussing a Faculty Self-Evaluation Report submitted by the Dean which contains the evaluation of creative activities at the faculty, before such report is submitted to the USB Internal Evaluation Board.

The guarantor of an undergraduate, graduate or follow-up graduate degree programme is responsible for the quality of the degree programme together with the Board of Degree Programme. The degree programme Guarantor:

• is a member of the academic staff performing conceptual work who carries out methodological management of the implementation and development of the degree programme,
• is obliged to take an active part in the work of the Board of Degree Programmes at the faculty in question and respect the methodological guidelines and recommendations made by the Quality Coordinator at the faculty,
• carries out regular quality evaluations for the degree programme, all of its courses, including reviewing the provisioning of any practical teaching implemented at cooperating institutions (particularly at clinic workplaces and faculty schools). As part of the evaluation, the degree programme Guarantor also looks at regional, national and international benchmarking surveys or sector rankings of European and global universities, if these are available for degree programmes of the given field of education, particularly if they lend themselves to making a quality comparison with similar degree programmes at Czech universities.
• makes regular assessments of the outcomes of student evaluations of all obligatory and elective courses of the given degree programme,
• promotes any potential actions to remedy the discrepancies identified upon agreement with the Heads of Departments providing the teaching of courses of a degree programme,
• talks to the students about their needs,
• considers the results of national, university and faculty surveys and enquiries,
• respects the determined academic or professional profile of the degree programme, and assesses the structure of the degree programme and the profile of the graduates of the degree programme following the opinions of experts outside of the university and the evaluations made by students, graduates and employers; in case of the preparation of a regulated degree programme, the Guarantor also guarantees the compliance of the degree programme with the requirements of the respective recognition authority,
• draws up a Self-Evaluation Report of a Degree Programme and makes annual amendments to the report.

Any actions taken by the Guarantor of the degree programme and adopted measures are governed by the effort to ensure improvement of the quality of the given degree programme.

Course Guarantor:

• is responsible for the compliance of the concept of the course with the graduate profile of each degree programme containing the given course,
• follows the methodological guidance and recommendations made by the Guarantor of the degree programme,
• ensures the level of quality in individual courses, separately or in cooperation with other professors of the given course.

In case the course is ensured by multiple professors, the course Guarantor needs to teach a significant share of the course. Course evaluations are conducted by means of course questionnaires distributed to the students that evaluate the benefit of the course in respect of the sub-goals and the overall concept of the degree programme, including the graduate profile. Any suggestions for making adjustments to the course are passed on to the Guarantor of the degree programme by the course Guarantor.

The Head of a Department (or as the case may be, the Head of the Institute at USB faculties subdivided into institutes):

• takes care of long-term personnel and professional development of the Department and aids in attaining the best possible quality of all degree programmes that the Department is involved in,
• establishes the conditions for the proper implementation of courses guaranteed and taught by members of the academic staff of the Department, following applicable standards, methodological guidelines and recommendations made by the Guarantors of the degree programmes,
• in case any shortcomings are established, they are obliged to arrange for remedial actions in cooperation with the Dean, Vice-Deans and relevant panels,
• coordinates the activities of Guarantors of degree programmes in the Department.

A Board of the Degree Programme is established for each undergraduate, graduate and follow-up graduate degree programme. If the programme is provided in multiple educational forms, a common Board of the Degree Programme shall be established for all of these forms. The Board of the Degree Programme is established by the Guarantor of the degree programme. Its members are appointed from among the academic members of the staff of Departments taking part in the teaching of the degree programme and experts of like specialisations from other units of the faculty and the USB. The specific make-up and rules for the Board of the Degree Programme is governed by Rector's Ordinance laying down the guidelines for the composition and activities of the Board of the Degree Programme.

The Board of the Degree Programme shall fulfil the following tasks:

• ensuring the quality of the degree programme,
• submitting proposals for making improvements to the teaching of courses and for making adjustments to the curricula approved by the Board of the Degree Programmes of the faculty or by the Accreditation Committee of each faculty, if there is one.

The Board of the Degree Programme involves students from the programme in its activities, mainly in discussions and meetings with the students, in order to determine their motivation for their studies, their expectations from the degree programme, and the extent to which these were met for candidates, students and graduates. As far as the evaluation of the quality of the degree programme is concerned, the Board of the Degree Programme also involves the professors and reflects the information obtained from other external stakeholders.

As for quality assurance, Doctoral Studies Board fulfils tasks similar to the Board of the Degree Programme. It ensures tasks ensuing from the legal and internal regulations at the USB and the ordinances of the faculty in compliance with the Study and Examination Regulations of the USB. The Guarantor of the degree programme is also the Chair of the Doctoral Studies Board. The Guarantor of the newly created degree programme is appointed by the Dean.

The Boards of the Degree Programmes of the Faculty are made up of the Guarantors of individual degree programmes provided at the faculty. The Board of each Degree Programmes holds regular co-ordination meetings which take place at least once per semester. At these meetings, it:

• discusses its visions of the development of degree programmes,
• coordinates the quality requirements of individual degree programmes,
• discusses proposals for new degree programmes or the expansion of the accreditation of existing degree programmes,
• fulfils the tasks set by the Quality Coordinator of the faculty.

The meeting of the Board of the Degree Programmes is called and managed by the Quality Coordinator of the Faculty. In case the fields of education provided at a faculty fully or partially overlap with fields of education at other faculties, the Quality Coordinators of faculties with an advisory vote are also invited to the meeting of the Board of the Degree Programmes so as to ensure transparency and the coordination of all processes of quality assurance and evaluation for the given field of education at the USB.

The Accreditation Committee of each Faculty:

• discusses proposals for new degree programmes or the expansion of the accreditation of existing degree programmes,
• Fulfils other tasks in the field of quality assurance and evaluation of degree programmes which are entrusted to it by a respective Dean’s Ordinance.

If the faculty does not appoint an Accreditation Committee of the Faculty, its function shall be fulfilled by the Board of the Degree Programmes.

The administrative, personnel, material and financial provisioning of the Internal Quality Assurance and Evaluation System corresponds to the size, structure and mission of the University and to its strategic goals. The USB has at its disposal specialised administrative capacities, which ensure professional and methodological support for bodies, institutes and other persons participating in the internal quality assurance and evaluation system, and also covers all the fields of educational, creative and related activities. The USB also provides comparable tools for all faculties and constituent parts for evaluating their principal activities particular for student and graduate surveys. It creates methodological guidelines for cooperating with graduates and employers of gradates, it creates questionnaire surveys and ensures their evaluation and accessibility for relevant stakeholders (USB Internal Evaluation Board, Deans, Quality Coordinators, Guarantors of degree programmes and courses). All of these agendas are ensured by sections of the USB Rectorate managed by their Rectors. Specific tasks, competences and responsibilities of individual Vice-Rectors and Rectorate units in the field of quality assurance and evaluation are detailed in USB Rectorate Regulations.

As for methodology, the Internal Quality Assurance and Evaluation System of the USB is developed centrally by the Vice-Rector, who is in charge of internal evaluations (along with his/her managed Unit for Internal Evaluations). The Vice-Rector for internal evaluations is also the Vice-Chair of the Internal Evaluation Board of the USB, an employee of the Unit for Internal Evaluation is also the secretary of the Internal Evaluation Board. The procedures, methodological guidelines, forms and other documents required for successfully implementing internal regulations and other relevant documents in the field of quality assurance and evaluation are drawn up in cooperation with the USB Internal Evaluation Board. The position of Vice-Rector for Internal Evaluations (formerly the Vice-Rector for Development and Internal Evaluations) was established in mid-2016. In the same period, the Unit for Internal Evaluations was also established by means of the transformation of the former Unit for Analyses and Strategies. In order to attain a higher level of professionalism of activities carried out as part of the Internal Quality Assurance and Evaluation System, it was reinforced by specialists in the field of management reporting, procedural and personnel analyses in 2017 and at the beginning of 2018. There was a reinforcement of staff in the field of quality assurance and evaluation system at other faculties and constituent parts of the USB. As of the second half of 2017, new positions were created for employees taking part in the development of the Internal Quality Assurance and Evaluation System, its individual processes, procedures and tools at respective constituent parts of the USB.

The continual development of the Internal Quality Assurance and Evaluation System of the USB, its administrative, personnel, material and financial provisioning are one of the key goals defined in terms of the Strategic Plan of the USB for 2021-2030. This goal is funded by the University´s own funds, as well as by operational programmes (currently, chiefly by the OP RDE of the ESF), a centralized development project of the institutional plan, by institutional resources, programme funding by the MEYS, purpose-built funds outside of R&D, foreign funding, or other resources, which provides financial security for the system´s development.

As part of the existing Internal Quality Assurance and Evaluation System, the USB makes sure that any process or other part of the Internal Quality Assurance and Evaluation System which does not correspond to the set requirements, can be identified and managed in order to adopt a remedial measure without undue delay. A remedial measure consists in identifying and eliminating the causes of deficiencies, or, as the case may be, of any discrepancies between the existing and required state, so as to prevent their re-occurrence. Remedial measures need to be adequate for the implications of the discrepancies identified.

As part of its Internal Quality Assurance and Evaluation System, the USB also adopts measures to eradicate causes of potential discrepancies by preventing their occurrence. Preventive measures need to be adequate for the implications of any potential discrepancies. A detailed description of the procedures for making improvements, remedial and preventive measures in terms of the Internal Quality Assurance and Evaluation System is available in the Rules, provided that the reporting and management procedure regarding any discrepancies also applies to the procedure for making suggestions for improving the existing Internal Quality Assurance and Evaluation System. For this purpose, the form entitled “Record of non-conformance - Internal Quality Assurance and Evaluation System” shall be used.

Information on unresolved disputes, adopted remedial and preventive measures and delivered suggestions for improving the established system of quality assurance and evaluation are discussed by the USB Scientific Board, the Academic Senate of the USB and the USB Board of Trustees by means of the Report on the Internal evaluation of the quality of educational, creative and related activities of the USB and the amendments to this Report, together with any proposal for making amendments to the Internal Quality Assurance and Evaluation System.