A good and integrative quality assurance not only has an internal
quality control system, but also provides an external quality audit. All the training and
examination activities in maritime institutions should be continuously monitored by the
periodical external quality audit so as to achieve the quality standards in accordance
with the STCW Convention.
(1) Organizational Responsibility and External Audit Team
The organization responsible for external quality audit should be a
recognized academic accreditation or quality standards body or government agency. An
expert committee, whose members are representative of different maritime institutions, and
other organizations may be established as an alternative way. The external audit team must
consist of appropriately qualified persons who are not involved in the training and
examination activities at the institution being audited.
(2) The Process of the External Quality Audit
The process of the external quality audit is essentially one of peer
review including reading, visiting, listening, investigating, discussing and analyzing.
The audit team should be provided with sufficient advance information to give an overview
of the tasks in hand and normally stay at the institutions for several days so as to
examine the main aspects of education and training relating to the quality assurance in
depth.
Prior to the visit the audit team may receive and read the briefing
material and comprehensive report of the internal quality assessment supplied by the
institution. These briefing materials must cover the following:
an overview of the institution and its aims, objectives, mission,
policies and purpose;
a description of the institution's management and quality control
system;
a description of course plans, teaching programs, and training
facilities including their performance standards;
copies of management and teaching documents concerned;
a description of admissions, students' learning activities and
progress;
new developments in teaching and learning innovation.
When the audit team enters the institution, their workplaces emphasis
on the quality assurance practices in the teaching and learning activities. They try to
find the strengths and weaknesses to be encountered within the system. In some areas, they
may investigate the specific aspect in depth. They review the report of internal quality
assessment and compare it with their finding. In most cases, there would be some
difference between the internal assessment and external audit, and this difference is
helpful to find shortcomings in the institution.
Finally, the audit team should draw up an audit report which mainly
covers:
The audit procedure used;
A briefing of all observation about education, training, management
as well as the quality assurance;
