Abstract:

Self-evaluation is one of the main components that relate an institution or academic program with a quality assurance system in higher education. Self-evaluation, as the first basic stage of this system, is defined as a participatory process for reflection, based on the systematic collection of information by which an organization evaluates its objectives and performance with the purpose of improvement.

In this process, it is generally clear what to self-evaluate. Nevertheless, a common problem is to know how to develop the process. The Universidad Nacional de Colombia, in order to evaluate its graduate programs for certification by the National Accreditation Council (CNA by its Spanish acronym), proposes a quality model as a reference and conceives a project by defining two objectives: to create a model to guide the process and to articulate it with the quality model established by the CNA. Based on these objectives, the University creates a self-evaluation pilot experience with masters and PhD programs.

During this pilot experience, a self-evaluation model was developed which serves as a tool for the evaluation of graduate programs at Universidad Nacional de Colombia that looks for their accreditation and continuous improvement. This model was developed systematically with the application of participatory action research methodology (IAP by its Spanish acronym). For the modeling, the EKD (Enterprise Development Knowledge) method was applied, obtaining several sub-models that describe the self-evaluation model.

The sub-models allowed the self-assessment model to become an application guide for the graduate programs of the University, especially for those programs that want to assess themselves aiming at accreditation. This application guide is currently being used by the University as a 2010 self-evaluation guide for graduate programs, the most visible product of this research.

Combining the EKD method with an IAP methodology allowed the development of self-evaluation of graduate programs, leading to the empowerment of the organization and also facilitating for researcher, as a militant observer, describing a reality. This reality was changed by the organization itself, addressing the problem of self-evaluation through participation and its own resources.

This paper presents the self-evaluation model developed and expands the set of features and considerations to take into account in a self-evaluation process, in addition to those which by definition are presented. The model developed defines tools, actors, processes, concepts and a set of rules responding not only to how to perform the process, but also what, with what, who and when to do it. This model can be extended to other academic programs and institutions in the context of quality assurance in higher education, based on similar quality models as a reference.

Keywords:

Self-evaluation, knowledge development, organization, system, model, quality assurance, higher education, participatory action research.