Assessing Institutes of Higher Learning for Skills Improvement

Asst Prof Tan Kheng Boon Eugene asked the Minister for Education (a) whether there are plans to introduce value-added assessments to our institutes of higher learning (IHLs) to measure the improvement in skills, such as critical thinking, reasoning abilities and writing skills; and (b) whether the Ministry will make public the Quality Assurance Framework (QAFU) reports for the autonomous universities.

Mr Heng Swee Keat: Our IHLs aim to equip graduates with the skills to access good jobs in an increasingly competitive globalised economy. To do so, I agree with the Member that skills, such as critical thinking, reasoning and writing, are increasingly important to set our Singaporean graduates apart. Our IHLs recognise this and have embarked on numerous initiatives. For example, NUS is developing a writing and communication programme for its core undergraduate curriculum as one of the key 21st century workplace skills. However, at the tertiary level, measuring "value add" is complex due to the difficulty in establishing baseline skills levels and heterogeneity of programmes.

The Member has highlighted one such tool we use – the Quality Assurance Framework (QAF). Under this framework, MOE invites local and international academics and captains of industry to give an independent evaluation of our post-secondary institutions, including the quality of teaching and learning.

The work of the Quality Assurance panel is undertaken in a confidential setting which allows for a more candid exchange of views to drive improvements in our institutions. Our assessment is that the process has been useful and effective thus far, and we therefore intend to keep to the present format. Furthermore, the panels write their reports for the intended audience – that is, for MOE and the institutions – to provide a highly comprehensive and contextualised set of expert opinions in improving the institutions. In their current form, these reports may not be directly meaningful to the public.

Governments and academia around the world are studying how to measure the value-added of tertiary education, especially in terms of teaching and learning outcomes. However, there is no consensus as yet on how to do this effectively.

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MOE is tracking the international efforts closely, in order to identify suitable instruments for measuring "value add" in Singapore.