SIMI Swiss Quality Assurance structure provides a comprehensive approach to maintaining the quality and integrity of educational offerings, supporting the institution’s mission and objectives, and ensuring a positive impact on students and the broader community.

• Licenses & Authority: Details the legal and official authorizations that allow the institution to operate and offer educational programs.
• Nature of SIMI Swiss Programs: Describes the characteristics, goals, and delivery methods of the programs offered by SIMI Swiss.
• Accreditation & Recognition: Information on the accreditation status of the institution and its programs by reputable bodies, and recognition from educational and professional organizations.
• Governance Structure (GS): Describes the organizational structure, including boards, committees, and administrative roles, responsible for decision-making and oversight.
• Position Description (PD): Details the roles, responsibilities, qualifications, and expectations for positions within the institution.
• Lecturer and Staff Curriculum Vitae (CV): Compiles the qualifications, experience, and achievements of faculty and staff, supporting the institution’s commitment to high-quality education.
• Main Regulatory Documents (MR): Key documents that regulate the institution’s operations, including laws, standards, guidelines, and policies.
• QA Review and Continual Improvement (CI): Describes the processes for regular quality assessments and the mechanisms for implementing improvements based on feedback and evaluations.
• QA Review and Continual Improvement Form (CIF): A document or tool used to record QA reviews and track improvement actions and outcomes.
• Academic Partnership (AP): Information about collaborations with other educational institutions, organizations, and industry partners to enhance educational offerings and opportunities for students.
• Programme Specifications (PS): Detailed descriptions of each program, including curriculum, learning outcomes, assessment methods, and qualifications awarded.
• Health and Safety Policy (HS): Policies and procedures to ensure the health and safety of all members of the institution, including compliance with relevant laws and regulations.
• Student Policy (SS): Policies related to student rights, responsibilities, conduct, and support services, ensuring a conducive learning environment.

This component is a critical foundation of the educational institution’s operational legitimacy and credibility. It encompasses all necessary legal and official authorizations, permits, and accreditations required for the institution to function legally and offer its educational programs. These authorizations are typically obtained from relevant educational oversight bodies, government departments, and professional accreditation organizations.

The process of acquiring and maintaining these licenses and authorities involves rigorous application procedures, adherence to specific educational standards, and compliance with local and national regulations. This ensures that the institution meets the highest standards of educational quality, safety, and ethical practices. For an institution like SIMI Swiss, these authorizations validate the institution’s commitment to providing recognized and respected degrees, diplomas, and other educational credentials.

Furthermore, these legal and official authorizations serve as a trust signal to prospective students, faculty, and partners, indicating that the institution operates within the legal framework and adheres to the quality standards set by the educational community and government agencies. They also enable the institution to participate in public funding programs, student financial aid programs, and international educational exchanges, enhancing its ability to attract a diverse student body and offer competitive programs.

Regular audits, reviews, and renewals of these authorizations ensure ongoing compliance and alignment with evolving educational standards and regulations. This continuous process demonstrates the institution’s dedication to excellence, accountability, and improvement, which are essential for maintaining its status and authority to operate within the dynamic landscape of higher education.

SIMI Swiss is licensed by the Zug Canton authority as a private institution. Being a private institution in Switzerland, SIMI Swiss issues private qualifications. Not being part of Switzerland’s federal and public higher education sector, it operates independently and is not regulated under the Federal Act of 30 September 2011 on the Funding and Coordination of the Higher Education Sector (HEdA), SR 414.11.

Our higher education programs differ from the Swiss National Curricula and programs leading to Swiss Government university qualifications and federally regulated qualifications in Switzerland.

SIMI Swiss is a private, globally accredited higher education institute in Switzerland and is not affiliated with the Swiss public education system or the Swiss government. The qualification issued by SIMI Swiss is a Private qualification, distinct from federal degrees or degrees awarded by public universities in Switzerland.

The programs offered by SIMI Swiss are distinguished by their innovative approach, designed to meet the evolving needs of the global job market and academic community. These programs are characterized by a blend of theoretical knowledge and practical application, ensuring that students are not only well-versed in their chosen fields but also prepared to apply what they have learned in real-world settings.

Characteristics:

• Interdisciplinary Focus: SIMI Swiss programs often cross traditional academic boundaries, integrating concepts from various disciplines to provide a more comprehensive understanding of complex subjects.
• Industry-Relevant Curriculum: Courses are developed in consultation with industry experts to ensure that the content is current, relevant, and aligned with the latest trends and demands of the job market.
• International Perspective: Programs are designed with a global outlook, preparing students to operate in an increasingly interconnected world. This includes opportunities for international exchanges, projects, and collaborations with institutions and organizations around the globe.

Goals:

• Excellence in Education: To provide high-quality education that equips students with the skills, knowledge, and critical thinking capabilities required to excel in their professional and personal lives.
• Innovation and Research: To foster a culture of innovation and research, encouraging students and faculty to engage in projects that contribute to the advancement of knowledge and address societal challenges.
• Lifelong Learning: To instill a commitment to continuous learning, ensuring that graduates remain adaptable and competitive throughout their careers.

Delivery Methods:

• Blended Learning: Combining online digital media with traditional classroom methods, SIMI Swiss offers a flexible learning environment that accommodates the needs of diverse learners.
• Project-Based Learning: Students engage in real-world projects that enhance their problem-solving skills, teamwork, and ability to apply theoretical knowledge in practical situations.
• Personalized Learning Paths: Recognizing that each student has unique learning needs, SIMI Swiss provides personalized guidance and support, allowing students to tailor their educational experience to their personal and professional goals.

SIMI Swiss prides itself on its exemplary accreditation status and recognition from esteemed educational and professional organizations, underscoring its commitment to excellence and quality in education. As a testament to its dedication to maintaining the highest standards, SIMI Swiss holds full accreditation with the prestigious Accreditation Service for International Schools, Colleges & Universities (ASIC) in the United Kingdom. This accreditation, awarded with the highest status, reflects SIMI Swiss’s compliance with rigorous international benchmarks for educational quality, governance, and student welfare.

Furthermore, SIMI Swiss’s programs enjoy full recognition from the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual), a UK government body responsible for regulating qualifications, exams, and assessments. This recognition affirms the credibility and value of SIMI Swiss’s educational offerings, ensuring that graduates possess qualifications that are widely respected and accepted by employers, institutions, and educational authorities worldwide.

In addition to its UK accreditations and recognition, SIMI Swiss holds the esteemed status of being a Swiss member of the Swiss Federation for Adult Learning (SVEB). This affiliation further validates SIMI Swiss’s commitment to upholding the highest educational standards and contributing to the advancement of adult and continuing education in Switzerland.

By securing accreditation and recognition from reputable bodies such as ASIC, Ofqual, and SVEB, SIMI Swiss demonstrates its unwavering dedication to providing students with a world-class education that is recognized and valued both nationally and internationally. These accolades underscore SIMI Swiss’s position as a leader in higher education, setting the benchmark for excellence in academic programs, student support, and institutional integrity.

The Governance Structure (GS) of SIMI Swiss serves as the backbone of the institution, providing a framework for effective decision-making, strategic planning, and organizational oversight. At its core, the GS outlines the organizational hierarchy, defining the roles and responsibilities of various stakeholders, including boards, committees, and administrative personnel.

Boards: The governance structure typically includes one or more governing boards, such as a Board of Trustees or Board of Directors, responsible for setting the institution’s overall strategic direction, policies, and goals. These boards are composed of distinguished individuals with expertise in various fields, who provide guidance and oversight to ensure the institution’s long-term success.

Committees: Within the governance structure, various committees may be established to address specific areas of concern or expertise. These committees, such as academic affairs, finance, and student affairs committees, play a vital role in advising the governing boards and senior management on key issues and initiatives within their respective domains.

Administrative Roles: The governance structure also delineates the roles and responsibilities of administrative personnel, including senior executives, deans, department heads, and other key leaders. These individuals are tasked with implementing the institution’s policies and strategic priorities, managing day-to-day operations, and fostering a culture of excellence and accountability within their respective areas of responsibility.

By clearly defining the governance structure, SIMI Swiss ensures transparency, accountability, and effective communication throughout the organization. This structure facilitates collaboration and synergy among different stakeholders, enabling the institution to adapt to changing circumstances, navigate challenges, and seize opportunities for growth and innovation.

Moreover, the governance structure reflects SIMI Swiss’s commitment to upholding the highest standards of ethical conduct, integrity, and institutional integrity. By adhering to best practices in governance, SIMI Swiss demonstrates its dedication to serving the best interests of its students, faculty, staff, and the broader community, while maintaining the trust and confidence of its stakeholders.

The details of SIMI Swiss’s Governance Structure are described in detail in the GS documents.

The Position Description (PD) documents serve as comprehensive guides outlining the roles, responsibilities, qualifications, and expectations associated with various positions within SIMI Swiss. These documents are meticulously crafted to provide clear and transparent guidelines for both current employees and prospective candidates, ensuring alignment with the institution’s goals and values.

Within the Position Description documents, each role is meticulously outlined, including:

1. Roles and Responsibilities: A detailed breakdown of the duties, tasks, and functions associated with the position. This section clarifies the specific contributions expected from individuals occupying the role, ensuring clarity and accountability in their day-to-day activities.
2. Qualifications and Experience: Clear specifications regarding the educational background, professional qualifications, and relevant experience required for the role. This ensures that candidates possess the necessary knowledge and skills to perform effectively in their positions.
3. Expectations and Performance Metrics: Defined expectations and performance metrics against which individuals in the role will be evaluated. This section provides a framework for assessing job performance and identifying areas for growth and development.
4. Reporting Structure and Relationships: Information on reporting lines, internal and external relationships, and collaboration requirements. This helps individuals understand their place within the organizational hierarchy and fosters effective communication and teamwork.
5. Career Development Opportunities: Insight into potential career paths, growth opportunities, and professional development resources available to individuals in the role. This demonstrates SIMI Swiss’s commitment to supporting employee growth and advancement.

By providing detailed Position Description documents, SIMI Swiss ensures that all employees have a clear understanding of their roles and responsibilities within the institution. This clarity promotes organizational effectiveness, employee satisfaction, and overall success, contributing to SIMI Swiss’s reputation as a premier educational institution committed to excellence in all aspects of its operations.

All positions within SIMI Swiss are described in detail within the PD bundle of documents.

The compilation of Lecturer and Staff Curriculum Vitae (CV) serves as a testament to the wealth of expertise, experience, and accomplishments that faculty and staff bring to SIMI Swiss. These CVs encapsulate the professional journeys of individuals, showcasing their qualifications, academic credentials, work experience, and notable achievements in their respective fields.

At SIMI Swiss, the meticulous curation of CVs reflects the institution’s unwavering commitment to maintaining a team of highly qualified and dedicated professionals who are at the forefront of their disciplines. Each CV provides insights into the diverse backgrounds and areas of specialization represented among the faculty and staff, enriching the educational experience for students and fostering a culture of academic excellence.

By compiling and reviewing Lecturer and Staff CVs, SIMI Swiss ensures that its academic community comprises individuals who not only possess the requisite knowledge and expertise but also demonstrate a passion for teaching, research, and scholarly inquiry. These CVs serve as valuable resources for prospective students, enabling them to make informed decisions about their educational journey and providing assurance of the caliber of instruction they can expect at SIMI Swiss.

Moreover, the compilation of CVs underscores SIMI Swiss’s commitment to transparency and accountability in its recruitment and hiring practices. By providing a comprehensive overview of the qualifications and achievements of faculty and staff, the institution demonstrates its dedication to upholding the highest standards of academic integrity and fostering an environment conducive to learning and intellectual growth.

Ultimately, the compilation of Lecturer and Staff CVs represents more than just a list of credentials; it is a reflection of SIMI Swiss’s dedication to cultivating a vibrant academic community characterized by expertise, innovation, and a shared commitment to advancing knowledge and shaping future leaders in their respective fields.

Each of our SIMI Swiss staff CVs is mapped with the requirements of the position, as described in the Position Description (PD).

The SIMI Main Regulations outline the framework for the development, delivery, and assessment of programs leading to awards by the Swiss Information and Management Institute (SIMI Swiss) and its partners. It covers general principles, quality assurance, awards and program structure, student information, admissions, program delivery, assessment regulations, progression, failure, and referral mechanisms, as well as the conferment of awards. The regulations ensure that programs meet quality standards and provide a clear guide for program validation, student recruitment, assessment design, and the roles of internal and external examiners. It also addresses provisions for students with special educational needs, program validation and approval, academic governance, monitoring, and review.

Main Regulation Documents (MR) of SIMI Swiss have 4 important documents:

1. MR1 SIMI Regulatory Framework: Regulations and Procedures Governing Taught Programmes of Study Leading to Awards – General Principles and Guidelines.
2. MR2 SIMI Validation Handbook: Validation Handbook for Validation and Approval of New and Modified Academic Programmes Leading to the SIMI Swiss and External Awards.
3. MR3 SIMI Student Academic Handbook: Student Academic Handbook For Full-time and Hybrid Learning Students.
4. MR4 SIMI Cookies policy: Information About Our Use of Cookies.

The intent of the four Main Regulatory (MR) documents from SIMI Swiss can be summarized as follows:

1. MR1 – Regulatory Framework: Establishes the regulatory principles and guidelines governing taught programmes of study leading to awards, outlining general principles, procedures, and regulations to ensure compliance and quality assurance in educational offerings.
2. MR2 – Validation Handbook: Provides comprehensive guidelines for the validation and approval processes of new and modified academic programmes, aiming to ensure the quality and relevance of courses offered in alignment with the Swiss Institute of Management & Innovation’s standards and external awarding bodies.
3. MR3 – Student Academic Handbook: Serves as a guide for full-time hybrid learning students, detailing the academic policies, procedures, and support mechanisms in place to facilitate their learning journey and success in their studies.
4. MR4 – Cookies Policy: Informs website users about the use of cookies, detailing how cookies are used to improve user experience, the types of cookies deployed, and users’ options regarding cookie acceptance and privacy.

The overall intent of the documents related to Quality Assurance (QA) review and Continuous Improvement (CI) at SIMI is to establish a robust framework for maintaining and enhancing the quality of academic programs, assessments, and institutional processes. This involves systematic policies and procedures for internal moderation, validation, and program modification, aimed at ensuring academic standards and enhancing student learning experiences:

1. 1 – SIMI’S Policy on Internal Moderation: Establishes guidelines for internal moderation to ensure consistency and fairness in assessment marking.
2. CI 2 – SIMI Sampling Basis for Moderation: Outlines the criteria for selecting assessments for internal moderation to ensure a representative and fair review process.
3. CI 3 – Internal Verification Policy: Outlines the procedures and responsibilities for internal verification of assessments within Pearson/BTEC awards offered by SIMI. The policy ensures that all assessments are created and marked accurately, fairly, and consistently in line with module specifications and assessment criteria. It aims to maintain standards set by the awarding body through regular and systematic review of assessment activities and decisions.
4. CI 4 – Procedure for Minor Modifications to Existing Programmes: Describes the process for proposing, approving, and implementing minor modifications to existing academic programmes. The intent is to ensure that changes maintain or enhance academic standards and the quality of the student learning experience, with clear guidelines for documentation, approval processes, and administrative tasks following approval.
5. CI 5 – PROGRESS2 Annual and Monitoring Review Proforma: This document is designed for annual monitoring and review, covering key areas such as student progression, curriculum, learning and teaching, assessment, student support, and learning resources. It aims to collect comprehensive data and feedback from various stakeholders, including students, staff, and external examiners, to evaluate the effectiveness of programmes and identify areas for improvement.

The detailed intents of these documents collectively form a comprehensive framework for Quality Assurance (QA) and Continuous Improvement (CI) within SIMI, focusing on maintaining high academic standards, ensuring the relevance and quality of programs, and enhancing the overall student experience.

The overall intent of the Continuous Improvement Forms (CIF) documents is to provide a structured framework for initiating, documenting, and tracking various aspects of quality assurance and continuous improvement processes within the Swiss Institute of Management and Innovation (SIMI). These documents collectively facilitate the planning, implementation, and review of actions aimed at enhancing the quality of educational programs, courses, and institutional practices. Each form is tailored to address specific areas such as action planning, course proposals, feedback collection, course amendments, course closures, internal assessment approvals, validation planning, external examiner reporting, and admissions auditing. This comprehensive suite of documents ensures systematic engagement with continuous improvement activities, aiming to uphold and enhance the academic standards and student learning experience at SIMI.

1. The “CIF1 Action Plan Form” is designed for documenting actions in response to corrective action requests within the Swiss Institute of Management and Innovation. It helps track progress and plan new actions needed to address specific issues or implement improvements. The form facilitates accountability and systematic improvement efforts by detailing ongoing and planned actions, responsible parties, and deadlines.
2. The “CIF2 New Course Proposal” document is designed for faculty or department members to propose new courses at SIMI. It requires detailed information, including the rationale for the new course, title, mode of delivery, partnering bodies, and the date of first intake. Additionally, proposers must provide a market analysis to justify demand, potential risks, impact on resources, proposed course structure, and financial analysis. This template ensures that new course proposals are comprehensive and aligned with SIMI’s strategic goals and market needs.
3. The “CIF3 Module Feedback Questionnaire” is a tool for gathering student feedback on various aspects of a module, including content, teaching and learning, support, assessment, and overall satisfaction. It aims to identify areas of strength and opportunities for improvement by asking students to rate their experiences on a scale from strongly agree to strongly disagree. This feedback is crucial for module teams to consider what aspects of the module worked well and which might be improved, ensuring a responsive and student-centered approach to teaching and learning enhancement.
4. The “CIF4 Course Amendment Form” is used for proposing major modifications to any existing course. It collects comprehensive details about the proposed changes, including changes to the course title, summary of changes, modifications in delivery or pedagogy, impact on awarding body partnerships, and the first intake affected by the changes. Additionally, it requires a rationale for the changes, analysis of potential risks, impact on current students, transitional arrangements, resource implications, and a financial analysis. This ensures thorough consideration and documentation of significant course amendments.
5. The “CIF5 Course Closure Form” is designed for documenting and proposing the closure of a course. It requires detailed information including the proposer’s name, course and award title, reason for closure, date of closure, potential risks, impact on existing students, exit arrangements for current students, any associated module deletions, and a financial analysis. This form ensures that all factors are considered and documented in the decision-making process for closing a course.
6. The “CIF6 Internal Assessment Approval Form” is a checklist designed to ensure that internal assessments meet specific quality criteria before being administered to students. It includes items like ensuring the assessment addresses all learning outcomes, provides clear guidance on completion, states the deadline clearly, has clear questions and criteria, offers guidance on word count and referencing, and checks for grammar and punctuation. This form is essential for maintaining the integrity and quality of assessments.
7. The “CIF7 Validation Planning Form” is designed to facilitate the planning and documentation required for the validation or re-approval of academic programs. It collects key program information, including details about the program leader, target award, program title, level, program code for re-approvals, and information regarding external body awards or accreditations. The form ensures that all necessary steps and considerations are documented for a thorough validation process, including external panel nominations, employer engagement, and adherence to academic regulations.
8. The “CIF8 External Examiner Quarterly Report Form” is designed for external examiners to report on the academic standards, assessment, marking and assessment procedures, and student achievement within the programs they oversee. It provides a structured format for examiners to express their level of agreement with statements related to these areas and to offer detailed comments. This ensures a comprehensive external perspective on the quality of education, assessment integrity, and the comparability of standards and student achievement within SIMI’s offerings.
9. The “CIF9 Admissions Audit Template” is designed for conducting audits of the admissions process, ensuring compliance with academic standards and policies. It captures detailed information on student admissions, including standard and non-standard entries, advisor details, and the basis for admission. The template also includes a section for feedback and an action plan, which allows for the documentation of key findings, identification of significant issues, recommendations for enhancement, and specific actions needed to address any concerns. This form is crucial for maintaining the integrity and quality of the admissions process.

The process from admission to graduation for students involves several key stages, starting with the admissions audit to ensure compliance with entry standards. Upon successful admission, students engage in coursework, guided by internal assessments and external examinations to maintain academic integrity and standards. Feedback mechanisms, such as module feedback questionnaires, support continuous improvement. Course amendments may occur to enhance the learning experience. The journey includes planning for validation of programs and external reviews to ensure quality. Finally, actions for improvement are identified and implemented, culminating in graduation, where students have met all academic requirements and benefitted from a quality-assured educational process.

This important process have  5 procedures:

• 1. INFORMATION GIVEN TO STUDENTS _ QA INFO CODE: The overall intent of the documents and processes related to student admission to graduation at SIMI is to ensure a comprehensive, quality-assured educational journey that is aligned with institutional standards and external benchmarks. From rigorous admissions audits to ensure only qualified students are admitted, through detailed program validation, continuous feedback mechanisms, and systematic internal assessments, to external examinations and audits for maintaining academic integrity and standards, each step is designed to support students’ academic success and personal development. The process culminates in graduation, marking the achievement of educational objectives and readiness for professional advancement, all within a framework of continuous improvement to enhance the quality of education provided.
• 2. RECRUITMENT AND ENROLMENT OF STUDENTS_ QA RECRUIT CODE documents is to outline the principles, policies, and procedures that govern the recruitment and enrolment of students at the institution. This includes ensuring transparent, fair, and consistent processes in admissions, recognizing prior learning, and setting clear terms and conditions for enrolled students. It also addresses the admission of students with criminal convictions to ensure safety and compliance with legal and ethical standards, aiming to provide equal opportunities for education while maintaining community trust and security.
• 3. PROGRAMME DELIVERY QA DELIVERY CODE documents is to ensure the highest standards of programme delivery and research at the SIMI Swiss. This includes monitoring student progress, recruiting qualified tutors, providing ongoing academic staff development, offering clear guidance for face-to-face tutoring, ensuring effective learning and assessment strategies, and regularly reviewing academic staff performance. These documents collectively aim to enhance the quality of teaching, learning, and assessment, thereby ensuring that students receive a supportive, effective, and high-quality educational experience.
• 4. ASSESSMENT QA ASSESSMENT CODE documents is to ensure integrity, fairness, and high standards in student assessments. This includes setting clear disciplinary procedures, examination regulations, criteria for approving examination centers, addressing exceptional mitigating circumstances, defining unfair practices in assessments, providing guidelines for moderators, outlining policies for internal moderation, detailing the role and selection of external examiners, and the nomination process for their appointment. These documents collectively aim to uphold the quality and credibility of the assessment processes, ensuring that student evaluations are conducted ethically, transparently, and consistently across all programs.
• QA PROGRESS1 EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY POLICY is intended to outline the institution’s commitment to promoting equality and diversity within its community. It aims to ensure that all members are treated with fairness, respect, and dignity, and that diversity is recognized as a strength. The policy sets forth principles to prevent discrimination, promote inclusive practices, and create an environment where diversity is embraced and opportunities are accessible to everyone, irrespective of their background, identity, or circumstances. This document serves as a guide for fostering an inclusive culture that values diversity across all aspects of the institution’s operations.

The overall intent of the QA INFO documents (1, 2, 3, and 4) is to ensure quality and consistency in the development, delivery, and maintenance of academic programs and student support materials at SIMI. These documents collectively cover the guidelines for marketing and publicity materials (INFO1), the production and update of student handbooks (INFO2), the detailed structuring of program specifications (INFO3), and the creation, approval, and revision of module learning materials (INFO4). Each document plays a crucial role in maintaining high academic and operational standards, enhancing student learning experiences, and ensuring compliance with educational best practices.

1. The “QA INFO1 – Marketing and publicity approval guidelines” document outlines the procedures and expectations for creating marketing and publicity materials at the Swiss Institute of Management & Innovation. It ensures that all materials accurately represent the institute’s brand and offerings, are clear, current, and reflect the learning opportunities accurately. The guidelines cover various types of materials, including prospectuses, websites, and social media content, and detail the approval process to ensure compliance with these standards.
2. The “QA INFO2 – Procedure for the Production, Publication, and Amendment of Student Handbooks” document details the process for creating, updating, and maintaining student handbooks at the Swiss Institute of Management & Innovation. It emphasizes the importance of keeping handbooks accurate and up-to-date, outlining the roles of the Quality Manager, Quality Co-ordinator(s), and the CEO cum Quality Manager in the update, approval, and publication processes. This procedure ensures that student handbooks reflect current policies, regulations, and program information, facilitating clear communication and guidance for students.
3. The “QA INFO3 – Programme Specification Form” document is a comprehensive template for outlining the academic and operational details of a new or existing program. It includes sections for qualification objectives, quality standards, regulatory information, structure, entry requirements, and assessment methods. This form ensures that all programs are designed with clear objectives, meet regulatory and quality standards, and provide detailed information on delivery, assessment, and outcomes, facilitating a structured approach to program development and review.
4. “QA INFO4 – Procedure for the Production, Approval, and Maintenance of Hybrid Module Learning Material” outlines the standards and processes for creating online learning materials at SIMI. It emphasizes content appropriateness, engagement, and compliance with educational standards and house style. The document details collaboration between writers, module leaders, and reviewers to ensure content meets academic requirements and enhances student learning. It also addresses the revision process, ensuring materials remain current and effective over time.

The overall intent of the RECRUITMENT AND ENROLMENT OF STUDENTS_ QA RECRUIT CODE documents is to outline and ensure the integrity and consistency of SIMI’s student recruitment, admission, and enrolment processes. This includes the formal admission criteria and process (RECRUIT 1), recognizing and crediting prior learning (RECRUIT 2), setting clear terms and conditions for sale programs (REF 1), addressing admissions for students with criminal convictions (REF 2), and assessing admissions for these cases (REF 3). Collectively, these documents aim to establish transparent, fair, and inclusive practices that uphold the institution’s standards and support student success from initial contact through to enrolment.

1. The “QA RECRUIT 1 – Admission of Students” document details SIMI’s admissions policy, emphasizing inclusivity and alignment with its mission to offer flexible Swiss programs globally. It covers the policy’s foundation on equality of opportunity, entrance requirements for various programs, the monitoring and annual review of admissions practices, and the treatment of applicants with disabilities or specific educational needs. It also addresses admissions with credit through accreditation of prior learning, English language requirements, and the provision of information and advice to applicants, ensuring a fair, transparent, and consistent admissions process.
2. The “QA RECRUIT 2 – Accreditation of Prior Learning Policy and Procedures” outlines the process by which students can receive formal recognition for prior learning, contributing towards exemptions from certain modules of their program. It emphasizes that such accreditation is subject to specific criteria and limitations, ensuring that students still meet the essential learning outcomes of their program. This policy facilitates the acknowledgment of relevant, previously acquired knowledge and skills, streamlining the educational pathway for students while maintaining academic standards.
3. The “QA RECRUIT REF 1 Terms and Conditions for Sale Programs” document outlines the terms and conditions that apply to students who accept an offer for distance or blended learning programs from the Swiss Institute of Management & Innovation. It highlights the institute’s policies on program structure changes, fee adjustments, termination of the contract, personal data processing, copyright ownership of student work, and complaint procedures. This ensures clarity and mutual understanding between the institution and the students regarding their rights, responsibilities, and the legal framework governing their educational engagement.
4. The “QA RECRUIT REF 2 – Admission of Students who have a Criminal Conviction” outlines the principles and procedures for admitting applicants with criminal convictions at SIMI. It emphasizes that having a conviction does not automatically exclude applicants but requires a detailed review to ensure no risk to the community, program integrity, or the institution’s reputation. The document details the process for assessing such applications, including the potential need for additional disclosures and a thorough review by the admissions team and, if necessary, the Senior Admissions Committee, ensuring fair and comprehensive consideration.
5. The “QA RECRUIT REF 3 – Admission of Students who have a Criminal Conviction – Risk Assessment” provides a structured approach to evaluate the risk associated with admitting applicants with criminal convictions. It outlines the criteria for assessing potential risks to the community, program integrity, and the institution’s reputation. This document details the process for conducting a risk assessment, including the evaluation of the conviction’s relevance and the formulation of recommendations for admission or rejection based on the assessment outcomes.

The Learning and Teaching Committee (LTC) Documents encompass a set of guidelines, policies, and procedures established by the Swiss School of Management & Innovation (SIMI) to ensure the quality and effectiveness of learning and teaching practices within the institution. These documents are designed to provide clear direction, standards, and support for faculty, staff, and administrators involved in delivering academic programs and supporting student learning experiences. The LTC Documents cover a wide range of areas related to curriculum development, assessment practices, student support, and quality assurance, aiming to uphold academic standards, promote innovation, and foster continuous improvement in teaching and learning. Key aspects addressed in these documents include:

1. Curriculum Development: Guidelines and procedures for designing, reviewing, and updating academic programs and courses to ensure alignment with educational objectives, industry standards, and regulatory requirements.
2. Assessment Practices: Policies and protocols for assessing student learning outcomes, including guidelines for designing assessments, ensuring fairness and reliability, and providing feedback to students to support their academic progress.
3. Student Support: Resources and procedures for providing comprehensive support services to students, including academic advising, counseling, accessibility services, and support for student well-being and success.
4. Quality Assurance: Mechanisms for monitoring, evaluating, and improving the quality of teaching and learning activities, including processes for internal and external review, accreditation, and continuous enhancement of academic programs.
5. Professional Development: Opportunities and requirements for faculty and staff to engage in ongoing professional development activities to enhance their teaching skills, stay current with educational trends, and contribute to institutional goals.

The Research Committee Documents from The Swiss Institute of Management & Innovation include:

1. Ethics Policy (RC_01): This document outlines the ethical approval policy for research projects, classifying them by risk and detailing the approval process, emphasizing the importance of ethical considerations in research.
2. Student Research Proposal Form (RC_02): A form for students to propose their research projects, ensuring they align with ethical standards. It covers project details, objectives, methodology, timeline, and an ethics checklist.
3. Guidelines for Completing the Student Research Proposal Form (RC_03): Offers detailed instructions for completing the proposal form, including examples and explanations of the approval process based on ethical risk assessment.

Together, these documents form a comprehensive framework designed to uphold ethical standards in research conducted under the institute’s auspices, guiding students through the proposal and approval process.

The “ASSESSMENT (QA Assessment Code)” series encompasses a comprehensive set of documents and guidelines meticulously designed to support and enhance the assessment processes and procedures within an educational or institutional setting. This series includes:

1. Student Disciplinary Procedure: Outlines the steps for addressing student misconduct, ensuring fair and transparent processes.
2. Examination Regulations: Details the conduct expected of candidates during examinations, including the roles of invigilators and examination officers.
3. Approval of Examination Centres: Describes the criteria and process for approving new examination centers.
4. Exceptional Mitigating Circumstances Affecting Student Assessment: Provides guidelines for considering circumstances that may impact a student’s assessment performance.
5. Unfair Practice in Assessment: Addresses the identification and handling of unfair practices in assessments.
6. Guidelines for Moderators: Offers directives for moderators overseeing the assessment process.
7. Policy on Internal Moderation: Establishes the framework for internal moderation of assessments to ensure consistency and fairness.
8. External Examiner Handbook: A comprehensive guide for external examiners on their roles and responsibilities.
9. Nomination and Appointment of External Examiners: Details the process for nominating and appointing external examiners.
10. External Examiner Report Form: A standardized form for external examiners to report on the assessments they oversee.
11. Academic Appeals Process: Outlines the procedure for students to appeal academic decisions.
12. External Examiner Nomination Form: A form used for nominating external examiners.
13. Announcement at Start of Examination: A document containing the announcement to be read at the start of an examination.
14. Examination Candidates Attendance Register: Ensures accurate tracking of student attendance during examinations.
15. Examination Officer and Invigilators Details: Lists roles and contact information for staff overseeing exams.
16. Examination Invigilators Report: A report form for invigilators to document examination conduct and incidents.
17. Examination Script Front Sheet: A cover sheet for examination scripts, detailing candidate and examination information.
18. Written Feedback Policy: Outlines the policy for providing written feedback on assessments to students.
19. Assessment Brief Template Level 6: A template for creating assessment briefs for Level 6 qualifications.
20. Internal Assessment Approval Form: A form used for the internal approval of assessments.
21. Word Count Policy – Undergraduate: Details the word count policy for undergraduate assessments.
22. Word Count Policy – Postgraduate: Specifies the word count policy for postgraduate assessments.
23. Dissertations Marking Guidelines: Provides guidelines for marking dissertations, ensuring consistency and fairness.

The Procedure of Academic Partnership (AP) encompasses a comprehensive approach to establishing, monitoring, and managing collaborations between SIMI Swiss and various academic entities. This includes the rigorous evaluation and approval of representatives, academic delivery partners, agents, and study centers. The process ensures that partnerships align with the university’s standards for quality, legal compliance, financial stability, and educational excellence. Through detailed procedures and checklists, the university aims to maintain high academic standards and enhance student experiences while fostering productive and sustainable academic relationships.

1. Representative Approval Procedures: Establishes a comprehensive process for approving and managing representatives and progression agreements, ensuring alignment with quality and regulatory standards.
2. Academic Delivery Partner Approval, Monitoring, and Management Procedures: Outlines the process for the approval and continuous monitoring of academic delivery partners, highlighting the importance of maintaining academic standards and student experience.
3. Agent Due Diligence Checklist: Provides a thorough checklist for evaluating potential agents, focusing on legal, financial, operational, and educational quality standards.
4. Study Centre Approval Procedures: Describes the process for approving study centers, from initial appraisal through to ongoing monitoring, ensuring compliance with health, safety, and educational quality requirements.

The Programme Specifications (PS Code) refer to detailed documents that outline the aims, learning outcomes, structure, and assessment methods of each academic program offered by an institution. These specifications serve as a blueprint for both teaching staff and students, ensuring clarity on what is expected throughout the course of study. They play a crucial role in maintaining academic standards and aligning the curriculum with the institution’s educational objectives, accreditation requirements, and industry expectations, thereby facilitating a structured and comprehensive educational experience.

These documents cover all the programs that are carried out by SIMI Swiss itself and also by our academic partners.

Health and safety regulations are a set of rules and guidelines designed to prevent accidents and injuries in workplaces and public areas. They ensure a safe and healthy environment for employees, students, and the general public by addressing risks and implementing measures to mitigate them. These regulations cover a broad range of topics, including workplace safety, emergency procedures, equipment and facilities maintenance, and the management of hazardous substances. Compliance with these regulations is mandatory, and they are enforced by relevant authorities to protect well-being and promote a culture of safety.

The SS series documents encompass a wide range of student-related policies and procedures, ensuring a comprehensive and supportive educational environment. From SS1, establishing a learning contract between students and the institution, to SS10, underscoring the importance of academic freedom, each document plays a vital role in shaping a positive and conducive learning experience. SS2 focuses on monitoring and support for online programs, while SS3 details the complaints procedure. SS4 and SS5 address safeguarding and student conduct, respectively. SS6 and SS7 differentiate refund policies for EU and non-EU residents, and SS8 covers withdrawal for non-academic reasons. Finally, SS9 and SS10 emphasize freedom of speech and academic freedom, ensuring a respectful and open academic dialogue.

The titles for each of the SS documents are as follows:

1. SS1: Student Learning Contract
2. SS2: Student Monitoring and Support Procedure for Online Programmes
3. SS3: Student Complaints Procedure
4. SS4: Safeguarding Policy Statement
5. SS5: Student Code of Conduct
6. SS6: Refund Policy for EU Residents
7. SS7: Refund Policy for Non-EU Residents
8. SS8: Withdrawals for Non-Academic Reasons
9. SS9: Freedom of Speech Code of Practice
10. SS10: Academic Freedom Policy
11. SS11: Acceptable Use Policy.

A Smart University refers to an educational institution that integrates advanced technologies and innovative approaches into its infrastructure, teaching methodologies, administrative processes, and campus management to enhance the learning experience, operational efficiency, and sustainability. The concept of a Smart University extends beyond the mere digitization of educational content; it encompasses a holistic transformation that leverages the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), big data analytics, cloud computing, and other digital technologies to create an interconnected, intelligent, and adaptable academic environment.

The Smart University concept at SIMI Swiss involves not only the application of IT and technology in its activities and processes but also extends more broadly through the implementation of the CATS framework.

CATS stands for (C)ontents, (A)ccreditation, (T)echnology, and (S)ervices.

All educational material should be meticulously tailored to meet the specific competency requirements of each academic program, ensuring alignment with the national competency framework relevant to each respective position. This ensures that the curriculum not only addresses the requisite skills and knowledge for professional success but also adheres to established standards of excellence and relevance. Furthermore, the content must be designed with versatility in mind, allowing for optimal compatibility with a wide range of modern devices. This adaptability enhances the accessibility and engagement of learners by facilitating a smooth transition across various digital platforms, thereby accommodating diverse learning styles and technological preferences. This approach underscores the commitment to providing a highly personalized and technologically integrated educational experience, catering to the evolving needs of students and the demands of the digital age.

The Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for the personalized and adaptable content within an educational framework, as described, would focus on measuring the effectiveness, accessibility, and adaptability of the content to ensure it meets the outlined goals. Here are some potential KPIs:

1. Student Engagement Rate: Measure the percentage of students actively engaging with the content through logins, interactions, and time spent on the learning platform. High engagement rates indicate content relevancy and effectiveness.
2. Content Personalization Effectiveness: Evaluate the success of personalized content by tracking improvements in individual student performance, feedback, and satisfaction levels. This could involve pre- and post-assessment comparisons to gauge knowledge gains.
3. Adaptation and Compatibility Success Rate: Assess how well the content performs across various devices and platforms by monitoring access metrics, loading times, and user experience feedback. High compatibility rates suggest that the content is effectively adaptable to different technologies.
4. Learning Outcome Achievement: Compare the competency levels before and after exposure to the content, based on the national competency framework alignment, to determine if learners achieve the desired competency outcomes.
5. Utilization of Adaptive Learning Tools: Track the usage rate of adaptive learning features, such as personalized learning paths or AI-driven content adjustments, to understand how often and effectively students utilize these resources for their learning.
6. Feedback and Revision Cycle Time: Monitor the time taken to gather feedback on content effectiveness and implement necessary revisions. Shorter cycles indicate a responsive and adaptable content strategy.
7. Technology Integration Rate: Evaluate the extent of technology integration into the content and its usage by both educators and students. High rates of integration and usage reflect the successful incorporation of technology into the educational content.
8. Cross-platform Transition Smoothness: Measure the ease with which users can transition content access and interaction across different platforms. This can be quantified through user satisfaction surveys and the frequency of reported issues related to platform transitions.

SIMI Swiss places a strategic emphasis not on the pursuit of rankings but rather on securing recognition and accreditation from esteemed accrediting agencies. This approach underscores our commitment to quality and excellence in higher education. By integrating our bespoke quality management system with recognized standards such as those set forth by the European Standards and Guidelines (ESG), we ensure that our educational offerings and institutional operations meet the highest international benchmarks.

Our strategy extends beyond broad accreditation to include targeted accreditations for specific departments and program groups. This meticulous attention to detail signifies our dedication to providing specialized, high-quality education tailored to the unique needs and aspirations of our students. By aligning with prestigious quality management systems and completing rigorous accreditation processes, we aim to affirm our status as a leading educational institution that is not just compliant with but also a pioneer in adopting best practices in quality assurance.

Furthermore, SIMI Swiss’s approach to quality management and accreditation is dynamic and ongoing. We are committed to continuous improvement through regular review and enhancement of our systems and processes. This not only ensures our compliance with current standards but also positions us to swiftly adapt to emerging trends and innovations in higher education. By focusing on reputable accreditation rather than transient rankings, SIMI Swiss aims to build a lasting legacy of excellence, trust, and innovation in the global education landscape.

The Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for SIMI Swiss’s focus on accreditation and quality management, as opposed to organizational or program rankings, would include several metrics aimed at measuring the effectiveness of their strategy, the quality of their educational programs, and their compliance with reputable accrediting bodies’ standards:

1. Accreditation Achievement Rate: The percentage of programs and departments successfully accredited by reputable accrediting bodies. This KPI tracks progress towards meeting and maintaining high-quality standards as recognized by external organizations.
2. Accreditation Renewal Success Rate: The rate at which accreditations are successfully renewed upon expiration, ensuring continuous compliance with the accrediting bodies’ evolving standards and guidelines.
3. Compliance Score with Accrediting Standards: A quantifiable measure of how well SIMI Swiss’s programs and management practices align with the criteria set forth by accrediting bodies like ESG. This could be assessed through audits and evaluations conducted by these bodies.
4. Quality Management System Integration Rate: The extent to which the custom-developed and standard quality management systems are integrated across all departments and programs. This KPI measures the effectiveness of the systemic approach to quality assurance.
5. Stakeholder Satisfaction Levels: Surveys and feedback from students, faculty, and administrative staff to measure satisfaction with the quality and integrity of educational offerings and institutional operations. High satisfaction levels indicate successful implementation of quality management systems.
6. Specialized Accreditation Coverage: The percentage of departments or program groups that have obtained specialized accreditation, reflecting the institution’s commitment to excellence and specialization in specific fields of study.
7. Continuous Improvement Metrics: Measures of the institution’s efforts in continuous improvement based on feedback from accreditation processes, including the number of improvements implemented, the cycle time for implementing corrective actions, and the impact of these improvements on educational quality.
8. Faculty Qualification and Development: The percentage of faculty members with qualifications and ongoing professional development activities that meet or exceed the standards required by accrediting bodies. This KPI underscores the institution’s commitment to fostering a highly qualified and continuously improving teaching staff.

SIMI Swiss is pioneering the transformation into a leading smart university in Switzerland and Europe by strategically embedding information technology across all facets of its operations. This integration serves a dual purpose: to enhance the educational experience for our students and to streamline our operational processes, thereby setting a benchmark for efficiency and innovation in higher education.

Our commitment to leveraging technology extends beyond administrative automation. It encompasses the creation of a dynamic learning environment where digital tools and platforms facilitate interactive, personalized, and flexible learning experiences. From virtual classrooms to AI-powered tutoring systems, our aim is to harness the potential of technology to cater to the diverse needs and learning styles of our students.

Moreover, SIMI Swiss is dedicated to automating operational processes, from enrollment and student services to faculty management and campus operations. This automation not only reduces the administrative burden on staff and faculty, allowing them to focus more on teaching and research, but also ensures a seamless, efficient, and error-free management system.

In our pursuit of becoming a smart university, we also emphasize the importance of data-driven decision-making. By collecting and analyzing data on student performance, campus resource utilization, and other key operational metrics, we are able to make informed decisions that enhance the quality of education and campus life.

Our vision for a smart university transcends traditional boundaries, aiming to create an interconnected ecosystem that supports sustainability, encourages innovation, and fosters a culture of continuous learning. As we move forward, SIMI Swiss is committed to exploring and adopting emerging technologies that will further our mission of providing a world-class education and setting new standards for excellence in the digital era.

For SIMI Swiss’s integration of information technology into its operations with the aim of enhancing student services, automating processes, and becoming a leading smart university in Switzerland and Europe, the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) would focus on measuring the effectiveness, efficiency, and impact of these technological integrations:

1. Student Satisfaction Rate: Measure the level of student satisfaction with digital tools and platforms provided, using surveys and feedback mechanisms to assess the impact of technology on the learning experience.
2. Operational Efficiency Improvement: Quantify the reduction in time and resources required for administrative and operational processes as a result of automation. This could include metrics like processing time for enrollment, grades, and other administrative tasks.
3. Technology Adoption Rate: Track the percentage of students and faculty actively using the implemented digital tools and platforms for learning, teaching, and administrative purposes.
4. Digital Infrastructure Reliability: Monitor the uptime and reliability of digital infrastructure, including learning management systems, virtual classrooms, and administrative platforms, to ensure continuous availability.
5. Innovation Index: Establish an index to gauge the level of technological innovation within the university, considering factors such as the number of new digital tools implemented, upgrades to existing technologies, and participation in technology-focused research and development projects.
6. Data Utilization for Decision Making: Evaluate the extent to which data gathered from digital platforms is used in strategic decision-making processes, aiming to enhance educational quality and operational effectiveness.
7. Cost Savings from Automation: Calculate the cost savings achieved through the automation of operational processes, including reductions in paper usage, administrative staff workload, and operational inefficiencies.
8. Cybersecurity Measures Effectiveness: Assess the effectiveness of cybersecurity measures in place to protect the digital infrastructure and sensitive information of students and faculty, including the number of incidents and response times.
9. Student Digital Literacy Improvement: Measure improvements in student digital literacy and competence as a direct result of exposure to and interaction with the university’s digital tools and learning environments.
10. Environmental Sustainability Metrics: Track the impact of digital transformation on the university’s environmental sustainability, such as reduced paper usage and energy consumption, contributing to a greener campus.

At SIMI Swiss, our dedication to fostering an inclusive and supportive educational environment is at the core of our mission. By embracing a Student First Strategy, we prioritize the individual needs, aspirations, and success of each student, ensuring that every decision and initiative is designed to enhance their educational journey. This student-centric approach is complemented by our unwavering commitment to accessibility, particularly for students with disabilities, ensuring that all learners have equal opportunities to thrive.

To actualize these strategies, SIMI Swiss has rolled out a suite of support programs and services tailored to address the unique challenges faced by our diverse student body. Recognizing the distinct needs of online learners and full-time students, we have developed specialized resources aimed at minimizing barriers and maximizing student engagement and learning outcomes. These resources include adaptive learning technologies, personalized academic support, and flexible learning options that accommodate various learning styles and schedules.

Moreover, our commitment to students with disabilities goes beyond compliance with accessibility standards. We strive to create a nurturing and empowering learning environment that is sensitive to their needs. This includes providing customized learning materials, assistive technologies, and dedicated support services designed to ensure that these students can fully participate in and benefit from our educational programs.

In addition to academic support, SIMI Swiss focuses on creating a holistic student experience. This encompasses mental health and wellness programs, career counseling, and extracurricular activities that support personal growth and professional development. By fostering a culture of inclusion, support, and excellence, we aim to equip our students with the knowledge, skills, and confidence needed to succeed in their academic endeavors and beyond.

The implementation of these strategies and support programs at SIMI Swiss reflects our commitment to redefining excellence in higher education. We believe that by placing students at the heart of everything we do and ensuring that our campus is accessible to all, we can create a vibrant learning community where every student is empowered to achieve their full potential.

For SIMI Swiss’s Student First Strategy and optimal support for students with disabilities, Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) should be designed to measure the effectiveness, inclusivity, and impact of these strategic initiatives:

1. Sudent Satisfaction Index: Measure overall student satisfaction through surveys, focusing on aspects like academic support, accessibility, and campus resources, to gauge the effectiveness of the Student First Strategy.
2. Graduation Rate: Track the graduation rates of all students, including those with disabilities, to assess the impact of support programs on student success.
3. Retention Rate: Monitor the year-to-year retention rate of students, which reflects the university’s ability to engage and support students throughout their academic journey.
4. Employment Rate of Graduates: Measure the employment rate of graduates within a certain timeframe after graduation, indicating the effectiveness of academic programs and career support services.
5. Accessibility Services Usage Rate: Track the utilization rate of accessibility services and resources by students with disabilities, indicating the awareness and effectiveness of these services.
6. Accommodation Implementation Time: Measure the average time taken to implement accommodations for students with disabilities, reflecting the efficiency of the support system.
7. Feedback Response Time: Monitor the average time taken to respond to and address student feedback, demonstrating the institution’s responsiveness to student needs.
8. Engagement in Extracurricular Activities: Measure the participation rate of students, including those with disabilities, in extracurricular activities, indicating the inclusivity and accessibility of campus life.
9. Academic Performance Disparity: Analyze the academic performance gap between students with disabilities and the general student population, aiming for minimal disparity as a sign of effective support and accommodation.
10. Student Mental Health and Well-being Metrics: Assess the effectiveness of mental health and wellness programs through student utilization rates and feedback, reflecting the institution’s commitment to supporting student well-being.
11. Diversity and Inclusion Index: Develop an index to quantify the level of diversity and inclusivity within the student body and faculty, ensuring that the institution’s environment is welcoming and supportive for all.

The Smart University Framework of SIMI Swiss is designed to integrate advanced technologies and innovative approaches into its infrastructure, teaching methodologies, administrative processes, and campus management. This framework aims to enhance learning experiences, operational efficiency, and sustainability. It includes a comprehensive quality assurance structure that aligns with the Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance in the European Higher Education Area (ESG), focusing on content strategy, accreditation, technology integration, and service strategy to ensure high educational quality and support.

To map the Quality Assurance (QA) of SIMI Swiss within the Smart University Framework to the Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance in the European Higher Education Area (ESG), it is essential to analyze the specific elements of the framework provided on the SIMI Swiss website against the ESG criteria.

While a direct mapping requires an in-depth review of both resources, the Smart University Framework emphasizes technology integration, content strategy, accreditation, and service strategy. These areas can be aligned with ESG standards on quality teaching, learning resources, student support, quality culture, and management of higher education institutions. For precise alignment, one would compare the specific practices and quality assurance measures from SIMI Swiss against each of the ESG’s standards, including teaching and learning, research, service provision, quality assurance policies, and mechanisms.

STANDARD:

Institutions should have a policy and associated procedures for the assurance of the quality and standards of their programmes and awards. They should also commit themselves explicitly to the development of a culture which recognises the importance of quality, and quality assurance, in their work. To achieve this, institutions should develop and implement a strategy for the continuous enhancement of quality.

The strategy, policy and procedures should have a formal status and be publicly available. They should also include a role for students and other stakeholders.

MAPPING OF SIMI SWISS QA SYSTEMS:

The standard aligns with Documents:

1. MR1 SIMI Regulatory Framework: Regulations and Procedures Governing Taught Programmes of Study Leading to Awards – General Principles and Guidelines.
2. MR2 – Validation Handbook: Provides comprehensive guidelines for the validation and approval processes of new and modified academic programmes, aiming to ensure the quality and relevance of courses offered in alignment with the Swiss Institute of Management & Innovation’s standards and external awarding bodies.
3. MR3 – Student Academic Handbook: Serves as a guide for full-time hybrid learning students, detailing the academic policies, procedures, and support mechanisms in place to facilitate their learning journey and success in their studies.
4. Process from admission to graduated (QA) including:

• Information Given To Students _ QA Info Code
• Recruitment And Enrolment Of Students_ QA Recruit Code
• Programme Delivery QA Delivery Code
• Assessment QA Assessment Code
• QA Progress Equality And Diversity Policy

SIMI Swiss has successfully adapted its quality assurance policies to effectively integrate the crucial relationship between research, learning, and teaching, fully acknowledging the national and institutional contexts in which it operates, along with its strategic approach. The institution has established a well-organized quality assurance system that is comprehensive and accessible, ensuring that all stakeholders, including departments, schools, faculties, institutional leadership, staff members, and students, are well-equipped to fulfill their quality assurance responsibilities.

SIMI Swiss places a strong emphasis on upholding academic integrity and freedom, implementing rigorous measures to prevent academic fraud and promote an environment where academic endeavors can be pursued freely and ethically. Furthermore, the institution is committed to creating a safe, inclusive, and welcoming environment for all, implementing strict policies against intolerance and discrimination to protect its students and staff.

Recognizing the importance of external stakeholders in the quality assurance process, SIMI Swiss actively involves industry partners, alumni, and accrediting bodies, ensuring that its programs remain relevant and meet the highest standards. Through continuous evaluation and improvement, SIMI Swiss demonstrates its commitment to maintaining and enhancing the quality of its educational and research outputs, aligning with the needs of the community it serves and the broader job market. This adaptive approach underscores SIMI Swiss’s dedication to excellence in higher education, making it a model of quality assurance practices that are both effective and responsive.

MAPPING WITH SIMI QA SYSTEMS:

The Learning and Teaching Committee (LTC) Documents encompass a set of guidelines, policies, and procedures established by the Swiss School of Management & Innovation (SIMI) to ensure the quality and effectiveness of learning and teaching practices within the institution. These documents are designed to provide clear direction, standards, and support for faculty, staff, and administrators involved in delivering academic programs and supporting student learning experiences. The LTC Documents cover a wide range of areas related to curriculum development, assessment practices, student support, and quality assurance, aiming to uphold academic standards, promote innovation, and foster continuous improvement in teaching and learning. Key aspects addressed in these documents include:

1. Curriculum Development: Guidelines and procedures for designing, reviewing, and updating academic programs and courses to ensure alignment with educational objectives, industry standards, and regulatory requirements.
2. Assessment Practices: Policies and protocols for assessing student learning outcomes, including guidelines for designing assessments, ensuring fairness and reliability, and providing feedback to students to support their academic progress.
3. Student Support: Resources and procedures for providing comprehensive support services to students, including academic advising, counseling, accessibility services, and support for student well-being and success.
4. Quality Assurance: Mechanisms for monitoring, evaluating, and improving the quality of teaching and learning activities, including processes for internal and external review, accreditation, and continuous enhancement of academic programs.
5. Professional Development: Opportunities and requirements for faculty and staff to engage in ongoing professional development activities to enhance their teaching skills, stay current with educational trends, and contribute to institutional goals.

The SIMI Swiss Quality Assurance system is meticulously tailored to ensure that study programs are at the heart of the institution’s teaching mission, reflecting a deep commitment to providing students with a rich blend of academic knowledge and transferable skills. These programs are pivotal not only for imparting education but also for influencing students’ personal development and enhancing their career prospects. SIMI Swiss has adeptly mapped its quality assurance processes to align with these principles through the following strategies:

1. Alignment with Institutional Strategy: All programs at SIMI Swiss are designed with clear objectives that resonate with the institution’s broader strategic goals. These objectives are supported by explicit intended learning outcomes, ensuring that each program contributes to the holistic mission of the institution.
2. Inclusive Design Process: The institution places a high value on inclusivity, involving students and other stakeholders directly in the design and continuous improvement of its programs. This collaborative approach ensures that the programs remain relevant and responsive to the needs and aspirations of the student body and other key stakeholders.
3. External Expertise and Reference Points: SIMI Swiss incorporates external expertise and benchmarks against international reference points to enhance the quality and relevance of its programs. This openness to external input guarantees that the programs meet global standards and prepare students for international challenges.
4. Adherence to the Four Purposes of Higher Education: Reflecting the Council of Europe’s four purposes of higher education, SIMI Swiss’s programs are crafted to ensure comprehensive education, including preparation for sustainable employment, personal development, active citizenship, and capacity for innovation and creativity.
5. Smooth Student Progression: The design of the programs at SIMI Swiss facilitates smooth student progression, enabling learners to build upon their knowledge and skills systematically and effectively as they move through their chosen course of study.
6. Defined Workload and ECTS: Each program specifies the expected student workload, utilizing the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) to promote transparency and recognition of study achievements across borders.
7. Structured Placement Opportunities: Where appropriate, programs include well-structured placement opportunities, enhancing the practical learning experience and connecting academic learning with real-world application.
8. Formal Approval Process: All programs undergo a rigorous institutional approval process, ensuring that they meet the highest standards of quality and relevance before being offered to students.

Through these measures, the SIMI Swiss Quality Assurance system demonstrates a sophisticated and forward-thinking approach to higher education, ensuring that its programs are not only academically rigorous but also closely aligned with the needs of students and the wider community. This strategic alignment with the core principles of quality in higher education exemplifies SIMI Swiss’s dedication to excellence and innovation in teaching and learning.

STANDARDS:

Institutions should ensure that the programmes are delivered in a way that encourages students to take an active role in creating the learning process, and that the assessment of students reflects this approach.

MAPPING WITH QA SYSTEMS OF SIMI SWISS:

The “ASSESSMENT (QA Assessment Code)” series encompasses a comprehensive set of documents and guidelines meticulously designed to support and enhance the assessment processes and procedures within an educational or institutional setting. This series includes:

1. Student Disciplinary Procedure: Outlines the steps for addressing student misconduct, ensuring fair and transparent processes.
2. Examination Regulations: Details the conduct expected of candidates during examinations, including the roles of invigilators and examination officers.
3. Approval of Examination Centres: Describes the criteria and process for approving new examination centers.
4. Exceptional Mitigating Circumstances Affecting Student Assessment: Provides guidelines for considering circumstances that may impact a student’s assessment performance.
5. Unfair Practice in Assessment: Addresses the identification and handling of unfair practices in assessments.
6. Guidelines for Moderators: Offers directives for moderators overseeing the assessment process.
7. Policy on Internal Moderation: Establishes the framework for internal moderation of assessments to ensure consistency and fairness.
8. External Examiner Handbook: A comprehensive guide for external examiners on their roles and responsibilities.
9. Nomination and Appointment of External Examiners: Details the process for nominating and appointing external examiners.
10. External Examiner Report Form: A standardized form for external examiners to report on the assessments they oversee.
11. Academic Appeals Process: Outlines the procedure for students to appeal academic decisions.
12. External Examiner Nomination Form: A form used for nominating external examiners.
13. Announcement at Start of Examination: A document containing the announcement to be read at the start of an examination.
14. Examination Candidates Attendance Register: Ensures accurate tracking of student attendance during examinations.
15. Examination Officer and Invigilators Details: Lists roles and contact information for staff overseeing exams.
16. Examination Invigilators Report: A report form for invigilators to document examination conduct and incidents.
17. Examination Script Front Sheet: A cover sheet for examination scripts, detailing candidate and examination information.
18. Written Feedback Policy: Outlines the policy for providing written feedback on assessments to students.
19. Assessment Brief Template Level 6: A template for creating assessment briefs for Level 6 qualifications.
20. Internal Assessment Approval Form: A form used for the internal approval of assessments.
21. Word Count Policy – Undergraduate: Details the word count policy for undergraduate assessments.
22. Word Count Policy – Postgraduate: Specifies the word count policy for postgraduate assessments.
23. Dissertations Marking Guidelines: Provides guidelines for marking dissertations, ensuring consistency and fairness.

The SIMI Swiss Quality Assurance Systems are meticulously designed to embrace and foster student-centred learning and teaching, recognizing its pivotal role in enhancing students’ motivation, self-reflection, and engagement in their educational journey. This commitment is reflected in the careful planning of study programs, their delivery, and the nuanced approach to assessing student outcomes.

In implementing student-centred learning and teaching, SIMI Swiss:

• Respects Diversity: Acknowledges and caters to the diverse needs of students, facilitating flexible learning paths that accommodate different learning styles and life circumstances.
• Utilizes Varied Delivery Modes: Employs a range of delivery methods to enhance accessibility and engagement, adapting to the evolving educational landscape.
• Employs Diverse Pedagogical Methods: Adopts a flexible approach to teaching, using varied pedagogical techniques to cater to different learning preferences and objectives.
• Evaluates and Adjusts Teaching Methods: Continuously assesses the effectiveness of delivery modes and teaching methods, making necessary adjustments to optimize learning outcomes.
• Encourages Autonomy with Support: Fosters a learning environment that encourages student autonomy, balanced with the provision of comprehensive guidance and support from educators.
• Promotes Mutual Respect: Cultivates a culture of mutual respect within the learner-teacher relationship, recognizing the value and contributions of each individual.
• Addresses Students’ Concerns: Establishes clear procedures for addressing and resolving students’ complaints, ensuring a responsive and supportive educational environment.

Regarding assessment, SIMI Swiss’s quality assurance processes are carefully structured to support students’ progression and future career success, incorporating the following principles:

• Expert Assessors: Ensures assessors are well-versed in a variety of testing and examination methods, with ongoing support for the development of their assessment skills.
• Transparent Assessment Criteria: Publishes criteria for assessments and marking in advance, ensuring clarity and fairness in the evaluation process.
• Outcome-Focused Assessments: Designs assessments to enable students to demonstrate their achievement of intended learning outcomes, coupled with constructive feedback and, where necessary, advice on the learning process.
• Multiple Examiners: Where feasible, employs more than one examiner to ensure a broad and unbiased assessment perspective.
• Mitigating Circumstances Considered: Takes into account mitigating circumstances in assessment regulations, ensuring fairness and understanding in the evaluation of student performance.
• Consistency and Fairness in Assessment: Maintains consistency in assessments, applying criteria fairly to all students and adhering strictly to stated procedures.
• Formal Appeal Procedures: Implements formal procedures for student appeals, offering a structured pathway for addressing concerns related to assessment.

Through these comprehensive measures, SIMI Swiss demonstrates its unwavering dedication to a student-centred educational approach, ensuring that quality assurance systems support an enriching, equitable, and effective learning environment for all students.

STANDARDS:

Institutions should consistently apply pre-defined and published regulations covering all phases of the student “life cycle”, e.g. student admission, progression, recognition and certification.

MAPPING WITH SIMI SWISS QUALITY ASSURANCE SYSTEMS:

• 1. INFORMATION GIVEN TO STUDENTS _ QA INFO CODE: The overall intent of the documents and processes related to student admission to graduation at SIMI is to ensure a comprehensive, quality-assured educational journey that is aligned with institutional standards and external benchmarks. From rigorous admissions audits to ensure only qualified students are admitted, through detailed program validation, continuous feedback mechanisms, and systematic internal assessments, to external examinations and audits for maintaining academic integrity and standards, each step is designed to support students’ academic success and personal development. The process culminates in graduation, marking the achievement of educational objectives and readiness for professional advancement, all within a framework of continuous improvement to enhance the quality of education provided.
• 2. RECRUITMENT AND ENROLMENT OF STUDENTS_ QA RECRUIT CODE documents is to outline the principles, policies, and procedures that govern the recruitment and enrolment of students at the institution. This includes ensuring transparent, fair, and consistent processes in admissions, recognizing prior learning, and setting clear terms and conditions for enrolled students. It also addresses the admission of students with criminal convictions to ensure safety and compliance with legal and ethical standards, aiming to provide equal opportunities for education while maintaining community trust and security.

SIMI Swiss’s Quality Assurance Systems are thoughtfully crafted to guarantee that every student gets the support and conditions needed to excel academically. This strategy benefits not only the students but also elevates the caliber and standing of our programs, the institution, and the educational landscape at large. With an eye on facilitating smooth transitions and continuous progress for students, especially those moving within and between higher education frameworks, SIMI Swiss has rolled out a suite of initiatives:

• Clear Admission and Access Policies: We make sure our admission processes and criteria are uniformly and transparently applied, offering a straightforward and fair admission path for all potential students.
• In-depth Induction Programs: We host detailed orientation sessions for newcomers, easing their entry into their chosen programs and the institution at large. These sessions cover crucial aspects of academic life and the support systems in place to aid in student achievement.
• Active Monitoring of Student Progression: At SIMI Swiss, we’ve put in place effective methods and tools to track and respond to data on student progress. This allows us to provide timely help and ensure students are on course to fulfill their academic objectives.
• Equitable Recognition of Qualifications: Our institution stands by equitable recognition practices for academic qualifications, previous study periods, and prior learning, counting non-formal and informal learning. Such recognition is vital for supporting student mobility and their educational journey.
  • Adherence to Lisbon Recognition Convention Principles: Our procedures for recognizing qualifications are in line with the Lisbon Recognition Convention, making sure students’ accomplishments are respected internationally.
  • Collaborative Efforts for Uniform Recognition: We collaborate with other educational institutions, quality assurance bodies, and the national ENIC/NARIC center to guarantee consistent recognition practices across the board, aiding both national and international student mobility.
• Graduation and Academic Records: When students graduate, they receive detailed records that outline their qualifications, including the learning outcomes achieved, and the context, level, content, and status of the studies they’ve completed successfully. This documentation is a crucial testament to their academic journey and the standard of education they’ve received.

Through these targeted measures, SIMI Swiss is committed to fostering an environment conducive to student success, encouraging academic mobility, and maintaining the global validity and recognition of our qualifications. Our comprehensive take on quality assurance in admissions, progression, and recognition practices highlights our unwavering commitment to higher education excellence.

STANDARDS:

Institutions should assure themselves of the competence of their teachers. They should apply fair and transparent processes for the recruitment and development of the staff.

MAPPING STANDARDS WITH QUALITY ASSURANCE SYSTEMS OF SIMI SWISS:

1. MR1 – Regulatory Framework: Establishes the regulatory principles and guidelines governing taught programmes of study leading to awards, outlining general principles, procedures, and regulations to ensure compliance and quality assurance in educational offerings.
2. The Position Description (PD) documents serve as comprehensive guides outlining the roles, responsibilities, qualifications, and expectations associated with various positions within SIMI Swiss. These documents are meticulously crafted to provide clear and transparent guidelines for both current employees and prospective candidates, ensuring alignment with the institution’s goals and values.Within the Position Description documents, each role is meticulously outlined, including:
   1. Roles and Responsibilities: A detailed breakdown of the duties, tasks, and functions associated with the position. This section clarifies the specific contributions expected from individuals occupying the role, ensuring clarity and accountability in their day-to-day activities.
   2. Qualifications and Experience: Clear specifications regarding the educational background, professional qualifications, and relevant experience required for the role. This ensures that candidates possess the necessary knowledge and skills to perform effectively in their positions.
   3. Expectations and Performance Metrics: Defined expectations and performance metrics against which individuals in the role will be evaluated. This section provides a framework for assessing job performance and identifying areas for growth and development.
   4. Reporting Structure and Relationships: Information on reporting lines, internal and external relationships, and collaboration requirements. This helps individuals understand their place within the organizational hierarchy and fosters effective communication and teamwork.
   5. Career Development Opportunities: Insight into potential career paths, growth opportunities, and professional development resources available to individuals in the role. This demonstrates SIMI Swiss’s commitment to supporting employee growth and advancement.
   6. SIMI’S Policy on Internal Moderation: Establishes guidelines for internal moderation to ensure consistency and fairness in assessment marking.
   7. CI 2 – SIMI Sampling Basis for Moderation: Outlines the criteria for selecting assessments for internal moderation to ensure a representative and fair review process.
   8. CI 3 – Internal Verification Policy: Outlines the procedures and responsibilities for internal verification of assessments within Pearson/BTEC awards offered by SIMI. The policy ensures that all assessments are created and marked accurately, fairly, and consistently in line with module specifications and assessment criteria. It aims to maintain standards set by the awarding body through regular and systematic review of assessment activities and decisions.
   9. CI 4 – Procedure for Minor Modifications to Existing Programmes: Describes the process for proposing, approving, and implementing minor modifications to existing academic programmes. The intent is to ensure that changes maintain or enhance academic standards and the quality of the student learning experience, with clear guidelines for documentation, approval processes, and administrative tasks following approval.
   10. CI 5 – PROGRESS2 Annual and Monitoring Review Proforma: This document is designed for annual monitoring and review, covering key areas such as student progression, curriculum, learning and teaching, assessment, student support, and learning resources. It aims to collect comprehensive data and feedback from various stakeholders, including students, staff, and external examiners, to evaluate the effectiveness of programmes and identify areas for improvement.

SIMI Swiss Quality Assurance Systems are meticulously aligned with the evolving role of teachers in delivering a high-quality student experience, crucial for fostering knowledge, competences, and skills acquisition. Acknowledging the increasingly diverse student demographics and the shift towards learning outcomes-focused education, SIMI Swiss champions student-centred learning and teaching. This approach necessitates a dynamic adaptation in the teacher’s role to meet these contemporary educational demands, in line with Standard.

Understanding the critical importance of faculty in shaping educational excellence, SIMI Swiss takes primary responsibility for the quality of its staff, ensuring they are supported in an environment conducive to their professional and pedagogical development. This supportive environment is characterized by:

• Transparent Recruitment and Fair Employment: Implementing clear, transparent, and fair staff recruitment processes and conditions of employment that underscore the significance of teaching, ensuring that educators are valued and their contributions to student success are recognized.
• Professional Development Opportunities: Offering and promoting a range of opportunities for the professional growth of teaching staff, enabling them to stay abreast of the latest pedagogical strategies, subject matter developments, and research findings. This commitment to ongoing professional development ensures that our educators are well-equipped to provide the highest quality of education.
• Scholarly Activity and Education-Research Link: Encouraging scholarly activities that enhance the symbiotic relationship between education and research, reinforcing the institution’s commitment to integrating cutting-edge research into the learning experience. This approach enriches the curriculum and ensures that teaching is informed by the latest academic and scientific advancements.
• Innovation in Teaching and Technology Use: Fostering innovation in teaching methods and the integration of new technologies into the learning environment. SIMI Swiss supports its educators in exploring and adopting innovative pedagogical techniques and technological tools that enhance learning outcomes and student engagement.

Through these initiatives, SIMI Swiss demonstrates its dedication to creating a nurturing and progressive environment for its teaching staff, recognizing their pivotal role in achieving educational excellence. This holistic approach to supporting faculty development and innovation in teaching practices underscores SIMI Swiss’s commitment to adapting its Quality Assurance Systems to meet the changing demands of higher education and ensure the best possible student learning experience.

STANDARDS

Institutions should have appropriate funding for learning and teaching activities and ensure that adequate and readily accessible learning resources and student support are provided.

MAPPING STANDARDS WITH QUALITY ASSURANCE SYSTEMS OF SIMI SWISS:

1. PROGRAMME DELIVERY QA DELIVERY CODE documents is to ensure the highest standards of programme delivery and research at the SIMI Swiss. This includes monitoring student progress, recruiting qualified tutors, providing ongoing academic staff development, offering clear guidance for face-to-face tutoring, ensuring effective learning and assessment strategies, and regularly reviewing academic staff performance. These documents collectively aim to enhance the quality of teaching, learning, and assessment, thereby ensuring that students receive a supportive, effective, and high-quality educational experience.
2. HS 1 Health and Safety Policy document outlines The Swiss Institute of Management & Innovation’s comprehensive approach to ensuring the health, safety, and well-being of its staff, students, and others affected by its activities. It emphasizes the importance of adhering to local and national health and safety laws, detailing the institute’s commitment, organizational responsibilities, and specific procedures for managing and mitigating risks. The policy covers a wide range of areas, including emergency procedures, risk assessments, and the management of incidents, aiming to create a safe and healthy environment for all.
3. The Learning and Teaching Committee (LTC) Documents encompass a set of guidelines, policies, and procedures established by the Swiss School of Management & Innovation (SIMI) to ensure the quality and effectiveness of learning and teaching practices within the institution. These documents are designed to provide clear direction, standards, and support for faculty, staff, and administrators involved in delivering academic programs and supporting student learning experiences. The LTC Documents cover a wide range of areas related to curriculum development, assessment practices, student support, and quality assurance, aiming to uphold academic standards, promote innovation, and foster continuous improvement in teaching and learning. Key aspects addressed in these documents include:

• Curriculum Development: Guidelines and procedures for designing, reviewing, and updating academic programs and courses to ensure alignment with educational objectives, industry standards, and regulatory requirements.
• Assessment Practices: Policies and protocols for assessing student learning outcomes, including guidelines for designing assessments, ensuring fairness and reliability, and providing feedback to students to support their academic progress.
• Student Support: Resources and procedures for providing comprehensive support services to students, including academic advising, counseling, accessibility services, and support for student well-being and success.
• Quality Assurance: Mechanisms for monitoring, evaluating, and improving the quality of teaching and learning activities, including processes for internal and external review, accreditation, and continuous enhancement of academic programs.
• Professional Development: Opportunities and requirements for faculty and staff to engage in ongoing professional development activities to enhance their teaching skills, stay current with educational trends, and contribute to institutional goals.

The SS series documents encompass a wide range of student-related policies and procedures, ensuring a comprehensive and supportive educational environment. From SS1, establishing a learning contract between students and the institution, to SS10, underscoring the importance of academic freedom, each document plays a vital role in shaping a positive and conducive learning experience. SS2 focuses on monitoring and support for online programs, while SS3 details the complaints procedure. SS4 and SS5 address safeguarding and student conduct, respectively. SS6 and SS7 differentiate refund policies for EU and non-EU residents, and SS8 covers withdrawal for non-academic reasons. Finally, SS9 and SS10 emphasize freedom of speech and academic freedom, ensuring a respectful and open academic dialogue.

The titles for each of the SS documents are as follows:

1. SS1: Student Learning Contract
2. SS2: Student Monitoring and Support Procedure for Online Programmes
3. SS3: Student Complaints Procedure
4. SS4: Safeguarding Policy Statement
5. SS5: Student Code of Conduct
6. SS6: Refund Policy for EU Residents
7. SS7: Refund Policy for Non-EU Residents
8. SS8: Withdrawals for Non-Academic Reasons
9. SS9: Freedom of Speech Code of Practice
10. SS10: Academic Freedom Policy
11. SS11: Acceptable Use Policy.

SIMI Swiss Quality Assurance Systems are comprehensively designed to enhance the higher education experience by providing an extensive range of resources and support services tailored to assist student learning. Recognizing the critical role of both physical and human resources in supporting a diverse student body, SIMI Swiss ensures that its libraries, study facilities, IT infrastructure, tutors, counsellors, and advisors are of the highest quality and easily accessible to all students, including mature, part-time, employed, international students, and those with disabilities.

In alignment with the shift towards student-centred learning and the need for flexible learning modes, SIMI Swiss has adapted its resource allocation, planning, and delivery to meet the evolving needs of its student population. This approach facilitates not only the mobility of students within and across higher education systems but also supports their academic and personal development in a variety of learning environments.

SIMI Swiss organizes its support activities and facilities in a way that best suits its institutional context, while internal quality assurance measures ensure that all resources are fit for purpose, accessible, and well-communicated to students. The institution places a high emphasis on the availability and quality of these services, recognizing that informed students are better equipped to take full advantage of the support offered.

Moreover, the role of support and administrative staff is considered paramount in delivering these services effectively. SIMI Swiss is committed to ensuring that these individuals are not only qualified but also have ample opportunities for professional development, enabling them to enhance their competences and better support the student community.

Through these strategic efforts, SIMI Swiss demonstrates its commitment to providing a supportive and enriching educational environment. This holistic approach to quality assurance in learning resources and student support services underscores SIMI Swiss’s dedication to excellence in higher education, ensuring that all students have the necessary tools and support to succeed academically and personally.

STANDARD:

Institutions should ensure that they collect, analyse and use relevant information for the effective management of their programmes and other activities.

MAPPING STANDARD WITH QUALITY ASSURANCE SYSTEM OF SIMI SWISS:

SIMI Swiss collect the data for quality assurance and improvement through out the management meetings and data collect from daily management acativities through the QA Assessment series of documents.

The “ASSESSMENT (QA Assessment Code)” series encompasses a comprehensive set of documents and guidelines meticulously designed to support and enhance the assessment processes and procedures within an educational or institutional setting. This series includes:

1. Student Disciplinary Procedure: Outlines the steps for addressing student misconduct, ensuring fair and transparent processes.
2. Examination Regulations: Details the conduct expected of candidates during examinations, including the roles of invigilators and examination officers.
3. Approval of Examination Centres: Describes the criteria and process for approving new examination centers.
4. Exceptional Mitigating Circumstances Affecting Student Assessment: Provides guidelines for considering circumstances that may impact a student’s assessment performance.
5. Unfair Practice in Assessment: Addresses the identification and handling of unfair practices in assessments.
6. Guidelines for Moderators: Offers directives for moderators overseeing the assessment process.
7. Policy on Internal Moderation: Establishes the framework for internal moderation of assessments to ensure consistency and fairness.
8. External Examiner Handbook: A comprehensive guide for external examiners on their roles and responsibilities.
9. Nomination and Appointment of External Examiners: Details the process for nominating and appointing external examiners.
10. External Examiner Report Form: A standardized form for external examiners to report on the assessments they oversee.
11. Academic Appeals Process: Outlines the procedure for students to appeal academic decisions.
12. External Examiner Nomination Form: A form used for nominating external examiners.
13. Announcement at Start of Examination: A document containing the announcement to be read at the start of an examination.
14. Examination Candidates Attendance Register: Ensures accurate tracking of student attendance during examinations.
15. Examination Officer and Invigilators Details: Lists roles and contact information for staff overseeing exams.
16. Examination Invigilators Report: A report form for invigilators to document examination conduct and incidents.
17. Examination Script Front Sheet: A cover sheet for examination scripts, detailing candidate and examination information.
18. Written Feedback Policy: Outlines the policy for providing written feedback on assessments to students.
19. Assessment Brief Template Level 6: A template for creating assessment briefs for Level 6 qualifications.
20. Internal Assessment Approval Form: A form used for the internal approval of assessments.
21. Word Count Policy – Undergraduate: Details the word count policy for undergraduate assessments.
22. Word Count Policy – Postgraduate: Specifies the word count policy for postgraduate assessments.
23. Dissertations Marking Guidelines: Provides guidelines for marking dissertations, ensuring consistency and fairness.

SIMI Swiss Quality Assurance Systems are comprehensively designed to enhance the higher education experience by providing an extensive range of resources and support services tailored to assist student learning. Recognizing the critical role of both physical and human resources in supporting a diverse student body, SIMI Swiss ensures that its libraries, study facilities, IT infrastructure, tutors, counsellors, and advisors are of the highest quality and easily accessible to all students, including mature, part-time, employed, international students, and those with disabilities.

In alignment with the shift towards student-centred learning and the need for flexible learning modes, SIMI Swiss has adapted its resource allocation, planning, and delivery to meet the evolving needs of its student population. This approach facilitates not only the mobility of students within and across higher education systems but also supports their academic and personal development in a variety of learning environments.

SIMI Swiss organizes its support activities and facilities in a way that best suits its institutional context, while internal quality assurance measures ensure that all resources are fit for purpose, accessible, and well-communicated to students. The institution places a high emphasis on the availability and quality of these services, recognizing that informed students are better equipped to take full advantage of the support offered.

Moreover, the role of support and administrative staff is considered paramount in delivering these services effectively. SIMI Swiss is committed to ensuring that these individuals are not only qualified but also have ample opportunities for professional development, enabling them to enhance their competences and better support the student community.

Through these strategic efforts, SIMI Swiss demonstrates its commitment to providing a supportive and enriching educational environment. This holistic approach to quality assurance in learning resources and student support services underscores SIMI Swiss’s dedication to excellence in higher education, ensuring that all students have the necessary tools and support to succeed academically and personally.

STANDARD:

Institutions should publish information about their activities, including programmes, which is clear, accurate, objective, up-to date and readily accessible.

MAPPING STANDARD WITH QUALITY ASSURANCE SYSTEMS OF SIMI SWISS:

1. The “QA INFO1 – Marketing and publicity approval guidelines” document outlines the procedures and expectations for creating marketing and publicity materials at the Swiss Institute of Management & Innovation. It ensures that all materials accurately represent the institute’s brand and offerings, are clear, current, and reflect the learning opportunities accurately. The guidelines cover various types of materials, including prospectuses, websites, and social media content, and detail the approval process to ensure compliance with these standards.
2. The “QA INFO2 – Procedure for the Production, Publication, and Amendment of Student Handbooks” document details the process for creating, updating, and maintaining student handbooks at the Swiss Institute of Management & Innovation. It emphasizes the importance of keeping handbooks accurate and up-to-date, outlining the roles of the Quality Manager, Quality Co-ordinator(s), and the CEO cum Quality Manager in the update, approval, and publication processes. This procedure ensures that student handbooks reflect current policies, regulations, and program information, facilitating clear communication and guidance for students.
3. The “QA INFO3 – Programme Specification Form” document is a comprehensive template for outlining the academic and operational details of a new or existing program. It includes sections for qualification objectives, quality standards, regulatory information, structure, entry requirements, and assessment methods. This form ensures that all programs are designed with clear objectives, meet regulatory and quality standards, and provide detailed information on delivery, assessment, and outcomes, facilitating a structured approach to program development and review.
4. “QA INFO4 – Procedure for the Production, Approval, and Maintenance of Hybrid Module Learning Material” outlines the standards and processes for creating online learning materials at SIMI. It emphasizes content appropriateness, engagement, and compliance with educational standards and house style. The document details collaboration between writers, module leaders, and reviewers to ensure content meets academic requirements and enhances student learning. It also addresses the revision process, ensuring materials remain current and effective over time.

SIMI Swiss Quality Assurance Systems are meticulously crafted to ensure that transparency and easy access to information about our institution’s activities are a top priority. This is vital for not only prospective and current students but also for graduates, other stakeholders, and the general public. Recognizing the importance of keeping everyone well-informed, SIMI Swiss is dedicated to providing detailed and clear information across a broad spectrum.

Our commitment includes sharing comprehensive details on:

• Our Programs: We offer in-depth information about the range of programs available, giving students a clear understanding of what they can expect from their education with us.
• Admission Criteria: We’re transparent about our selection process, making sure prospective students know exactly what we’re looking for.
• What You’ll Learn: We outline the intended learning outcomes for each program, so students have a clear idea of the knowledge and skills they’ll gain.
• Degrees Offered: We provide specifics on the qualifications students will earn, underscoring the academic and professional value of their studies.
• How We Teach and Assess: Insight into our teaching and assessment methods is shared, so students know how they will learn and be evaluated.
• Success Rates: We’re open about our pass rates, offering an honest look at student success and program effectiveness.
• Extra Learning Opportunities: Details about extracurricular activities, internships, and study abroad programs are readily available, showcasing ways to enrich the student experience.
• Career Outcomes for Graduates: We share employment data for our alumni, giving both prospective and current students valuable insights into their future career prospects.

By making sure this information is easily accessible, SIMI Swiss not only meets our quality assurance goals but also promotes a culture of openness and trust. This strategy empowers students and stakeholders, enabling them to make informed decisions about their education and future careers, and solidifies the trust and credibility in the educational experiences and outcomes offered by SIMI Swiss.

STANDARD:

Institutions should monitor and periodically review their programmes to ensure that they achieve the objectives set for them and respond to the needs of students and society. These reviews should lead to continuous improvement of the programme. Any action planned or taken as a result should be communicated to all those concerned.

MAPPING STANDARD WITH QUALITY ASSURANCE SYSTEM OF SIMI SWISS

The Learning and Teaching Committee (LTC) Documents encompass a set of guidelines, policies, and procedures established by the Swiss School of Management & Innovation (SIMI) to ensure the quality and effectiveness of learning and teaching practices within the institution. These documents are designed to provide clear direction, standards, and support for faculty, staff, and administrators involved in delivering academic programs and supporting student learning experiences. The LTC Documents cover a wide range of areas related to curriculum development, assessment practices, student support, and quality assurance, aiming to uphold academic standards, promote innovation, and foster continuous improvement in teaching and learning. Key aspects addressed in these documents include:

1. Curriculum Development: Guidelines and procedures for designing, reviewing, and updating academic programs and courses to ensure alignment with educational objectives, industry standards, and regulatory requirements.
2. Assessment Practices: Policies and protocols for assessing student learning outcomes, including guidelines for designing assessments, ensuring fairness and reliability, and providing feedback to students to support their academic progress.
3. Student Support: Resources and procedures for providing comprehensive support services to students, including academic advising, counseling, accessibility services, and support for student well-being and success.
4. Quality Assurance: Mechanisms for monitoring, evaluating, and improving the quality of teaching and learning activities, including processes for internal and external review, accreditation, and continuous enhancement of academic programs.
5. Professional Development: Opportunities and requirements for faculty and staff to engage in ongoing professional development activities to enhance their teaching skills, stay current with educational trends, and contribute to institutional goals.

SIMI Swiss Quality Assurance Systems are fully aligned with the principle that ongoing monitoring, review, and revision of study programs are crucial to maintaining their relevance and to fostering a supportive and effective learning environment for our students. Our commitment to excellence involves a comprehensive evaluation process that addresses several key areas:

• Cutting-edge Content: We ensure our programs remain current by regularly updating their content based on the latest research in the discipline. This keeps our curriculum at the forefront of academic and professional fields.
• Societal Needs: Our courses are responsive to the evolving needs of society, preparing students to meet the challenges and opportunities of the changing world.
• Student Workload and Success: We closely monitor student workload, progression, and completion rates to ensure that our programs are manageable and effective in facilitating student success.
• Assessment Effectiveness: The procedures we use to assess student performance are continually evaluated for their effectiveness, ensuring fair and meaningful evaluation of student learning.
• Meeting Student Expectations: Feedback on student expectations, needs, and satisfaction is actively sought and used to inform program improvements, guaranteeing that our courses meet or exceed what our students hope to achieve.
• Learning Environment and Support Services: The fitness for purpose of our learning environment and support services is regularly assessed, ensuring they effectively contribute to the academic and personal development of our students.

In our pursuit of maintaining the highest standards, programs are not only reviewed and revised on a regular basis but also involve the active participation of students and other stakeholders in the process. This inclusive approach ensures that our programs remain dynamic, relevant, and closely aligned with both academic advancements and market demands. The insights gained from these evaluations are carefully analyzed, leading to informed adaptations that keep our offerings up-to-date. Furthermore, any changes to program specifications are promptly published, ensuring transparency and accessibility for all current and prospective members of the SIMI Swiss community.

Through these rigorous quality assurance practices, SIMI Swiss demonstrates its unwavering dedication to creating an educational environment that is both challenging and supportive, ensuring our students are well-prepared to excel in their future endeavors.

STANDARD:

Institutions should undergo external quality assurance in line with the ESG on a cyclical basis.

MAPPING STANDARD WITH QUALITY ASSURANCE SYSTEM OF SIMI SWISS

The overall intent of the Continuous Improvement Forms (CIF) documents is to provide a structured framework for initiating, documenting, and tracking various aspects of quality assurance and continuous improvement processes within the Swiss Institute of Management and Innovation (SIMI). These documents collectively facilitate the planning, implementation, and review of actions aimed at enhancing the quality of educational programs, courses, and institutional practices. Each form is tailored to address specific areas such as action planning, course proposals, feedback collection, course amendments, course closures, internal assessment approvals, validation planning, external examiner reporting, and admissions auditing. This comprehensive suite of documents ensures systematic engagement with continuous improvement activities, aiming to uphold and enhance the academic standards and student learning experience at SIMI.

1. The “CIF1 Action Plan Form” is designed for documenting actions in response to corrective action requests within the Swiss Institute of Management and Innovation. It helps track progress and plan new actions needed to address specific issues or implement improvements. The form facilitates accountability and systematic improvement efforts by detailing ongoing and planned actions, responsible parties, and deadlines.
2. The “CIF2 New Course Proposal” document is designed for faculty or department members to propose new courses at SIMI. It requires detailed information, including the rationale for the new course, title, mode of delivery, partnering bodies, and the date of first intake. Additionally, proposers must provide a market analysis to justify demand, potential risks, impact on resources, proposed course structure, and financial analysis. This template ensures that new course proposals are comprehensive and aligned with SIMI’s strategic goals and market needs.
3. The “CIF3 Module Feedback Questionnaire” is a tool for gathering student feedback on various aspects of a module, including content, teaching and learning, support, assessment, and overall satisfaction. It aims to identify areas of strength and opportunities for improvement by asking students to rate their experiences on a scale from strongly agree to strongly disagree. This feedback is crucial for module teams to consider what aspects of the module worked well and which might be improved, ensuring a responsive and student-centered approach to teaching and learning enhancement.
4. The “CIF4 Course Amendment Form” is used for proposing major modifications to any existing course. It collects comprehensive details about the proposed changes, including changes to the course title, summary of changes, modifications in delivery or pedagogy, impact on awarding body partnerships, and the first intake affected by the changes. Additionally, it requires a rationale for the changes, analysis of potential risks, impact on current students, transitional arrangements, resource implications, and a financial analysis. This ensures thorough consideration and documentation of significant course amendments.
5. The “CIF5 Course Closure Form” is designed for documenting and proposing the closure of a course. It requires detailed information including the proposer’s name, course and award title, reason for closure, date of closure, potential risks, impact on existing students, exit arrangements for current students, any associated module deletions, and a financial analysis. This form ensures that all factors are considered and documented in the decision-making process for closing a course.
6. The “CIF6 Internal Assessment Approval Form” is a checklist designed to ensure that internal assessments meet specific quality criteria before being administered to students. It includes items like ensuring the assessment addresses all learning outcomes, provides clear guidance on completion, states the deadline clearly, has clear questions and criteria, offers guidance on word count and referencing, and checks for grammar and punctuation. This form is essential for maintaining the integrity and quality of assessments.
7. The “CIF7 Validation Planning Form” is designed to facilitate the planning and documentation required for the validation or re-approval of academic programs. It collects key program information, including details about the program leader, target award, program title, level, program code for re-approvals, and information regarding external body awards or accreditations. The form ensures that all necessary steps and considerations are documented for a thorough validation process, including external panel nominations, employer engagement, and adherence to academic regulations.
8. The “CIF8 External Examiner Quarterly Report Form” is designed for external examiners to report on the academic standards, assessment, marking and assessment procedures, and student achievement within the programs they oversee. It provides a structured format for examiners to express their level of agreement with statements related to these areas and to offer detailed comments. This ensures a comprehensive external perspective on the quality of education, assessment integrity, and the comparability of standards and student achievement within SIMI’s offerings.
9. The “CIF9 Admissions Audit Template” is designed for conducting audits of the admissions process, ensuring compliance with academic standards and policies. It captures detailed information on student admissions, including standard and non-standard entries, advisor details, and the basis for admission. The template also includes a section for feedback and an action plan, which allows for the documentation of key findings, identification of significant issues, recommendations for enhancement, and specific actions needed to address any concerns. This form is crucial for maintaining the integrity and quality of the admissions process.

SIMI Swiss Quality Assurance Systems are strategically designed to embrace the role of external quality assurance as a pivotal element in validating the effectiveness of our internal quality measures, driving continuous improvement, and introducing fresh perspectives to our institution. This approach not only reinforces our commitment to maintaining high standards but also provides a clear assurance to both the institution and the public about the quality of our activities.

We actively engage in cyclical external quality assurance processes that are mindful of the legislative framework governing our operations. Recognizing that these frameworks can vary, our participation in external quality assurance is adaptable, ensuring that it is relevant and appropriately targeted, whether at the program, faculty, or institutional level. This flexible approach allows us to address specific areas of focus effectively, enhancing our overall quality assurance strategy.

Quality assurance at SIMI Swiss is seen as an ongoing journey rather than a destination. The feedback and insights gained from external quality assurance activities are integral to our continuous improvement cycle. We are committed to not only implementing the recommendations from these external evaluations but also to monitoring and documenting the progress made since the last review. This ensures that when preparing for subsequent external quality assurance engagements, we are fully aware of our advancements and areas for further enhancement.

By integrating these principles into our quality assurance framework, SIMI Swiss ensures that our educational offerings remain at the forefront of academic excellence, meeting the evolving needs of our students and the wider community. Our dedication to a proactive and responsive quality assurance process underscores our commitment to excellence, innovation, and accountability in higher education.

1.1 The higher education institution or other institution within the higher education sector shall define its quality assurance strategy. This strategy shall contain the essential elements of an internal quality assurance system aimed at ensuring the quality of theactivities of the higher education institution or other institution within the higher education sector and their long-term qualitydevelopment as well as promoting the development of a quality culture.

1.2 The quality assurance system shall be incorporated into the strategy of the higher education institution or other institutionwithin the higher education sector and efficiently support its development. It includes processes verifying whether the higher education institution or other institution within the higher education sector fulfils its mandate while taking account of its type andspecific characteristics.

1.3 At all levels, all representative groups of the higher education institution or other institution within the higher education sector shall be involved in developing the quality assurance system and in its implementation, in particular students, mid-level faculty staff, professors and administrative and technical staff. Quality assurance responsibilities must be transparently and clearlyassigned.

1.4 The higher education institution or other institution within the higher education sector shall periodically analyse the relevance of its quality assurance system and make the necessary adjustments.

2.1 The quality assurance system shall ensure that the organisational structure and decision-making processes enable the highereducation institution or other institution within the higher education sector to fulfil its mission and to achieve its strategic objectives.

2.2 The quality assurance system shall systematically contribute to providing relevant and current quantitative and qualitative information, on which the higher education institution or other institution within the higher education sector relies to make currentand strategic decisions.

2.3 The quality assurance system shall ensure that the representative groups of the higher education institution or other institution within the higher education sector have an appropriate participatory right and that basic conditions are in place allow- ing them to independently operate.

2.4 The higher education institution or other institution within the higher education sector shall give consideration to aneconomically, socially and environmentally sus- tainable development in the completion of its tasks. The quality assurance systemshall ensure that the higher education institution or other institution within the higher education sector sets objectives in this areaand also implements them.

2.5 To carry out its tasks, the higher education institution or other institution within the higher education sector shall promote equal opportunities and actual gender equality for its staff and students. The quality assurance system shall ensure that the higher education institution or other institution within the higher education sector sets objectives in this area and also implements them.

3.1 The activities of the higher education institution or other institution within the higher education sector shall correspond to its type, specific features and strategic objectives. They shall mainly relate to teaching, research and services and be carried out in accordance with the principle of freedom and independence within the limits of the mandate of the higher education institution orother institution within the higher education sector.

3.2 The quality assurance system shall provide for a periodic evaluation of teaching and research activities, of services and ofresults achieved in these areas.

3.3 The quality assurance system shall ensure that principles and objectives linked to the European Higher Education Area are takeninto consideration.

3.4 The quality assurance system shall ensure compliance with the criteria for admission, for the assessment of the studentperformance and for issuing final diplo- mas according to the mission of the higher education institution or other institution within the higher education sector. These criteria shall be defined, communicated and applied systematically, transparently andconsistently.

4.1 With its competent authorities, the higher education institution or other institution within the higher education sector shall assure that its personnel resources, infra- structure and financial means allow for operating on a going concern basis and for achieving its strategic objectives. The origin and allocation of financial resources and financing conditions shall be transparent.

4.2 The quality assurance system shall ensure that the entire staff is qualified according to the type and specific characteristicsof the higher education institu- tion or other institution within the higher education sector. To this end, it shall also provided for itsperiodic assessment.

4.3 The quality assurance system shall ensure that the higher education institution or other institution within the higher education sector supports the career development of its entire staff, particularly the new generation of scientists.

5.1 The higher education institution or other institution within the higher education sector shall make public its quality assurancestrategy and ensure that the provisions corresponding to quality assurance processes and their results are known to employees,students and if necessary external stakeholders.

5.2 The higher education institution or other institution within the higher education sector shall regularly publish objective information about its activities, its study programmes and the qualifications awarded.