The Design Studies Institute (DSI) is committed to maintaining the highest standards of academic excellence and continuous improvement across all its programs and operations.
Quality assurance at DSI is a shared responsibility. Faculty deliver quality instruction and refine methods, students provide feedback, staff enhance support services, leadership fosters a quality culture, and external stakeholders offer industry insights. This collective approach integrates excellence into daily activities, ensuring comprehensive quality assurance at DSI.
This Quality Assurance Policy outlines the comprehensive approach DSI takes to ensure the quality and relevance of its academic offerings. The policy encompasses three main areas: cyclical review of study programs, systematic institutional surveying, and curriculum proposal review and approval. This policy applies to all DSI study programs, including degree and certificate programs, as well as to all faculty, staff, and students involved in these processes.
Curriculum Proposal Review
The curriculum proposal review process ensures that all program components are reviewed by appropriate parties and considered in a timely manner. This procedure applies to all curriculum changes and approvals for both graduate and certificate programs at DSI. It is based on principles of collegiality and recognition for disciplinary expertise.
The approval process varies depending on the type of curriculum change being proposed. The DSI community should consult and follow the internal “Procedure for Curriculum Proposal Review” in conforming to this quality assurance practice.
Systematic Institutional Surveying
To ensure continuous improvement and uphold academic excellence, DSI is committed to systematically gathering feedback from students, faculty, and alumni. This process involves administering surveys at key intervals to capture valuable insights from the DSI community.
The DSI community should consult and follow the internal “Procedure for Systematic Institutional Surveying” in conforming to this quality assurance practice.
Cyclical Review of Study Programs
The purpose of DSI study program reviews is to ensure students receive the highest possible quality of academic programming. These reviews are essential for maintaining academic excellence, relevance, and continuous improvement in all DSI programs. The cyclical review process assesses a comprehensive range of program elements, including previous review results and responses, program objectives and learning outcomes, program design (curriculum, delivery methods, and assessment practices), student support services, faculty and staff profiles and development, resources , student and graduate outcomes, academic administrative supports, program viability, and strategic alignment with DSI's mandate and goals.
The DSI community should consult and follow the internal “Procedure for the Cyclical Review of Study Program” in conforming to this quality assurance practice.
