Higher Polytechnic School of Engineering

Central Campus and Santa Cruz

Quality Assurance System

Nautical, Machinery and Naval Radioelectronics Section

Presentation

The ETS of Nautical Studies, Machinery and Naval Radioelectronics has obtained a positive assessment of the design of the Center's SGIC (March 2010), according to the final report of the National Agency for Quality Assessment and Accreditation (AUDIT Program).

From 2004 to the present, the School has had an Internal Quality Assurance System (SGIC) in its training process, adopting the model presented by the Quality Assessment and Improvement Unit of the ULL, which is also valid as an External Quality system, required by the Directorate General of the Merchant Marine for the approval of the School in the delivery of various professional courses essential in the training of Graduate in Marine Technologies, Nautical and Maritime Transport and Naval Radioelectronic Engineering, with professional qualifications as future Merchant Marine Officers.

Between 2004 and 2007, the External Quality System was managed by Bureau Veritas; subsequently, from 2007 onwards, the Diploma qualification was replaced by the title of Graduate, It enters the Institutional Evaluation Program, following the criteria and guidelines proposed by the National Agency for Quality Assessment and Accreditation (ANECA), whose report is accepted by the DGMM as an external evaluation system.

The basic document of the SGIC to be implemented in the School of Nautical Studies, Machinery and Naval Radioelectronics, now the Section of Nautical Studies, Machinery and Naval Radioelectronics, is the Quality Manual (QM)It defines the general characteristics of the system, the requirements it addresses, its scope, and references to the generic documentation it is based on or to the procedures that develop it.

The SGIC documentation is completed with a Procedures Manual (PM) composed of a series of documents that are continually referenced in the MC and the list of indicators that will allow the measurement of the results of the Section's activity.

The Quality System for this degree has been developed and implemented according to:

  • Statutes of the University of La Laguna
  • Order FOM/1415/2003
  • Order FOM 2296/2002
  • International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978, as amended in 1995 of the International Maritime Organization (IMO)
  • Spanish internal regulations of the Directorate General of the Merchant Marine (DGMM).

With the new structure of the Centers at the ULL, it was deemed necessary to restructure the quality assurance system, adapting it to the School's new characteristics and the challenges it presents. Since every quality assurance system involves a process of analysis, evaluation, and reflection to ensure the quality of the center and the degrees it offers, it has not been possible to establish a single system. Therefore, the School will maintain the various internal quality assurance systems of its Sections until a unified system is finalized.

Those responsible

The Internal Quality Assurance System (IQAS) is structured at both the institutional and school levels. The responsibility structure for each level is outlined below.

Organizational structure of the SGIC at the institutional level

Quality Council
The Quality Council of the University of La Laguna is the body responsible for proposing, promoting, coordinating, evaluating, and updating the assessment and training processes necessary to guarantee the optimal development of teaching, research, and administrative and service activities leading to the achievement of its objectives. The Quality Council will be composed of 20 members representing the various institutional units with jurisdiction over quality matters. In carrying out its functions, it will be assisted by the Quality Assessment and Improvement Unit of the University of La Laguna. Among the functions assigned to this Council are:

  • Gather reports, promote collaboration among experts, institutions and entities in improving the University Quality System.
  • Approve the planning and implementation of the processes of institutional evaluation, accreditation and verification of degrees.
  • To propose to the Governing Council the University Quality Improvement Programs derived from the Institutional evaluation reports.
  • To guarantee the coordination of university bodies responsible for quality assessment.

Vice-Rectorate for Faculty and Teaching Quality
It is responsible for supporting the implementation and development of Quality Assurance Systems for its degree programs, facilitating their accreditation process. The support of the Rector's Team at the University of La Laguna is provided through the Quality Council, which in turn relies on the Quality Assessment and Improvement Unit..

Organizational structure of the SGIC at the level of the ETS of Nautical, Machinery and Naval Radioelectronics

Management Team
The School's Management Team is responsible for adopting the School's quality policy and objectives and supporting the Director in decisions affecting the Quality System. It comprises the Administrator, responsible for managing the administrative procedures of the Quality Assurance System; the Deputy Director of Academic Affairs, who chairs the Academic Affairs Committee, responsible for coordinating and proposing the planning of the School's teaching activities; the Deputy Director of the Diploma and Bachelor's Degree Programs in Naval Engineering, responsible for the teaching and research coordination of these programs, who also coordinates the role of the student tutor for the Bachelor's Degree; and finally, in addition to the Quality Coordinator, the President of the Student Delegation, responsible for channeling proposals from students enrolled in any subject at the School.

Quality Coordinator
In addition to the tasks related to the design, implementation, maintenance, and improvement of the Internal Quality Assurance System in direct collaboration with the Director, the Quality Manager is also responsible for coordinating the professional training activities required for professional qualifications (STCW code), so that the corresponding graduate can practice their profession anywhere in the world. Therefore, the Quality Manager's responsibilities include, among others:

  • Coordinate the establishment, implementation and maintenance of the processes necessary for the development of the Internal Quality Assurance System.
  • Coordination between departments on quality matters
  • Inform the School Management Team of the improvement plan process, the handling of Non-Conformities and the follow-up of the proposed preventive and/or corrective actions and keep a record of it, as established in the Institutional Evaluation Process.
  • Verification of compliance with the competence requirements, knowledge and skills required by the STCW Convention and Spanish internal regulations, for each course and subject.

Quality Commission
The Quality Committee will be composed of a representative from the Academic Planning Committee, a representative from the Standing Committee, the Quality Coordinator, and chaired by the School Director. This body is responsible for the planning and monitoring of the Quality System. In addition, it will include the Secretary, the Administrator, the Deputy Director of Academic Planning, the three Deputy Directors of each of the three degree programs offered at the School, representatives from the Departments that teach at the School, and student representatives. Up to two members external to the University may also be included if their expertise in the subject matter of the Center's degree programs is deemed necessary for the optimal achievement of the School's objectives, as outlined in the Quality Management System. The Quality Committee's functions include, among others...

  • Design the Internal Quality Assurance System.
  • Coordinate the projects for modifying the Quality Organizational Chart.
  • Coordinate the general policy and objectives of the School's Quality System and disseminate the quality policy.
  • Develop improvement plans and review training programs.
  • To control the execution of corrective and/or preventive actions to be carried out motivated by the suggestions, complaints and claims of the School community.

Title Coordination Committee
The main function of this Commission is to coordinate and facilitate the implementation of the teaching and learning process for the Degree program, and to ensure that it is carried out according to the plan defined throughout the course. It will be chaired by the Deputy Director of the Degree program. Graduate, The School Director, the Administrator, the Deputy Director of Academic Affairs, and the professors of the degree program for each semester will be ex officio members. The Committee meets at least once a month and whenever requested by any interested party within the School community: Teaching and Research Staff (PDI), Administrative and Service Staff (PAS), and Students.

Center Quality Policies and Objectives

Policy and objectives of the Quality Assurance System of the Higher Technical School of Nautical Studies, Machinery and Naval Radioelectronics.

The procedure for achieving the objectives of the Quality System of the Degree Graduate in Marine Technologies, Nautical and Maritime Transport and Naval Radioelectronic Engineering It is subject to the quality policy implemented at the School. The flowchart of the Quality Assurance System Policy and Objectives is shown in Appendix 9.

The Management Team of the ETS of Nautical Studies, Marine Engineering and Naval Radioelectronics, responsible for the proposed qualification of Graduate  It has established “continuous improvement of the training process” as a means to ensure compliance with all applicable legal and regulatory requirements.

To achieve this, a Quality System will be implemented according to the criteria defined in the Statutes of the University of La Laguna, Order FOM/1415/2003 and the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978, as amended in 1995. To achieve this, the following objectives have been set:

  • To know and understand the requirements and needs of interested parties (shipowners, shipping companies, students, etc.), as well as the legal and regulatory requirements applicable to the training activity.
  • To seek in all its actions and activities the continuous improvement of our training and competence assessment system and of the Quality System itself.
  • To know, understand and accept all the changes involved in implementing the Quality System.
  • To propose corrective and preventive actions, with the aim of continuing to improve, day by day, the School of Nautical Engineering, Marine Engineering and Naval Radioelectronics, as well as the professional performance of the staff assigned to it.

DEGREE IN MARINE ENGINEERING 116 Degree Quality Assurance System

The Management Team of the School of Nautical Studies, Marine Engineering and Naval Radioelectronics is committed to:

  • Lead the Quality System, comply with and enforce this quality policy, the provisions of the STCW Convention and applicable Spanish regulations.
  • Monitor the necessary resources and working environment conditions to achieve this quality policy.
  • Periodically review the functioning of the Quality System as well as the quality policy itself.
  • Invite all interested parties to actively participate in the Quality System to achieve the main objective of: “Offering high-value Marine Engineering training with the highest possible job placement in the international maritime field”.

Quality Manual

The Quality Manual is the basic document that serves as a reference and from which all the necessary actions emanate to ensure that the teachings provided by the School are in accordance with the guidelines that define them and satisfy the needs and expectations of the stakeholders.

The Quality Manual systematically outlines the scope of the Internal Quality Assurance System and, therefore, constitutes its documentary basis.

Quality Manual

Procedures

Reports and results

Student Satisfaction Results for Nautical Studies, Machinery and Naval Radioelectronics

Teacher Evaluation Results

Degree in Nautical Studies and Maritime Transport

TRENDS
Degree in Nautical Studies and Maritime Transport
Memory Data
Verification
Course
10-11
Course
11-12
Course
12-13
Course
13-14
Course
14-15
Graduation rate 38,1 41
Dropout rate 18,4 20,5 34,1 32,3 24,5
Efficiency rate 91 93,1 89,8
Rate of return 41,3 51,4 60,8 72,8 73,3
Title success rate 67,5 83,6 83,8 89,7 89,4
LEVEL OF SATISFACTION OF STAKEHOLDER GROUPS
Degree in Nautical Studies and Maritime Transport Course
12-13
Course
13-14
Course
14-15
Overall student satisfaction with the degree 3,18 2,89 2,92
Level of student satisfaction with the teaching staff 2,93 2,82 3,05
Level of student satisfaction with the resources 2,41 2,16 2,03
Level of teacher satisfaction with the degree 3,50 3,64
Graduate satisfaction level with the degree 3,50
Employer satisfaction level with the degree
EVOLUTION OF INDICATORS
Degree in Nautical Studies and Maritime Transport Course 10-11 Course 11-12   Course 12-13 Academic Year 13-14 Academic Year 2014-2015
New students 78 82 96 102 100
Average entry grade 6,117 6,557 6,279 6,513 6,537
Total number of enrolled students 78 82 96 102 100
Number of graduating students 26 46
Number of graduating students (excluding adapted students) 22 39
Average duration of studies 3,955 4,026

Bachelor's Degree in Marine Technologies

TRENDS
Bachelor's Degree in Marine Technologies
Memory Data
Verification
Course
10-11
Course
11-12
Course
12-13
Course
13-14
Course
14-15
Graduation rate 47,9 30
Dropout rate 37 23,3 28,1 26,2 25,7
Efficiency rate 80 98,8 90
Rate of return 39,6 46,4 61 66,9 66,8
Title success rate 75,7 74,7 86,5 86,1 86,6
LEVEL OF SATISFACTION OF STAKEHOLDER GROUPS
Bachelor's Degree in Marine Technologies Course
12-13
Course
13-14
Course
14-15
Overall student satisfaction with the degree 3,10 2,69 3,11
Level of student satisfaction with the teaching staff 2,85 2,67 3,06
Level of student satisfaction with the resources 2,52 2,02 2,24
Level of teacher satisfaction with the degree 3,43 3,60
Graduate satisfaction level with the degree 3,00 2,75
Employer satisfaction level with the degree
EVOLUTION OF INDICATORS
Bachelor's Degree in Marine Technologies Course 10-11 Course 11-12   Course 12-13 Academic Year 13-14 Academic Year 2014-2015
New students 30 64 65 74 63
Average entry grade 5,979 6,033 6,311 6,354 5,886
Total number of enrolled students 38 107 146 194 210
Number of graduating students 12 20
Number of graduating students (excluding adapted students) 6 16
Average duration of studies 4 3,812

Degree in Naval Radioelectronics Engineering

TRENDS
Degree in Naval Radioelectronics Engineering
Memory Data
Verification
Course
10-11
Course
11-12
Course
12-13
Course
13-14
Course
14-15
Graduation rate 47,8 0
Dropout rate 36,3 50 36,4 33,3 43,8
Efficiency rate 63,8 98,8
Rate of return 18,5 31,3 58,0 49,8 53,1
Title success rate 72,2 62,2 55,5 82,3 80,4 84,0
LEVEL OF SATISFACTION OF STAKEHOLDER GROUPS
Degree in Naval Radioelectronics Engineering Course
12-13
Course
13-14
Course
14-15
Overall student satisfaction with the degree 3,40 2,89 3,15
Level of student satisfaction with the teaching staff 3,20 2,33 2,85
Level of student satisfaction with the resources 3,30 2,83 2,38
Level of teacher satisfaction with the degree 3,25 4,30
Graduate satisfaction level with the degree 3,50
Employer satisfaction level with the degree 5,00
EVOLUTION OF INDICATORS
Degree in Naval Radioelectronics Engineering Course 10-11 Course 11-12   Course 12-13 Academic Year 13-14 Academic Year 2014-2015
New students 6 33 12 16 21
Average entry grade 6,284 6,021 6,272 6,043 6,022
Total number of enrolled students 8 40 40 39 43
Number of graduating students 2
Number of graduating students (excluding adapted students) 2
Average duration of studies 4