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University of Baltistan

SKARDU

Quality Enhancement Cell

Ensuring academic excellence and continuous improvement at the University of Baltistan, Skardu

About QEC

Introduction

The Directorate of Quality Enhancement Cell (QEC) at the University of Baltistan, Skardu (UoBS), serves as the central regulatory body dedicated to maintaining and elevating the standards of higher education. Established under the guidelines of the Higher Education Commission (HEC) Pakistan, the Directorate's core mandate is to implement a robust quality assurance framework that aligns with the National Qualification Framework (NQF). It functions as a bridge between the university's academic activities and national quality benchmarks, ensuring that every degree program meets the highest rigorous standards.

The Directorate is committed to fostering a culture of academic integrity and continuous improvement. It actively oversees the evaluation of teaching and research through systematic feedback from students, alumni, and stakeholders. A key priority of the QEC is the capacity building of faculty and staff; it regularly organizes workshops on pedagogical skills, fair assessment techniques, and the preparation of Self-Assessment Reports (SARs) for various departments.

By prioritizing transparency and efficiency, the QEC ensures that UoBS provides a competitive learning environment. Our mission remains focused on creating a synergy between curriculum development, innovative research, and student-centered learning, ultimately transforming the university into a premier institution of global academic excellence.

Prof. Dr. Abdul Matin

Prof. Dr. Abdul Matin

Director QEC

"Quality is the continuous pursuit of excellence through academic integrity, innovative teaching, and robust evaluation, ensuring our graduates meet global standards while fostering an environment of constant improvement."

director.qec@uobs.edu.pk

Our Framework

Mission, Vision & Objectives

Mission

The Directorate of Quality Enhancement Cell is committed to fostering a culture of academic excellence at the University of Baltistan, Skardu, by implementing robust quality assurance frameworks aligned with HEC standards. We strive to enhance teaching, research, and institutional efficiency through continuous monitoring, systematic feedback, and capacity building, ensuring our graduates and academic programs meet the highest national and international benchmarks of success.

Vision

To transform the University of Baltistan, Skardu, into a premier seat of learning recognized for global academic excellence. We envision a future where a self-sustaining culture of quality, innovation, and integrity permeates every aspect of the university, ensuring our graduates are internationally competitive and our institutional standards serve as a benchmark for higher education in the region and beyond.

Objectives

  • Implement HEC quality frameworks
  • Monitor academic program standards
  • Enhance faculty teaching skills
  • Collect systematic stakeholder feedback
  • Prepare departmental assessment reports

QEC Staff Directory

Quality Enhancement Cell Team Members

Sr. No. Name Designation Role & Responsibilities Contact
1
Prof. Dr. Abdul Matin
Director QEC
Overall quality assurance strategy and implementation
director.qec@uobs.edu.pk
2
Dr. Attarad Ali
Additional Director
Program Evaluation & Review
additional.director.qec@uobs.edu.pk

QEC Office Hours: Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Location: Administrative Block, Groumd Floor, University of Baltistan, Skardu

HEC-Reported QEC Progress

Previous Directors

QEC progress percentage achieved through the submission of Yearly Progress Reports (YPRs) to the Higher Education Commission (HEC) during the tenure of former Directors

S. No Name of Directors Tenure Yearly Progress - HEC
1 Ms. Haseen Bano 2018-19 25.32%
2 Dr. Haji Karim Khan 2019-20 25.32%
3 Dr. Mir Alam Aug,2020-Feb,2022 26.37%
4 Prof. Dr. Abdul Matin Feb,2022-Jan,2024 29.74%
5 Dr. Attarad Ali (Add. Director QEC) Jan,2024-Oct,2025 58.14%
6 Dr. Muhammad Issa Oct,2025-Dec,2025 N/A (Short Tenure)
7 Dr. Muhammad Riaz Jan,2026-Aug,2026 N/A (To be submitted)
8 Prof. Dr. Abdul Matin Aug,2026-Present N/A (To be submitted)

Key Achievement

Upon joining the University of Baltistan, Skardu, as Additional Director QEC on February 07, 2022, Dr. Attarad Ali did not receive any official QEC records or documentation despite repeated requests to the former Director QEC and relevant offices. In the absence of institutional handover, he independently initiated the establishment of the QEC in its true spirit by developing a comprehensive documentation system and operational framework. Through sustained diligence and commitment, he led the institutional transition toward PSG-2023, coordinated departments to fulfil the requirements of the respective accreditation councils, ensured the implementation of HEC policies and procedures, convened five (05) IQC meetings chaired by the VC, formulated more than 25 institutional policies through the IQC, developed institutional and academic strategic plans, designed KPIs for administrative and academic directorates and heads, and successfully conducted the first Self-RIPE of UoBS, including the Corrective Action Plan, in line with the HEC Revamped QA Framework.

Documentation

Reports & Minutes

Comprehensive documentation of quality assurance activities

Minutes of Meetings

The QEC has systematically documented minutes of all statutory, academic, and quality-related meetings

Institutional Quality Circle (IQC) Meetings

  • Multiple IQC meetings chaired by the Honorable Vice Chancellor, including the 1st, 3rd, 4th, and 5th IQC meetings
  • Approval of QEC Strategic Plan Vision 2030
  • Approval of KPIs for the Directorate of QEC
  • Endorsement of institutional policies formulated through IQC
  • Review of QEC progress under PSG-2023 implementation
  • Deliberations on Self-RIPE, IPR, CAP, SCALE, and LSR frameworks

Affiliation Committee Meetings

  • Meetings for provisional and permanent affiliation of new colleges
  • Review of inspection and re-evaluation reports of affiliated colleges
  • Agenda finalization and submission to statutory bodies
  • Compliance review against HEC Affiliation Policy 2024
  • Decisions regarding upgrading and expansion of affiliated colleges

Departmental Tenure Review Committee (DTRC) Meetings

  • Mid-probationary and final term evaluations of TTS faculty
  • Review of SAR dossiers and foreign evaluation reports
  • Recommendations for tenure, promotion, and performance improvement

Strategic and Review Meetings

  • Meetings on Institutional Performance Report (IPR) development
  • Monthly and weekly QEC progress review meetings
  • Meetings with academic and administrative heads on KPIs, SARs, PERs, and quality benchmarks
  • Review meetings related to rankings submissions (THE, WURI, UI GreenMetric, QS)

Training and Coordination Meetings

  • Meetings with QEC Focal Persons of departments and affiliated colleges
  • Coordination meetings with accreditation councils
  • Meetings with HEC teams, World Bank consultants, and PERU-HEDP representatives

Annual & Evaluation Reports

Extensive portfolio of annual, institutional, programmatic, and compliance reports

Annual Progress & Institutional Reports

  • Yearly Progress Reports (YPRs) submitted to HEC (including YPR 2023–24 and 2024–25)
  • Significant improvement in YPR performance scores as acknowledged by HEC
  • Institutional Performance Reports (IPR) developed under Self-RIPE
  • Compliance Action Plans (CAP) addressing identified gaps

Self-Assessment & Program Evaluation Reports

  • 100% completion of Program Self-Assessment Reports (SARs) under PREE standards
  • Self-Graduate Program Reviews (Self-GPR) for undergraduate and graduate programs
  • Internal Program Evaluation (IPE) reports
  • Departmental and affiliated college SAR evaluation reports

Faculty Evaluation & Performance Reports

  • Annual SARs of TTS faculty members
  • Performance Evaluation Reports (PERs) for permanent and contractual faculty
  • Mid-probationary and final term evaluation reports for TTS faculty
  • Teacher ranking and merit list reports for Best Teacher and Best Researcher Awards

Accreditation & Compliance Reports

  • Program accreditation reports submitted to relevant accreditation councils
  • Zero-visit and follow-up inspection reports
  • HEC compliance and standards reports
  • Edu-Stat portal data submissions for affiliated colleges

Ranking & External Reporting

  • Data submissions and validation reports for THE, WURI, UI GreenMetric, and QS (Reporter Status)
  • WURI 2025 innovation ranking submissions based on large institutional datasets
  • THE Asia and Impact Ranking documentation

Inspection & Monitoring Reports

  • Biannual inspection and re-evaluation reports of affiliated colleges
  • Examination monitoring reports (mid-term and final-term)
  • Classroom monitoring and surprise visit reports
Capacity Building

Training, Workshops & Meetings

Professional development and knowledge sharing activities

Workshops Organized by QEC

The QEC has played a pivotal role in planning, organizing, and delivering a wide range of training programs and workshops

Quality Assurance & PSG-2023 Workshops

  • Training on HEC's PSG-2023 Revamped QA Framework
  • Workshops on PREE standards and SAR development
  • Orientation sessions on Self-RIPE, IPR, and CAP preparation

Faculty Capacity Building

  • Multi-day faculty development programs funded by PERU-HEDP-HEC
  • Workshops on curriculum alignment with HEC Undergraduate Education Policy 2023
  • Training on assessment, grading, question paper development, and teaching strategies
  • Webinar on Turnitin functions and practice

Affiliated Colleges Training

  • Dedicated SAR and CPR training for affiliated colleges
  • Capacity building sessions for QECACs and focal persons
  • Awareness sessions for faculty and students of affiliated colleges on QA practices

Performance & Evaluation Workshops

  • Training on PERs, teacher ranking rubrics, and merit evaluation
  • Sessions on tenure track evaluation procedures and documentation

Specialized Training & Seminars

  • Workshops on plagiarism prevention and research ethics
  • Training on LSAT implementation and data handling
  • Seminars on student psychology, learning challenges, and career development

Events Attended

QEC leadership actively represented UoBS at national and international QA forums

HEC-Led Events

  • PSG-2023 progress review meetings
  • RIPE and institutional evaluation training sessions
  • Capacity building programs for QECs and QECACs

National & Regional Workshops

  • QA workshops organized by leading Pakistani universities
  • Regional quality enhancement and accreditation sessions

International Engagements

  • Online and hybrid international QA summits
  • Ranking-related webinars and validation meetings (THE, UI GreenMetric, WURI)