Office of Institutional Quality Assessment and Effectiveness (IQAE)

About

The office of Institutional Quality Assessment & Effectiveness (IQAE) at DAKSON Institute of Health Sciences (DIHS), Islamabad is established in compliance with the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) framework of Higher Education Commission (HEC), Pakistan and in alignment with Pakistan Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (PSG-2023). The IQAE at DIHS operates under the academic oversight of Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Medical University (SZABMU), Islamabad.

The IQAE is responsible for developing, implementing, monitoring, and continuously improving quality assurance processes at both institutional and program levels.

Message From Director

Dear Students, Parents, and Esteemed Members of the DAKSON Community,

It is my privilege to welcome you to the Office of Institutional Quality Assessment and Effectiveness (IQAE) at DAKSON Institute of Health Sciences, Islamabad. Quality is not a one-time achievement but a continuous journey, and at DIHS it lies at the very heart of everything we do.

Working under the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) framework of the Higher Education Commission (HEC), Pakistan, and the academic oversight of Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Medical University (SZABMU), our office ensures that every academic program at DIHS is designed, delivered, and evaluated against clearly defined learning outcomes and internationally benchmarked standards.

Through self-assessment, structured feedback from students, faculty, alumni, and employers, and a continuous cycle of review and improvement, we strive to make certain that the education our students receive remains relevant, outcomes-focused, and competitive — nationally and globally.

Quality assurance is a shared responsibility. I invite every member of the DAKSON community — students, faculty, and staff alike — to take ownership of this culture of excellence, transparency, and accountability, so that together we continue to raise the standard of healthcare education in Pakistan.

Dr. Naveed-Ul-Haq — Director IQAE, DIHS

Vision

To lead in delivering globally benchmarked, outcome-driven higher education by embedding excellence through HEC standards, fostering continuous quality improvement, and ensuring academic relevance and innovation through rigorous processes.

Mission

IQAE is committed to ensure a culture of academic excellence, evidence-based decision-making, and institutional effectiveness to ensure that teaching, learning, research, and support services meet the evolving needs of stakeholders. Through continuous review, capacity building, and collaborative engagement, we aim to ensure that all academic programs remain relevant, outcomes-focused, and internationally competitive.

Guiding Principles

• Uphold the highest standards of academic and institutional quality in alignment with HEC frameworks.
• Ensure all academic programs are designed, delivered, and evaluated based on clearly defined learning outcomes.
• Promote a continuous cycle of quality improvement through regular planning, evaluation, and enhancement.
• Utilize data, feedback, and performance indicators for evidence-based decision making.
• Foster transparency, accountability, and collaborative culture of quality across the institution.
• Strengthen faculty and staff through continuous capacity building and professional development.
• Implement effective monitoring and evaluation mechanisms to ensure institutional effectiveness.

Responsibilities

• Prepare and submit the annual IQAE Activity Calendar to the relevant university.
• Conduct Institutional Quality Circle (IQC) meetings and ensure timely follow-up actions.
• Coordinate with academic, administrative, and regulatory stakeholders to support quality assurance implementation.
• Initiation of Self-Assessment Reports (SAR) through respective Program Teams (PTs).
• Train and build the capacity of PTs for SAR development.
• Guide PTs and maintain close liaison throughout the SAR preparation process.
• Conduct and analyze all PSG-2023 mandated surveys required for SAR evidence.
• Collect departmental SARs and arrange external Assessment Team (AT) evaluations.
• Prepare AT Compliance Reports and develop Compliance Implementation Plans (CIP) based on AT recommendations.
• Ensure collection, verification, and organization of evidence against all HEC standards and criteria for SAR and Review of Institutional Performance & Enhancement (RIPE).
• Develop and circulate internal RIPE schedules, timelines, and evidence submission templates.
• Conduct internal briefing/orientation sessions for departments on RIPE processes, expectations, and documentation requirements.
• Facilitate internal evaluation of each RIPE standard through structured meetings, document reviews, and evidence triangulation activities.
• Maintain RIPE evidence repositories and ensure documentation is readily accessible for HEC external review.
• Track compliance progress against observations identified during SAR and RIPE to ensure timely implementation of corrective actions.
• Guide departments in mapping program outcomes, course learning outcomes, and curriculum alignment under the Programme Review for Effectiveness & Enhancement (PREE) framework.
• Collect and review PREE documentation, including assessment records, examination analysis, faculty profiles, and program statistics.
• Conduct internal PREE evaluation meetings to assess program effectiveness and compliance before external review.
• Develop program-level compliance and effectiveness plans based on PREE evaluation findings.
• Maintain PREE documentation, evidence logs, and follow-up records for future external reviews.
• Support the implementation of HEC policies (UGE Policy 2023, GEP-2023, and the Anti-Plagiarism Policy, etc.) in coordination with the relevant university.
• Integrate HEC policy requirements into academic and administrative processes across the institute.
• Update the IQAE website with information on trainings, workshops, and accreditation status.
• Compile and submit the Yearly Progress Report (YPR) to QAA-HEC.
• Prepare and submit the required datasets for the HEC National Rankings.

Feedback Surveys

Feedback surveys play an important role in improving the quality of education by gathering insights from students, teachers, Alumni, and other stakeholders. They help educational institutions identify gaps, enhance teaching methods, and create a more effective learning environment. This activity is also a requisite part of instructions by the national academic / accreditation bodies. These surveys also have significant importance in Outcome Based Education (OBE).

Contact Us

Director IQAE: Dr. Naveed-Ul-Haq — director.qec@dihs.edu.pk

Deputy Director IQAE: Dr. Ijaz-Ur-Rehman — dd.qec@dihs.edu.pk

DAKSON Institute of Health Sciences, SJ Center, Main Murree Road, Bhara Kahu, Islamabad. Cell: 0333-6158004, 0300-3543361