This year’s European Quality Assurance Forum (EQAF) took place from 14th to 16th November at the University of Twente in the Netherlands, with the title “Enhancing Education, Research and Societal Engagement through Quality Assurance.” The forum brought together experts in higher education to exchange ideas and best practices related to innovations in quality assurance.
Vice-Rector for Quality Ana Tecilazić, Head of Sector for Professional Services Silvija Grgić and Quality Assurance Advisor Ivana Verveger from Algebra University held a workshop at this year’s edition of the Forum. The workshop, titled “Data-Driven Policymaking: How Can AI Support Student Progression?, addressed the main causes of student drop-out, support measures to aid student progression, the use of AI in developing support measures and the role of the “human factor” in applying AI for these purposes.
Quality assurance in higher education is closely linked to topics of student progression and completion, as higher education institutions normally strive to prevent student drop-out by providing support in the context of their academic and psychosocial development. AI can assist higher education institutions in this regard by identifying students at risk of achieving poorer academic results, repeating academic years, and/or dropping out, based on specific indicators, and by suggesting support measures.
Such data-driven approach to institutional policymaking focused on student progression and early student support is being developed at Algebra University. It uses relevant student data to identify students needing academic and other forms of support. Further research on these topics is planned at Algebra University, aiming to enhance its student support system and facilitate students´ academic progression.
