Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

 

- Monitoring the functioning of curricular units, with a view to the regular and systematic production of performance indicators that support strategic decision-making.

- Promote continuous improvement of teaching and learning processes.

- Promote the responsible involvement of the academic community in the processes of assessment and improvement of teaching, with an expected impact on external assessment processes (accreditation of study cycles).

Yes, the confidentiality of the answers given to the questionnaires is guaranteed under the terms of the General Regulation on Data Protection (RGPD) - EU no. 2016/679.

The questionnaires are applied to all study cycles and all curricular units. With a view to extending the evaluation of teaching to accredited courses, not awarding degree, from the 2023/2024 academic year onwards, a questionnaire is applied to students, to evaluate the functioning of the curricular units/modules, on the Moodle ULearn Platform (https://ulearn.uminho.pt/).

Yes, the answer is compulsory, as a reflection of the importance given to obtaining internal feedback for continuous improvement and as a condition to guarantee statistical relevance to the results.

- UMinho's Academic Portal, for students(http://alunos.uminho.pt > quality in teaching);

- UMinho's Intranet, for teachers(http://intranet.uminho.pt > quality > teaching > questionnaires);

- APP UMinho.

The application of the questionnaires follows the calendar adopted annually for all instruments and mechanisms, published by circular from the Vice-Rector who coordinates the Internal System for Quality Assurance of UMinho (SIGAQ-UM).

The publication of the response periods for each of the questionnaires is carried out by circular from the Vice-Rector who coordinates the Internal System for Quality Assurance of UMinho (SIGAQ-UM) and complemented by an email message to the institutional addresses of respondents.

For students, it is also made through a banner notice on the Academic Portal of UMinho (http://alunos.uminho.pt), on the Blackboard platform (http://elearning.uminho.pt), on the Academic Association of University of Minho (http://aaum.uminho.pt), on UMinho's Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/uminhooficial), on UMinho's Instagram (http://www.instagram.com/universidade_do_minho) , on the Instagram of the Academic Association of University of Minho (http://instagram.com/aauminho) and on the UMinho APP.

They are disseminated through the Academic Portal (http://alunos.uminho.pt > quality in teaching at UMinho) and the Intranet at UMinho (http://intranet.uminho.pt > quality > teaching > questionnaires). The process should refer to the Teaching Strand Questionnaire Procedures.

Once the response period is over, a student who has not responded to the required questionnaires will no longer have access to certain features on the Academic Portal.

- Monitoring the functioning of the Research Units, with a view to the regular and systematic production of scientific performance indicators that support strategic decision-making.

- Promote continuous improvement of research processes.

- Promote the responsible involvement of the academic community in the processes of assessment and improvement of research, with an expected impact on external evaluation processes.

Yes, the confidentiality of the answers given to the questionnaires is guaranteed under the terms of the General Regulation on Data Protection (RGPD) - EU no. 2016/679.

Yes, the answer is compulsory, as a reflection of the importance given to obtaining internal feedback for continuous improvement and as a condition to guarantee statistical relevance to the results.

- UMinho's Intranet (http://intranet.uminho.pt > quality > research > questionnaires).

- UMinho's App (available for mobile devices with Android operating system - via Google Play - and for mobile devices with iOS operating system - via App Store).

The application of the questionnaires follows the calendar adopted annually for all instruments and mechanisms, published by circular from the Vice-Rector who coordinates the Internal System for Quality Assurance of UMinho (SIGAQ-UM).

The publication of the response periods for each of the questionnaires is carried out by circular from the Vice-Rector who coordinates the Internal System for Quality Assurance of UMinho (SIGAQ-UM) and complemented by an email message to the institutional addresses of respondents.

They are disseminated through the Intranet at UMinho (http://intranet.uminho.pt > quality > research> questionnaires). The process should refer to the Research Strand Questionnaire Procedures.

Brief characterization of the activity developed by the Research Units, through data obtained automatically (relating to context information, indicators from the Research Book and SIGAQ-UM) and additional information resulting from reflection prepared by the part of Steering Committees.

- The confidentiality of personal data contained in the reports, guaranteed under the terms of the General Regulation on Data Protection (RGPD) - EU No. 2016/679.

- The universality of the process, translated into the systematic application of the reports to all the Research Units recognized by the FCT, thus promoting a better knowledge of the different scientific realities.

- The obligation to participate in the process, associated with the fact that it is simultaneously an integral element of the investigation function and of responsibility for scientific coordination.

- Transparency, embodied in the disclosure of the final versions of the reports to the scientific coordination bodies, with a view to enhancing their pedagogical effect and facilitating a sustained process of improvement.

The application of the reports is established through a circular from the Vice-Rector who coordinates the Internal Quality Assurance System of the University of Minho (SIGAQ-UM).

The reports must be prepared every two years, except for the years in which the Research Units are preparing the reports to be submitted to the Foundation for Science and Technology relating to periodic external evaluation.

They are available from the UMinho Intranet (http://intranet.uminho.pt > quality > research > reports). For further details on this process, please consult the Procedures on Reports of the Research Section.

- To follow-up and monitor the functioning of the different Service Units (US) in order to promote the regular and systematic production of performance indicators that support strategic decision-making.

- To promote the continuous improvement of the services provided by the US.

- To promote the responsible involvement of the academic community in the processes of assessment and improvement of the activities developed by the US, with an expected impact on the external assessment processes.

Yes, the confidentiality of the answers given to the questionnaires is guaranteed under the terms of the General Regulation on Data Protection (RGPD) - EU no. 2016/679.

No. However, it is a right and a duty for the academic community to participate in the Services’ quality management processes, given the relevance for monitoring and improving them, particularly within the scope of external certification by the ISO standard (when applicable).

The questionnaires are available on the LimeSurvey platform.

The application of the questionnaires follows the calendar adopted annually for all instruments and mechanisms, published by circular from the Vice-Rector who coordinates the Internal System for Quality Assurance of UMinho (SIGAQ-UM).

The application of the QSu takes place, on an annual basis, after approval at a CA-SIGAQ meeting.

The publication of the response periods to the questionnaires is made by e-mail to the institutional addresses of the respondents, or on UMinho's institutional portals (when applicable).

The dissemination of the results of the questionnaires by Service Unit, ensured by USGAQ, is made by e-mail to the corresponding Directors. For more details on this process, please consult the Services Questionnaires Procedures.

To characterize, in a summarized and systematic way, the activity developed by the Service Units through automatically obtained data (relating to context information and the SIGAQ-UM) and additional information resulting from the reflection carried out by the Service Units and Cultural Units.

- To follow-up and monitor the functioning of the different Service Units and Cultural Units;

- To promote the continuous improvement of processes and results;

- To promote the responsible involvement of the academic community in the processes of assessment and improvement of the activities developed by the Service Units and Cultural Units.

- The right and duty of participation, expressed in the ethical principle that establishes the general obligation of the entire academic community “to actively participate in the processes of internal and external assessment of the projects and activities of UMinho with a sense of rigour and responsibility." (in: Code of Ethical Conduct of the University of Minho, p. 8);

- The universality of the process, reflected in the systematic preparation of reports in all Service Units and Cultural Units;

- The obligation to participate in the process, associated with the fact that it is an integral part of the management and coordination of the Service Units and Cultural Units;

- The transparency, embodied in the disclosure of the evaluation results within the academic community, with a view to enhancing its pedagogical effect and facilitating a sustained process of improvement, and also to stimulate a greater commitment and participation of all elements of the University.

The annual application of the reports is published by circular from the Vice-Rector who coordinates the Internal System for Quality Assurance of UMinho (SIGAQ-UM).

In the case of Services Units, the reports are available on the UMinho Intranet (http://intranet.uminho.pt > qualidade > serviços > relatório de autoavaliação).

In the case of Cultural Units, the reports are available on the UMinho Intranet (http://intranet.uminho.pt > qualidade > unidades culturais > relatório de autoavaliação).

For further details on this process, please consult the Services Units and Cultural Units Reports Procedures.