Quality Assurance (QA) is the planned and systematic review process of an institution or program to determine whether or not acceptable standards of education, scholarship and infrastructure are being met, maintained and enhanced.

The QAD at NUST is committed to continuous improvement. It focuses on developing a ‘quality’ culture in the university. It aims to regularly assess and review the performance of academic programs in the university based on the national and international parameters of quality and excellence in teaching and research. The QAD helps the departments in preparing Self-Assessment Reports of academic programs in accordance with the guidelines given by the HEC.

The Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) is established at the Higher Education Commission (HEC), Islamabad. It is responsible to improve and monitor the quality of higher education in Pakistan. It provides guidelines to institutions of higher education for quality enhancement through external and internal assessment reports developed at Quality Assurance Directorates (QADs) or Quality Enhancement Cells (QECs) located at different universities in the country.

The Program Team (PT) collects and records information/data related to an on-going program in a department, as per the requirements of Self Assessment Manual, and prepares Self Assessment Report. They have to get various proformae filled to complete the Report. Program Team is formed by the HoD and comprises two or three faculty members from within the department.
Responsibilities of a Program Team (PT) include:
Compiling the report by responding to each criteria/ standards given in the SA manual and integrating the collected information / feedback
Collecting relevant data on faculty, students, libraries, laboratories and infrastructure
Getting SA Performae filled by faculty, students, alumni and employers
Writing summaries of feedback received through Performae.
Analyzing the feedback and drawing conclusions
Writing a foreword giving brief history of the program, particulars of the PT, date of starting / finalizing report writing
The report may be signed by the convener / chairperson of the program team

Self-Assessment (SA) is an evaluative exercise conducted by the institution / department itself to assess whether programs meet their educational objectives and outcomes. It is done to improve program’s quality and enhancing students’ learning along with establishing acceptable norms of reliability and validity in the university’s certified output.

The Assessment Team (AT) visits departments to assess and evaluate academic program in accordance with the guidelines of the Higher Education Commission. It is formed by Vice Chancellor on the recommendation of QEC and is required to:
Evaluate Self Assessment Report prepared by the PT (Rubric Evaluation)
Conduct assessment, submit a report and present its findings in an exit meeting of Head QEC, Dean, HoD, PT and faculty members

A formal process by which a recognized body, assesses and recognizes that an organization meets applicable, pre-determined standards. Specifically colleges and universities are granted approval through this process indicating that the institution has met certain requirements.