The 4th ISO 9001:2015 QMS Conference for Heads of Quality Units and Internal Quality Auditors was held on Thursday 23rd August, 2018 at the Education Building at 9:00 am. The conference which was meant to discuss the Stage 1 audit report from Kenya Bureau of Standards Auditors and gauge the preparedness for the stage 2 audit to be carried out on 29th, 30th and 31st August, 2018 was officially opened by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Teresa Akenga who was accompanied by the ISO 9001:2015 QMS Management Representative, Prof. Wilson Ng’etich who is also the DVC (AF).
In her address Prof. Akenga emphasized that members should work together as UoE family to ensure that the university is certified to the new ISO 9001:2015 Standard.
The Vice-Chancellor requested all HoD’s to be at their work stations for the three days that the KEBS Auditors will be auditing the University and recall all staff on leave to boost the preparations for this important exercise. She informed participants that she postponed her leave also because of the commitment to the whole process of ISO 9001:2015 Certification.
As part of the preparation for stage 2 audit the Vice-Chancellor implored upon the HoD’s to undertake data analysis in their various units because it had been identified before as a major non-conformity in many units of the University. She also committed herself to analyse data in her office starting with data on students request for inter- University transfers. The Vice Chancellor directed Estates & Central Services Departments to ensure faded signage’s are redone, leaking roofs repaired, Mouldy walls painted and obsolete items including scripts are removed from offices and put in a central place for disposal.
The Director, Directorate of Quality Assurance Prof. Donald Otieno presented the ISO 9001:2015 stage 1 report after which the Vice-Chancellor led the participants in discussing and adopting the report.
The stage 1 (pre-certification report) highlighted some gaps that needed to be filed e.g. Failure to undertake mitigation measures in identified risks and lack of awareness of the UoE Quality policy by some members of staff among others. However, the KEBS Auditors who were led by Mr. Isaac Mureithi and Mr. Peter Ndisi noted that the Quality Management System at UoE was generally being implemented. They further noted that there was evidence of competent personnel being used to deliver the QMS and the Statutory and Regulatory work environment requirements were being adhered to.
The KEBS Auditors therefore concluded in their report that UoE was committed to the QMS Implementation as evidenced in the budget allocation for the process, conduct of internal audits and Management Reviews being planned and undertaken.
The Auditors therefore recommended Certification (stage 2) audit be undertaken at University of Eldoret.
The Vice-Chancellor further led the members in discussing the checklist for stage 2 audit and each quality unit to be audited was given an opportunity to present what they had undertaken in readiness for the stage 2 ISO 9001:2015 Audit.
The following Auditees made presentations and assured the Vice-Chancellor and other participants that they were ready for stage 2 audit;
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry
- Directorate of Information, Communication & Technology
- Department of Mathematics & Computer Science
- Department of Education Social Sciences
- Department of Civil & Structural Engineering
- Department of Environmental Earth Science
- Department of Environmental Biology & Health
- Department of Quantitative Skills & Development Studies
- Department of Games & Sports
- Department of Library
- Department of Internal Audit
- Department of Education Management (Town Campus)
- Department of Legal Affairs
- School of Human Resource Development
- Department of Seed, Crop & Horticultural Sciences
- Director’s Office, Town Campus
The ISO 9001:2015 QMS Management Representative, Prof. Wilson N’getich in closing the Conference emphasized that the Top management was committed to the journey to UoE being certified to ISO 9001:2015 Standard. He reiterated that resources have been committed to ensure the process is concluded successfully. He requested all members of staff to put in more effort in preparing for the pre-certification (stage 2) audit scheduled for 29th,30th and 31st August,2018.