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The central strategic governing body of the College’s quality assurance and quality development system is the Quality Management Committee (QMC [Organisational and Operational Rules 2.2]), renewed in April 2019 with seven members. Its main task is to ensure the quality of competence-based religious education in line with the College’s Mission Statement and the ESG 2015 standards, and to coordinate the operation of the College’s quality assurance system.

The members of the QMC represent the internal stakeholders of the College, namely: the leadership (the Rector and the Vice-Rector for Education), the faculty (two academic staff members elected by the Senate), the student body (a student representative delegated by the Student Union), and non-teaching staff (one administrative employee elected by the Senate). In addition, one representative delegated by the Church participates as an external stakeholder. The Chair of the QMC is a senior leader elected from among its members. The QMC operates in accordance with higher education legislation, the institutional standards of ESG 2015, the College’s quality assurance policy (QAP) and regulations (QAR) included in the College’s Rules, as well as its own rules of procedure. The Rector’s Office provides operational support for the activities of the QMC.

In accordance with current higher education legislation, the QMC performs the tasks within its competence under the College’s regulations in consultation with the relevant organizational units (the Dharma Gate Educational Institute, headed by the Vice-Rector for Education) and bodies (the Educational Council, the Programme Committee, and the College Council). Based on the institutional standards, the QMC reviews the College’s higher education core activities and their regulation within the framework of the processes defined in the QAQER (10.2) and the Organisational and Operational Rules (4). Its findings and proposals are submitted annually to the Senate in the form of a Quality Assurance Report [QAAER 10.2.1], which is also published on the College’s website.

At the College, the key body for quality assurance in scientific research is the Scientific Council (SC), consisting of four members. On the one hand, it contributes to ensuring and improving the quality of higher education in matters of scientific standards; on the other, it serves as the quality assurance body of the East-West Research Institute [QAQER 10.2.10.1]. Through the Head of the Research Institute, elected from among its members, the SC contributes to the preparation of the chapter on scientific research in the annual Quality Assurance Report. This analysis is based on the College’s research statistics and the data of the annual Rector’s Report, taking into account direct data provided by faculty, researchers, and teachers, as well as MTMT records, library data, and student research activity data supplied by the College’s Student Scientific Council.

The quality assurance observations and improvement proposals of the SC are discussed in advance with the QMC. In the event of a difference of opinion, both the SC’s and the QMC’s observations must be recorded in the Quality Assurance Report.

2019–2024 Comprehensive Quality Assurance Report – published based on Senate Resolution No. 24/2025 (07.10.)

2019–2024 Comprehensive Quality Assurance Report

The quality assurance reports from 2017 to 2025 are available in Hungarian on the College’s Hungarian-language website.


 

Between 2020 and 2025, Dharma Gate Buddhist College (DGBC) consolidated and significantly developed its quality assurance system, aligning internal practices with ESG 2015 standards, Hungarian higher education legislation, and its own Buddhist mission.

Institutional Framework

The Quality Management Committee (QMC) remained the central governing body, integrating leadership, faculty, students, staff, and the Church as external stakeholder. Its responsibility was to coordinate the institutional quality assurance system, ensure competence-based religious education, and prepare annual quality reports. Alongside, the Scientific Council supervised the quality of research, while the Senate served as the highest decision-making body, ensuring transparency and participation.

Key Documents and Policies

  • The Quality Assurance Policy (2019) and the Quality Assurance and Development Regulations (2019) provided the normative framework.
  • In 2024, the innovative Buddhist Quality Management System (BQMS) was introduced, merging ESG standards with Buddhist principles (such as the Noble Eightfold Path and Wheel of Existence).
  • Complementary strategies, including a Digitalisation Strategy, AI Policy, and Community Engagement Policy (2025), broadened quality assurance beyond teaching to research, services, and institutional development.

Implementation and Processes

DGBC applied systematic feedback mechanisms:

  • Student course evaluations (OMHV/SET), midterm and exit surveys, and the Graduate Career Tracking System (GPR/GCTS).
  • Staff satisfaction surveys and internal workshops on teaching quality.
  • Integration of data into curriculum reforms, teacher development, and decision-making.

Curriculum reviews incorporated ESG 1.2–1.9 standards, ensuring transparent learning outcomes, student-centered approaches, and fair assessment. Special emphasis was placed on the master–disciple model, independent thinking, and Buddhist practice as experiential learning.

Achievements 2020–2025

  • Strengthened transparency: all regulations, reports, and strategic documents published on the College website.
  • Expanded international outlook, preparing for the Transformative Buddhist University Strategy 2025–2035.
  • Development of digital teaching infrastructure and pilot projects in AI-supported learning.
  • Improved integration of research and teaching, with the Scientific Council ensuring publication monitoring, MTMT compliance, and scientific student support.
  • Enhanced student services, including mentoring and tutoring systems.

Challenges and Future Directions

While most objectives of the first quality phase were achieved, full extension of quality assurance to all processes (management, organisational development) remained partial. DGBC identified the need for more structured leadership processes and further integration of quality culture at all levels.

The quality assurance framework of Dharma Gate Buddhist College (DGBC) is rooted in its Mission Statement and Doctrinal Declaration, emphasizing Buddhist principles, competence-based education, independent thinking, and the master–disciple model.

Core Documents

  1. Quality Assurance and Quality Development Programme (2008, revised 2017)

    • Originally adopted by the Senate in 2008, later revised to align with ESG 2015 standards.
    • Established the foundations of DGBC’s quality culture and continuous improvement processes.
  1. Quality Assurance Policy (QAP, renewed 2019)

    • Integrates ESG 2015, the National Higher Education Act, and the QF-EHEA learning objectives.
    • Treats research, learning, and teaching as a unified process, monitored annually with broad stakeholder involvement.
    • Reviewed every three years by the Quality Management Committee (QMC) and Senate.
  1. Quality Assurance and Quality Enhancement Regulations (QAQER, 2019)

    • Provide procedural detail for implementing QAP.
    • Include provisions for surveys, feedback loops, internal and external evaluations, and reporting mechanisms.
    • Ensure compliance with MAB (Hungarian Accreditation Committee) requirements and ESG institutional standards.
  1. Buddhist Quality Management System (BQMS, adopted 2024)

    • An innovative framework integrating Buddhist concepts (Kamma–Dhamma–Sangha, Wheel of Existence, Noble Eightfold Path) with PDCA cycles and excellence methodologies.
    • Organised across three levels: governance, operational implementation, and results.
    • Applies to curricula, research, services, community engagement, and organisational development.
    • Represents a unique Buddhist approach to quality, intended for international presentation as best practice.
    • Complementary Policies (2019–2025

Research and Innovation Regulations

    • Community Engagement and Social Responsibility Policy (2025)
    • Service Quality Concept & Digital Strategy
    • AI Policy (2025), Information Security Policy, Intellectual Property Regulations
    • These broaden quality assurance beyond teaching to research, services, digitalisation, and academic integrity.