Departmental evaluation: speech therapy and audiology, an academic department aimed at teaching a profession

In a recently established policy guideline of the Department of National Education it was clearly indicated that programmes and departments at tertiary education institutions should institute evaluation procedures as a matter of urgency. This has become necessary to provide a basis for decision making and policy formation, to accredit programmes, to monitor expenditure of public funds and to improve educational material. It is the aim of this paper to develop an evaluation model, based on accepted education principles, for evaluating the actual performance of a Department of Speech Therapy and Audiology. A basic management model is used and specific functional indications are given of the steps that should be taken in evaluating a department. The model is a comprehensive one which can easily be adapted for use in other departments.