Quality assurance in the case of training programs designed and implemented in cooperation with the business environment)

This article is the result of the experience acquired by the Academy of Economic Studies from Bucharest (ASE) during the academic year 2005/2006, in managing the quality of the training programs dedicated to students, based on collaboration protocols concluded with the business environment. The training programs have been developed by ASE in cooperation with prominent organizations such as Procter & Gamble Marketing Romania and Coca-Cola HBC Romania. The case study analyzed in this article refers to the „Stele în Ascensiune / Raising Stars“ program implemented together with Procter & Gamble Marketing Romania. During the academic year 2005/2006, six seminars on personal development topics for students took place in ASE. The number of participants per seminar varied between 197 and 314 students. Totally, 156 participation certificates have been granted to students that have attended all the six topics of the program „Stele în Ascensiune / Raising Stars“. The design and implementation of the program has complied with the major principles of quality management: focus on customer and other stakeholders; leadership; involvement of ASE personnel and students; process-based approach of all the activities; systemic approach by the management; continuous improvement of the educational service quality; data support for the substantion of management decisions. The experience acquired by ASE could be the stepping stone for the continuous improvement of the quality of the „Stele în Ascensiune / Raising Stars“ program, as well as of the other programs achieved in cooperation with the business environment.