In accordance with the Royal Military College of Canada (RMC) Institutional Quality Assurance Process (IQAP), the Program Chair and review group submitted the Program Self-Study report in March 2017. For the programs under review, it contained the degree-level expectations for these programs, an analytical assessment of the programs, course outlines, program-related data, survey data from the Office of Quality Assurance and appendices with sample examinations and CVs of faculty members. The External Review Committee (ERC) was comprised of two arm’s-length external reviewers (Dr. Brent Gallupe, Queen’s University; Dr. Byron Lew, Trent University) and two internal reviewers (Dr. Kiari Goni-Boulama, RMC, Dr. L. Sangalli, RMC). They reviewed the self-study documentation and conducted a site visit to RMC on the 15th and 16th of January, 2018. The visit included interviews with the Dean of Arts, Vice-Principal Academic, Head of Management and Economics Department, Chief Librarian, as well as several civilian and military members of the Management and Economics Department faculty, and several students in the programs. The ERC subsequently produced a report based on the Self-Study and site visit. The report was circulated to department members and discussed with Economics faculty. The ERC submitted their report in February 2018, wherein the report was circulated to department members and discussed with Economics faculty.
The ERC identified a number of strengths of the Economics Programs. Primarily: the ERC found that the degree-level expectations are carefully outlined and are linked directly and appropriately to the courses to which they apply and are consistent with a typical Economics curriculum, the level of student achievement and preparation is adequate to meet the educational objectives of the institution and of the Economics Program, and that although the educational objectives of RMC and the Programs are demanding, the level and degree of student preparation is sufficient. The ERC also identified three primary areas of concern; an increase in published and peer-reviewed research output and more and better funding opportunities, teaching workload be fair, comparable and equitable, and the necessity of lab space for faculty and students to conduct research.
The Chair of Economics, after consultation with faculty and staff in the program, submitted a response to the Reviewers’ Report in October 2018. The Dean of Social Sciences and Humanities in consultation with the Chairs (current and acting) of Economics prepared a Final Assessment Report (FAR) in February 2022. Specific recommendations are discussed, and follow-up actions and timelines provided in the FAR. Based on the ERC report, the FAR concluded that students who have graduated from the Economics Program consider it to be a high-quality program that has provided them with the skills they need in their first position in the military.