Quality News for Collaborative Partners
This is the July newsletter for University Collaborative Partners. The newsletter contains
developments and updates on quality and standards policies, processes and management both
within the University and externally.
Contents
1. Important Notices
2. University Quality News
3. Sector news
4. Quality Links & Contacts
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1. Important Notices
Implementation of the revised Academic Awards Framework (AAF)
In December 2013, the University's Academic Board approved a revised Academic Awards
Framework. Some of the key benefits of the revised Framework include:
 an increased focus on good course design
 standard module sizes for UG and PG provision
 progressive introduction of choice and larger credit modules to allow for project and
independent working
 fuller and clearer guidance on key principles of course design and structure
The revised Framework will be implemented over the next two years with the aim of ensuring
that all award-bearing courses are compliant by the start of the 2016/17 academic year, except
where approved exemptions have been agreed. Faculties are currently formulating and finalising
plans for a phased implementation of the revised Framework over the next two years. Each
faculty’s Implementation Plan will include consideration of how existing collaborative provision
and partnerships may be affected by the revised Framework.
Depending on the specific type of collaboration involved, some partners may be unaffected by
the changes to the University’s Academic Awards Framework. For example, externally
validated courses (including many of our Foundation Degrees) will not be expected to meet all
the requirements of the revised Framework. Individual partners will be kept informed of how
specific collaborative courses may be affected by the AAF implementation exercise. Where any
specific changes to existing collaborative arrangements are required, detailed information will be
provided on an individual partner basis. Further updates on the implementation of the revised
AAF will be included in subsequent issues of Quality News. Link Tutors can also offer further
advice and guidance on this issue.
Key Information Sets (KIS) 2014. Who is responsible for production the KIS?
Key Information Sets (KIS) are required to be returned by all institutions in England, Northern
Ireland, Scotland and Wales for all undergraduate courses (see HESA website for exceptions).
The timescales for the 2014 KIS return have now been published by the HESA.
The KIS for collaborative provision, including franchised provision, should be returned by the
teaching institution, although it remains the responsibility of the registering institution to ensure
that a KIS is returned.
Exceptions may be where:
 The entirety of an institution’s provision is franchised out from a single institution, i.e.
everything delivered at XXXX College is a Sheffield Hallam University validated award.
 The course is delivered at two or more institutions as part of the same course.
Relevant partners will be contacted by the Academic Quality and Standards team at Sheffield
Hallam University in due course but in the meantime queries about the KIS can be directed to
kis@shu.ac.uk. The Sheffield Hallam University Approach to Learning Teaching & Assessment
Information is now available on the Quality website.
The Annual Review of Collaborative Provision for session 2013/14
The Annual Review process is one of the ways by which the University, as a degree awarding
body, assures itself and its stakeholders that the quality and standards of collaborative provision
remain appropriate. The process requires the completion of a number of reports at course,
faculty and institutional level.
The Annual Review will both reflect on the academic session 2013/14 and look forward to the
2014/15 session and will feed into external reviews, for example by Professional Statutory and
Regulatory Bodies or the Quality Assurance Agency.
The Annual Review has 4 parts: Part 1 - Statistical Review; Part 2 - Review and Evaluation of
course; Part 3 - Annual Review Record [action plan]; Part 4 - Link Tutor Commentary (Part 4 is
not included for collaborative provision with a SHU Course Leader).
Academic Quality and Standards are in the process of issuing requests for completion of course
level reports. The timeline for completion is detailed below.
Requests issued to partners/SHU Course Leaders
Reports and Records (for provision with SHU Link
Tutor) to be submitted to AQS by partners
Link Tutor commentary submitted
Reports and Records (for provision with SHU
Course Leader) to be submitted to AQS by SHU
CL
Completed annual review reports and records
circulated to partner and faculty colleagues
Analysis of reports and Faculty summaries (by
department) produced by AQS
Annual Collaborative Provision Report produced
by AQS
Late June/early July 2014
by 3 October 2014 (forms forwarded to
Link Tutors week commencing 6 October
2014)
20 October 2014
20 October 2014
by 24 October 2014
November/December 2014
Spring 2015
There are later deadlines for the annual review of the TAR UC Progression Programme
(Summer Semester), in line with the timing of the provision delivery.
Departmental and Faculty consideration of the annual review outcomes at committee level
inform both the Annual Collaborative Provision Report and the University’s annual Quality and
Standards Review.
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2. University Quality News
QAA Higher Education Review Update
In Higher Education Review the QAA review team makes judgements on
 the setting and maintenance of threshold academic standards
 the quality of student learning opportunities
 the information provided about higher education provision
 the enhancement of student learning opportunities
The review team also provides a commentary on the selected theme of the review; makes
recommendations; identifies features of good practice and affirms action that the provider is
taking or plans to take.
The HER report for our partners York College and Henley College have now been published on
the QAA website.
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3. Sector news
QAA Higher Education Review Handbook
QAA has published an updated Handbook for Higher Education Review. The handbook states
the aims of Higher Education Review, explains how Higher Education Review works and guides
providers preparing for, and taking part in, Higher Education Review.
QAA Consultation on five revised subject benchmark statements
This QAA consultation aims to gather comment on each draft revised benchmark statement and
how each sits with current practice in teaching and learning. The QAA is also interested to hear
about the usability of the documents, including how students and employers would use the
subject benchmark statements and whether they are fit for purpose.
This consultation invites comments on the draft revised versions of the subject benchmark
statements for five subjects:
 Archaeology
 Chemistry
 Classics and Ancient History
 Geography
 History
The University is currently collecting responses for the subjects delivered by SHU and their
partners (Chemistry, Geography and History) and will submit the finding to the QAA in due
course.
QAA - Strengthening the Quality Assurance of UK Transnational Education
The QAA and the Higher Education International Unit (the IU) have now published its report
following the consultation. Full details can be found on the QAA site.
Appeals against QAA Decisions
The procedure for appealing against the judgements of QAA reviews has been updated and will
be effective for all reviews in which judgements have been confirmed on or after 1 January 2014.
More information is available on the QAA website.
Driving Improvements through QAA Research
The QAA has produced the first in a new series of reports summarising the research it has
recently undertaken and commissioned. The projects were in response to an identified need
within the HE community. The report also details some of the QAAs future research plans and
is available on the QAA website.
QAA Subject benchmark Statement: Criminology
Following the QAA's public consultation, updated subject guidance on criminology has been
published. To read the updated subject benchmark statement for Criminology please visit the
QAA website.
QAA Website
Please note that the QAA has released a new website this week which could have implications
for any existing links or bookmarks you may have. We will be checking and updating the links
on the Quality External and AQF SharePoint Pages as soon as possible.
HEFCE New Publications
HEFCE has published the following policies and guidance over the past few months:
2014 National Student Survey: Publication of data
Guidance on how to make financial information more visible to students
Improving information for prospective students
Student Engagement Partnership
Please click on the links above for further information.
HESA publishes UK higher education performance indicators for 2012/13
HESA has published UK Performance Indicators for 2012/13, providing comparative data on
the performance of institutions in widening participation, student retention, learning and
teaching outcomes, research output and employment of graduates. The report covers publicly
funded higher education providers in the UK.
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4. Quality Links & Contacts
Quality Network Site Information & resources for Quality Network members (Staff only)
University Quality and Standards Website Academic policies and public information about
quality (External Site)
For Collaborative Provision queries including information on specific processes (eg course
approval, monitoring and review) please contact Jennie Bowles and Ann Topliss.
If you have any queries or feedback about this issue of Quality News for Collaborative Partners
please contact Louise Sparshatt. If you would like to submit an item for a future issue of Quality
News for Collaborative Partners please send to Rachel Durance, please note that contributions
may be edited for house style and length.
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