Sharing Good Practice in Quality. The New
Quality Code and its Effect on Staffordshire
University Processes and Practices
Rebecca Penny, Director of Quality Enhancement and Standards
To provide an overview of recent developments in UK
HE Quality Assurance landscape:
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Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education
The UK Quality Code for Higher Education
Higher Education Review
Mapping of the Quality Code at Staffordshire
University
The Quality Assurance Agency for Higher
Education
Quality Assurance Agency for
Higher Education
• QAA’s mission is to safeguard standards and
improve the quality of UK higher education
• The Agency works with higher education
providers to develop reference points and
guidance which are used by all providers
• QAA conducts reviews and publishes reports
detailing the findings of those reviews
UK Quality Code for Higher Education
UK Quality Code for
Higher Education
The UK Quality Code for Higher Education (the Quality Code) is
used to assure the standards and quality of higher education in
the United Kingdom. It is developed and maintained by the
Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) through
consultation with the higher education sector and is used by
individual higher education providers to ensure students have
the high-quality educational experience they are entitled to
expect.
QAA, ‘The UK Quality Code for Higher Education: A Brief Guide’, 2012
UK Quality Code for
Higher Education
Part A
• Setting and maintaining
academic standards
Part B
• Assuring and enhancing
academic quality
Part C
• Information about higher
education provision
Indicators
• of ‘sound practice’
• Replace precepts
Expectations:
Things higher
education
providers expect
of each other and
which the general
public can expect
of all higher
education
providers
All students are treated
fairly, equitably and as
individuals.
Students have the
opportunity to
contribute to the
shaping of their
learning experience.
Staff are supported,
enabling them in turn to
support students'
learning experiences.
Sufficient and appropriate
external involvement exists
for the maintenance of
academic standards and the
quality of learning
opportunities.
All policies and processes
are regularly and
effectively monitored,
reviewed and improved.
Overarching
values
Strategic oversight of
academic standards and
academic quality is at the
highest level of academic
governance of the provider.
Students are properly and
actively informed at
appropriate times of
matters relevant to their
programmes of study.
All policies and
processes relating to
study and programmes
are clear and
transparent.
Chapters of the
Quality Code
General introduction
Part A: Setting and maintaining
academic standards
Part C: Information about higher
education provision
Part B: Assuring and enhancing
academic quality
B1: Programme design and approval
B2: Recruitment and admission to higher
education
B3: Learning and teaching
B4: Enabling student development and
achievement
B5: Student engagement
B6: Assessment of students and recognition
of prior learning
B7: External examining
B8: Programme monitoring and review
B9: Academic appeals and student
complaints
B10: Managing higher education provision
with others
B11: Research degrees
The Quality Code Jigsaw
Oct 2011
Chapter B7: External examining
Mar 2012
Part C: Information about higher education provision
Jun 2012
Chapter B11: Research degrees
Chapter B5: Student engagement
Sep 2012
Chapter B3: Learning and teaching
Dec 2012
Chapter B10: Managing higher education provision with others
Mar 2013
Chapter B4: Enabling student development and achievement
Apr 2013
Chapter B9: Academic appeals and student complaints
Oct 2013
Part A: Setting and maintaining academic standards
Chapter B1: Programme design and approval
Chapter B2: Recruitment and admission to higher education
Chapter B6: Assessment of students and recognition of prior learning
Chapter B8: Programme monitoring and review
UK Quality Code and Collaborative
Provision
Chapter B10, Managing Higher Education
Provision with others, describes what is
expected of UK degree-awarding bodies
managing educational arrangements
delivered or supported by a partner
institution.
UK Quality Code and Collaborative
Provision
• B10 covers all forms of working with
others from placement activity to
franchise and accreditation arrangements
and joint and dual awards.
• B10 does not address the quality of
learning opportunities provided through
collaborative working – this is covered by
the other chapters in Part B of the Code.
UK Quality Code: Chapter B10
Expectation
Degree-awarding bodies take ultimate responsibility for
academic standards and the quality of learning
opportunities, irrespective of where these are
delivered or who provides them. Arrangements for
delivering learning opportunities with organisations
other than the degree-awarding body are
implemented securely and managed effectively.
UK Quality Code is available at:
http://www.qaa.ac.uk/AssuringStandardsAndQuality
/quality-code/Pages/default.aspx
Higher Education Review
Higher Education Review
Method used by QAA from 2013-14 to check how
well HEIs in England and Northern Ireland make
sure the education they provide is of a high
quality and the correct academic standard.
Covers both on-campus provision and
programmes delivered at partners.
Higher Education Review
Stage 1: Desk-based review of
documentation submitted by provider
and its students
Stage 2: Visit to the provider to meet
staff and students, investigate themes
further and form conclusions
Stage 3: Publication of Review Report
Higher Education Review
• Risk-based approach:
• Time between reviews varies depending on
past track record (4 or 6 year interval)
• Size of review team varies according to scale
of provision (minimum 2 reviewers,
maximum 6; to include at least 1 academic
staff reviewer and 1 student reviewer)
• Duration of visit varies – between 1 and 5
days
Review Judgements
Judgements are made on how each HEI:
• sets and maintains threshold academic
standards
• manages the quality of students' learning
opportunities
• enhances its educational provision
• manages the quality of its public
information
Higher Education Review –
Enhancement Themes 2013-15
• Student Involvement in Quality Assurance
and Enhancement.
•
Student Employability.
Staffordshire University’s next
Review by the QAA is due in
2016-17
Other QAA Reviews
Review of Overseas Provision –
conducted on a country by country
basis
2012: China
2011: Singapore
2010: Malaysia
2009: India
2008: Cyprus
2007: Hong Kong
Mapping of the Quality Code at
Staffordshire University
The University’s approach to Quality Assurance
and Enhancement involves taking deliberate steps to
bring about continuous improvement in the learning
environment in a context of a culture of reflection. This
leads to innovation and change in the quality of
student learning opportunities and experience. The
university will ensure that quality assurance processes
are fit for purpose, enhancement-led and that
continuous improvements will be fostered and
supported.
Staffordshire University, Academic Strategy
Quality Code Mapping – Priority Areas 2013-14
• B5: Student engagement
• B6: Assessment of students and recognition of
prior learning
• B7: External examining
• B10: Managing higher education provision with
others
• B11: Research degrees
• Part C: Information
Quality Code Mapping
• Staffordshire University’s Quality Committee is
overseeing the mapping process.
• Quality Committee is establishing Working Groups
to support it in this task.
Quality Code Mapping - Considerations
• Where are we now?
• Are any changes required to ensure compliance
with the Expectations and Indicators outlined in
the UK Quality Code?
• How will any changes affect on-campus
provision/partners?
• Timescales for changes.
• Examples of good practice.
Mapping of Chapters – some initial findings
• Requirement to undertake periodic due diligence
on all partners – not just at the beginning of the
relationship (B10)
• Introduction of annual review of partner publicity
material (B10 and Part C)
• Revisiting role descriptors for University
Programme Advisors, Partnership Managers etc.
(B10)
Mapping of Chapters – some initial findings
• Revising collaborative agreement template (B10)
• Reviewing External Examiner Report form (B7)
• Ensuring the Student Voice is heard and that
students are represented on all educational
committees (B5)
Communicating Progress to Partners
• The Quality Enhancement Service will work with
the Partnerships Office and Partnership Managers
to keep our partners updated on developments.
• Please let your Partnership Manager know if you
have any comments/queries.
Questions?