UK Quality Code Guide:
Further Education & Colleges
The Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education. Registered charity numbers 1062746 and SC037786
Quality Assurance Agency role
Safeguard the academic standards of UK higher
education
Assure the quality of the learning opportunities that UK
higher education offers to students
Promote continuous and systematic improvement in
UK higher education
Ensure that information about UK higher education is
publicly available
The Quality Code
Explanation
Indicators of
sound practice
Expectation:
what higher education
providers expect of
each other and which
students and the
public can expect of all
higher education
providers
UK Quality Code for
Higher Education
Part A
• Setting and maintaining
threshold academic standards
Part B
• Assuring and enhancing
academic quality
Part C
• Information about higher
education provision
General Introduction
Chapters of the Quality Code
Part A: Setting and maintaining
threshold academic standards
A1: The national level
A2: The subject and qualification level
A3: The programme level
A4: Approval and review
A5: Externality
A6: Assessment of achievement of
learning outcomes
Part C: Information about higher
education provision
Part B: Assuring and enhancing
academic quality
B1: Programme design and approval
B2: Admissions
B3: Learning and teaching
B4: Enabling student development and
achievement
B5: Student engagement
B6: Assessment of students and
accreditation of prior learning
B7: External examining
B8: Programme monitoring and review
B9: Academic appeals and student
complaints
B10: Managing HE provision with others
B11: Research degrees
General introduction
Who needs to know about the Quality Code?
Governors
Students
Academic Staff
Quality Managers
Professional, statutory
and regulatory bodies
(PSRBs)
Employers
Other stakeholder groups
What is the UK
Quality Code for
Higher Education?
Who is the
Quality Code
for?
How does the
Quality Code relate
to legislation?
How can the
Quality Code
develop my area
of provision?
What are
Indicators?
What are the
overarching values?
Are you confident in
accessing and meeting
expectations outlined in
the QC whilst planning,
implementing and
evaluating your sector
Why does the UK
need a Quality Code
for Higher
Education?
How is the
Quality Code
organised?
Who enforces the
Quality Code?
What are
Expectations
from me?
Example: Marketing Department
Part C:
Information about HE provision
Expectation
Higher education providers produce
information for their intended audiences
about the learning opportunities they
offer that is fit for purpose, accessible and
trustworthy
Indicators and Evidence
Focusing on intended audiences
• Market intelligence, research data analysis
Engaging with those audiences; getting feedback
• focus groups evidenced with action plan, qualitative analysis of
marketing events or processes
Focusing on inclusivity
• Staff training on web content, copy and accessibility of information
Ensuring processes and responsibilities are clear and effective
• Job descriptions, processes and maintenance is clear and evidence
based
Example: Cross curriculum
B3: Learning and teaching
Indicator 3
Learning and teaching practices are
informed by reflection, evaluation of
professional practice, and subjectspecific and educational scholarship.
The Good Practice Knowledge Base
The scholarly activity scheme supports staff to engage with their
subject at the leading edge of the discipline, informing and enhancing
teaching and learning.
The introduction of a module on the delivery of higher education in
further education to enhance staff's understanding and performance
in providing appropriate standards of teaching and learning .
Support is provided for staff to read for higher degrees and there are
wide-ranging opportunities for staff development, which include
undertaking research projects with partner awarding bodies.
The policies and incentives provided to staff encourage them to
engage effectively in continuous professional development, scholarly
activity and to pursue additional qualifications.
Creating a Quality Code Guide specific to
this sector
An opportunity to contribute to the development of a QAA guide
to the UK Quality Code for Higher Education: designed
specifically for staff delivering HE programmes in further
education and sixth form colleges.
QAA wishes to work closely with colleagues across the sector to
develop a resource which will enable further engagement and
a deeper understanding of the Quality Code.
•
• 13 February 2014 Blackpool and The Fylde College
• 7 March 2014
Somerset College
• 12 March 2014
Doncaster College
Further information
Quality Code Guide Regional Workshops & Survey link
Website:
www.qaa.ac.uk/Qualitycode
Email:
b.stockton@qaa.ac.uk
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