Acronyms
In Education in general and Higher Education in particular, the use of acronyms is common.
Everything is becoming abbreviated. In order to help the uninitiated (and even the initiated often
require ‘translations’) the following list might prove helpful.
ACOST Advisory Committee on Science and Technology
AESC Academic Ethics Sub-Committee
AGCAS Association of Graduate Careers Advisory Service
AM Account Manager
APCL Accreditation of Prior Certificated Learning
APEL Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning
APL Accreditation of Prior Learning
ARC Applied Research Centre
AUA Association of University Administrators
AVA Audio Visual Aid
BA Bachelor of Arts
BDG Business Delivery Group
BEng Bachelor of Engineering
BERR Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (formerly DTI, Department of
Trade and Industry)
BIS Department of Business, Innovation and Skills
Biz/ed Business Education on the Internet
BSc Bachelor of Science
BTEC Business and Technician Education Council
BCE Business and Community Engagement
CAD/CAM Computer Aided Design/Manufacture
CATE Committee for the Accreditation of Teacher Education
CATS Credit Accumulation and Transfer Scheme
CBE Commercial Business Engagement
CIHE Council for Industry and Higher Education
CNAA Council for National Academic Awards
CPD Continuing Professional Development
CRAC Careers Research and Advisory Centre
CVCP Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals
DDA Disability Discrimination Act
DE Department of Employment and Learning
DCSF Department for Children, Schools and Families
DIUS Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills
DMS Diploma in Management Studies
DoE Department of the Environment
ECD Enterprise and Commercial Development
ECU Equality Challenge Unit
EEAP External Examiner Approval Panel
EFL English as a Foreign Language
EHE Enterprise in Higher Education
ERA Education Reform Act
ERASMUS European Community Action Scheme for Mobility of University Students
FE Further Education
FHEQ Framework for Higher Education Qualifications
FMIS Financial Management and Information System
1
FOI Freedom of Information (Act)
FT Full Time (student/course)
FTE Full Time Equivalent (calculating part-time students/part-time staff FT fractions)
GCE General Certificate of Education (A-levels)
GCSE General Certificate of Secondary Education (replaced O-levels and CSE)
HC/D Higher Certificate/Diploma
HE Higher Education
HEA Higher Education Academy
HEAR Higher Education Achievement Record
HEFCE Higher Education Funding Council England
HEFCW Higher Education Funding Council Wales
HEI Higher Education Institution
HEIF Higher Education Innovation Fund
HESA Higher Education Statistics Agency
HUMSS Humanities and Social Sciences
HNC/D Higher National Certificate/Diploma
IIP Investors in People
ILT Institute of Teaching and Learning
INF Initial Notification Form
INSET In-service Training (for teachers)
IPE Inter professional education
IT Information Technology
IQA Internal Quality Assurance
JADE Journal of Academic Development and Education
JISC Joint Information Systems Committee
KKP Keele Knowledge Programme
KLE Keele Learning Environment (Blackboard)
KMS Keele Medical School
KPA Keele Postgraduate Association
KTP Knowledge Transfer Partnership
KUDIS Keele University Digital Imaging/Illustration Services
LEA Local Education Authority
LENS Local Employer Networks Organisation
LFHE Leadership Foundation for Higher Education
LINGUA European Commission Fund for language training
LLRS Library and Learning Resources Service
LPDC Learning and Professional Development Centre
LSC Learning and Skills Council
MA Master of Arts
MAC Marketing and Communication
MBA Master of Business Administration
MIS Management Information System
MCI Management Charter Initiative
MMF Modular Masters Framework
M.Phil Master of Philosophy
MSc Master of Science
NCVQ National Council for Vocational Qualifications
NSS National Student Survey
NUS National Union of Students
OFFA Office for Fair Access
ONC/D Ordinary National Certificate/Diploma
2
OQME Ongoing Quality Monitoring and Enhancement
PAA Planning and Academic Administration
PDG Programme Development Group
PgD PostGraduate Diploma
PhD Doctor of Philosophy
PPE Personal Protection Equipment
PT Part Time
QAA Quality Assurance Agency
QCA Qualifications and Curriculum Authority
QIA Quality Improvement Agency
RAE Research Assessment Exercise
RCUK Research Councils UK
RDF Researcher Development Framework
REF Research Excellence Framework
RiT Research Informed Teaching
RSA Royal Society (for the encouragement) of Arts, Manufacture and Commerce
SEDA Staff and Educational Development Association
SERC Science and Engineering Research Council
SDF Staff Development Forum
SFC Scottish Funding Council
SHA Strategic Health Authority
SML Self Managed Learning
SOL Staff on-line Learning
SPRE Staff Performance Review and Enhancement
SRC Science Research Council
SRHE Society for Research into Higher Education
SSDS Student Support and Development Services
SSR Staff-Student Ratio (or Student-Staff Ratio)
TEFL Teaching English as a Foreign Language
TLHEP Teaching and Learning in Higher Education Programme
TSL Technology Supported Learning
TQM Total Quality Management
UCCA Universities Central Council on Admissions
UCU Universities and Colleges Union (Formerly NATFHE and NUT)
UDACE Universities Council for Adult and Continuing Education
UMAL Universities Mutual Association Ltd
UMF Undergraduate Modular Framework
UUK Universities UK
VLE Virtual Learning Environment
Please contact Emma Holdham e.holdham@keele.ac.uk or telephone ext. 34154 if you would like to
add any acronyms to the list.
3