Annex 1.b. QA Priorities
Known and assumed (but actually ‘unknown’) priorities for the QA of higher
education
1)
Identify in the first line across each of the columns that you have direct experience of (i.e.
the ‘knowns’); excluding the last one – tax payer.
For example, you are/have been a student, a graduate, an alumnus etc , you may be a parent
of a student, or an employer of graduates. In each of these ‘roles’ it is likely you will have
(had) different priorities; in that ‘role’ list the top 5 aspects that you think ought to be
covered (whether they are or not in your experience) AND tick any others that you think
should be covered in the evaluation of an HE institution’s performance.
Identify and order the top 5 (only) priorities for each column (you can have e.g. 1st equal but
then the next is 3rd, etc), and....
.... then tick each of the other items that you think should also be included in a thorough
evaluation (assume that time and money are not constraints!)
Be aware that ALL of these aspects are covered in one or more HE institutional evaluation
systems somewhere in Europe!
2) Then look at the other ‘roles’ (by default the second line across) AND fill in your assumed
(but actually unknown) priorities for other columns where you have not had direct
experience .. e.g minister perhaps.
3) Finally, imagine that you are someone who is has little or no direct interest in higher
education - but is a tax payer someone who actually helps pay for higher education and fill
in that column from what you imagine might be their presumption(s).
Better still, if you have the courage, perhaps ask a friend, a neighbour or a relative - who has
had no personal experience of higher education – just to tick the items that they assume /
think ARE checked. You must try to avoid in any way influencing which items they tick ..
AND .. you may wish to prepare by having immediately available some smelling salts or a
glass of ‘reviving tonic’ – for you..
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Annex 1.b. QA Priorities
Table 1.
‘the various stakeholders’
employer
Mark the roles
you have
experience of
(your
‘knowns’)
Mark the roles
where you will
make
assumptions
(your
‘unknowns’)
student
graduate
parent
alumnus
Minister /
(senior civil
servant )
Rectors /
senior
manager
Professor /
faculty
member
Institutional
administrator
Tax payer
See
instructions
In each ‘known’ column .... choose and order the top 5 priorities .. and then tick others .. that the QA of HE ought to include
In each ‘unknown’ column ... tick those aspects that you assume such stakeholders would expect to be included ..
Programmes
are well
designed
Programmes
are delivered
properly
Programmes
are always
being
improved
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Other(S)?
Annex 1.b. QA Priorities
employer
student
graduate
parent
alumnus
Minister /
(senior civil
servant )
Rectors /
senior
manager
Professor /
faculty
member
Institutional
administrator
Tax payer
Other(S)?
student
graduate
parent
alumnus
Minister /
(senior civil
Rectors /
senior
Professor /
faculty
Institutional
administrator
Tax payer
Other(S)?
Graduates
can do what
you would
expect from
the name of
their degree
Graduates
will be (more)
employable
The
programme
has a good
ranking
The
institution
has a good
ranking
The
institution
provides
‘value for
money’
Students are
assessed
fairly and
consistently
employer
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Annex 1.b. QA Priorities
servant )
manager
member
Actions on
institutional
strategic
policies are
monitored and
published
Results of
student
surveys are
published
Institutions
should have –
and monitor
annually – a
strategy for
improvement
of T & L
Academic staff
undertake
continuous
professional
development
The list above is not complete .. please add any other items you think should have been included
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