LEEDS BECKETT UNIVERSITY
CONTINUOUS AUDIT
BRIEFING
Quality Assurance Services
Outline of the Session
• What is academic audit
• Types of academic audit
• 2014/15 continuous audit activities
• Procedure for auditing
• Key matters to consider when auditing
Composition of Audit Activities
ACADEMIC AUDIT
Regulatory process (see section D1 of the APR)
• Serves to assure Academic Board that delegated
responsibilities for quality and standards are being
appropriately discharged (reports to Committees)
• Promotes quality enhancement through recognition and
dissemination of good practice
Types of Academic Audit
Continuous Audit
Monitoring and evaluation of
routinely produced evidence
(desk-based) and observation of
a range of activities
Enhancement Audit
Specific issues or themes which
arise from consideration of the
outcomes of continuous audit
and/or any other form of internal or
external monitoring and review at
faculty or university level
Collaborative Activity
• Mutual review of franchise partners (incorporates audit)
• Enhancement audits of partners
Continuous Audit 2014/15
OBSERVATIONS
Board of Examiners
- Consideration of level 6 profiles, particularly those with mixed
economy profiles
- Consideration of collaborative students
- Ties in with staff development activities
Mitigation Panels
- Looking for consistency of approach to assure Academic Board
- Fit to Sit/Submit introduced for collaborative provision
Continuous Audit 2014/15
DESK-BASED
Unfair Practice Board
- The desk-based audit activities will support the Short-Life Working
Group that is currently reviewing these regulations and procedures
Student Representation
- Review the implementation of the revised process for appointment
and guidance
- Evaluate the use of the ‘MyVoice’ tool
- Review the number of reps appointed
Observation Procedure 1
•
Areas for audit identified
•
Schedules of activity requested at start of semester 1
•
Audit Team confirmed - QAS and Faculty QA&G Teams (quality
practitioners)
•
Participants assigned an event to observe in an non-aligned subject area
•
Event secretaries notified of the audit and they confirm receipt of the
notification
• Briefing sessions arranged, supporting materials produced
and made available online
Observation Procedure 2
Participants
• Confirm availability to QAS via email and thereafter liaises directly
with the event secretary to confirm the event details (e.g.
time/location)
• Familiarises themselves with the relevant guidance materials,
regulations and the report template
• Attend, observes and submits completed observation report on the
standard template to QAS
Observation Procedure 3
DO
• Remember to check the event details the day before
• Bring guidance materials with you
• Make notes and write up the form later
• Be unobtrusive and uninvolved!
• Look for good practice
• Anonymise individuals in your observations
DO NOT
• Be late!
• Be a stranger! Introduce yourself on arrival
• Intervene or give advice – defer to appropriate teams
• Sit where you cannot see or hear what is going on
Boards and Committees
– Key Matters
• Has a pre-Board been undertaken? Check with secretary afterwards if
unclear
• Attendance – is there appropriate representation of internal and
external examiners?
• Agenda – has the latest template used?
• Consideration of level 6 profiles – have appropriate
methods/regulations been applied?
• Are collaborative students being considered consistently?
Mitigation Panels – Key Matters
• Frequency and scope – meetings should be monthly and at faculty level
• Constitution – appropriate panel members in attendance?
• Report of mitigation at point of assessment made by FMC?
• Who is presenting the cases? (Should be the FMC)
• Are tariffs being applied consistently? (Particularly with collaborative
students)
• Are arrangements for onward reporting to Board clear?
• Any issues that the FMP feels are unclear?
Further Information
Webpage:
www.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/partners/academic-audit.htm
Claire Chapman (Quality Assurance Services)
Email: c.e.chapman@leedsbeckett.ac.uk
Tel: ext. 27584
Any Questions?