Higher Education Quality Assurance
Future of quality assurance
Higher Education Policy Branch has been working with our colleagues in England to agree on future developments with in the Higher Education quality assurance system.
Consultation on the future of the quality assurance method
A key part of this work involves the development of a new institutional audit method to apply from 2011-12. This is being taken forward by the Department for Employment and Learning (DEL NI), Higher Education Funding Council of England (HEFCE), Universities UK (UUK) and Guild HE, but the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA), Association of Colleges and NUS are also closely involved. These organisations published a consultation on the future of the quality assurance method 
, which ran from December 2009 to March 2010.
As part of the consultation process, DELNI, HEFCE UUK and GuildHE held two seminars in January 2010 to provide an opportunity to explore the issues further. Nearly 200 delegates attended the seminars; most were from higher education institutions but a significant number came from further education colleges. Students' unions and other stakeholder organisations were also represented. Delegates heard a presentation from the sponsor bodies on the background to the consultation as well as views from the Quality Assurance Agency and National Union of Students.
The seminars included breakout groups at which delegates discussed the consultation questions and offered some initial views.
Summary of breakout discussions
This document can viewed or downloaded in either pdf or word format.
Other Quality Assurance activities under review
Other areas of work include:
- The Teaching Quality Information / National Student Survey Steering Group, on which DEL is represented, has commissioned a review of public information about higher education (HE), looking at how Teaching Quality Information (including Unistats and the NSS) is currently used, and the needs of the information users.
- A UK-wide , review of the Academic Infrastructure led by the QAA.
- A review of external examining , led by UUK and GuildHE.
Formation of new group to manage quality assurance
HEFCE, DELNI, UUK and GuildHE have set up a new Quality in Higher Education Group. The group has been set up to manage and develop the new quality assurance system. The QAA will be its principal adviser. It will be chaired by Professor Philip Jones, Vice-Chancellor of Sheffield Hallam University. DEL have secured a position for a Pro Vice Chancellor on this group.
The group's first role will be to consider the responses to the current consultation on the future of the quality assurance system (HEFCE 2009/47) and make recommendations for improvements. The first meeting of this group took place in February 2010. Any questions should be directed to Emma Creasey at HEFCE, Helen Gartley at DEL NI, Fiona Hoban at UUK, or Helen Bowles at GuildHE.
- Further information about the group (including its terms of reference and membership and meeting papers)
