University QAA success
Tuesday, 12 February 2013
'Thank you to all colleagues who played their part in the review process'
Colleagues,
The Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) has now published the University's Institutional Review, following the visits by the review team in November last year. I am delighted to let you know that QAA has published a very positive report on the academic standards and the quality of student learning opportunities we provide.
In particular, the review identified a number of examples of good practice at the University, including the excellent web-based multimedia support for staff in relation to assessment and feedback.
The report also highlighted the Pathfinder scheme, which provides a process for ensuring that students are actively involved in the review and development of academic programmes and which supports staff to identify programme strengths and reflect on areas for improvement.
The review, as you would expect, also identifies areas on which we need to concentrate and it makes a number of specific recommendations, including ensuring that the final approval procedure for all new joint honours programmes needs to include external academic advice appropriate to both disciplines.
However, overall, we should take great heart from our Institutional Review. Thank you to all colleagues who played their part in the review process. I am sure the undertaking and outcomes will help us continue to provide the highest-quality educational experience for our students. You can read the full report on the QAA website
Sir David Bell
Vice-Chancellor