IQER Briefing An introduction to Integrated quality and enhancement review (IQER)

1. IQER BriefingAn introduction to Integrated quality and enhancement review (IQER)

2. Here are some of the most commonly asked questions and their answers about being a facilitator in IQER Summative reviews.(NB: bold terms are explained in the notes)

3. Q Should the Facilitator have access to ARCS for the Summative review? A No, they should only be able to email documents to the folder, but not to see inside the inbox. Q Will QAA send copies of the Developmental engagement report to the Summative review team? A No, but it may be made available by the college if the college wants to submit it as evidence.

4. Q What if partnership agreements are presented as evidence but are unsigned? A Partnership agreements should always be signed (see the Code of practice, Section 2, precept A10). If they are not, it may result in a recommendation. Q Are all HE programmes, including health and education, included in the Summative review? A ALL provision funded by HEFCE is included. For education, if the college is a placement site only and is not involved in teaching the programme, then this is not included.

5. Q Should there be a meeting with employers at the Summative review? A Not unless it is directly pertinent to the provision: if there are a number of Foundation Degrees, for example, or employers are extensively involved in delivery. Q Can college representatives or the facilitator attend the meeting with students or employers? A No. The facilitator does not attend the provisional judgement meeting either.

6. Q What happens if the facilitator leaves the college? A If the college has had a Developmental engagement, the second nominee from the Developmental engagement would normally step into the role as they have received training. Only QAA can deliver facilitator training. If the college does not have another trained nominee, then a new facilitator will need to be trained. This will be done at the earliest opportunity, usually at the QAA office in Gloucester.

7. Q Should there be oral feedback on the outcome of the review at the end of the Summative review? A No. There is a meeting at the end of the second day between the coordinator and the facilitator. At this meeting the coordinator will offer a verbal update on the progress of the review. There will be no discussion of its outcome.

8. QWhen will the college know about the outcome of the review? A After the provisional judgement meeting, which is held a week after the visit, the college will receive a letter confirming the provisional judgements. If the provisional judgements are all positive, then the final judgements will be confirmed around nine weeks after the visit, after the college and its awarding bodies have had the chance to check the report for factual accuracy.

9. Q What if the outcome is more negative? AIf any of the provisional judgements are limited or no confidence, or the team cannot place reliance in the accuracy and/or completeness of public information, the college and its awarding bodies will be able to comment on the draft report and submit further evidence. After this, if the team still finds limited or no confidence, or no reliance, then there will be a second visit. This will be around 10 weeks after the first visit. If, after the second visit, the team confirms their provisional judgements, there will be a follow-up procedure.

10. IQER Briefing We hope you found this helpful. If you have any questions that we have not be able to answer, please email them to me at i.welch@qaa.ac.uk or to Rachael Gee, deputy method coordinator, at r.gee@qaa.ac.uk.

11. The Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education. Registered charity numbers 1062746 and SC037786