340 likes | 433 Vues
Learn about UEL's quality assurance system, student profiles, national context, and European standards. Explore QA principles and key elements of UEL's QA system.
E N D
EUROPOS SĄJUNGA Europos socialinis fondas MYKOLO ROMERIO UNIVERSITETAS Management of the quality assurance system at the University of East London Ruth Carter Head of Quality Assurance and Enhancement
Overview • University of East London (UEL) • National Context - England • The quality assurance system at the University of East London • Securing standards • Management of the quality framework at UEL
University of East London (UEL) • Approx 20,000 students • Campuses located at centre of Thames Gateway regeneration • Stratford – the location of the 2012 Olympic park: • Education, early childhood studies, linguistics • Law, criminology • Psychology • Biosciences, health studies, sports studies, professional health sciences • Docklands • Business and management, accounting, economics • Computing, engineering, surveying • Architecture, visual arts • Social sciences, international development, media and communications studies, creative industries, humanities
Student Profile at UEL GenderUELSector Male 42% 41% Female 58% 59% Age 20 and under 24% 31% 21 and over 76% 69%
Student Profile at UEL EthnicityUELSector White 41% 85% Black 27% 5% Asian 24% 8% Other 8% 2% HEFCE Under-represented Groups UELSector Social Classes 4-7 49% 29% State Schools 99% 87%
Student Profile at UEL Highest Qualification on Entry UELSector Access 13% 3% A level 56% 75% Prof Quals 23% 15% Graduate 6% 4% Post grad 2% 1% No Formal Qual 0% 2%
National Context • The government • Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) • Funding provider and financial watchdog • Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAAHE or QAA) • Quality and quality assurance watchdog • Conducts institutional audits
HE Academic Infrastructure • Framework for higher education qualifications • Subject benchmark statements • Programme specifications • Code of Practice
Framework for higher education qualifications • Outlines the achievements and attributes represented by the main qualification titles • eg Certificate in Higher Education, non-Honours degree, Bachelors degree, Masters degree, Doctoral Degree • Defines: • what holders of the qualification will be able to do • qualities and transferable skills
Benchmark statements • Reference points in a range of subject areas, eg Business, Accounting, Law • To help to ensure that the standards of degree programmes across the UK meet an agreed level and cover agreed topics and skills.
Programme Specifications • Internal and external information documents • Outline the intended knowledge, understanding, skills and attributes of a student completing that programme • Identify methods of assessment and degree classification
Code of practice – 10 parts • Postgraduate research programmes • Collaborative provision • Students with disabilities • External examining • Academic appeals and student complaints on academic matters • Assessment of students • Programme approval, monitoring and review • Career education, information and guidance • Placement learning • Recruitment and admissions
European standards and guidelines • Policy and procedures for quality assurance • Approval, monitoring and review of programmes • Assessment procedures • Quality assurance of teaching staff • Learning resources and student support • Information systems • Public information
Aspects of an internal quality framework • Appropriate to the needs and the vision • Stakeholder oriented • Trust and responsibility combined with institutional level audit • Self evaluation • Feedback • Externality • Closing the loop
UEL Quality Assurance principles • We aim to assure the quality of the total student experience • All staff are responsible for quality • We aim to improve quality whenever possible • We are committed to the principle of external peer involvement in assuring quality • We take into account the views of our students
Key elements of the UEL QA system • Programme approval • Programme monitoring • Periodic (6 year) review • Annual audit • Student views
Programme approvals • Initial approval • Validation document • Programme and module specifications • Evaluation against academic infrastructure, especially benchmarks and FHEQ, relevant sections of Code of Practice • External advice – peer review • Assessed against quality criteria • Approved by School level quality committee • Accreditation from professional bodies sought where appropriate
Annual monitoring • Programme level • To ensure programmes remain up-to-date • Evaluate effectiveness of programmes and attainment of learning outcomes • Review and enhancement • Evidence includes statistical data, external examiner reports, student feedback, teaching learning and assessment developments, professional body feedback • Peer reviewed • Action planning • School overview report
Periodic review • 6 year review schedule • Systematic evaluation of operation • Process: • Self evaluation • 2 days peer review by a panel • Evidence review • Meetings with staff and students • Report • Criteria: • Academic standards • Quality of the student experience • Review of quality processes
Institutional level audit processes • Annual audit of a procedure • ‘Internal’ external on School committee • Audit policy implementation • Validation and review sub-committee for programme approvals, and programme withdrawals • External examiners sub-committee for external examiner nominations
Student input • Representation on University committees • Formal liaison meeting with Vice-Chancellor’s group • Programme committees • Consulted over changes to programmes • Module evaluation • Student Satisfaction surveys
Academic Framework Modular Regulations • Awards available and credit tariff • Module structure and assessment • Arrangements for registration and maximum study rates • Accreditation of prior learning • Requirements for passing a module • Reassessment arrangements • Degree classification
Assessment Policy • Assessment design – eg relation to learning outcomes • Processes for assessment moderation and marking, eg anonymity, second marking • Timing of assessment, submission arrangements • Arrangements for feedback • Arrangements for students with disabilities • Marking and grading criteria • Assessment tariff
Role of external examiner • Impartiality • Ensuring comparability of standards across HE institutions • Approving assessment tasks before students take them • Reviewing assessed work • Moderating marks • Attending assessment boards • Ensuring assessment regulations are observed • Preparing a report
Framework for managing quality • Central overview through Quality and Standards Committee and its sub-committees • Responsibility for process devolved to Schools – local ownership • Internal review and audit mechanisms • External advice • Quality assurance and enhancement office – expert advice and guidance • School Quality leader • Quality Manual
Quality and Standards Committee • Corporate responsibility for the assurance of quality and security of standards • Promote and champion innovation and development to enhance the quality of the student experience • Policy development • Review outcomes and action plans relating to review processes • Inform institutional policy in light of QAA developments • Lead institutional responses to audit and consultations
Supporting management of quality • Quality Leaders forum • Quality leader representation on committees and working groups • Guidance notes and templates • Staff development • Quality manual • Quality officer allocated to each School
Role of School quality leader • Provide leadership at School level • Chair School quality committee • Ensure operation of School quality processes • Devise processes at local level • Manage approval and monitoring processes
Role of QAE team • Advice and support to schools in managing their quality assurance processes • Manage periodic academic review • Manage annual audit • Advice to Schools and external partners in the development of collaborative academic links • Manage collaborative and distance learning validations • Manage the external examiner system • Taking a lead role in preparations for external quality audits • Ensuring compliance with regulatory bodies & complete relevant returns
Future developments • From quality assurance to quality enhancement • From teaching to learning • Student input • Curriculum design • Membership of review panels