Date of review	Publication date	Type of review	Judgements about quality and standards	Reference
Mar-2007	16 Aug 2007	Institutional Audit: England and Northern Ireland	Confidence can reasonably be placed in the soundness of the institution's present and likely future management of the academic standards of its awards. - What does this mean? Confidence can reasonably be placed in the soundness of the institution's present and likely future management of the quality of the learning opportunities available to students. - What does this mean?	ISBN 978 1 84482 715 2

Features of good practice	Recommendations for action
The audit team identified the following areas as good practice: the College's commitment to ensuring that the research students' voice is heard through its student representation mechanisms the proactive approach taken by the College to develop and maximise its network of contacts to support and enhance student learning opportunities. the commitment of the College to the provision of a range of staff development opportunities in support of learning and teaching across the College the students' opportunity to participate as members of admissions boards in support of both the applicant and their own personal development the additional benefits accruing from the internal moderator system in terms of departmental, institutional and interdisciplinary understanding the content of the Research Methods Course and its leadership, management and currency which equips students with excellent skills and research methodology.	Recommendations for action that the audit team considers advisable: develop a mechanism by which the College can assure itself that it has a systematic, ongoing, timely and effective engagement with all elements of the Academic Infrastructure appraise the timeliness with which the College responds to, and/or implements changes in, key areas relevant to the institutional leadership and management of learning opportunities further develop and strengthen the College's policies and procedures for collaborative arrangements review, develop and enhance its quality assurance procedures and consider the merit of publishing them in a single, comprehensive, readily accessible source. Recommendations for action that the audit team considers desirable: ensure that the tutorial system regulations are implemented consistently across the College, including the issuing of written feedback to all students after each formal assessment establish a personal tutor network for MPhil/PhD students separate from the supervisory team provide training, guidance and support for all PhD students who are granted the opportunity to teach and assess.

Features of good practice

Recommendations for action

The audit team identified the following areas as good practice:

the College's commitment to ensuring that the research students' voice is heard through its student representation mechanisms
the proactive approach taken by the College to develop and maximise its network of contacts to support and enhance student learning opportunities.
the commitment of the College to the provision of a range of staff development opportunities in support of learning and teaching across the College
the students' opportunity to participate as members of admissions boards in support of both the applicant and their own personal development
the additional benefits accruing from the internal moderator system in terms of departmental, institutional and interdisciplinary understanding the content of the Research Methods Course and its leadership, management and currency which equips students with excellent skills and research methodology.

Recommendations for action that the audit team considers advisable:

develop a mechanism by which the College can assure itself that it has a systematic, ongoing, timely and effective engagement with all elements of the Academic Infrastructure
appraise the timeliness with which the College responds to, and/or implements changes in, key areas relevant to the institutional leadership and management of learning opportunities
further develop and strengthen the College's policies and procedures for collaborative arrangements
review, develop and enhance its quality assurance procedures and consider the merit of publishing them in a single, comprehensive, readily accessible source.

Recommendations for action that the audit team considers desirable:

ensure that the tutorial system regulations are implemented consistently across the College, including the issuing of written feedback to all students after each formal assessment
establish a personal tutor network for MPhil/PhD students separate from the supervisory team provide training, guidance and support for all PhD students who are granted the opportunity to teach and assess.

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