What makes the best learning environment for research students? How can universities help researchers achieve their personal and professional potential?
The Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) is consulting on new guidance to help higher education providers offer the best environment for research students.
Talking about the consultation, QAA's Janet Bohrer said: 'The relationship between provider, supervisor and student is key to ensuring research that is valid and useful.
‘This Chapter of the Quality Code is about doctorates and research master's degrees.
'Research degrees have evolved, sometimes in response to professional needs, with a growth in professional doctorates and practice-based awards that reflect increasing diversity and the development of degrees in emerging areas of professional practice.
'Doctoral degrees are distinctive as qualifications rooted in original research: the creation of new knowledge or the novel application of existing knowledge.’
QAA's guidance on research degrees will form part of the new UK Quality Code for Higher Education, which was officially launched in December 2011.
Each Chapter of the Quality Code includes an 'Expectation' that sets out what all UK higher education providers can expect of each other, and what students and the general public can therefore expect of providers.
For research degrees, the Expectation is that higher education providers award research degrees in a peer-reviewed environment that provides secure academic standards for carrying out research, and the resources they need for successful academic and personal outcomes.
The consultation on new research degree guidance runs from now until 23 March.
Related categories:
Code of practice
Research and development
Students
Notes to editor:
1. For more information, please contact Joanna Wynn, Media Relations Officer, at j.wynn@qaa.ac.uk or 01452 557074.
2. The consultation about Chapter B11: Research degrees of the Quality Code is open now. You can read the document and respond to the consultation at www.qaa.ac.uk/Newsroom/Consultations/Pages/research-degrees.aspx.
3. The Quality Code sets out the Expectations all providers of UK higher education are required to meet. It gives all higher education providers a shared starting point for setting, describing and assuring the academic standards of their higher education awards and programmes and the quality of the learning opportunities they provide. More information is available at www.qaa.ac.uk/AssuringStandardsAndQuality/quality-code.
4. We are holding two events – on Monday 27 February in London, and on Wednesday 14 March in Glasgow - as part of this consultation. The events will offer briefings on the scope and purpose of Chapter B11 of the Quality Code, and provide an opportunity to share views on how the final guidance should look. More information on these events is available at www.qaa.ac.uk/Newsroom/Events/Pages/research-degrees-consultation.aspx.
5. QAA safeguards the public interest in the quality and standards of UK higher education. We check how UK universities and colleges maintain their academic standards and quality. We review and report on how they meet their responsibilities, identify good practice and make recommendations for improvement. We publish guidelines to help UK universities and colleges develop effective systems to ensure students have the best learning experience. Further information is available at: www.qaa.ac.uk.