Respond to: auditconsultation2010@qaa.ac.uk
The deadline for responses was: 26 November 2010
Dear colleague
Successor to the Institutional audit process
I am writing to you with information about the process which will replace Institutional audit and to request your institution's views on the operational description for the new process.
In December 2009 the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE), the Department for Employment and Learning (in Northern Ireland) (DEL), Universities UK (UUK) and GuildHE, with advice and guidance from the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA), jointly carried out a consultation on future arrangements for quality assurance in England and Northern Ireland. The consultation set out proposals for revisions to the system used for the quality assurance of higher education in England and Northern Ireland.
As a result of the responses to the consultation, the principles and objectives that will apply to the quality assurance system for higher education in England and Northern Ireland from academic year 2011-12 were agreed. The broad characteristics of the Institutional audit method to be used in England and Northern Ireland from 2011-12 were also indicated, on the understanding that QAA would draw up and consult upon the details of the revised method.
Following discussion at the Quality in Higher Education Group (QHEG), QAA now wishes to consult on the details of the proposed method, which we are calling 'Institutional review'.
You will find comprehensive consultation documentation on QAA's website at http://www.qaa.ac.uk/Newsroom/Consultations/Pages/institutional-review-consultation.aspx, including a draft operational description which sets out the proposed changes.
This consultation on the proposed new review method is part of continuing work to revise and enhance the quality assurance system in England and Northern Ireland. We want the new method to:
- place current and prospective students' interests at its heart, both in routinely including student members of review teams and encouraging students to engage in the quality assurance process
- allow higher education institutions to demonstrate clearly whether they are meeting nationally-agreed threshold standards for awards, and reflecting nationally-agreed good practice in the quality of students' learning opportunities
- support continuous improvement on quality and standards as a part of everyday institutional life
- avoid disproportionate use of institutional resources on the review process
- enable more timely reporting on the review
- pay attention to environmental and sustainability considerations in the principles of Institutional review.
We would be grateful to receive your comments on the proposed process for Institutional review via the form on the consultation web pages by 26 November 2010. These will be taken fully into account as we produce the handbookfor the process in spring 2011.
This is an open consultation and we would welcome views from anyone with an interest in information about higher education. I would also like to draw your attention to QAA's policy on consultation, available at: http://www.qaa.ac.uk/AboutUs/corporate/Policies/Pages/QAA-policy-on-consultations.aspx.
If you have any questions about the consultation please contact my colleague, Dr Gillian King, Deputy Director (Audit) (auditconsultation2010@qaa.ac.uk).
Yours sincerely
Anthony McClaran
Chief Executive
QAA
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