Corporate governance

Our structure and funding

We are an independent body, a registered charity and a company limited by guarantee.

QAA is funded through a number of channels:

subscriptions from higher education providers (all publicly funded higher education providers in the UK subscribe to QAA and pay an annual fee, as do some that are not publicly funded)
contracts and agreements with the UK funding councils and organisations to which QAA reports annually
providers of higher education seeking educational oversight for immigration purposes as required by the Home Office (opens in a new window) pay a fee to be reviewed by a QAA team, as well an annual maintenance charge
contracts with the General Osteopathic Council (GOsC), and with the National College for Teaching and Leadership for Early Years Professional Status (EYPS)
additional private contracts, consultancy and business development work in the UK and internationally.

We are governed by our Board. The Board is responsible for policy development, for the conduct of our finances, and for monitoring our performance against agreed targets at a corporate level.

Working with other organisations

Regulatory Partnership Group

We are a member of the Regulatory Partnership Group (RPG), which was established in September 2011 by HEFCE and the Student Loans Company (SLC). Its purpose is to advise Government, HEFCE and other national agencies on policy, strategic and operational issues arising from the development of the funding and regulatory arrangements for higher education in England. You can find out more about the Group on the HEFCE website (opens in new window).

Memoranda of understanding, cooperation, and agreement

Full details of our memoranda and agreements with UK and international organisations can be found below.

UK regulatory bodies

Memorandum of Understanding with HEFCW and Estyn (PDF, 353 KB). HEFCW (opens in a new window) is the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales. It allocates funding to higher education in Wales and promotes good practice.
Estyn (opens in a new window) is the Office of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Education and Training in Wales. It is funded by the Welsh Assembly and oversees secondary and further education in Wales.
Memorandum of Understanding with the OIA (PDF, 174KB) The OIA (opens in a new window) is the Office of the Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education. The OIA is the designated operator of the Scheme for reviewing student complaints in England and Wales, established under the Higher Education Act 2004. All universities in England and Wales belong to the Scheme.
Memorandum of Agreement with BAC (PDF, 245KB) | BAC (opens in a new window) is the British Accreditation Council, based in London. It provides quality assurance for independent secondary and further education in the UK.
Memorandum of Understanding with Ofsted (PDF, 35KB) | Ofsted (opens in a new window) is the Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills, based in London. It is the regulatory body for primary and secondary education and other children's services in England.
Higher Education Regulation Review Group (HEBRG) Concordat (opens in a new window) The Concordat has been established in order to address changing public and political attitudes towards accountability and the evolving regulatory landscape. It aims to reduce regulatory burden and enhance efficiency by supporting a commitment to co-regulation.
Memorandum of Understanding with Ofqual (PDF, 352KB) | Information Sharing Agreement between Ofqual and QAA (PDF, 451KB) | Ofqual (opens in a new window) is the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation. It is the regulator of qualifications, examinations and assessments in England and vocational qualifications in Northern Ireland.
Memorandum of Understanding with the National Centre for Universities and Business (PDF, 280 KB) The National Centre for Universities and Business develops, promotes and supports world-class collaboration between universities and business across the UK.
Memorandum of Understanding between the Home Office and the QAA and Independent Schools Inspectorate
(PDF, 1.63KB) that sets out the roles and arrangements in the provision of Educational Oversight on behalf of the Home Office.
Information Sharing Agreement with the Department of Business Innovation and Skills (PDF, 458KB).

UK professional bodies

Memorandum of cooperation with IET (PDF, 986KB) | IET (opens in a new window) is the Institution of Engineering and Technology, based in London. Memorandum of cooperation with BCS (PDF, 128KB)
BCS (opens in a new window) is the British Computer Society, based in Swindon.

International partners

Albania - Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry of Education and Sport (PDF 475 KB). The Albanian Ministry of Education and Sport (opens in new window) is the ministry responsible for education and education policies in the Republic of Albania.
Australia - Memorandum of Cooperation with TEQSA (PDF 275 KB). The Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA) (opens in new window) was established in 2011 as the independent, national regulatory and quality assurance agency for the higher education sector in Australia. TEQSA contributes to safeguard and enhance the quality and standards of Australian higher education sector through registration of higher education providers, accreditation of higher education courses, quality assurance, and dissemination of higher education standards and performance.
China - Memorandum of Understanding with CDGDC (PDF 109 KB). The China Academic Degrees and Graduate Education Development Centre (CDGDC) (opens in new window) was established in 2003 as an administrative institution under the Ministry of Education. The main functions of CDGDC include undertaking evaluations of undergraduate and post-graduate education, including Sino-foreign provision, and engaging in research into degree equivalency between China and foreign countries.
Memorandum of Understanding with CEAIE (PDF 235 KB). China Education Association for International Exchange (opens in new window) is China's nationwide not-for-profit organisation conducting international educational exchanges. It was founded in 1981 to promote collaboration between Chinese and foreign institutions, and ensure and enhance the quality of cooperative operations. CEAIE's Accreditation Center runs a voluntary accreditation programme for Chinese-foreign joint institutions and programmes in China.
Hong Kong - Memorandum of Cooperation with HKCAAVQ (PDF 200 KB). HKCAAVQ (opens in new window) was established in 2007 as an independent statutory body empowered to conduct accreditation activities for academic and vocational operators in Hong Kong and their associated education and training programmes. HKCAAVQ also acts as the Accreditation Authority and Qualifications Register Authority under the Hong Kong Qualifications Framework.
Indonesia - Memorandum of Understanding with BAN-PT (PDF 209 KB). The National Accreditation Agency for Higher Education (BAN-PT) (opens in new window), established in 1994, is the national independent agency that accredits higher education in Indonesia. BAN-PT undertakes mandatory institutional accreditation, and monitors and evaluates the performance of independent accreditation agencies undertaking programme accreditation.
Ireland - Information Sharing Agreement with QQI (PDF 412 KB). Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) (opens in new window) was established in 2012 following the amalgamation of four predecessor bodies. QQI’s key roles are to provide external quality assurance of institutions and providers in both higher and further education and training, to be the custodian of the National Framework of Qualifications, and to make and certify awards.
Japan - Memorandum of Understanding with NIAD-UE (PDF 323 KB). The National Institution for Academic Degrees and University Evaluation (NIAD-UE) (opens in new window) was established in 2000 as the statutory body with responsibility for evaluating education and research activities at universities and colleges, and contributing to the further development of higher education in Japan.
Malaysia - Memorandum of Understanding with MQA (PDF 87KB). The Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA) (opens in new window) was established in 2007 with statutory responsibility for the quality assurance for both the public and private sectors in Malaysia and the implementation of the Malaysian Qualifications Framework.
Malta - Memorandum of Understanding with NCFHE (PDF 222 KB) . The National Commission for Further and Higher Education (opens in new window) was set up by law in 2012 and is responsible for the licensing, accreditation and quality assurance of further and higher education in Malta. It is also the Government of Malta's statutory advisory body in this sector, performing the functions of the Malta Recognition Information Centre and maintaining the Malta Qualifications Framework, as well as being responsible for the Validation of Informal and Non-Formal Learning.
Singapore - Memorandum of Understanding with CPE (PDF 95MB). The Council for Private Education (CPE) (opens in new window) was established by statute in 2009 and is mandated to regulate, quality assure and improve standards and quality in the private education sector in Singapore.
South Africa - Memorandum of Understanding with CHE (PDF 181KB). The Council on Higher Education (CHE) (opens in new window) is an independent statutory body, established in 1998, with the responsibility to develop and implement a system of quality assurance for higher education in South Africa, including programme accreditation, institutional audits, quality promotion and capacity development, standards development and the implementation of the Higher Education Qualifications Sub-Framework.
Trinidad and Tobago - Memorandum of Understanding with ACTT (PDF 98 KB). The Accreditation Council of Trinidad and Tobago (opens in new window) was established in 2004 as the overarching agency with responsibility and jurisdiction for the registration and accreditation of local post-secondary and tertiary institutions and programmes, and the recognition of foreign and transnational programmes and institutions operating in Trinidad and Tobago.
United Arab Emirates - Memorandum of Agreement with KHDA (PDF 1MB). The Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) (opens in new window), established in 2007, is a regulatory authority of the Government of Dubai and is responsible for the growth, direction and quality of private education and learning in Dubai. It also regulates foreign providers operating in the free trade zones of Dubai.
Letter of Intent to cooperate between QAA and RAK FTZ (PDF 210 KB). RAK FTZ was established in 2000 and is responsible for issuing several types of free zone licenses for investors in the emirate of Ras AI Khaimah.
United Kingdom - Memorandum of Understanding with the British Council (PDF 523 KB). The British Council (opens in new window) is the United Kingdom’s cultural relations organisation, a non-departmental public body incorporated by the Royal Charter. The British Council focuses on cultural and educational relationships between the United Kingdom and other countries.

Further information

Accountability and corporate documents

One of the legal documents that established our organisation and its role is the Articles of Association (PDF, 262 KB).

We have contracts and agreements with the UK higher education funding councils and have obligations to fulfil in relation to these.

We are accountable to our subscribers and to a wide range of other stakeholders and partners. We aim to use our resources to good effect and to conduct our work with integrity and impartiality, providing information and advice that is authoritative and dependable.

Read our Annual Report and Consolidated Financial Statements for 2016

Read the QAA Enterprises Directors' Report and Financial Statements for 2016

Corporate governance

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Our structure and funding​

Working with other organisations​

Regulatory Partnership Group​ ​

Memoranda of ​understanding, cooperation, and agreement​

U​K regulatory bodies​

UK professional bodies​