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Press release from QAA

QAA gives college students a voice in reviewing quality

Over 2,500 students on higher education programmes delivered in further education colleges have made their voices heard during independent reviews of the quality of their education.

The Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) has today published a report on how higher education students in further education colleges in England have engaged with QAA in reviews of their education.

QAA reviews the delivery of higher education in further education colleges through a process of Integrated quality and enhancement review (IQER). Since the introduction of IQER in 2006-07, QAA reviewers have received 161 student written submissions. It is estimated that more than 2,500 students have met review teams in this time, with a further 150 students involved in follow-up evaluations.

The report identifies a number of benefits of student contribution to IQER. The information submitted by student representatives gives reviewers a valuable insight into the student experience, which in turn influences recommendations made in the final review report. The process of preparing evidence for the review teams helps students to develop an understanding of the quality assurance processes that exist in the colleges, creating a sense of ownership of the programmes.

Gillian Hayes, QAA's Deputy Director of Reviews, says: 'Improving the student experience is central to our work. By engaging in the IQER process, students have a real impact on the review of the quality of their education. Higher education provision is often a small part of the work of further education colleges. Exercises like this can help strengthen the higher education community and identity.

'We recognise that there are improvements to be made in this area. When the current programme of IQER comes to an end, we hope to develop a way of taking into full consideration the needs and expectations of the diverse range of students studying for higher education qualifications in local further education colleges.'

Ends

Notes to editor

  1. For further information, please contact Hayley Haggins, Public Relations Assistant, on 01452 557047 or h.haggins@qaa.ac.uk
  2. Integrated quality and enhancement review: Student engagement is part of a series of information bulletins exploring the context and impact of IQER.
  3. Integrated quality and enhancement review (IQER) is a review method specially devised for higher education in further education colleges in England. The current IQER cycle will end in 2011-12. To date, around 250 Developmental engagements and 140 Summative reviews have been completed. For further information on IQER, please see www.qaa.ac.uk/reviews/iqer.
  4. QAA plans to hold a conference jointly with the Association of Colleges (AoC), the Learning and Skills Improvement Service (LSIS) and Ofsted in spring term 2011, aiming to share good practice on student engagement in colleges.
  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.

 

 

 

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