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Press release

QAA set to review a private college for the first time

The Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) is set to review a private college for the first time. St Patrick's International College will be the first independent sector college in the UK to be undertaking an Integrated quality and enhancement review (IQER) by QAA.

IQER is an evidence-based peer review process specially designed for higher education delivered in colleges in England.

Gillian Hayes, Deputy Director of Reviews at QAA, said: ‘We are delighted to be undertaking a review of a private college for the very first time and we welcome the enthusiasm of St Patrick's International College in preparing for this review.

'We will be checking how well the college manages the academic standards and quality of its higher education courses and will place a particular focus on the student learning experience it offers. The report will be made available on our website in the same way as other IQER reports.'

Raj Kumaran, Director of Education at St Patrick's International College, said: 'Our engagement and involvement in the IQER process will undoubtedly be challenging to say the least. While many public colleges are obliged to be part of these review processes, St Patrick's has taken the bold step of asking to be included in such a review - a first for the private sector. This opening of our doors to public scrutiny not only demonstrates our willingness to enhance our provision, but also our confidence in our offering.'

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Notes to Editor

  1. For further information or for interview requests with QAA or Raj Kumaran, please contact Katie Sharrock, PR Officer, on 01452 557074 or k.sharrock@qaa.ac.uk.
  2. The IQER visit for St Patrick's International College is expected to place during summer 2011. IQER was first introduced in 2006-07 and, to date, around 250 Developmental engagements and 140 Summative reviews have been completed. IQER will complete its cycle in 2011-12. Further information about the IQER method is available at: www.qaa.ac.uk/reviews/iqer.
  3. QAA carries out Institutional audits of private institutions that are subscribed to QAA, of which there are seven. A full list of our subscribers is available at: www.qaa.ac.uk/aboutus/subscribers.asp.
  4. 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.
  5. St Patrick's International College is based in Central London. It was founded in 1803 (as St. Patrick's School) and has evolved over the period of the last two hundred years to its current status. It has partnerships with a number of awarding bodies to provide higher education qualifications, including Edexcel and the Universities of Sunderland and Portsmouth. Information about the college is available at: www.st-patricks.ac.uk.

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