Elective Quality Review: Guidance for providers
Publication date: 20 Nov 2023
Elective Quality Review (EQR) has five key stages including analysing and evaluating your own processes, taking part in an external review by QAA’s peer reviewers and follow-up action planning.
If you are interested in undertaking EQR, this initial scoping stage will ensure that the review meets the needs of your institution, and lead to an agreement on the specification of the review.
The second stage involves your institution preparing and submitting a self-evaluation document and supporting evidence. It is intended to be reflective, evaluative and focused on the areas of review, with evidence carefully chosen to support the claims made.
QAA will request further information about your institution, before arrangements are finalised for the review visit.
The Review is the opportunity for your institution to demonstrate how it meets each of the 10 Standards of the ESG, and focuses on enhancement. The review team conducts the review through analysis of the evidence submitted and a visit to the institution.
The QAA review team will undertake a desk-based study of the documentation and other evidence that you provide in advance. The team will then visit your institution, with two days onsite and up to a further two online, to check your approaches to quality assurance against your self-evaluation document, the evidence provided and the 10 standards of Part 1 of the ESG.
There are three possible outcomes of the review:
- your institution meets all the standards for EQR
- your institution meets all the standards for EQR subject to meeting specific conditions
- your institution does not meet the standards for EQR.
QAA considers the review findings and determines if your institution meets all the standards for EQR. If successful, the awarding period is five years.
A successful EQR enables you to demonstrate, through the right to display the QAA Quality Mark, that your quality assurance processes are both effective and comparable with international best practice. Refer to the Quality Mark Guidelines for details of its use.
It takes up to 12 weeks from submission of the self-evaluation document and supporting evidence to publication of the final review report.
Shortly after publication of the report, your institution is required to produce an action plan to address any conditions or recommendations and to outline how you intend to capitalise on any good practice.
Two to three years after the development of your action plan, we will conduct a mid-cycle engagement to explore progress, resulting in further advice and a confidential written report. It provides an opportunity for you to receive feedback on how you are addressing the recommendations and any features of good practice found during the review. It also is required to demonstrate adherence to Part 2 of the ESG.
A flowchart providing a detailed breakdown of the EQR process is available below:
Guidance for providers
We have published detailed guidance for providers who have either chosen to undertake an Elective Quality Review, or are interested and would like to know more. This document is intended to give you all the information you need to understand how the review will be conducted and the activities that will take place. You can also contact us if you have any questions about what’s involved.