We work with QAA Members in Wales across a range of activities specific to Wales, working collaboratively to support a commitment to enhancing and enriching the learning experience of students.  

Quality Enhancement Review  

We provide external quality assurance that is valued and respected, providing assurance to governing bodies, institutional partners, staff, students and graduates, as well as to the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales (HEFCW) and the wider public. Our approach is enhancement-led and responsive to the context of each institution, and we ensure that it continues to meet the Quality Assurance Framework in Wales and HEFCW’s requirements.  

Responding and reporting to Wales 

Our review work in Wales is commissioned under a Framework Agreement for External Quality Assurance with higher education providers. We report on our work through Universities Wales and individual providers to our members, covering areas such as events, liaison and review activity. 

Through the thematic and analytical reporting of Quality Enhancement Reviews, we seek to identify shared challenges and strengths, providing insight into best practice across the Welsh sector. Building on this insight and knowledge gained from our wider involvement in Wales, we work to design and deliver programmes of activity to support step change in practice in priority areas chosen by our members. 

Wales Quality Network 

The Wales Quality Network is a valuable forum for discussion on quality-related matters. We facilitate this network for staff involved in quality assurance and enhancement. 

Supporting collaborative engagement and sector-wide discussion 

As part of membership in Wales, we:  

• use our expertise to contribute to the interests of higher education in Wales, to the development and implementation of relevant government initiatives and priorities - most prominently around the reform of the post-compulsory sector 
• continue to support the active participation of students as partners in our work and in quality enhancement in Wales, seeking further ways to deepen and strengthen student involvement, engagement and partnership 
• actively contribute to Universities Wales committees 
• promote the voice and interests of Wales equally with all the UK’s home nations. 

QAA’s further work in Wales 

We work closely with HEFCW and bodies such as Estyn and Colleges Wales. We also conduct Gateway reviews and undertake Unsatisfactory Quality and Standards Investigations when commissioned to do so. 

UK-wide membership programme for 2020-21 

In addition to the Wales specific activities outlined above, QAA Members in Wales have access to all of QAA's UK-wide membership activities and services. The overarching theme for the UK-wide membership programme for 2020-21 is Resilience, Innovation Enhancement, helping members to develop organisational resilience through innovative approaches to quality assurance and enhancement. Detailed information about membership in Wales and the new 2020-21 QAA Membership year and all it has to offer is provided in our Membership in Wales Brochure - which is available in Welsh and English. 

You can find out more about each area of membership on our website.