QAA Membership Calendar 2020/21
Publication Date: 15 Jan 2021
The overarching theme for UK-wide membership activities in 2020-21 is Resilience, Innovation, Enhancement, helping members to develop organisational resilience through innovative approaches to quality assurance and enhancement.
We will work jointly with all our members and partners across the UK, sharing learning from devolved nations and international partners, supporting new ideas and models for innovation, and providing opportunities to network and share practice. This is complemented by additional nation-specific work, in particular the new Enhancement Theme in Scotland - Resilient Learning Communities.
Our Membership Calendar 2020-21 offers a full guide to the many membership activities planned, across our key areas of interest.
Publication Date: 15 Jan 2021
There is much to look forward to this month - have a look at our highlights page to see what's coming up. Remember, all outputs are published exclusively for members on our Membership Resources Site. All staff at member institutions can access the site and registration is very simple – visit our Membership Resources web page for more information.
QAA Members can look forward to a wide range of online events and resources in January.
Take a look at the many member-exclusive resources we have published in 2020-21.
Embracing the overarching theme, the membership programme will focus on five key interest areas which feature across all membership packages: Core Membership, Quality Insights and International Insights.
These areas of interest have been developed in consultation with members and informed by QAA’s Quality Specialists, horizon scanning and emerging sector policy. Our work will be driven and shaped by the significant changes to the delivery of higher education and evolving practice in quality assurance and enhancement following the COVID-19 crisis, particularly in relation to modes of study and the need for flexibility in the provision of learning and assessment.
We will continue to work with our members to safeguard academic standards across UK higher education.
In 2020-21 we will build on our work to support members in embedding new quality assurance processes and practices. We will develop new guidance and toolkits, and identify effective practice on how to use data to improve student experience, to evidence outcomes and inform risk-based monitoring. There will be particular focus on:
We are conscious that many providers will be adapting admissions and preparing for student transitions. QAA Members will be able to access a range of existing materials, covering topics such as transitions strategies, student mental wellbeing and student digital engagement. We will be hosting discussion forums from August 2020 for members to share experiences and identify emerging and effective practice.
We will also be building on this work by rolling out a programme of webinars in September 2020 drawing upon the principles in the UK Quality Code for Higher Education, the related Quality Code Advice and Guidance, and our recent COVID-19 guidance on admissions and transitions.
We provide opportunities for all staff with a direct or indirect responsibility for quality assurance and enhancement to keep their internal knowledge and skills relevant and current.
In addition to training on specific topics, QAA Membership offers the chance for staff and students to participate in two specially designed training programmes:
Each programme will run three times in 2020-21 and is open to all staff and students at member institutions. Places are limited to one per institution, per programme.
Following positive feedback about our new virtual delivery model, together with the travel-related time and cost savings to members, we have decided to continue our online approach in 2020-21. Each programme will take place across a period of 10 days allowing participants to engage flexibly in both asynchronous and synchronous activities.
Our horizon scanning function keeps members up to date on emerging policy, global trends and issues and the implications for quality assurance and enhancement. This includes:
We offer networking opportunities that bring together UK higher education quality professionals, from both academic and professional services backgrounds, to share innovative approaches, develop knowledge and benefit from the expert guidance of QAA’s team, building strong communities of practice across the UK. These include:
We promote and develop the Access to HE Diploma, which brings more than 23,000 students into higher education each year, many from under-represented groups, improving routes to higher education.
In 2020-21 we will reframe current approaches to the effective management of the QAA Recognition Scheme for Access to HE, collaborating with Access Validating Agencies to adjust to the longer-term implications of COVID-19.
For a detailed description of the guidance, supporting webinars, training and resources available to you as a member, please see the QAA Membership Brochure for your home nation.
For providers in England, there are separate brochures for those looking to renew their membership and those who would like to become a new member.
Publication Date: 30 Jul 2020
Publication Date: 19 Aug 2020
Publication Date: 30 Jul 2020
Publication Date: 30 Jul 2020
Publication Date: 30 Jul 2020
Publication Date: 30 Jul 2020