Introduction to Quality

Thursday 8 June - Friday 16 June 2023

An additional Introduction to Quality professional development course will take place from Thursday 8 to Friday 16 June 2023. This June course has been added to meet excess demand during 2022-23 and has limited places available for new applicants.

This course is for QAA Members and has been designed for academic and professional services staff who need to understand the role of quality in higher education.

It will provide an overview of key elements of quality assurance across all four nations of the UK and encourage participants to share any experience and ideas and identify useful sources of information. Areas covered include:

• the UK quality assurance regulatory landscape (including the role of QAA and the UK Quality Code for Higher Education) and key reference points for quality and standards
• different ways in which quality assurance (and enhancement) might be managed within a provider.

From Thursday 8 June, participants will be able to access online activities and pre-recorded presentations, which will be added to as the course progresses. Also integral to the course are two 'live' online sessions on:

• Tuesday 13 June (10:00-12:00)
• Friday 16 June (10:00-11:00)

Please see the outline programme for more details on how the course is structured.

The first live session will involve a discussion linked to different topics such as course design, learning, teaching and assessment, and monitoring and evaluation, in relation to key reference points such as the UK Quality Code and the European Standards and Guidelines (ESG). There are specific suggestions about how to prepare for this following the second pre-recorded session, but if you would like more time to prepare, you will find it helpful to (re)read the UK Quality Code and look at some of the Advice and Guidance and the ESG (2015).

The site will remain open until Friday 23 June to allow continued access to the resources. If you have any particular needs that might impact on your ability to engage with the materials, please contact us for a conversation on how we can best support you.

Places are limited and are allocated on a first come, first served basis. However, to ensure participants get maximum value from the course, only one participant from a provider will be accepted. To apply for this course, please complete the application form as soon as possible (and by 5pm on Wednesday 31 May 2023). Please ensure you complete all sections of the application form as insufficient information may delay your application and mean you miss out on a place.

Is this course for me?

This course is designed to be an introduction to quality management requirements in the UK and is intended to provide a broad overview of the quality management landscape and themes that that comprises. It would be appropriate for anyone working within the sector who does not already have specialist knowledge in this area, including those who are new to quality management or in entry-level, quality-related roles.

To benefit from this course, we advise that participants should have been working in their provider for at least a month before joining as you will need some familiarity with your local context to be able to engage in the activities.

For more senior quality practitioners or anyone with more experience in a quality-related role within the higher education sector, we would recommend our Quality in Practice courses. These include the opportunity to focus on particular themes of the Quality Code. If you are not sure which is the best course for you, please contact us for advice.

What is the commitment for this course?

To participate, you must be available for the full duration of the two live sessions and be able to commit three to five hours to complete asynchronous activities, which include pre-recorded presentations, reading and discussion posts. Please see the outline programme which will help you plan your time during the course.

There is also an expectation that participants will engage actively in the activities and live sessions. This includes working within the supportive and collaborative ethos of the course, and respecting the diverse backgrounds and levels of experience of other participants.

Is there a reserve or waiting list if the course is full?

Yes, once we have filled all the places on the course, we start a waiting list. The Introduction to Quality course is extremely popular and with limited places on this additional session it is important that participants let us know if they are no longer able to use their place.

Key dates

Wednesday 31 May 2023, 5pm - deadline for applications

Thursday 8 June 2023 - course starts with the first pre-recorded session and associated activity

Tuesday 13 June 2023 (10:00-12:00) - first live session

Friday 16 June 2023 (10:00-11:00) - second live session

Friday 23 June 2023 - course site closes

Course programme

Please see the outline programme for more details.