QAA launches sector feedback survey on revised UK Quality Code

QAA has launched a sector-wide survey for feedback on a revised version of the UK Quality Code.

The redeveloped model represents a significant refresh of the current version of the UK Quality Code, which was published in 2018. Since then, the regulatory position in England has changed significantly and there have been developments in the other UK nations that mean it is timely to consider the future scope and structure of the Quality Code.

The Quality Code remains a key reference point in the quality frameworks for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and continues to be used by providers in England on a voluntary basis -  although providers reviewed in the Higher Education Review (Alternative Providers) method are also required to engage explicitly with the Quality Code irrespective of their home nation. 

Our work so far on updating the Quality Code

In redeveloping the Quality Code, we hosted a series of online roundtables from January to March this year to engage a wide range of sector bodies and networks in discussing its future scope, structure and content. A digest of the feedback from these conversations was presented at our in-person Member Network Conference in April and at an online workshop in May. These activities were followed by a summer series of online events aimed at helping us ‘get it right’ in redeveloping the content of the Quality Code.

Key themes to have emerged in the feedback received so far support a Quality Code with the following features:

• Alignment to the European Standards and Guidelines. 
• A whole UK approach rather than leaning towards any individual national framework.  
• A succinct overview of the features that UK higher education values most, which acts as a useful introduction for those who are not quality specialists.  
• Ease of navigation between the constituent parts of the Quality Code and the underpinning Advice and Guidance.

Latest chance to have your say

The new survey asks respondents for their feedback on the revised Quality Code’s key principles and practices, and whether it supports a tertiary approach to quality and standards across the UK. It also asks respondents for their views on the Quality Code’s ease of use, including how it is formatted online and how it is likely to link to the accompanying Advice and Guidance.

Dr Ailsa Crum, QAA’s Director of Membership, Quality Enhancement and Standards, said: ‘The UK Quality Code underpins UK higher education’s world-leading reputation for quality. We are delighted to share our proposals which build on discussions with the sector to date and look forward to engaging with colleagues in this next stage of the Quality Code’s development. We would also like to thank all those who take the time to respond - your feedback is essential to making the Quality Code as useful as possible for staff, students and other stakeholders.’

Once this stage of the Quality Code’s redevelopment is complete, we expect to conduct a formal consultation during 2024 with the aim of publishing the final version of the Quality Code in the current academic year.

How to respond 

The proposals for the Quality Code include a new structural model and a revised approach to the detailed practices and principles. Full information can be found in the version of the Quality Code for sector feedback, which is now published on our website.

All responses should be submitted via our online survey by 19 January 2024 at 5pm.

Further information

You can find further details about the Quality Code and its redevelopment on our dedicated web page.