Swansea University completes Quality Enhancement Review
| Date: | July 23 - 2026 |
|---|
Swansea University has successfully completed its Quality Enhancement Review (QER).
Founded in 1920, Swansea University strategic direction is today underpinned by five key pillars: ‘Our Civic Mission’, ‘Our Student Experience’, ‘Our Learning and Teaching’, ‘Our Research’ and ‘Our Enterprise’. It currently has 26 active taught education partnerships. Nine of these partnerships, eight of which are overseas, offer double, dual or joint awards. Other collaborations include the joint delivery of degree apprenticeships with two further education colleges in Wales and franchised provision.
Quality Enhancement Review is the method by which QAA reviews Welsh higher education providers as part of the Quality Assessment Framework for Wales. Quality Enhancement Review provides quality assurance and supports quality enhancement, assuring governing bodies, students and the wider public that providers meet the requirements of Medr, Wales's Commission for Tertiary Education and Research.
Swansea University's review visit took place on 12-14 May 2026. The review was conducted by a team of four independent reviewers, including a student reviewer.
The review team concluded that Swansea University meets the requirements of the European Standards & Guidelines (ESG) Part 1 for internal quality assurance, and that it meets the relevant baseline regulatory requirements of the Quality Assessment Framework for Wales.
Their report confirmed that Swansea University has robust arrangements for securing academic standards, managing academic quality and for enhancing the quality of the student experience.
The review report listed three commendations, one recommendation and one area of ongoing development.
The report commended Swansea University for:
- The University’s systematic, institution-wide implementation of Curriculum Transformation, which has established a coherent and evidence-based framework for redesigning all taught programmes to enhance the overall student learning experience.
- The way in which the University's professional services, academic colleagues and students have worked in partnership to improve the student experience.
- The University’s employability initiatives that contribute to improving students' career-readiness.
The report recommended that Swansea University reviews its guidance and practice relating to extenuating circumstances to remove ambiguity and ensure greater clarity and consistency for all students.
It also identified, as an area of ongoing development, the steps being taken to strengthen the consistency of guidance and practice relating to the permitted use of generative AI in assessed work across the University.
Professor Paul Boyle, Vice-Chancellor of Swansea University, said:
"I am delighted with the outcomes of the QER, which confirm that Swansea University meets both the ESG Part 1 requirements and the baseline regulatory requirements for Wales.
"The Review process has been highly constructive and valuable for our institution, demonstrating the robustness of our academic standards and quality assurance arrangements and showcasing the enhancement-led culture that underpins our approach to education and the student experience.
"Given our longstanding institutional commitment to partnership and collaboration, I was particularly pleased to see the Review Team recognise the powerful partnership between our academic staff, professional services colleagues, Students’ Union and students. We are similarly delighted with the commendations on our university-wide Curriculum Transformation programme and our Employability priorities, which ensure our students leave us equipped with the skills, confidence and experience needed to be truly work-ready."
Swansea University's full QER report is available on our website.