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We have expertise in safeguarding academic standards and enhancing the quality of the student experience offered in Scotland wherever and however delivered. We promote excellent, responsive and inspiring learning provided in partnership with students.

 

New for 2023-24


Tertiary Quality Project

QAA is delighted to have been commissioned by the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) to lead key areas of Scotland’s Tertiary Quality Project (TQP). The TQP involves the development and delivery of a common approach to assuring and enhancing quality in Scotland’s tertiary sector from academic year 2024-25.


We are leading on two important project workstreams in collaboration with the SFC, sector agencies, and staff and students from Scotland’s colleges and universities.

Quality arrangements for 2023-24

 

Our current external review method is Quality Enhancement and Standards Review (QESR), operating until academic year 2024-25.


The Tertiary Enhancement Topic is 'The future of learning and teaching: Defining and delivering an effective and inclusive digital/blended offering'. 

Latest news


Review team expresses confidence in the Glasgow School of Art's quality arrangements

Date: August 5 - 2024

A review by the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) has expressed confidence in the Glasgow School of Art's progress in continuing to monitor, review and enhance its higher education provision to enable effective arrangements to be in place for managing academic standards and the quality of the student experience.

The review was carried out by a team of three independent reviewers who were appointed by QAA. The review visit took place on 10 June 2024.

The team identified the following area of good practice:

  • The rigorous and coordinated approach to enhancing learning and teaching by developing, embedding and monitoring the impact and implementation of a range of key institutional strategies.
  • The introduction and evolution of the Student Consultant role: working in partnership with staff and students, the student consultants have led on a number of initiatives aligned with strategic priorities, including changes to assessment and feedback, curriculum review and the new Education Strategy.
  • The continued proactive development of core quality processes (including an increasing focus on data) and the oversight of key quality reports at an institutional level.

QAA also made the following recommendation:

  • Building on the work undertaken through the development of the Student Engagement and Representation Policy, the Glasgow School of Art should keep under review the operation of the Student Staff Consultative Committees in consultation with students to ensure a consistent and effective approach. 

Professor Penny Macbeth, Director of the Glasgow School of Art, said:

'On behalf of the students and staff of the Glasgow School of Art, I am delighted that the Quality Enhancement and Standards Review has affirmed confidence in the effectiveness of our approaches to maintain academic quality and standards and enhance the student experience. 

'The review team’s commendation of our strategic approach to learning and teaching enhancement, proactive quality processes, and the evolving role of Student Consultant reflect our strong partnership working between staff and students and their dedication to continually improving our standards. This alignment with our strategic priorities is incredibly encouraging.

'I extend my sincere thanks to the QAA review team for their thoughtful engagement and to everyone at the GSA who contributed to this successful review.'

You can read the full Quality and Enhancement Standards Review report for the Glasgow School of Art on the QAA website.


Blogs


Micro-credentials good practice: A tertiary view from Scotland

17/11/2023 - Dr Anne Tierney, Deputy Chair of the Scottish Tertiary Education Network for Micro-credentials

Quality enhancement through collaboration, trust and empowerment (a celebration of the Scottish approach)

28/09/22 - Sir Paul Grice, Principal and Vice-Chancellor, Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh

Past, present and future: Evaluating Enhancement Themes - a journey through space time?

10/08/22 - Clare Parks, Quality Enhancement Specialist, QAA Scotland


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