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Browse the latest review reports for Scottish tertiary institutions.
We are a sector-leading quality agency with unmatched experience of providing impartial regulatory and collaborative quality assurance and enhancement in Scotland. We work in partnership with the Scottish Funding Council (SFC), other sector quality agencies, students, and Scotland’s colleges and universities to ensure that learners experience the highest quality of education.
QAA was delighted to have been commissioned by SFC to lead key areas of Scotland’s Tertiary Quality Project (TQP). The TQP involved the development and delivery of the Tertiary Quality Enhancement Framework, which articulates a common approach to assuring and enhancing quality in Scotland’s tertiary sector.
Our activity in 2025-26
Scotland’s Tertiary Enhancement Programme (STEP)
QAA will continue to partner with College Development Network (CDN) to deliver Scotland’s Tertiary Enhancement Programme (STEP), the national enhancement programme of activity for Scotland’s colleges and universities. The focus of the second year of ‘Supporting diverse Learner Journeys’ will be on implementing the collaborative projects designed in the Discovery Phase. QAA and CDN will support project teams to deliver impactful activity that improves and enhances the learner experience in Scotland’s colleges and universities.
Tertiary Quality Enhancement Review (TQER)
In 2025-26, QAA Scotland will deliver the second year of the current external institutional review method, TQER. TQER is a peer-led, enhancement-focused approach to review. It contains the flexibility to support different institutional contexts, modes of delivery and levels of learning. Taken together with the wider TQEF, TQER is intended to support assurance and enhancement of academic standards and the quality of the student learning experience for Scotland’s colleges and universities.
Latest news
STEP launches new projects for 2025
| Date: | October 31 - 2025 |
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Scotland’s Tertiary Enhancement Programme (STEP) has launched a set of new collaborative projects for 2025, bringing together colleges, universities, student associations and sector bodies to tackle shared challenges and enhance learner experiences across the tertiary sector.
STEP is Scotland’s national enhancement programme and forms part of the Tertiary Quality Enhancement Framework (TQEF). Delivered by QAA Scotland and CDN (College Development Network), and funded by the Scottish Funding Council, it aims to drive lasting improvement across colleges and universities through collaboration and innovation.
The project teams were formed during STEP’s Discovery Days and Navigation Sessions, which took place in Dundee, Glasgow, Stirling and Inverness last academic year.
Following detailed proposals, the STEP Steering Group has endorsed projects that align with the programme’s priority themes, with a particular focus on Supporting Diverse Learner Journeys.
These projects are designed to support and promote the sector’s commitment to collaboration, innovation, and enhancing the learner experience.
For information on the projects, including lead and co-lead institutions, please visit the STEP website.
These new projects highlight STEP’s role in strengthening collaboration and improving the learner experience across Scotland’s tertiary sector.
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