Monitoring and Review

During 2016/17, the University implemented a project to review the quality assurance architecture for the approval, monitoring and review of its academic provision. With a view to creating a risk-based, enhancement-led framework, proposals for annual monitoring, periodic evaluation, and re-approval processes were developed in consultation with colleagues from across the institution. The proposed new processes were endorsed by Academic Standards and Quality Committee and Education Committee in 2017.

Built upon practice established by the Annual Teaching Review and Periodic Quality Review, the revised processes provide for disaggregation between the monitoring and re-approval of programmes and the review of academic departments' teaching and learning. This allows for consideration of the operational (with a holistic review of programmes and the student experience), and the strategic (with consideration of academic departments' alignment with strategic objectives and planning processes).

Further information can be found in Annual Monitoring and Review Processes. [Note: document currently under review; to be republished shortly.]

The QAA places high value on monitoring and evaluation of higher education, describing it as, 'an essential process within providers, forming a fundamental part of the academic cycle.' Looking at all aspects of the higher education experience, it provides assurance on the integrity and threshold standards of courses and qualifications aligned to national frameworks, and an opportunity to consider how learning opportunities for students can be enhanced.

In designing the new processes, a key principle has been the adoption of a risk-based, light-touch approval to avoid any unnecessary administrative burden, whilst maximising the value of systematic evaluation by focusing on enhancement wherever possible.

In all cases, programmes delivered via collaborative partnerships (other than via a designed Regional or International Teaching Partnership) are included in the monitoring and review processes.