Integrated quality and enhancement review

2. Integrated quality and enhancement review

3. Aim • to familiarise participants with the principles of the pilot study of IQER • to identify implications of the IQER method for institutions

4. IQER • Is: • designed specifically for • colleges in England which provide higher education funded by HEFCE • appropriate for HEFCE directly, • indirectly and consortium-funded • provision

5. The main aims of IQER • to assist colleges in identifying and confirming their strengths and limitations in their higher education quality assurance management and self evaluation processes. • provide independent and reliable information about higher education provided in colleges to stakeholders. • identify features of good practice.

6. The main aims of IQER • contribute to colleges’ increased and enhanced capacity to manage their responsibilities for higher education, as set out in their partnership agreements. • deliver constructive reports to colleges, their awarding bodies and HEFCE.

7. Key features of IQER • self-evaluation by the college • use of the Academic Infrastructure • centrality of students’ experiences • review by a team of peers • open and transparent process • evidence-based evaluations, judgements and recommendations

8. IQER activities These include: • two interrelated processes: DE and SR which focus on three core questions • college’s self-evaluation • reviewers’ desk-based analysis and evaluation of documentary evidence • reviewers’ visit(s) to the college to meet staff, students and other stakeholders

9. Developmental engagement The focus is on: • consideration of three core questions for each DE • lines of enquiry to help answer the three core questions The outcomes are: • an oral report • written report, not published, including action plan

10. Summative review The focus is on: • consideration of three core questions • judgements of confidence, limited confidence or no confidence for core questions one and two and an evaluation for core question three The outcomes are: • an oral report • a written report including judgements and an action plan

11. Implications for institutions • enable colleges to develop their own quality assurance and enhancement processes through self evaluation and peer review • help colleges to identify good practice and develop methods for its dissemination .

12. Implications for institutions • promote a wider understanding of standards and quality in higher education and its common reference points • deliver judgements on the soundness of colleges’ management of their higher education provision which are broadly consistent with those given to higher education institutions