1 / 21

Understanding Institutional Audit: QAA's Role in Higher Education Quality Assurance

This document outlines the purpose and processes of the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) in conducting Institutional Audits. It emphasizes the evidence-based peer review process that ensures high standards and continuous improvement in higher education (HE) institutions. Key components include the Institutional Briefing Paper (IBP), the Student Written Submission (SWS), and the timeline for audits. By engaging with institutions and students, the QAA aims to uphold the integrity of HE qualifications while promoting self-evaluation and enhancement of learning environments.

kadeem
Download Presentation

Understanding Institutional Audit: QAA's Role in Higher Education Quality Assurance

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. QAA Institutional Audit 2008

  2. Why are we here? • provide and gather information • ask and answer questions; discuss issues • reassurance - we're confident • reassurance - this shouldn't affect you very much • nice cup of tea and a biscuit

  3. Who are QAA? • Quality Assurance Agency (QAA)'s mission: to safeguard the public interest in sound standards of HE qualifications and to inform and encourage continuous improvement in the management of the quality of HE

  4. What is Institutional Audit? • an evidence-based process carried out through peer review ... with an emphasis on students and their learning • publicly credible, independent and rigorous scrutiny of institutions • encourages institutions to be self-evaluative

  5. Audit focuses • everything! – at the institutional management level • PGR • collaborative courses • published information; Europe • enhancement: deliberate steps at institutional level to improve the quality of learning opportunities

  6. What is Institutional Audit? • an evidence-based process carried out through peer review ... with an emphasis on students and their learning • publicly credible, independent and rigorous scrutiny of institutions • encourages institutions to be self-evaluative

  7. What evidence? • Institutional Briefing Paper (IBP) • Student Written Submission (SWS) • strategies, policies, reviews, minutes... • meetings with staff and students

  8. Institutional Briefing Paper (IBP) • key document • 30 pages • description, self-aware reflection and analysis

  9. Student Written Submission (SWS) • prepared by Students' Union • piece of evidence for audit team • TQ and SU talking frequently

  10. What is Institutional Audit? • an evidence-based process carried out through peer review ... with an emphasis on students and their learning • publicly credible, independent and rigorous scrutiny of institutions • encourages institutions to be self-evaluative

  11. Who are our peers? • 4 people, plus Audit secretary • Julia Clarke, Leeds • Richard Gadsden, Loughborough • Richard Tong, UWIC • Denis Wright, Imperial • Louise Walmsley, Manchester (Audit secretary) Clarke Gadsden Tong

  12. Audit timeline • 1 Sept: IBP and SWS to QAA • 7-9 October: Briefing Visit • 10 Oct-9 Nov: busy, busy, busy • 10-14 Nov: Audit visit

  13. After the Audit • by end Nov: key findings letter • 16 January: draft report • 13 March: final report • 10 April: report published

  14. Findings • Judgement on standards • "present and likely future management" • confidence • limited confidence • no confidence • Judgement on quality • "present and likely future management" • confidence • limited confidence • no confidence

  15. Report • 2-page summary • main report • technical annex

  16. Briefing Visit • 7-9 October • Audit team learns more about university • meets the VC • meets key TQ people (academic & admin) • meets student reps

  17. Audit Visit • audit trails • likely to be based on recent SDRs • 10-14 November • Audit team tests evidence, makes judgements • 4/5 meetings, 8 people in each, 1 with students • "high-value" people - range of roles

  18. Preparations • Departmental healthcheck • drafting IBP now • QAA Code of Practice check

  19. Key issues • course specs • enhancement • assessment conventions • information flows

  20. TQ website • www2.warwick.ac.uk/services/quality • warwick.ac.uk/go/quality • .../categories/institutionalaudit/

  21. Questions? • Karen O’Brien: 23342, k.e.o-brien@warwick.ac.uk • Julian Moss: 22707, julian.moss@warwick.ac.uk • Jenny Bradfield: 74464, j.bradfield@warwick.ac.uk • Helen Hutchings, 50239, h.hutchings@warwick.ac.uk

More Related