Quality Assurance – European Standards and Guidelines

1. Quality Assurance – European Standards and Guidelines

2. European Standards and Guidelines -principles • the interests of students as well as employers and the society more generally in good quality higher education; • the central importance of institutional autonomy, tempered by a recognition that this brings with it heavy responsibilities • the need for external quality assurance to be fit for its purpose and to place only an appropriate and necessary burden on institutions for the achievement of its objectives.

3. European Quality Standards and Guidelines – three parts • standards and guidelines for internal quality • standards for the external quality assurance of higher education • standards for external quality assurance agencies

4. Internal Quality Assurance • Policy and procedures for quality assurance: • Approval, monitoring and periodic review of programmes and awards • Assessment of students:. • Quality assurance of teaching staff • Learning resources and student support: • Information systems • Public information

5. External Quality Assurance • Use of internal quality assurance procedures: • Development of external quality assurance processes: • Criteria for decisions: • Processes fit for purpose • Reporting: • Follow-up procedures • Periodic reviews • System-wide analyses

6. Monitoring of External Quality Agencies • Use of external quality assurance procedures for higher education • Official status • Activities • Resources • Mission statement • Independence • External quality assurance criteria and processes used by the agencies • an external assessment by a group of experts • publication of a report • a follow-up procedure to review actions • Accountability procedures

7. QAA Overarching Principles • All students are treated fairly, equitably and as individuals. • Students have the opportunity to contribute to the shaping of their learning • experience. • Students are properly and actively informed at appropriate times of matters relevant • to their programmes of study. • All policies and processes relating to study and programmes are clear and • transparent. • Strategic oversight of academic standards and academic quality is at the highest • level of academic governance of the provider. • All policies and processes are regularly and effectively monitored, reviewed and • improved. • Sufficient and appropriate external involvement exists for the maintenance of • academic standards and the quality of learning opportunities. • Staff are supported, enabling them in turn to support students' learning experience