Educational and Student Policy

Introduction to quality assurance and enhancement at the University

On this page:

About the guidance

This site aims to:

  • offer guidance about the General Board's expectations and minimum requirements and how they can be met locally, and on the processing of relevant General Board business;
  • direct institutions to key internal and external quality assurance documents;
  • provide information on activities relevant to quality assurance and enhancement, with examples of good practice.

The guidance is divided into several sections, covering defined areas of provision.

Purpose of the University's quality assurance procedures

The University's mission is "to contribute to society through the pursuit of education, learning, and research at the highest international levels of excellence". This reflects one of its core values, which is to provide high quality provision across all subjects offered. The University's quality assurance procedures provide a framework within which its institutions can examine and enhance their teaching activities to ensure that they achieve this aspiration of excellence.

The University is accountable for the quality and standards of its provision and is required to participate in the activities of bodies such as the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) and various Professional, Statutory and Regulatory Bodies. While consideration is given to the needs of such bodies, it is the General Board's policy that the University's quality assurance procedures should be appropriate primarily for its' teaching, learning and assessment activities, rather than being driven by external quality regimes.

The University's procedures for assuring quality in teaching, learning and assessment are designed to reflect:

  • the mission of the University
  • the complexity, diversity and federal structure of the University
  • the University's nature as a community of scholars
  • the conviction that academic staff and students are most effective in an environment that is supportive and participative rather than directive and managerial
  • the collegiate nature of the University
  • the delegated responsibility given to faculties and departments for their own quality assurance procedures
  • a proportionate central approach to potential risk to learning and teaching provision and to assessment
  • the General Board's Learning and Teaching Strategy.

Disseminating good practice

The dissemination of good practice is important for the enhancement of the University's learning and teaching provision. The General Board has a strategy to facilitate the spread of good practice across teaching institutions, and to identify examples of good practice within the sector which might be useful within the University.

There is much good practice evident in the learning and teaching activities of University institutions. Educational and Student Policy identifies good practice in various ways and disseminates it through the Learning and Teaching Support (LTS) initiative via various media including a termly newsletter, a series of seminars, and an online database of innovative practice. Institutions are encouraged to engage with these central activities.

Institutions are also encouraged to identify and disseminate their own good practice which might be revealed in responses to course questionnaires, review reports or peer review etc.

Faculties and departments are also encouraged to provide examples for inclusion on the LTS database. Visit the LTS website for more information.