Educational and Student Policy
Reference points for programmes and courses
On this page:
University policy statements
The following University policy statements provide a useful context for learning and teaching:
- the University's Mission and Core Values
- Learning & Teaching Strategy
- Equal Opportunities Policy and Codes of Practice
Quality Assurance Agency (QAA)
QAA reference points
The QAA has produced a set of reference points, consisting of:
When considering the University's management of quality and standards during Institutional Audit and other scrutiny activities, assessors will draw upon these reference points. In so doing, the team will not be seeking evidence of compliance, but rather for evidence that the University has considered the purpose of the reference points, has reflected on its own practices in the relevant areas, and has taken, or is taking, any necessary steps to ensure that appropriate changes are being introduced.
With respect to Subject Benchmark Statements and the Framework for Higher Education Qualifications, the University needs to bear in mind that the awards offered must be at the appropriate level. The General Board's Educational and Student Policy will check that this is the case for all new course proposals or revisions, and General Board reviews will also take the Framework into consideration.
QAA institutional audit
The QAA provides an integrated quality assurance service for UK higher education. Its mission is to safeguard the public interest in sound standards of higher education qualifications and to inform and encourage continuous improvement in the management of the quality of higher education.
To this end, QAA carries out institutional audits of all higher education institutions in the UK. Audit is an evidence-based peer review process and forms part of the UK Quality Assurance Framework. Institutional audit encourages institutions to be self-evaluative, and is therefore a process that, in itself, offers opportunities for enhancement of institutional management of standards and quality.
The most recent institutional audit took place in February 2008. Copies of the report can be downloaded from the QAA's website. A statement by the General Board, in response to the report, is included as an Appendix.
The QAA has confirmed that it will conduct its next visit, now called Institutional Review, in the Lent Term 2013.
Higher Education Academy (HEA)
The HEA is an independent organisation funded largely by the UK Funding Councils and subscriptions from higher education institutions, and aims to support institutions in improving the quality of the student learning experience.
It also provides discipline-based support through its subject network of 24 subject centres