Quality Assurance Agency UK Quality Code

The Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) is currently working with the Sector to develop the new UK Quality Code for Higher Education (Quality Code).

What is it?

The Quality Code relates to the learning and teaching activities of Higher Education providers, from foundation level to Postgraduate Research Degrees. It provides a set of nationally agreed expectations that all UK higher education providers which are reviewed by the QAA are required to meet. The Quality Code replaces and expands on the QAA Academic Infrastructure (AI).

If you would like to be involved in the review of future Quality Code chapters please contact Rebecca Broome at rebecca.broome@port.ac.uk.

How is it organised?

The Quality Code is made up of three parts: Part A: Setting and maintaining threshold academic standards; Part B: Assuring and enhancing academic quality; and Part C: Information about higher education provision.

Part B includes chapters on: (listed in order of publication)

• External Examining (B7)
• Postgraduate Research Programmes (B11)
• Student Engagement (B5)
• Learning and Teaching (B3)
• Managing higher education provision with others (B10)
• Supporting student achievement (B4)
• Complaints and academic appeals (B9)
• Assessment of students and accreditation of prior learning (B6)
• Programme design and approval (B1)
• Programme Monitoring and Review (B8)
• Admissions (B2)

Each chapter starts with a headline overarching Expectation for the topic which is then followed by Indicators which reflect sound practice and examples of how the Indicators may be met.

When will it be published?

The Chapters are being released individually over an 18 month period that started in December 2011. Each Chapter is released for a consultation period usually lasting six weeks. The QAA aims to have all Chapters published by winter 2013. For the QAA development schedule refer to

http://www.qaa.ac.uk/AssuringStandardsAndQuality/quality-code/Pages/schedule.aspx

What are we doing about it?

Rebecca Bunting, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, is overseeing a Project which is being led by Rebecca Broome, Deputy Academic Registrar (Quality and Partnerships) which will review in turn each published Chapter against our current policies and procedures, against the Project Quality Principles and identify areas for enhancements. Each Chapter is being considered by a Project Work Stream group made up of academic staff, professional services staff and students.

How will it affect you?

The Quality Code is a technical guide and will be of most interest to those staff whose principal role is setting and maintaining academic standards and quality enhancement. Staff working in academic departments are not expected to have detailed knowledge of the Quality Code, however its is important that colleagues are aware of its existence and that our own policies and procedures and informed by it.

Further Information

If you would like further information about the Quality Code or individual work streams please contact rebecca.broome@port.ac.uk.