Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education
The Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (usually referred to simply as the Quality Assurance Agency or QAA) is the United Kingdom higher education sector's independent expert quality body. It has a remit to maintain and enhance the quality of teaching and learning in tertiary education in the United Kingdom and beyond.[1] It conducts quality assessment reviews, develops reference points and guidance for providers, and conducts or commissions research on relevant issues.
Abbreviation
QAA
1997
Non-profit organisation
Maintaining and enhancing academic quality and standards in UK tertiary education
- Southgate House, Southgate Street, Gloucester
UK
Vicki Stott
QAA Board
QAA has a United Kingdom-wide role on behalf of the sector maintaining sector-owned reference points including the United Kingdom Quality Code for Higher Education and Subject Benchmark Statements; QAA also maintains the Credit Frameworks used in the various nations of the United Kingdom, and the Framework for Higher Education Qualifications which applies throughout the United Kingdom except in Scotland.
QAA provides guidance and other publications, and runs events, relating to the maintenance of standards and the enhancement of quality of teaching and learning. In Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland these enhancement activities are part of the formal quality arrangements; in England they are provided through a separate membership scheme, through which the sector in England also contributes to the funding of the sector-owned reference points.
QAA undertakes cyclical quality review of higher education institutions throughout the United Kingdom, except currently in England, where the regulator, the Office for Students (OfS), has not implemented a cyclical review approach and QAA has chosen to focus on its enhancement activity, including new paid-for services to help the sector meet regulatory requirements and enhance quality.
In addition to its role in sustaining the reputation of United Kingdom higher education, QAA also regulates the Access to Higher Education Diploma,[2] a qualification that enables individuals without A Levels or the usual equivalent to enter higher education.
QAA works closely with other organisations that have an interest in the reputation of United Kingdom higher education, including the Scottish Funding Council, HEFCW, Department for the Economy in Northern Ireland, Universities United Kingdom and GuildHE.
Purpose and focus areas[edit]
QAA's purpose is 'to ensure that students and learners experience the highest possible quality of education.' Its strategy sets out the scope of its work in terms of four focus areas: Standards (QAA is custodian of various sector reference points); Assurance and enhancement; International; Leadership (QAA advises governments and has a high public profile on matters of quality).[3]
Status and funding[edit]
QAA is an independent body, a company limited by guarantee, and a registered charity in England, Wales and Scotland. Its objects and constitution are set out in its Articles of Association.[4] Its board includes representatives of United Kingdom universities and other higher education institutions, further education colleges, funding councils, and students.[5]
QAA's funding comes from a combination of membership subscriptions from universities and colleges in the United Kingdom and internationally, contracts with United Kingdom higher education regulators, funding bodies and government departments, and commissioned work including international reviews and business development work.[6]
It operates a flexible working policy but continues to maintain offices in Gloucester.[7]
Role and responsibilities[edit]
Higher education review work[edit]
United Kingdom degree-awarding bodies (mainly universities) set their own standards for the degrees and other qualifications they award (academic degrees), but since most courses are partly or entirely publicly funded (including through student loans) there is a requirement that they undergo external review to demonstrate that a national 'threshold' standard is met, and that quality is satisfactory. QAA is the body that undertakes this independent role in the United Kingdom. It does so through processes of peer review. Reviewers have extensive experience of higher education at a senior level, or are current or recent students.
While there are some differences between the methods used by QAA to achieve this, they have some key features in common. All reviews check that United Kingdom expectations are met; currently this is done by benchmarking the provision against QAA's Quality Code (see below).[8] Other resources used for benchmarks of academic standards include the 'subject benchmark statements' (maintained by QAA in consultation with the academic community), relevant qualifications and credit frameworks, institutions' own rules and handbooks, standards set by professional bodies, and the European Standards and Guidelines maintained by the European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (ENQA).
Each review results in a published report containing judgements on whether United Kingdom expectations are met. Separate judgements comment on academic standards, academic quality, and the public information provided about courses. Reports include recommendations for improvement, citations of good practice, and affirmations of actions taken by the higher education provider to improve since the last review.
QAA's review methods are informed by a self-evaluation submitted in advance by each university or college, and by a 'student submission' - a commentary by its students. At time of writing, review places an emphasis on the existence of robust academic management structures, and policies and approaches that enable national expectations to be fulfilled, combined with evidence that this is happening. Evidence is obtained in a variety of ways, including interviews with relevant individuals and structured discussions with student and staff focus groups.
QAA reviews do not generally look at individual courses or programmes of study, neither do they review or evaluate students' work.
Guidance on quality and standards[edit]
In cooperation with the United Kingdom higher education sector, QAA maintains the United Kingdom Quality Code for Higher Education (Quality Code - see below), the subject benchmark statements[9] for bachelor's and master's degrees, and other guidance for helping higher education providers to meet agreed United Kingdom expectations. Where appropriate, QAA also works with professional, regulatory and statutory bodies, and employers, to ensure that its guidance is fit for purpose. Draft guidance is published on QAA's website (via a tab on the home page), where it is accessible for public consultation before being formally published.
International relations[edit]
QAA conducts reviews of locations where courses are provided by, or on behalf of, United Kingdom degree-awarding bodies. It is a member of ENQA, and of the International Network for Quality Assurance Agencies in Higher Education (INQAAHE),[19] meeting the quality criteria of both organisations in full. In 2014 the agency was added to the European Quality Assurance Register (EQAR).[20] Having signed memoranda of cooperation with a number of overseas quality assurance bodies,[21] QAA has been endorsed by the Asia Pacific Quality Network (APQN) for promoting international cooperation in quality assurance.