Quality and Standards

1. Quality and Standards Alison Coates Assistant Director Quality & Standards (Quality Management & Enhancement) Quality & Standards Office

2. Overview • Role of Quality and Standards Office • Key Sources of Information • Key Quality and Standards Processes • Programme management committee • Student feedback mechanisms • External examiners • Annual programme review • Periodic programme review • Programme modification • Programme validation

3. Role of QSO • To provide advice to the University and its staff on issues of quality and standards • To operate the processes that the University has put in place to ensure that programmes are of an appropriate quality and standard and meet national expectations • Further information - http://www.canterbury.ac.uk/support/quality-and-standards-office/index.asp • Individual contact details on website – plus qso.support@canterbury.ac.uk • HOWEVER quality assurance and enhancement is a shared activity • Faculty Directors of Quality manage quality within faculties through Faculty Quality Committee

4. Key Sources of Information • Regulation and Credit Framework for the Conferment of Awards - http://www.canterbury.ac.uk/support/quality-and-standards-office/policies/PPEs.asp • Assessment Procedures Manual - http://www.canterbury.ac.uk/support/quality-and-standards-office/policies/PPEs.asp • Quality Manual - http://www.canterbury.ac.uk/support/quality-and-standards-office/quality-manual.asp • Regulation and Policy Zone - http://www.canterbury.ac.uk/support/quality-and-standards-office/regulations-policy-zone.asp • Templates – under relevant sections on QSO webpages - http://www.canterbury.ac.uk/support/quality-and-standards-office/index.asp

5. Programme Management Committee • Meets at least once a term • Membership included in Quality Manual – section 3.6 • Must include student representation • Purpose to receive programme reports, carry out appropriate curriculum monitoring and consider aspects including programme and curriculum development, learning and teaching methods, learning outcomes and assessments, patterns of assessment, student progression, attendance, student support, programme evaluations

6. Student Feedback Mechanisms • Student-Staff Liaison Meeting - http://www.canterbury.ac.uk/support/quality-and-standards-office/regulations-policy-zone.asp#s • Module evaluation • Student surveys • Importance of closing the feedback loop

7. External Examiners • Guidance for Programme Directors on external examiners - http://www.canterbury.ac.uk/support/quality-and-standards-office/external-examiners/index.asp • Nomination, extension of duties and extension of contract • External Examiner induction • Approval of draft examination papers • Arrangements for review of samples of assessed work and attendance at Board of Examiners • Reports and responses

8. Annual Programme Review • Processes set out in section 8 of the Quality Manual - also http://www.canterbury.ac.uk/support/quality-and-standards-office/reviews/annual-department-review.asp • Prepare Annual Programme Review according to Faculty requirements • Draws on evidence such as statistical information, external examiner feedback, student feedback, feedback from other stakeholders • Collection and analysis of evidence should take place throughout the reporting period and not just a one-off activity • Annual Departmental Programme Review, Action plans for Faculty issues, Action plans for University-wide issues considered by the Quality and Standards Committee

9. Periodic Programme Review • Revised process for 2014-15 – see http://www.canterbury.ac.uk/support/quality-and-standards-office/periodic-prog-review/index.asp • Takes place every six years • To ensure that threshold academic standards are being maintained, whether the programme provides a good student experience and is fit for purpose • Panel event with an external assessor in attendance • Documentation requirements – programme briefing paper, proposed programme specification (if changes are to be proposed) and range of other documentation • Give continuing approval of programme

10. Programme modification • Processes set out in section 9 of the Quality Manual - also http://www.canterbury.ac.uk/support/quality-and-standards-office/validation/modification.asp • Major modifications – University validation panel event must be held • Minor modifications – approval by FQC • Modifications can only be implemented at the start of the next level of study – retrospective modification is not permitted • Revised programme specification must be submitted

11. Programme validation • Processes set out in section 9 of the Quality Manual – also at http://www.canterbury.ac.uk/support/quality-and-standards-office/validation/index.asp • FDQs provide staff development • Key stages - programme planning, programme development, programme approval • Documentation requirements – programme specification, module descriptors, student handbook • External advisor / External Assessor • Programmes must not commence until fully approved and signed off by the Quality and Standards Committee • Programme management must follow the final approved programme specification

12. Any Questions?