Quality Assurance in the UK

1. Quality Assurance in the UK Stephen RyrieAssociate Dean (Quality Assurance),University of the West of EnglandBristol, UK University of the West of England, Bristol www.uwe.ac.uk www.uwe.ac.ukUniversity of the West of England

2. The University of the West of England, Bristol • In the city of Bristol • 200 km from London • One of the largest universities in the UK www.uwe.ac.uk University of the West of England, Bristol www.uwe.ac.uk www.uwe.ac.ukUniversity of the West of England

3. Why Me? • Institutional Auditor for the UK Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education • Have participated in Quality Audits for UK universities • Have helped to lead preparation for UWE’s own Quality Audit Dr Stephen Ryrie University of the West of England stephen.ryrie@uwe.ac.uk University of the West of England, Bristol www.uwe.ac.uk www.uwe.ac.ukUniversity of the West of England

4. Quality is ...? • High academic standards? • Well-qualified teachers? • All seats on a course filled? • Income greater than expenditure? • Clean and comfortable student hostels? • All graduates finding good placements? • …. ? University of the West of England, Bristol www.uwe.ac.uk www.uwe.ac.ukUniversity of the West of England

5. Quality is ...? • The UK definition is: • Confidence in the academic standards achieved by students • Confidence in the quality of teaching and learning experienced by students University of the West of England, Bristol www.uwe.ac.uk www.uwe.ac.ukUniversity of the West of England

6. We won’t have “quality” unless… • We distinguish between Inputs and Outputs • We encourage critical reflection and confident questioning • We establish “quality loops” in which all staff play a part University of the West of England, Bristol www.uwe.ac.uk www.uwe.ac.ukUniversity of the West of England

7. Inputs and Outputs • ‘Inputs’ are items directly provided by the university: • E.g. classrooms, teachers, computer labs, student hostels, library books, etc. • Can usually be increased quickly (by spending more money!) • ‘Outputs’ are the university’s products: • Graduates, research papers, etc. • Usually can be improved only slowly and indirectly University of the West of England, Bristol www.uwe.ac.uk www.uwe.ac.ukUniversity of the West of England

8. Inputs and Outputs • Inputs: • Are not measures of quality, … • … but they are often wrongly regarded as such (because they are easy to count) • Outputs: • May be used to measure quality… • … but it is often hard to do so, because… • … they provide evidence which is often intangible or contradictory University of the West of England, Bristol www.uwe.ac.uk www.uwe.ac.ukUniversity of the West of England

9. Critical Reflection, Confident Questioning • What is the Quality of our university’s Outputs? • This is the crucial question, but it is a hard one to answer! • Needs considered reflection … • … willingness to gather and to question evidence • … teamwork with colleagues … • … willingness to listen to subordinates… • … confidence to tell your boss he/she is wrong… • … an open-minded and questioning approach University of the West of England, Bristol www.uwe.ac.uk www.uwe.ac.ukUniversity of the West of England

10. Quality Loops • Processes which allow issues affecting quality to be identified • Annual reports on standards achieved • Consideration of reports by management, to identify problems and implement solutions • Report again next year on whether the solution has worked – closing the loop! • Peer review is vital • Ensures all staff feel responsibility for quality • Makes use of the wisdom of the more experienced and gives confidence to the less experienced University of the West of England, Bristol www.uwe.ac.uk www.uwe.ac.ukUniversity of the West of England

11. Quality Loops In my university we have ‘Quality Loops’ for: • Annual Monitoring and Evaluation of all courses and programmes • Approval of new modules and changes to existing modules • Approval of new programmes and changes to existing programmes • Nomination of new external examiners • Consideration of external examiners’ reports • Peer Observation of teaching University of the West of England, Bristol www.uwe.ac.uk www.uwe.ac.ukUniversity of the West of England

12. A year in the life of a lecturer In the course of a year, a lecturer would: • Write a review of each course taught, containing an “action plan” for any desirable changes • Write exam papers and have them reviewed by another member of staff • Review exam papers set by others • Second-mark exam papers on another course • Have 2 lectures observed by another lecturer, and observe another’s lectures, with constructive criticism afterwards • Participate in decision-making discussions about proposals to change courses or introduce new courses • Be a member of a committee developing new teaching methods • (every 5 years) participate in a major review of all courses in the department University of the West of England, Bristol www.uwe.ac.uk www.uwe.ac.ukUniversity of the West of England

13. Focus on External Examiners The Department: • Writes exam papers • Marks exam scripts (a sample is marked twice) • Presents all marks at the annual meeting of the Exam Board, which decides on Pass / Fail for each student The External Examiner: • Inspects and approves exam papers, and may require changes • Selects a sample of scripts and checks the marking • Attends the meeting of the exam board and approves its decisions • Writes an Annual Report on: • quality of assessment procedures • standard of student work • whether last year’s actions have been fulfilled University of the West of England, Bristol www.uwe.ac.uk www.uwe.ac.ukUniversity of the West of England

14. Focus on External Examiners The Department: • The Course Leader receives the EE’s Report and discusses its content with other teachers • Teachers agree what actions are required to meet issues in the EE’s report, and make recommendations for action to management • Management agree actions, and arrange for implementation • Head of Department writes to EE with summary of actions being undertaken The External Examiner: • Receives the summary of actions and notes matters which need to be checked again next year University of the West of England, Bristol www.uwe.ac.uk www.uwe.ac.ukUniversity of the West of England

15. Thank you for listening. www.uwe.ac.uk University of the West of England, Bristol www.uwe.ac.uk www.uwe.ac.ukUniversity of the West of England