Review of the University by the QAA

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The Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) will conduct an institutional audit of the University in the Spring Term 2000 as part of its process known as 'Continuation Audit'. The main purpose of the audit is to evaluate the University's response to the following two questions:

• how do you know whether you are discharging effectively your responsibility for the standard of each award granted in your name and for the quality of the education provided by you to enable students to attain that standard?
• can you demonstrate that the evidence you are relying on for this purpose is sufficient, valid and reliable?

The audit will be conducted by a team of senior academics from other universities, trained by the QAA as institutional auditors. The team will visit the University for five days (31 January - 4 February 2000) during which time it is likely to conduct interviews with anything up to 100 members of the University and also staff from partner colleges in which the University validates programmes.

Prior to the visit, the University is required to submit an analytical account covering four main areas of enquiry (strategy for quality, academic standards, learning infrastructure and communications) which evaluates the strengths and weaknesses of our policies and practices in each of these areas.

The conclusions of the audit team (together with recommendations for action) will be published in a report by the QAA. The extent to which the University is regarded as robust and effective in discharging its responsibilities for standards is likely to condition the extent to which the QAA will operate a 'light touch' under the new quality assurance arrangements proposed for future years.

The University's Teaching and Learning Development Sub-Committee is currently responsible for preparing our analytical account. There will be wide consultation on the initial draft of this document next term with the proposed final version being submitted to all Subjects and Schools in the Summer Term prior to approval by the Senate.

Dr. Peter Williams, one of the directors of the QAA, will be making a presentation at the University on 2 December 1998 on the QAA's methodology for Continuation Audit. Deans, GRC Directors, Subject Chairs and other officers are invited to attend this.

Anyone who would like more information about the scope of the audit, preparation of the analytical account, or Peter Williams visit should contact Sarah Butler, in the Academic Office in Sussex House, who is co-ordinating arrangements for the audit.

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Friday 13th November 1998

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