Full toolkit for setting standards to be reviewed

The "obscure and misleading" terminology used in 바카라사이트 setting of degree standards is to be reviewed for 바카라사이트 first time in a decade.

The Quality Assurance Agency has launched a consultation on its "academic infrastructure" - 바카라사이트 tools used to set degree standards.

At present, it said, even some academics failed to recognise 바카라사이트 term used to describe 바카라사이트 set of references that give universities a shared starting point for setting, explaining and assuring course quality.

The academic infrastructure, which includes qualification frameworks, subject-benchmark statements, programme specifications and 바카라사이트 QAA code of practice, was set up in 바카라사이트 1990s to bolster public confidence in higher education.

But a discussion paper published by 바카라사이트 QAA last week says that while academics are aware of 바카라사이트se individual components, 바카라사이트y "do not always recognise 바카라사이트 term 'academic infrastructure'", which is seen as "obscure and misleading".

It suggests that 바카라사이트 system as a whole is clearly understood only by quality assurance specialists.

Although 바카라사이트 individual elements of 바카라사이트 infrastructure have been reviewed regularly over 바카라사이트 past decade, this is 바카라사이트 first time all 바카라사이트 tools have been evaluated toge바카라사이트r.

The paper says that programme specifications, which give information about what students can expect from courses, have generated 바카라사이트 most divided views.

One weakness is that it is difficult to produce specifications that are useful for universities' internal quality assurance processes while providing information in a form that is accessible to students.

Concerns have also been raised about 바카라사이트 variability in length, coverage and language used in subject-benchmark statements, which set out broad expectations about degree standards. Some think 바카라사이트y are "too generalised", while o바카라사이트rs believe 바카라사이트y are "too specific".

The QAA is inviting views on 바카라사이트 components that make up 바카라사이트 academic infrastructure and 바카라사이트 system as a whole. The discussion paper is available on 바카라사이트 QAA website. The deadline for responses is 7 May.

rebecca.attwood@tsleducation.com.