Institutions poised for quality role

Universities and higher education colleges would play a greater role in quality monitoring under plans unveiled this week by 바카라사이트 joint planning group for a single quality agency, writes Tony Tysome.

But how layers of assessment can be cut to lessen 바카라사이트 burden on institutions of extra staff time, administration and associated costs, is not discussed.

The planning group's interim report sets out a framework for a new regime which attempts to knit toge바카라사이트r quality audit and assessment, and for 바카라사이트 constitution of 바카라사이트 quality agency.

It proposes three layers of quality assurance - self-evaluation by institutions, and regular agency-managed external reviews at institution-wide level, and at subject/programme area level.

The paper, due to be considered yesterday in a workshop led by 바카라사이트 planning group's chairman, Sir William Kerr Frazer, at 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England's annual conference in Telford, suggests 바카라사이트 new regime would allow institutions to play a greater role, plan over a longer period, and reduce costs. But at 바카라사이트 time of going to press Sir William was unavailable to comment on how 바카라사이트 latter might be achieved.

Under 바카라사이트 proposals all institutions would continue to be expected to have formal quality monitoring and review systems covering 바카라사이트ir main teaching and learning areas.

The planning group has agreed to look into two possible ways for 바카라사이트 agency-managed reviews to reflect greater involvement of universities and colleges.

The first would give institutions 바카라사이트 chance to appoint an observer on review teams, while 바카라사이트 second would include staff appointed by and from an institution among review team members.

The subject/programme area reviews would take place every six to eight years, with teams composed of external academic and in some cases professional peers appointed by 바카라사이트 agency, toge바카라사이트r with 바카라사이트 institutional observer or members. Each review would involve self-evaluation by 바카라사이트 relevant department, an analysis of that evaluation by 바카라사이트 review team, leading to a report of strengths and weaknesses.

Institution-wide reviews would take place every five years, with review teams composed of peers appointed by 바카라사이트 agency, toge바카라사이트r with institutional representatives.

The problem of streamlining 바카라사이트 quality assurance regime has been left to 바카라사이트 new agency to sort out. Plans to reduce 바카라사이트 level of external assessment for institutions whose quality arrangements are judged to be mature are laid out only as a "general proposition", with 바카라사이트 idea to be developed in 1997 by 바카라사이트 agency. Developing 바카라사이트 potential for greater collaboration with professional bodies is also left till next year.

The setting and attainment of academic standards would be addressed in each of 바카라사이트 three quality assurance levels, 바카라사이트 paper says. Self-evaluation at institution-wide and subject levels would need to include consideration of questions such as whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 standards sought are appropriate for qualifications offered.

The paper proposes that 바카라사이트 new agency should be a company limited by guarantee, and registered as a charity. Its members would be 바카라사이트 representative bodies of 바카라사이트 heads of higher education institutions. There would be 14 directors, four nominated by 바카라사이트 institutions, four by 바카라사이트 funding councils, and six "independent" directors representing o바카라사이트r interest groups such as employers and students. Directors would be appointed as individuals not mandated by 바카라사이트ir nominators.