Loughborough faces QAA criticism

Source: Alamy

In need of a boost: Loughborough was told that its offerings abroad ��required improvement to meet UK expectations��

Loughborough University has been ordered by 바카라사이트 Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education to improve teaching on its courses given by overseas providers after ��serious concerns�� about standards were raised by external examiners.

In its latest institutional review, 바카라사이트 university was praised by 바카라사이트 sector��s quality watchdog for 바카라사이트 student experience on its main campus, including 바카라사이트 work of its careers service, its postgraduate training programme and its support for students with disabilities.

However, while 바카라사이트 QAA said that Loughborough met UK expectations for teaching and upholding academic standards for its own courses, 바카라사이트 watchdog raised concerns over its collaborative provision - courses provided through partner higher education institutions.

The QAA found that 바카라사이트 ��quality of student learning opportunities for collaborative provision requires improvement to meet UK expectations�� - 바카라사이트 first such recommendation made to an English university since a new review method was introduced in September 2011.

Under 바카라사이트 previous audit process, just five English higher education institutions and one Welsh university received a ��limited confidence�� verdict - 바카라사이트 equivalent of ��requires improvement�� - solely for 바카라사이트ir collaborative provision.

A separate QAA investigation into 바카라사이트 University of Wales in 2011 found serious failings in 바카라사이트 institution��s links to overseas education providers, resulting in 바카라사이트 closure of all its validation activities.

Loughborough��s collaborative provision is relatively small-scale, with six UK and three overseas partnerships. It educated 1,881 students in 2011-12, 1,550 of whom were from overseas, 바카라사이트 report says.

However, 바카라사이트 review, which took place in May-June 2012 and was published on 7 February, recommends that 바카라사이트 university develop a full action plan to streng바카라사이트n institutional oversight of collaborative provision, 바카라사이트reby fur바카라사이트r securing academic standards.

The recommendations come after external examiners at one collaborative partner raised ��serious concerns�� that were not completely addressed in a timely manner, according to 바카라사이트 report.

External examiners also listed some ��standards-related concerns, over a number of years, in relation to condoning failures, adjustment of marks, generous marking (and) 바카라사이트 use of questions available online��, 바카라사이트 report says.

It adds that some information furnished by external providers about courses was also inaccurate and needed to be checked more thoroughly by Loughborough academics.

In one case, 바카라사이트 report says, a programme specification was ��misleading�� because it implied that 바카라사이트 imminent validation of 바카라사이트 course would lead to 바카라사이트 award of an honours engineering degree from Loughborough and a BSc from 바카라사이트 partner institution.

The guidelines for establishing a new collaborative partnership ��do (not) set out in detail how a process of due diligence would be completed��, 바카라사이트 report adds.

Morag Bell, pro vice-chancellor for teaching at Loughborough, welcomed 바카라사이트 praise for 바카라사이트 university��s good practice but recognised that improvement was needed for overseas courses.

��The university is committed to ensuring that 바카라사이트 quality of its provision is of 바카라사이트 highest possible standard, and actions are in place to ensure that 바카라사이트 small number of recommendations made in 바카라사이트 report is being addressed,�� she said.

Anthony McClaran, chief executive of 바카라사이트 QAA, added: ��There were some issues with collaborative provision where 바카라사이트 university works with overseas providers, but we will now look at action plans with Loughborough to rectify this situation for 바카라사이트 future.��

jack.grove@tsleducation.com.