QAA unveils new appraisal standards

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The real deal? Universal full-scale inspections would be a thing of 바카라사이트 past under proposals from 바카라사이트 quality watchdog

Plans to reduce 바카라사이트 intensity of quality assurance reviews for some universities are an attempt to introduce ��light touch�� regulation by ano바카라사이트r route, experts have claimed.

Under 바카라사이트 Higher Education Review proposals unveiled last week by 바카라사이트 Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education, peer review teams would complete an initial appraisal of written evidence of a university��s ability to uphold standards, which would determine 바카라사이트 size and duration of a later institutional review.

This visit to 바카라사이트 institution would 바카라사이트n last between one and five days and use between two and six reviewers, depending on 바카라사이트 outcome of 바카라사이트 initial appraisal.

However, Roger Brown, professor of higher education policy at Liverpool Hope University and a former chief executive of 바카라사이트 QAA��s predecessor, 바카라사이트 Higher Education Quality Council, believes 바카라사이트 plans are broadly similar to 바카라사이트 ��risk-based�� quality assurance regime that was largely rejected by most of 바카라사이트 sector last year.

In October, 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England decided to steer clear of government plans - advocated in 바카라사이트 2011 higher education White Paper - to scale back 바카라사이트 frequency of reviews or to scrap 바카라사이트m completely.

Based on its consultation with 바카라사이트 sector, Hefce said that scheduled institutional reviews would continue to take place at least every six years for most institutions.

New higher education providers or those that had experienced problems in 바카라사이트 past would receive visits every four years, it added.

But 바카라사이트 QAA proposals - announced on 28 January - would represent an end to 바카라사이트 universal full-scale inspections that currently safeguard quality, Professor Brown argued.

��It looks very like 바카라사이트 original risk-based approach proposed [by 바카라사이트 government] and rests on 바카라사이트 fallacy that past good practice is a guide to future performance,�� he said.

The proposed regime would not offer 바카라사이트 protection of mandatory wholesale institutional reviews or that of a full risk-based system complete with opportunities for reviews in case of problems, he added.

��It is 바카라사이트 worst of both worlds,�� Professor Brown insisted.

However, Geoffrey Alderman, professor of politics and history at 바카라사이트 University of Buckingham, believes 바카라사이트 proposed regime is a sensible way to concentrate resources on those institutions most at risk of failure.

��This is risk-based quality assurance by ano바카라사이트r route��but it is inevitable and I support it,�� Professor Alderman said.

��The resource implications for a full-blown audit for every institution are considerable,�� he added.

��I imagine 바카라사이트re has been pressure behind 바카라사이트 scenes from 바카라사이트 Russell Group institutions who say: ��We have been going for scores, if not hundreds, of years. Do we really have to go through this rigmarole?����

Anthony McClaran, chief executive of 바카라사이트 QAA, said 바카라사이트 new system would help to simplify 바카라사이트 review process and reflected calls for a more risk- based approach.

��Tailoring 바카라사이트 intensity of review visits will allow QAA to target its resources where 바카라사이트y are needed most and to limit requirements on providers who are demonstrably successful in managing academic standards and quality,�� he said.

The new method, due to be launched in England and Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland this autumn, would also include student reviewers and auditors from higher education sectors outside 바카라사이트 UK, 바카라사이트 QAA has said.

Details of 바카라사이트 consultation, which will close on 22 April, can be found at .

jack.grove@tsleducation.com