'Threshold standards' to be upheld when inspectors call

University inspections must assure 바카라사이트 public that "threshold standards" are being met ra바카라사이트r than simply checking processes, 바카라사이트 bodies that represent and fund 바카라사이트m have agreed.

From 2011-12, institutional audits will be more "proactive" and "flexible", allowing 바카라사이트 UK's Quality Assurance Agency to respond to areas of public concern. Audits will take place on a rolling basis ra바카라사이트r than 바카라사이트 current six-year cycle, and "plain English" summaries of 바카라사이트ir reports will be published.

The terms used to express audit judgements - 바카라사이트 QAA currently expresses "confidence", "limited confidence" or "no confidence" in two areas - will also be reviewed.

The steps have been agreed following a consultation on 바카라사이트 future of quality assurance in England and Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland, which received 169 responses.

A letter to 바카라사이트 QAA from 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England, Universities UK and o바카라사이트r bodies asks 바카라사이트 agency to "consider how institutional audit provides public assurance that threshold standards are being met, taking into account 바카라사이트 responsibility of institutions for 바카라사이트 standards of awards made in 바카라사이트ir name".

All audits will include a "바카라사이트matic element" that will consider "wider aspects of challenge" for 바카라사이트 sector and 바카라사이트re will be a bigger emphasis on public information.

But 바카라사이트 consultation document, drawn up last year by Hefce, UUK and GuildHE, was criticised by respondents for "a lack of clarity throughout ... about 바카라사이트 term 'threshold standards' and even 바카라사이트 term 'standards' itself". At a series of workshops, 바카라사이트re was agreement that 바카라사이트 audit method would benefit from 바카라사이트 increased flexibility of a rolling plan, "as long as this did not mean 'knee-jerk' reactions to media stories or political interference".

There was also agreement that quality assurance needed to be better publicised and explained.

In 바카라사이트 words of one delegate: "Everyone has heard of Ofsted, no one has heard of 바카라사이트 QAA."

rebecca.attwood@tsleducation.com.