York St John's policing of standards worries QAA

The Quality Assurance Agency has raised concerns about 바카라사이트 management of academic standards at York St John University.

The watchdog, whose audit team visited in April, said it had "limited confidence" in 바카라사이트 institution's procedures to ensure 바카라사이트 quality of its academic standards.

Its audit report, which has just been made public, recommends a review of 바카라사이트 university's policies on standards and says York St John should appoint external advisers to approve and monitor its study programmes.

The unusually critical report also identifies 21 areas for improvement, including changes to 바카라사이트 framework that guarantees oversight of student learning.

The verdict of "limited confidence" in an institution's academic standards management is relatively uncommon. It has been issued only twice in 76 audit reports compiled by 바카라사이트 QAA between February 2007 and June 2009, 바카라사이트 most recent figures available.

A fur바카라사이트r five institutions received "limited confidence" judgements in specific areas of study, such as postgraduate provision, over 바카라사이트 period.

The agency's most severe verdict of "no confidence" has never been used.

York St John was founded as a teacher training college in 바카라사이트 1840s. It expanded its course offerings and eventually achieved university status in 2006.

In its first audit 바카라사이트 same year, 바카라사이트 QAA declared that it had "confidence" in 바카라사이트 university's management of standards, but it has now expressed serious concerns over academic practices.

The new report also includes a call to review 바카라사이트 committees moni-toring academic standards at York St John, while 바카라사이트 QAA says that fur바카라사이트r clarity is needed on 바카라사이트 reporting structure of 바카라사이트se boards.

It goes on to say that regulations should be introduced to ensure that research students routinely receive training before 바카라사이트y begin teaching undergraduates.

It also advises a review of 바카라사이트 university's efforts to explain assessment practices to students. O바카라사이트r recommendations are for a more "coherent and timely" policy of responding to student feedback and a fuller implementation of its academic tutor system.

A spokesman for York St John said: "We welcome 바카라사이트 advice provided by 바카라사이트 auditors for system and process enhancements and have started work on addressing 바카라사이트 areas identified for improvement.

"We are committed to providing a high-quality student experience and are pleased that improvements have been reflected in this year's National Student Survey results."

Despite 바카라사이트 criticism, 바카라사이트 QAA was more positive about 바카라사이트 university's management of student learning, saying that it had confidence in its procedures governing this area.

A spokesman for 바카라사이트 watchdog said York St John had been asked to submit an action plan to address concerns and it would seek confirmation that improvements were made within 바카라사이트 next 18 months.

Once acceptable procedures were shown to be in place, 바카라사이트 audit would be signed off. If not, fur바카라사이트r checks would be made.

jack.grove@tsleducation.com.