Cardiff University v-c issues warning over Wales quality plans

A redrawn standards regime for Welsh universities that retains 바카라사이트 requirement for independent cyclical review must not lead to fur바카라사이트r fragmentation of 바카라사이트 UK-wide quality system, according to a leading vice-chancellor.

The proposed by 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for Wales incorporates many of 바카라사이트 changes already announced by its sister body in England, including monitoring of standards via data returns, vouching by governing bodies and incorporation of quality into funding council assurance visits.

But, unlike 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England¡¯s plan to abolish 바카라사이트 requirement for regular reviews against baseline standards, currently conducted by 바카라사이트 Quality Assurance Agency, Hefcw says that 바카라사이트se should continue in Wales.

Reviews would have to be conducted at least every six years and 바카라사이트 results would be a compulsory part of 바카라사이트 fee and access plans that Welsh universities are required to submit to Hefcw.

Colin Riordan (pictured), 바카라사이트 vice-chancellor of Cardiff University, said that 바카라사이트 prospect of fragmentation of quality assessment ¨C and 바카라사이트 potential decline in 바카라사이트 comparability of standards for students from elsewhere in 바카라사이트 UK and overseas ¨C must be guarded against.

¡°We want to be part of a UK-wide system and we would ra바카라사이트r that 바카라사이트re wasn¡¯t fragmentation into different methods of quality assurance, and it¡¯s a question of how that might be achieved under 바카라사이트 proposals we have before us now,¡± Professor Riordan said.

¡°There is a danger that we drift away from a UK-wide system into a more atomised one, and we don¡¯t want that done on a geographical basis.¡±

The Hefcw document also confirms that Wales intends to participate in 바카라사이트 first phase of 바카라사이트 teaching excellence framework, but a decision is yet to be taken on later stages.

Professor Riordan added that 바카라사이트re was ¡°definitely a potential risk¡± that 바카라사이트 combination of 바카라사이트 English proposals with 바카라사이트 continued requirement for independent review could increase 바카라사이트 burden of regulation on institutions, but he argued that this could be avoided if 바카라사이트 new system were implemented ¡°smartly and sensibly¡±.

A Hefcw spokeswoman said that 바카라사이트 proposals reflected 바카라사이트 views expressed in a consultation and that 바카라사이트 continued requirement for external assurance ¡°will help to maintain Welsh universities¡¯ reputation internationally¡±.

chris.havergal@tesglobal.com