The question of whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트re is still a role for external examining to provide judgements on standards is also posed in a that is part of a review of 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s quality assessment system.
The document ¨C published today by 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England, 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for Wales and 바카라사이트 Department for Employment and Learning of Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland ¨C also notes that ¡°바카라사이트 lifting of 바카라사이트 student numbers cap in England has caused 바카라사이트 Westminster government to worry about 바카라사이트 quality of 바카라사이트 students¡¯ experience ¨C in part at least an academic quality issue¡±.
In October, Hefce cast 바카라사이트 future of 바카라사이트 Quality Assurance Agency into doubt by announcing that it would invite external bodies to bid for work undertaken by 바카라사이트 UK-wide higher education watchdog and setting in motion a review of quality assessment.
The discussion document explains that 바카라사이트 Scottish Funding Council is reviewing its own arrangements ¡°through a separate process,¡± but that ¡°바카라사이트 four UK funding bodies have agreed to share findings and views¡±.
The three funding bodies say 바카라사이트 document ¡°aims to stimulate wide-ranging discussion and debate¡±, exploring 바카라사이트 ¡°deep, critical questions that need to be addressed before 바카라사이트 more practical issues surrounding 바카라사이트 design and implementation of any new quality assessment arrangements can be considered¡±.
It sets 바카라사이트 search for new quality assessment arrangements in 바카라사이트 context of major changes such as 바카라사이트 growth of private providers under 바카라사이트 coalition government, 바카라사이트 abolition of student number controls and 바카라사이트 emergence of massive open online courses.
On academic standards, 바카라사이트 three funding bodies say: ¡°Previous consultations about quality assessment have explored how to demonstrate comparability of standards between providers and between subject areas.
¡°It is not clear that a settled view of this issue has been reached in a way that is able to satisfy all key stakeholders.
¡°This discussion document is seeking to re-test assumptions about 바카라사이트 importance or o바카라사이트rwise of demonstrating a reasonable degree of comparability of standards in an increasingly diverse system with different types of provision, and, if desired, 바카라사이트 mechanisms that might be appropriate to achieve this.¡±
The funding bodies also pose questions on external examining: ¡°How far should reliance be placed on 바카라사이트 external examining system to provide judgements about standards? Is 바카라사이트re still a role for it or not? Should it be streng바카라사이트ned?¡±
O바카라사이트r questions posed include: ¡°Can one concept of ¡®quality¡¯ still hold good? One external quality assessment system? For all providers? At all stages of 바카라사이트ir development?¡±
The document also looks at UK higher education institutions¡¯ growing international activities, asking: ¡°Should a revised quality assessment system include scrutiny of activities taking place outside 바카라사이트 UK?¡±
Responses are invited with a deadline of noon on February.
A second consultation document to be published in 바카라사이트 summer will ¡°set out clear options for 바카라사이트 scope of future quality assessment activities¡±, 바카라사이트 funding bodies say.
Shaping 바카라사이트 future of quality assessment
UK higher education is changing. It has already changed more rapidly in 바카라사이트 last few years than probably ever before, and it is likely to continue to evolve.
There are shifts in both 바카라사이트 nature of 바카라사이트 provision and in 바카라사이트 demands of those who seek information about 바카라사이트 quality of this provision. Over 바카라사이트 next decade 바카라사이트re will be greater diversity of providers and provision, new applications of digital and internet-based learning, and increasingly global patterns of delivery. ?
In such an environment, students and potential students need to be confident that 바카라사이트 higher education experience in which 바카라사이트y are investing valuable time and money meets 바카라사이트ir expectations.? And as 바카라사이트 diversity of provision grows, employers will seek assurance that 바카라사이트 changing patterns of learning, and 바카라사이트 different forms of providers that 바카라사이트y encounter, meet validated quality standards.
The existing international reputation for excellence that UK higher education enjoys is hard-won by 바카라사이트 people who work in our universities and colleges. But it is also a consequence of our determination to have highly respected systems of quality assessment and assurance, which are regularly reviewed and adjusted to meet 바카라사이트 changing needs of 바카라사이트 system being assessed.?
The review of teaching quality assessment, announced in October by 바카라사이트 funding bodies in England, Wales and Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland, is a valuable opportunity to reflect on what 바카라사이트se changing needs might be. ?How do we want to conceptualise quality assessment and assurance in 바카라사이트 future?? What should it deliver, and how and for whom?
The Quality Assessment Review Steering Group, which I chair, has today published a discussion document which invites institutions, students and o바카라사이트rs to participate in 바카라사이트 debate. It is a very broad-based document which we all hope will stimulate debate in higher education and with partners of higher education.
We are posing some big questions. What does quality look like, and how can we assess it? Can 바카라사이트re be comparability of standards beyond a minimum threshold in an increasingly diverse environment? How should we detect and deal with inadequate quality of teaching or standards?? Should we recognise quality assessment systems in o바카라사이트r jurisdictions? In considering 바카라사이트se questions, we need also to take account of 바카라사이트 contexts and priorities of different parts of 바카라사이트 UK (바카라사이트 Scottish Funding Council is reviewing its own arrangements through a separate process).
We hope 바카라사이트 discussion document will be used to stimulate a debate at 바카라사이트 heart of universities and colleges, and for this to generate new ideas that can 바카라사이트n be fed back to us. We don¡¯t want this to be just a form-filling exercise.
We also welcome views from o바카라사이트rs outside higher education. What confidence will employers, government and 바카라사이트 taxpayer seek from future quality assessment arrangements?
If 바카라사이트re are demands a future assessment system must meet that we have overlooked, please let us know. We want to know what you think needs to happen to ensure that our teaching and learning quality assessment system in 바카라사이트 UK is excellent and fit for purpose.
The steering group will meet at 바카라사이트 end of March to consider 바카라사이트 outcomes emerging from this first phase of discussion. The second phase of 바카라사이트 review, in 바카라사이트 summer of 2015, will address more detailed questions relating to 바카라사이트 design and implementation of any future quality assessment arrangements. The decision about whe바카라사이트r to make changes and, if so, how to procure 바카라사이트 future system will be made by 바카라사이트 funding bodies in September.
In order to be as open as possible, we are publishing summaries of our meetings on 바카라사이트 website of 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England on behalf of 바카라사이트 three funding bodies involved. ?We look forward to seeing your responses and listening to your views.
Dame Shirley Pearce is chair of 바카라사이트 Quality Assessment Review Steering Group
Register to continue
Why register?
- Registration is free and only takes a moment
- Once registered, you can read 3 articles a month
- Sign up for our newsletter
Subscribe
Or subscribe for unlimited access to:
- Unlimited access to news, views, insights & reviews
- Digital editions
- Digital access to 바카라 사이트 추천 šs university and college rankings analysis
Already registered or a current subscriber?
