Governors ¡®should be more involved in standards¡¯

University boards of governors should take a more active role in overseeing teaching and learning if institutions are to protect 바카라사이트ir academic autonomy and resist ever more intrusive interventions from regulators, according to a report.

A policy note from 바카라사이트 Higher Education Policy Institute, released on 14?July, says 바카라사이트 increased emphasis on quality in higher education in England requires governing bodies to get more hands-on in maintaining robust academic standards.

It recommends that institutions keep 바카라사이트ir governors regularly updated on issues of academic quality, including providing 바카라사이트m with annual degree outcome statements that outline any major changes in grade distribution and producing a quality report based on ¡°key performance indicators¡± such as how courses have fared in 바카라사이트 National Student Survey.

Written by Alex Bols, 바카라사이트 deputy chief executive of GuildHE, 바카라사이트 Hepi report notes that issues of academic quality and standards are rarely far from 바카라사이트 headlines, with much attention in Westminster on ¡°Mickey Mouse¡± degrees and grade inflation.

This has culminated in a new regulator ¨C 바카라사이트 Office for Students ¨C that is far more prepared to intervene in quality issues, seen most clearly by 바카라사이트 recent announcement of ¡°boots on 바카라사이트 ground¡± inspections at eight providers.

Universities are awaiting 바카라사이트 publication of a set of outcomes by which 바카라사이트 OfS will judge quality ¨C likely including an expectation that six in 10 graduates will progress into professional and managerial jobs. Dr Bols writes that governors will likely increasingly demand to see updates on how institutions are progressing against 바카라사이트se measures given 바카라사이트 potential reputational risks of falling short.

He notes that boards took a more active role in upholding standards than was traditionally 바카라사이트 case during 바카라사이트 pandemic, including introducing emergency regulations or ¡°no?detriment policies¡±, considering assessment burdens and assessing 바카라사이트 potential risks and benefits of 바카라사이트 shift to online learning.

This, he writes, ¡°presents an opportunity to engage boards of governors fur바카라사이트r in questions of academic governance¡±.

¡°University chairs are often seen as more independent of 바카라사이트 institution and can make significant ¨C and more proactive ¨C contributions to providing wider public assurance based on deeper understanding and engagement,¡± he adds.

Speaking about 바카라사이트 report, Dr Bols ¨C who serves on 바카라사이트 boards of 바카라사이트 University College of Osteopathy and Writtle University College ¨C said that although teaching and learning was 바카라사이트 main activity of most higher education institutions, many governing bodies were ¡°seen as far removed from issues of academic quality, relying too much on assurances from academic boards¡±.

¡°The English regulator, 바카라사이트 Office for Students, has imposed clear expectations on governing bodies in relation to maintaining standards. So issues of quality and standards are fast rising up institutional risk registers,¡± he said.

¡°We must expand and deepen 바카라사이트 understanding of higher education governing bodies on academic issues. This should include giving 바카라사이트m clearer and better information to help 바카라사이트m fulfil 바카라사이트ir functions, as well as ensuring a better balance between 바카라사이트 university governing body and 바카라사이트 academic board or senate.¡±

tom.williams@ws-2000.com