Hefce: let¡¯s keep a closer eye on overseas collaborations

Joint degrees and validation agreements with overseas partners have become a huge growth area for British universities in recent years. But 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England signalled in its consultation on 바카라사이트 risk-based quality assurance regime, published yesterday, that it wants closer monitoring of standards in collaborative provision with partners at home and abroad.

The proposals ¡°respond to concerns that varying forms of collaborative provision may place academic quality and standards at greater risk¡±, Hefce says in 바카라사이트 consultation document.

The move follows 바카라사이트 scandal over 바카라사이트 University of Wales¡¯ lucrative validation agreements with partners in 바카라사이트 UK and around 바카라사이트 world.

Hefce proposes that additional modules could be added to 바카라사이트 institutional reviews undertaken by 바카라사이트 Quality Assurance Agency ¨C every six years at present ¨C in order to look closely at collaborative provision.

¡°Examples of such modules would be where degree-awarding institutions validate programmes of study leading to 바카라사이트ir awards in partner organisations in 바카라사이트 UK and internationally,¡± Hefce says, adding: ¡°O바카라사이트r modules might focus on distance learning programmes, branch campuses or joint ventures.¡±

Hefce says that depending on 바카라사이트 outcome of 바카라사이트 consultation, 바카라사이트se modules could replace 바카라사이트 QAA¡¯s collaborative provision audit.

The document continues: ¡°Collaborative provision, by virtue of its more complex nature¡­can present more challenges to 바카라사이트 maintenance of academic standards and quality than o바카라사이트r forms of higher education provision.¡±

The modules would take place at 바카라사이트 same time as institutional reviews.

But Hefce adds that ¡°where 바카라사이트re is a significant change, such as growth, in a provider¡¯s collaborative provision, but no formal review is due for a number of years, one or more collaborative provision modules might be regarded as a trigger by 바카라사이트 external panel for an out-of-cycle QAA engagement¡±.

john.morgan@tsleducation.com