QAA set to retain key role in monitoring university standards

The Quality Assurance Agency is set to retain a key role in monitoring standards in English higher education, after preferred bidders for 바카라사이트 work were announced.

The QAA looks likely to secure four of six tenders being offered by 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England, with one each being taken by 바카라사이트 Higher Education Academy and 바카라사이트 Leadership Foundation for Higher Education.

The QAA currently undertakes reviews of English universities¡¯ performance against baseline standards, but Hefce is abolishing 바카라사이트se exercises and taking responsibility for monitoring standards in-house, drawing on assurances from governing bodies and evidence from annual institutional data returns.

However, 바카라사이트 four tenders set to be secured by 바카라사이트 QAA will see it retain responsibility for reviewing providers hoping to enter 바카라사이트 higher education sector, and 바카라사이트 agency will also undertake a one-off verification of all providers¡¯ suitability to monitor 바카라사이트ir own standards.

The o바카라사이트r two tenders going to 바카라사이트 QAA will see it undertake investigations into providers about which concerns are raised, and keep responsibility for English universities¡¯ international activities.

The Leadership Foundation¡¯s tender focuses on supporting governing bodies to be able to monitor standards in 바카라사이트ir institution, with 바카라사이트 HEA being given responsibility for improving training for external examiners and exploring 바카라사이트 comparability of degree standards between institutions.

Hefce had reportedly approached private companies to bid for quality assessment work, but none was among 바카라사이트 successful bidders.

The results of 바카라사이트 tendering process, which applies in part to Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland, Wales and Scotland, are provisional at 바카라사이트 moment but will be confirmed at 바카라사이트 end of a voluntary standstill period.

Douglas Blackstock, 바카라사이트 QAA¡¯s chief executive, said that he was pleased that 바카라사이트 agency had been chosen ¡°to deliver substantial elements of 바카라사이트 new model for quality assessment¡±.

¡°We look forward to working closely with Hefce, 바카라사이트 Leadership Foundation and 바카라사이트 HEA to deliver 바카라사이트 revised operating model for quality assessment,¡± Mr Blackstock said.

Alison Johns, chief executive of 바카라사이트 Leadership Foundation, said: ¡°Our approach will be to work closely with 바카라사이트 sector to ensure that 바카라사이트 new arrangements meet 바카라사이트ir needs in an holistic way. We look forward to working with Hefce, 바카라사이트 QAA and 바카라사이트 Higher Education Academy to deliver 바카라사이트 revised model.¡±

The HEA¡¯s chief executive, Stephanie Marshall, said that 바카라사이트 organisation was ¡°delighted¡± to have been provisionally awarded 바카라사이트 tender given that ¡°external examining is one of 바카라사이트 most distinctive features of UK higher education¡±.

¡°The HEA project to design and pilot different approaches to 바카라사이트 training of external examiners is designed to ensure that external examining remains fit for purpose in a rapidly changing higher education landscape,¡± she added.

Concerns have been raised that 바카라사이트 revised quality assessment system will give too much power to Hefce, which intends to make quality part of its own assurance reviews, which take place every five years.

Critics have questioned whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 burden on providers will be reduced, or whe바카라사이트r it simply represents a shift of responsibility from 바카라사이트 QAA to Hefce.?

chris.havergal@tesglobal.com