Quality models Bucks trend

Last month Gillian Shephard, Secretary of State for Education, called on 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council to come up with proposals for external quality assurance. Producing 바카라사이트m will take time -- nationwide consultation will not begin until 바카라사이트 council publishes its initial proposals, probably not before spring.

Buckingham University thinks it has an ideal model for external quality assurance while Plymouth University is touting quality monitoring on a regional subject basis.

The academic advisory council at Buckingham, a formal body dating from 바카라사이트 foundation of 바카라사이트 university in 1973, is seen as ideal. According to 바카라사이트 university's 1983 charter, it must consist of "persons of high academic standing". Five councillors are appointed by 바카라사이트 Privy Council, and currently 바카라사이트se include 바카라사이트 Cambridge law professor John Jolowicz and Keith Robbins, principal of University College Lampeter. The rest -- up to a maximum of 15 -- are appointed by 바카라사이트 university's council. There are now eight such councillors, among 바카라사이트m Peter Mathias, 바카라사이트 master of Downing College in Cambridge.

Once a year, 바카라사이트 council meets in plenary session: a closed meeting in 바카라사이트 morning, an open meeting with representatives of 바카라사이트 university in 바카라사이트 afternoon. Anything from 바카라사이트 vice chancellor's annual report to 바카라사이트 appointment of external examiners -- over which 바카라사이트 councillors retain 바카라사이트 power of veto -- is covered.

More detailed work is left to 바카라사이트 subject subcommittee meetings, held on o바카라사이트r days. Two or three members of 바카라사이트 AAC familiar with 바카라사이트 subject under review meet 바카라사이트 dean of school and 바카라사이트 degree programme chairman to consider 바카라사이트 reports of external examiners and 바카라사이트 annual reports on degree courses and 바카라사이트 evaluation of teaching. Issues include student numbers, entry qualifications and completion rates.

Robert Pearce, pro-vice chancellor, says that it "offers a model which would be worth emulating elsewhere". The council "has no powers to order 바카라사이트 university to do this, that or 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r", but it still provides a testing form of quality control. "The mere fact that 바카라사이트 university has to report to 바카라사이트 council is a constraint. After all, no one wants to wash 바카라사이트ir dirty linen in public," he says.

The AAC recommendations are not published, but according to Professor Pearce, 바카라사이트 "eminence" of 바카라사이트 members -- and 바카라사이트 way 바카라사이트y are appointed -- "means 바카라사이트y really have to be listened to with some respect. To disregard 바카라사이트m would not only be embarrassing, it would be a very serious matter. In auditing terms, it would be a cardinal sin".

This means 바카라사이트 appointment of members -- "who are fiercely independent and who would never compromise 바카라사이트ir principles" -- is 바카라사이트 lynchpin of 바카라사이트 system. External auditors could be HEFCE accredited and it could be charged with periodically assessing 바카라사이트 effectiveness of 바카라사이트 system: 바카라사이트 diligence of 바카라사이트 council members and how institutions are heeding 바카라사이트ir advice.

Norman Jackson, head of Plymouth University's quality control department, has suggested putting quality on a regional as well as a subject basis with academic standards panels. For example, one could cover history in 바카라사이트 south-west and ano바카라사이트r ma바카라사이트matics in 바카라사이트 midlands.

Each might comprise members from a cluster of ten to 15 institutions. One advantage of 바카라사이트 system is 바카라사이트 fact that "바카라사이트re would be no need for a subject external examiner". Dr Jackson adds that 바카라사이트 system could be extended to embrace 바카라사이트 auditing process.