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QAA News is written in QAA's capacity as a membership organisation
unless otherwise indicated.
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QAA unveils new strategy for its work in tertiary education
We have published our new Strategy which will underpin QAA’s future work in ensuring that students and learners experience the highest possible quality of education.
The document outlines our purpose and intended impact within the tertiary education sector, sets out the scope of our work with reference to four focus areas, and also highlights key changes in our strategic approach which reflect the evolving policy environment.
New director for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland appointed
We are delighted to announce the appointment of Kathryn O’Loan as our new Director for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland (SWNI). Kathryn will join QAA in June 2023 from the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) - the tertiary education and research authority in Scotland - where she is Assistant Director for Access, Learning and Outcomes.
QAA invites expressions of interest for Chair and Deputy Chair for Subject Benchmark Statement in Public Policy and Public Administration
QAA is inviting expressions of interest from the academic community to act as Chair and Deputy Chair for the development of a new Subject Benchmark Statement in Public Policy and Public Administration. Academic representatives will only be drawn from higher education providers who are QAA Members. The deadline for submissions is midday on 28 April 2023.
Call for submissions
QAA has opened a call for proposals for the upcoming HEFCW-funded QAA Welsh Integrity and Assessment Network (WIAN) Symposium Event. The event will be hosted online by QAA in partnership with the WIAN on Friday 9 June 2023. The event will build on the themes of the QAA Academic Integrity Charter and the Network, and focus on the growing interest in artificial intelligence tools and the potential opportunities and challenges for assessment. The WIAN welcome proposals from across the UK and each proposal will be considered for a session of up to 45 minutes at the event. Proposals should be submitted by 17 April at 12.00.
Galwad am gyflwyniadau
Mae QAA wedi agor galwad am gynigion ar gyfer Digwyddiad Symposiwm Rhwydwaith Uniondeb ac Asesu Cymru QAA (RhUAC) a ariennir gan CCAUC. Cynhelir y digwyddiad ar-lein gan QAA mewn partneriaeth â RhUAC ddydd Gwener 9 Mehefin 2023. Mae’r digwyddiad ddydd yn mynd i adeiladu ar themâu’r Siarter a’r Rhwydwaith, a chanolbwyntio ar y diddordeb cynyddol mewn offer deallusrwydd artiffisial a’r cyfleoedd a’r heriau posibl ar gyfer asesu. Mae RhUAC yn croesawu cynigion o bob rhan o'r DU a bydd pob cynnig yn cael ei ystyried ar gyfer sesiwn o hyd at 45 munud yn y digwyddiad. Dylid cyflwyno cynigion erbyn 17 Ebrill am 12:00.
Visit the QAA newsroom to browse the latest updates and access our news, events, press releases, consultations and circular letters.
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'Should I stay or should I go?' Deciding to pursue an academic or non-academic career path post-study
Dr Andrea Calef, Lecturer in Economics from the University of East Anglia, shares the experiences and career paths of two recent PhD graduates as they consider what influenced their choices and what advice they have for current PhD students approaching employability.
What is optionality in assessment?
This blog is brought to us from the project team for the 'Optionality in Assessment' Collaborative Enhancement Project. The University of Manchester, University of York, University College London and Imperial College London describe how they are working together to explore the feasibility, practicality and utility of optionality in assessment (student choice over how they are assessed), in order to understand the potential benefits, drawbacks and barriers.
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Supporting and Enhancing the Experience of International Students in the UK
This guide provides practical support for all academic and professional services staff with responsibility for, or those who engage with, international students studying at all levels, including student advisers, international officers, lecturers, quality assurance practitioners, student services managers, careers advisers and senior managers.
QAA Membership Highlights (August 2022-February 2023)
A snapshot of the Membership year so far, highlighting how you have been engaging with our events in 2022-23 and how we are supporting you to address the topics that matter to you most.
Defining, measuring and supporting success for postgraduate researchers from diverse backgrounds
Latest resources from the Collaborative Enhancement Project led by the University of Nottingham to develop a framework that offers recommendations for practical approaches to help providers deliver improved support for postgraduate researchers.
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Improving support for postgraduate researchers
In this month’s instalment, Dr Kerr Castle (QAA’s Quality Enhancement and Standards Specialist) chats with Mercy Mwansa (University of Leeds) and Rachel Van Krimpen (University of Nottingham) about different barriers to success for postgraduate researchers. The discussion covers issues including mental health and wellbeing, imposter syndrome, the influence of research culture and perceptions of identity.
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Webinars, events and training
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QAA offers a programme of webinars, online briefings, events and training focused on the themes of quality and enhancement. Most are only accessible to QAA Members, and are open to all students and staff from QAA Member institutions, with others open on a wider basis. Visit our website to find out more about the membership year ahead with our 2022-23 QAA Membership calendar; and how you can benefit from membership resources, events, training and guidance.
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Member Network Conference
20 April, 9.30-15.30 - Birmingham (in-person)
Our Member Network Conference provides an opportunity for colleagues to explore current sector challenges and share ideas with like-minded colleagues.
Assessment Festival
24-28 April, 10.00-13.00
Join us for a relaxed and informal exploration of all things assessment related. We will dare to be controversial, ask those difficult questions and take a forward-facing look at how assessment may evolve. The festival will bring different voices from the sector to share and celebrate assessment practices that enhance student experience.
Student Quality Network
9 May, 14.00-15.30
This event is most relevant to student representatives, the staff supporting them and colleagues working in student engagement in higher education. There will be an opportunity for practice sharing and discussion and QAA will also provide an update on higher education policy and let you know what's planned for student engagement for 2023-24.
Inclusive Education Framework launch event
11 May, 10.00-12.00
This event will launch the QAA Collaborative Enhancement Project which has produced an Inclusive Education Framework and accompanying resource bank to help individuals and institutions embed inclusive education throughout their provision.
Training course: Introduction to Quality
18-26 May (online)
This course has been designed for academic and professional services staff who need to understand the role of quality in higher education. It will provide an overview of key elements of quality assurance across all four nations of the UK and encourage participants to share any experience and ideas, and identify useful sources of information.
Specialist and Independent Provider HE Policy and Practice Network
23 May, 08.30-10.00
This network brings together QAA Members from across the UK, providing a platform to keep up-to-date with key higher education policy developments, discuss quality-related issues and share practice. Following on from the UK-wide policy update, the practice session will focus on exploring what works to support narrowing awarding gaps.
PVC International Network
24 May, 09.00-10.00
Our PVC International Network provides an opportunity for senior leaders to come together to discuss and collaboratively explore current strategic issues facing UK universities in the international arena.
College HE Policy and Practice Network
25 May, 09.30-11.30
QAA’s College HE Policy and Practice Network brings together QAA College HE Members from across the UK, providing a platform to keep up-to-date with key higher education policy developments, discuss quality-related issues and share practice. The practice session will focus on exploring what works to support narrowing awarding gaps.
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INTERNATIONAL INSIGHTS EVENTS
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These events are for QAA Members who have subscribed to International Insights - an additional enhancement package that provides practical support for your engagement with international partners to develop transnational education (TNE) and recruit international students.
Training course: Managing Risk and Enhancing Quality Training
27 April, 09.30-11.30 (GMT +1)
This session, which builds on our Introduction to International Partnerships training, will enable participants to explore risks in the management of international partnerships and share solutions to challenges through group activity and discussions.
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Introduction to International Programme Accreditation for ACE Impact webinars
13 April, 10.00-10.45 (GMT +1)
This webinar will introduce QAA’s International Programme Accreditation (IPA), providing more information about this new review method and the benefits it can bring to your institution. IPA offers institutions outside the UK the opportunity to have an independent peer review of their curriculum development and quality assurance process.
ChatGPT: What should assessment look like now?
18 April, 10.00-11.00 (GMT +1)
ChatGPT is a language model developed by OpenAI, designed to respond to text-based queries and generate natural language responses. This webinar will unearth the true meaning of authentic assessment and explore examples of assessment design that account for ChatGPT but still offer an accurate way to assess what a student has learned.
An Introduction to International Programme Accreditation
27 April, 10.00-10.45 (GMT +1)
QAA's new review method - International Programme Accreditation (IPA) - offers institutions outside the UK the opportunity to have an independent peer review of their curriculum development and quality assurance process. This online event provides information about the method and the benefits it can bring to your institution.
An Introduction to International Quality Review
2 May, 10.00-10.45 (GMT +1)
Find out more about how successful completion of an International Quality Review (IQR) leads to accreditation by QAA against internationally-recognised standards. This webinar is aimed at non-UK institutions who want to know more about the IQR process.
An Introduction to QAA International Associate Membership
18 May, 10.00-10.45 (GMT +1)
International Membership is an opportunity to become part of a growing global community of higher education professionals and institutions - including QAA’s UK Members - with an interest in enhancing their quality culture, practice and the student experience. This webinar is an opportunity to find out more about QAA’s new International Associate Membership and how it could benefit your organisation.
Training: International Quality Assurance Programme
3-7 July - London (in-person)
This intensive five-day course provides an excellent opportunity to enrich your understanding of quality assurance and enhancement, learn about the UK quality assurance system, and build relationships with quality assurance professionals from around the world. You can expect high-quality presentations by experts in UK higher education quality assurance and comprehensive study materials, as well as visits to institutions to learn more about higher education quality in practice. Early bird offer - book before 30 April.
Details about further QAA events can be found at www.qaa.ac.uk/events
QAA CYMRU
Micro-credential Enhancement Project (HEFCW-funded): Quality Assurance Processes
24 May, 10.00-11.30
During 2022-23, QAA Cymru has been undertaking a HEFCW-commissioned project to learn more about micro-credentials in Wales and share practice across the sector. As part of this work, QAA is undertaking a short survey with regulated higher education providers in Wales and following this up with some short discussions on current micro-credentials activities. The webinars will be an opportunity to share practice in the area of micro-credentials in the context of the QAA Micro-credentials Characteristics Statement.
Prosiect Gwelliant Micro-gymwysterau (wedi’ iariannu gan CCAUC): Prosesau Sicrhau Ansawdd
24 Mai, 10.00-11.30
Yn ystod 2022-23, mae QAA Cymru wedi ymgymryd â phrosiect a gomisiynwyd gan CCAUC i ddysgu mwy am ficro-gymwysterau yng Nghymru a rhannu arfer ar draws y sector. Fel rhan o'r gwaith hwn, mae QAA yn cynnal arolwg byr gyda darparwyr addysg uwch a reoleiddir yng Nghymru, ac yn dilyn hyn gyda thrafodaethau byr ar weithgareddau cyfredol ym maes micro-gymwysterau. Bydd y gweminarau yn gyfle i rannu arfer ym maes micro-gymwysterau yng nghyd-destun Datganiad Nodweddion Micro-Gymwysterau QAA.
QAA SCOTLAND
4 May, 13.00-14.00
The latest Virtual Panel from QAA Scotland’s 20 Years of Enhancement campaign. In this session, sector colleagues will be welcomed to take part in a conversation on the role of relationship building to foster and improve student success. The conversation will explore themes of resilience, the value of community, and the role of enhancement in supporting student success.
QAA Scotland's International Enhancement Conference - Shaping the Student Experience Together: 20 Years of Enhancement - registration now open
14-15 June, Glasgow Caledonian University
QAA Scotland’s International Enhancement Conferences bring together delegates from the UK and beyond with the common goal of enhancing higher education strategy, policy and practice, and improving the student experience. In the final year of Resilient Learning Communities, the current Enhancement Theme, the Conference will showcase the exciting work of our collaborative clusters in addition to innovative research and practice from across the UK and internationally. The Conference is free to attend for colleagues in Scotland, but event capacity is limited. There are also a limited number of in-person places available for Members outside of Scotland so we would encourage colleagues to register quickly.
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Membership Engagement Manager
Closing date: 21 April
This role is responsible for ensuring a high-quality, relevant member experience, securing engagement and retention through effective membership activity and providing a gateway into QAA resources, events, training and webinars. We are looking for individuals with membership engagement experience, ideally gained in a higher education setting - for example, in a customer/external facing role or in a membership organisation.
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The latest reviews undertaken by QAA, working with UK regulators and providing educational oversight.
Recognition scheme for Educational Oversight
Washington International Studies Council, February 2023
Educational Oversight-Exceptional Arrangements
Glasgow International College, February 2023
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Membership Resources
QAA Members can find the latest case studies, webinars, event materials, sector guidance documents, country reports, research, newsletters and spotlight on quality-related topics on our dedicated Membership Resources site. Any staff member or student at a QAA Member institution can access these materials using their institution email address. Registration is easy - just complete the simple form which you can find on the QAA website.
Information on activities planned for QAA Members in 2022-23 can be found on our membership page and QAA Membership Calendar. As always, we welcome your feedback, so if you’d like to know more about what’s coming up, or to tell us about your needs and priorities, you can contact us at guidance@qaa.ac.uk
Not yet a QAA Member? You can find out more about Membership and International Membership on the QAA website.
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QAA News
Please do share QAA News with your colleagues so they too can keep up-to-date by subscribing to QAA News.
You might also be interested in receiving some of our other newsletters - there are exclusive newsletters for QAA Members and dedicated updates from QAA Cymru and QAA Scotland.
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