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Quality and Standards

Quality and standards

Monitoring and Review

Annual Monitoring and Review

All of the University's academic provision (including programmes delivered in conjunction with partners) is monitored on an annual basis. Annual monitoring is largely a self-evaluation activity, undertaken by the Schools as well as by the University. The reporting process is designed to ensure that emerging issues are properly considered and action taken, as well as assuring quality and standards and promoting enhancement and sharing of good practice.
There are four broad sets of activities, divided to reflect responsibility for undertaking or managing them. The monitoring reports come together at Quality and Standards Committee (QSC) and, for the Learning and Teaching Strategy, at Learning and Teaching Board (LTB), thereby allowing both the Senate and the Planning and Management Executive to have oversight.

  • A practitioner-led review of all activities to ensure that academic standards are assured and quality is maintained (School programme teams; QSC).
  • A review of the implementation of the University's Learning and Teaching Strategy to ensure that appropriate progress is being made towards the strategic objectives (led by School's Director of Learning and Teaching; LTB).
  • Close monitoring and evaluation of activities showing evidence of underperformance to ensure that action is taken in identified areas and rapid progress is made (Deputy Principal (Learning and Teaching) and School Management Team; LTB).
  • Monitoring of high risk activities to ensure proper management of such within Schools (Deputy Principal (Learning and Teaching); QSC).

Additional information, guidance and templates for the University’s Annual Monitoring process is available from the Annual Monitoring and Review link from the menu on the left.

Periodic Review (Internal)

The University conducts its own, internal periodic reviews of its strategic, academic and business activities related to learning and teaching, as well as of the overarching quality assurance framework which governs such activity. Periodic review covers Schools (Internal Review and Internal Audit), Professional Services (Professional Services Review) and University-wide learning and teaching initiatives (Thematic Review).

External Review

The Quality Assurance Agency (QAA), on behalf of the Scottish Funding Council, undertakes two forms of external review of the University: Enhancement-Led Institutional Review (ELIR) and Overseas Audits. ELIR covers the University’s management of its processes for improving the student learning experience, monitoring and review, and strategic approach to quality enhancement. Overseas Audits are conducted on a “country-specific” basis, and the University’s provision will be audited if it has a Learning Partner in the country in question.