Monitoring and Review

The quality and academic standards of all the University's awards are assured through three key assurance processes: Annual Monitoring and Review; Periodic Review; External 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 through the Annual Monitoring and Review (AMR) process which primarily aims to:

  • monitor and review academic standards and quality;
  • monitor and review the student experience;
  • monitor and review progress towards achievement of the University’s strategic objectives in learning and teaching.

Key objectives of the AMR process are to:

  • integrate 'assurance' and 'enhancement';
  • engage in discussions with Schools providing a dynamic, interactive process;
  • incorporate review of Academic Performance data;
  • enable partners to engage effectively with the process.

Guidance notes and templates are available on the Annual Monitoring and Review web page.

Periodic Reviews

In addition to Annual Monitoring and Review, the University conducts internal periodic reviews of all its academic and academic-related activities.  These reviews are undertaken through three main processes as explained on the Periodic Review web page.

External Reviews

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 Review of Overseas' Provision:

ELIR covers the University’s management of its processes for: enhancing the student learning experience; enhancement in learning and teaching; academic standards; self-evaluation and management of information; collaborative activity.

Reviews of Overseas' Provision are conducted by the QAA on a country by country basis.  The University’s provision may be reviewed if it has a Campus or Learning Partner in the country being reviewed.

External reviews are also undertaken by overseas accrediting authorities, such as Knowledge & Human Development Authority (KHDA), Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA) and Accreditation Council of Trinidad & Tobago (ACTT).

Key information

Helen Crosby-Knox