About us

Other QAA work

Access to HE
The Access to HE Diploma enables adults without other qualifications such as A levels to progress to higher education. Regulated by QAA, the Access to HE qualification is widely recognised by UK universities and colleges. There are over 1,500 different courses leading to the Access to HE Diploma. Access Validating Agencies (AVAs) validate and review these courses, and award the Access to HE qualification to successful students. We license and monitor the work of the AVAs, and publish information about Access to HE.

Degree awarding powers and university title
We advise governments on the merits of applications for degree awarding powers or university title. Applications for degree awarding powers and university title are considered in the light of the governments' published criteria. It is illegal for a body to award, or claim to award, a UK degree unless it is authorised to do so by the Privy Council.

Causes for Concern in higher education
We have developed procedures for handling Causes for Concern in institutions that provide higher education. A Cause for Concern is defined as 'any policy, procedure or action implemented or omitted by an institution that appears likely to jeopardise the academic standards and quality of its higher education programmes and/or awards'. Causes for Concern are different to individual complaints relating to staff employment or personal grievances against higher education providers. QAA has no remit or power to become directly involved in such disputes or complaints.

Supporting developments in higher education
We help institutions enhance their management of quality and standards by publishing and sharing the intelligence and guidance gained from the full range of its work. Audit and review reports are analysed to identify themes of good practice and difficulties commonly encountered, with findings published to stimulate discussion and debate and promote improvement. Publications in the Sharing good practice series include Outcomes from Institutional audit and Learning from various review methods. Quality matters is a series of occasional briefing papers from QAA.

In Scotland, as part of the Quality Enhancement Framework, Enhancement Themes are planned and developed in partnership with the higher education sector. These Enhancement Themes encourage the identification and sharing of good practice delivered locally and worldwide, generating ideas and examples of practice with the aim of enhancing the student experience.

International work
We take a leading role in international developments in standards and quality, enjoying a close relationship with quality assurance agencies around the world. We work with a wide range of government and other bodies across the UK to inform and support the higher education sector in the light of international developments. Overseas audit activity helps to improve confidence in the work of UK universities and colleges operating internationally.

We are fully confirmed as a member of the European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (ENQA), established as part of the Bologna Process to encourage and develop the exchange of information on quality assurance throughout Europe. We were first independently reviewed in April 2008 for ENQA membership purposes. The report stated that it was 'consistently impressed by the calibre and professionalism of all those contributing to the work of QAA in maintaining quality and standards across HE in the UK'.

Working with students
We believe that students should be active participants in their own education and be involved in the higher education sector's approaches to quality assurance and enhancement. As part of our approach to student engagement, we include student members on review teams in Scotland, and will do so in the rest of the UK from 2009-10. We have included a student member on our Board of Directors since February 2008, and have a dedicated student portal on our website, underlining our commitment to listening and responding to the student voice.