Circular letter CL 01/04

Number	CL 01/04
Subject	Proposed Operational Description for collaborative provision audit (England and Northern Ireland)
Publication date	21 January 2004
Recipients	Subscribers and other interested parties in England and Northern IrelandSubscribers in Wales and Scotland (for information)
Of interest to	All staff dealing with higher education in England and Northern Ireland
Further information	David Cairns 01452 557106
Response date	19 March 2004
Respond to	David Cairns email d.cairns@qaa.ac.uk
Attachments	Proposed Operational Description for collaborative provision audit (England and Northern Ireland)Sample standard form for comments

Dear Colleague

Proposed Operational Description for collaborative provision audit (England and Northern Ireland)

The Handbook for institutional audit: England (the Handbook) (paragraph 13) states that collaborative provision in English higher education institutions (HEIs) will be reviewed either within institutional audits or by way of separate events. The Agency has therefore prepared a method for such events based on the procedures set out in the Handbook. The proposed method is set out in the form of a supplement to the Operational Description for institutional audit. It focuses on the means by which each awarding HEI secures the academic standards of its awards and credits, and the effectiveness of its quality management arrangements for partnership links, including learning opportunities offered to students of awarding bodies in England and Northern Ireland through EU and other international arrangements.

The Agency is now seeking comments on the proposed operational description from HEIs and other interested parties in England and Northern Ireland. To aid analysis and consideration of comments, the Agency has prepared a standard form, an electronic copy of which may be downloaded from its web site www.qaa.ac.uk/public/inst_audit_hbook/collaborative.htm A paper copy of the form is attached to this letter for your information. In addition to comments on particular matters in the proposed supplement, the Agency would particularly welcome comments and advice on the following matters:

the participation of partners in the proposed process, it being understood that all contacts with partners will be arranged through the awarding HEI;
the participation of students studying for the awards of an awarding HEI through partner links in the proposed process.

Comments should be sent to my colleague David Cairns at QAA (d.cairns@qaa.ac.uk), preferably by email, to arrive with QAA no later than 19 March.

Once these comments have been received and considered the Agency will prepare a draft supplement to the Handbook. This will be circulated to institutions for further comment before a final version is prepared for use in 2004-05. The first CPAs are scheduled to take place in England in Summer 2005 and the Agency intends to organise briefings and developmental events for institutional colleagues involved in the process from Summer 2004.

I look forward to receiving your comments on the supplement by 19 March 2004.

With best wishes

Yours sincerely

Peter Williams

Chief Executive