Circular letter CL13/05

Number	CL13/05
Subject	Postgraduate research degree programmes –review of quality and standards
Publication date	Friday 14 October 2005
Recipients	To heads of HEFCW funded higher education institutions
Further information	Julian Ellis j.ellis@qaa.ac.uk or Elaine Harries Jenkins e.h.jenkins@qaa.ac.uk
Response date	Friday 10 February 2006
Respond to	Julian Ellis j.ellis@qaa.ac.uk
Attachments	Operational description (incorporating additional guidance and questionnaire) for the special review of postgraduate research degree programmes (Wales)

Dear Vice-Chancellor or Principal

Postgraduate research degree programmes - review of quality and standards

In February 2005 (CL 03/05), QAA consulted on the proposals contained within the operational description for the special review of research degree programmes (RDP). The special review has been commissioned by the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales (HEFCW).

Attached is a final version of the operational description incorporating the questionnaire and additional guidance.

The responses from Welsh institutions were, in the main, favourable to the proposed review methodology. The responses raised various issues including concerns about: the volume of work required to complete the questionnaire, the omission of an appeals process, the process for selecting a cause for concern, the need to provide guidance to institutions which are still embedding the Code or practice for the assurance of academic quality and standards in higher education, Section 1: postgraduate research programmes in their quality systems, composition of review teams and the opportunity to fill information gaps in advance of any visit.

In response to the comments, there have been a number of revisions to the draft operational description, many of which have been aimed at minimising the burden on institutions and clarifying the matters raised by institutions in the consultation.

I should be grateful if you would arrange for the completed questionnaire to be returned to us by Friday 10 February 2006.

In the meantime, a briefing event has been organised for institutions on
Tuesday 1 November 2005 in Cardiff. Details of this event have already been circulated.

If you have any queries about the questionnaire please contact Julian Ellis (j.ellis@qaa.ac.uk) or Elaine Harries Jenkins (e.h.jenkins@qaa.ac.uk)

Yours sincerely

Peter Williams

Chief Executive