Introduction
This guide invites student representatives to help improve the quality of teaching and learning at their college by taking part in an external visit called Developmental review.
The ultimate aim of Developmental review is to help the college improve the services they offer to students, so it's really important that students' views are considered. After all, no-one really understands what it's like to study at your college as you do.
How does Developmental review work?
It has two roles: to make sure academic standards at your college are up to scratch; and to help your college improve the learning opportunities available to students.
A team of people who work for other colleges and universities will visit your college to discuss how the college meets your needs. At the end of the visit, the team will write a report about your college. This report might include advice to the college on how to spread effective practice or improve things.
How do we get involved?
There are several ways for student representatives to contribute to the Developmental review:
- produce a written submission for the team to read before they visit your college
- attend a preparatory meeting between your college and the Assistant Director managing the visit
- talk to the team when they visit.
Developing a written submission
Perhaps the most important thing to say about the written submission is that it should, as far as possible, reflect the views of the majority of students rather than just a minority. This is why we are asking student representatives to write the submission. We appreciate this might be difficult, but as a student representative you will already know about the sorts of issues that are regularly raised. You may also find that you already have lots of useful information to help you prepare a representative response, for example, student survey results. Whatever you include, you must explain how you compiled the submission, who wrote it and how far it has been shared and agreed with the student body as a whole. For example, if you have only included the views of full-time undergraduate students, you need to make this clear. You should also make sure that the submission does not include personal grievances or single out individual members of staff.
What sort of things should we cover?
The areas you cover in your written submission will of course depend to a large extent on the views of your fellow students. But it would be very helpful to the team if you also consider the areas they are being asked to discuss with your college. These include:
- the information the college publishes about itself - whether it is accurate and complete
- the information the college gives you about its expectations of your academic performance (this might be in your student handbook)
- your experience as a learner, including the quality of academic and personal support
- the feedback you get from your tutors
- the quality of the learning resources and facilities available to you
- the opportunities you have to take part in the management of higher education programmes within the college (this might include opportunities for committee representation at college and programme level, and other means of providing feedback to staff).
How much detail should we include?
Not too much. Remember that the team will have been given a great deal of information to read about your college both from the institution and other publicly available documents. Therefore, a short but focused written submission with a maximum of three pages is most helpful.
Which students' views should be represented in the submission?
The opinions of all student groups will be relevant, including, but not exclusively, full and part-time students, mature students, undergraduate and postgraduate students, overseas students and students with disabilities. You may find that it is not possible to reflect the views of some student groups, and the team will understand this as long as you make it clear in your submission whose views are being represented and why others are not.
Can our written submission be confidential?
Yes it can, but we strongly encourage you to share your submission with the college and the college to share its self-evaluation with you. This openness is desirable because it enables the team to discuss both documents freely with staff and students during the reviews, and to check the accuracy of their contents. If you want the submission to be confidential, this must be stated clearly on the front of the document.
What happens to the submission once it has been written?
The written submission should be sent to QAA four weeks before the visit. The written submission will be read and considered by the team.
Is what we say going to make a difference?
Yes. The team will consider all information given in the written submission and in meetings. The submission may not directly inform the report that the team makes, but it could inform the types of questions the team asks throughout the visit. This may lead the team to find out something really good about how the institution works, or might lead it to something that students are concerned about. For example, if students do not feel that their opinions are valued by the institution, or on the other hand if they think the institution really listens to them, this is likely to become apparent through talking to the students and through reading the written submission.
Where can I go for help?
QAA will be more than happy to provide any help and advice you need. Your institution will be able to give you our contact details.
Welsh Language Scheme
In planning, conducting and reporting on the reviews in Wales, QAA is committed to treating Welsh and English on the basis of equality. Students are able to submit a written submission in Welsh. The full details of QAA's Welsh Language Scheme are available on its website, www.qaa.ac.uk/aboutus/policy/welshLanguage/welshscheme.asp
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