Introduction
A team of auditors from the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) visited the University of Cambridge (the University) from 25 to 29 February 2008 to carry out an institutional audit. The purpose of the audit was to provide public information on the University's management of the academic standards of its awards and of the quality of the learning opportunities available to students.
To arrive at its conclusions, the audit team spoke to members of staff throughout the University and to current students, and read a wide range of documents about the ways in which the University manages the academic aspects of its provision.
In institutional audit, the institution's management of both academic standards and the quality of learning opportunities are audited. The term 'academic standards' is used to describe the level of achievement that a student has to reach to gain an award (for example, a degree). It should be at a similar level across the United Kingdom (UK). The term 'quality of learning opportunities' is used to describe the support provided by an institution to enable students to achieve the awards. It is about the provision of appropriate teaching, support and assessment for the students.
Outcomes of the institutional audit
As a result of its investigations the audit team's view of the University is that:
- confidence can reasonably be placed in the soundness of the University's current and likely future management of the academic standards of its awards
- confidence can reasonably be placed in the soundness of the University's current and likely future management of the quality of the learning opportunities available to students.
Institutional approach to quality enhancement
The audit found that the University is committed to enhancing the learning opportunities of its students through a range of formal and informal processes based on a shared ethos.
Postgraduate research students
The audit concluded that the University has put in place effective procedures for the management of its research programmes, which meet the expectations of the Code of practice, Section 1: Postgraduate research programmes.
Published information
The audit found that reliance can reasonably placed on the accuracy and completeness of the information that the University publishes about its educational provision and the standards of its awards.
Features of good practice
The audit team identified the following areas as being good practice:
- the exemplary manner in which the Senior Tutors' Committee discharges its responsibilities
- the robust approach taken in the periodic learning and teaching review process
- the quality of published information
- the range of admissions-related initiatives, especially those promoting the widening participation agenda.
Recommendations for action
The audit team recommends that the University consider further action in some areas. In particular it would be advisable for the University to ensure that:
- it confirms an early date for the General Board to assume full responsibility for the award-bearing programmes offered by the Institute of Continuing Education
- it implements, without undue delay, the recommendation of the General Board's Education Committee that the award of BA with Honours should necessarily involve the successful completion of Part II of the Tripos
- it develops further the annual quality statements by incorporating within them an analysis of the outcomes of the procedures described therein
- all postgraduate students with supervisory or teaching responsibilities are appropriately trained.
- It would be desirable for the University:
- to use student-related data regularly to inform the development and implementation of strategy and policy relating to the management of academic standards
- to introduce a template for external examiners' reports
- to consider the introduction of a University-wide approach to penalties for late-submitted assessed work.
>> Report
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