When we developed our Strategic plan 2006-11, we identified students as having a key interest in the safeguarding of academic standards and in the continuous improvement of quality management.
Our Values, outlined in the Strategic plan 2006-11, reinforce this and include a statement on the entitlements of learners: ‘Students are entitled to a higher education that has value, with academic standards that reflect national expectations and awards that meet published specifications; and to fair and equitable treatment in all aspects of their studies. QAA values the participation of students in the assurance of academic standards and quality.’
We believe that an important feature of United Kingdom (UK) higher education is that students are active participants in their own education and therefore can and should be directly involved in the higher education sector’s approaches to quality assurance and enhancement.
To this end, we will build on and extend our current work with students, their representative bodies and higher education institutions to support and promote activities that effectively engage students in the processes and management of quality assurance and enhancement.
To do this, we have established four aims for QAA’s work on student engagement.
Aim A
Work, with others, to provide clearer information on quality and standards for students.
We will:
- work to identify what information on quality and standards would be useful to potential and current students
- clarify the nature and extent to which QAA, or others, can meet those needs
- identify the information on quality and standards that will be useful for those who represent students and their organisations
- work with student representative bodies and sector partners to provide appropriate information for student representatives engaged in institutional quality assurance processes.
Aim B
Build partnerships to improve student engagement in quality assurance and enhancement.
We will work with the representative bodies of higher education institutions and students, the higher education funding councils and our other sector partners to:
- promote the benefits of student involvement in quality management
- engage students in our work
- share good practice
- minimise duplication of effort.
Aim C
Work with higher education institutions to develop the role of students in institutional quality management.
We will:
- provide support and guidance for institutions and students’ unions on student participation in institutional quality assurance processes
- share information with them about good practice in representation; what we are learning about this through review processes; and international developments.
Aim D
Support greater involvement of students in QAA quality assurance and enhancement processes.
We will work with our student and higher education sector partners to:
- encourage more direct involvement of students in our work and in developing and promoting the Academic Infrastructure
- move towards involving students directly in all of our institutional level
review processes - give students a voice within QAA at Board and committee level
- work with professional, statutory and regulatory bodies to promote and share good practice.
Our work has developed differently within each of the countries of the UK and will progress in accordance with priorities agreed with our sector partners.
Our four aims recognise the different needs, stages of development, partnerships, plans and priorities of our work in the different parts of the UK.
The detail of delivery on this action is contained in our group operational plans and budgets. We have invested in additional staff and project fund resources to support this work and will keep the level of investment under review. The Board has appointed two of its members as ‘champions’ of our work with students, and an internal working group on student engagement, chaired by a member of the Executive Committee, has been established. An annual report on progress will be made to the QAA Board.
Top