Quality Assurance

Dr Christopher Stevens

Director of Quality and Standards

Canterbury Christ Church University

What are we like

Multi-campus University

We work with a significant number of academic partners, with whom we collaborate to offer awards and credit

There is an extensive portfolio of provision subject to professional and statutory regulation

The QAA Institutional Audit of May 2005 commended us for maintaining “a strong, collegiate environment across the campuses and partners colleges”

Why have quality assurance

To ensure that the student experience is of an appropriate standard

To maintain the reputation of UK education in general and of the University in particular

To provide the basis for reflection and enhancement

How is this managed

The University’s Academic Board meets four times a year and is responsible is responsible for all aspects of the academic work of the University

The Academic Planning Committee is responsible for planning University’s academic activities including the structure,

The Quality and Standards Committee oversees policies, principles and procedures considered necessary to maintain and enhance the University’s work

These committees are supported by the work of Faculty Quality Committees and various sub-committees

People

The Pro-Vice Chancellor (Academic) chairs key committees and has strategic responsibility for this work

The Director of Quality and Standards, who leads the Quality and Standards Office, has operational responsibility

The Faculties have Faculty Directors of Quality

Heads of Department and Programme Directors ensure that quality is maintained in the Lecture Theatre

Regulations

The University has a set of detailed regulations for the operation of its programmes, especially concerning assessment and examination of students

These are approved by the University’s Academic Board

Academic staff must comply with these

Main activities

Formal approval of programmes

Rigorous use of external examiners in assessment

Annual monitoring of programmes

Periodic review and re-approval of programmes

Periodic review of all departments

Values

Quality Assurance

must further rather than inhibit collegiality

is a collective activity undertaken by all staff

is best undertaken closest as possible to the delivery of academic programmes to students

Must allow, but manage academic diversity

Procedural Guidance

The University uses extensive guidance to ensure that staff understand why regulations and procedures are there and what must be done to implement them

The University is of a view that insistence on compliance without explanation and support is inadequate

Therefore

Quality assurance is something that must reflect the way academics work Academics want students to have the

best possible experience

Academic reflect on what they do and seek to improve

It must be explained

It is not just a set of rules