UHI Millennium Institute, HoTLS - Preparing for Subject Review

Preparing for QAA Subject Review 2005-06 1

Preparing for QAA Subject Review 2005-06


Introduction• In 2005-06, QAA (the Quality Assurance

Agency for Higher Education) will carry out subject reviews in four subject areas in UHI– Computing– Visual Arts– Leisure and Tourism– Cultural Studies

• These slides explain the process of subject review and look at how Academic Partners can prepare for it.


Outline: the review process

Slides 5 to 11 cover the process and areas of subject review, looking at the following areas:

5. Features of the review process6. What will the reviewers do?7. Self-evaluation document8. Aims of provision9. What areas are being reviewed?10. What do reviewers look at in these areas?11. Judgements


Outline: preparing for subject review

Slides 12 to 18 look at how UHI is affected by subject review, looking at to prepare for the review visits.

12.Who’s involved in UHI?13.What evidence will the reviewers want to see?14.Who will the reviewers meet, and why?15.Preparing for review visits16.What will the reviewers expect staff to be aware of?17.What will the outcome of the review be?18.The review report


Features of the review process

• Peer review– By reviewers who understand the subject

• Review against the aims of the subject provider (these are in the self-evaluation document: see slide 7)

• Review over an extended period– Reviewers visit several Academic Partners– Gives a clearer picture of provision


What will the reviewers do?

• The reviewers will – consider the self-evaluation document (see slide 7)

– look at documents– visit some or all of the Academic Partners involved

in the subject provision– meet students– meet staff– look at support facilities– look at teaching rooms


Self-evaluation document

• The self-evaluation document is central to the process of subject review.

• A self-evaluation document (SED) will be prepared for each subject area being reviewed in UHI.

• The statements made in the SED are tested by the reviewers. It is important for staff to know what is in the SED.


Aims of provision• The aims of the provision are set out in the

SED. The aims of a subject provider look at:

– What the subject provision seeks to achieve– How the aims relate to external indicators (e.g.

employer expectations)– The general attributes of that subject’s graduates

• QAA will be interested in how these aims are being achieved and in how the learning outcomes relate to the aims.


What areas are being reviewed?

The review will look at three major areas:

• Academic standards (degree courses only)

• Quality of learning opportunities (both degree and HN courses). Within this area, 3 aspects are examined:

– Teaching and learning– Student progression– Effective use of learning resources

• Maintenance and enhancement of standards and quality


What do reviewers look at in these areas?• In academic standards, reviewers will check that

– learning outcomes are clear and appropriate– curricula and assessment allow learning outcomes to be

achieved effectively

• In learning opportunities, reviewers will examine– effectiveness of teaching and learning in relation to aims and

curricula– student progression: how students are managed through the

programme (recruitment, academic support, progression)– what learning resources are available and how effectively they

are used

• Maintenance and enhancement of standards and quality– how quality issues are dealt with across the institution


JudgementsAt the end of the review process, the reviewers will make judgements

on the three major areas:

• Academic standards– Confidence

– Limited confidence

– No confidence

• Learning opportunities A judgement will be made for each of the three areas:

– Failing teaching and learning

– Approved student progression

– Commendable use of learning resources

• Maintenance and enhancement of standards and quality– Confidence or no confidence


Who’s involved in UHI?Subject Review Subcommittee Committee of UHI Academic Standards and

Quality Committee: manages subject reviews

Subject leaders Co-ordinate the writing of SEDs; lead preparation of subject teams; collect and manage documents

Subject review facilitators Liaise between reviewers and UHI subject leaders; help colleges to present themselves to reviewers

Faculties Support subject networks and leaders; provide guidance throughout process

Academic Registry team Support subject leaders and review facilitators; manage review and approval of SEDs; liaise with QAA

Academic Partner staff Meet with reviewers; may be involved in subject team preparations

Academic Partner students Meet with reviewers


What evidence will the reviewers want to see?

The following are examples of the types of evidence or documents that the reviewers will want to see.

• Student handbooks• Student work, with feedback• Student evaluations• Course and subject documents• Course annual reports• External examiners’ reports• Exam board minutes• Quality committee minutes


Who will the reviewers meet, and why?

• The reviewers will meet with staff, and will want to know about teaching strategies and how these relate to the assessments and learning outcomes of the course.

• The reviewers will probably not observe teaching, but will meet students and look at learning materials and student evaluations.


Preparing for review visits

• Visits should allow the reviewers to meet relevant staff and students (who should understand the purpose of review), examine appropriate evidence, and see the strongest features of the provision.

• The subject review facilitator will help each Academic Partner to prepare a programme for the review visit.


What will the reviewers expect staff to be aware of?

• The purpose of subject review• The SED for the subject area • UHI Academic Regulations• UHI Staff Guide• UHI Academic Register • Staff development


What will the outcome of the review be?

• Once the review is complete, QAA will publish a report on the subject provision.

• This will be available in booklet form and will be on the QAA website (www.qaa.ac.uk) for five years.

• The report may name examples of good practice and weakness in individual Academic Partners.

• Therefore, managing the review visits so that reviewers see the best aspects of provision is very important.

http://www.qaa.ac.uk/


The review report

• The subject review report for each of the four subjects will cover the following areas:– Description of review process– Aims of subject provider– Evaluation of quality of learning opportunities

provided and academic standards provided– Conclusions and judgements– One-page summary

UHI Millennium Institute, HoTLS - Preparing for Subject Review

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