Engage with the ongoing quality assessment debate at national level, building on an understanding of core principles in quality management and with due reference to the interests of those with a stake in HE quality
Quantitative research methodology and survey design
Challenges of Quality in Teaching and Learning - Gwen van der velden
1. Challenges of Quality in Learning
and Teaching
Gwen van der Velden, Director of Learning & Teaching Enhancement
University of Bath
Association of University Administrators
South West conference, Bristol 5/5/15
2. This session may help you to…
Engage with the ongoing quality assessment debate at
national level, building on an understanding of core
principles in quality management and with due reference
to the interests of those with a stake in HE quality
relate arguments made in the national debate to the
discussions that may take place in your own institution
(perhaps) add new angles to your consideration of quality
challenges within your own institution
3. A challenging context:
from purdah to progress?
Unpredictable national political interests
Review of QA in HE
International pressures and interests
5. Quality concepts
Quality is achieving academic standards
Quality is when teaching efforts meet learner
needs
Quality works when society’s needs are met
effectively
Quality works when the institution meets its
own performance indicators
6. Behind the concepts of quality
assurance
Key questions:
Who decides when quality ‘occurs’?
What values are institutions accounting for?
What is measurable?
Who do we wish to convince?
7. Quality occurs when academic
standards are reached
Academic (and professional body?)
expectations are to be met. Excellence is
recognised
Standards and quality go together: reaching
standards means good quality teaching
Academics oversee quality (assessment and
peer review)
Will this concept suffice?
8. Quality occurs when teaching
efforts match learner needs
Engaging students in quality management
and understanding pedagogy
Staff and students work together to establish
quality
Can we measure this quality? And how?
Can we evidence it for accountability?
Will this concept suffice?
9. Quality occurs when society’s
needs are met
HE produces the graduates that industry
needs/ that society needs/ that the global
future needs/ politicians state are needed
The needs of those who pay for students’
education are met
Employability is a core quality indicator
How is quality evidenced to society?
Will this concept suffice?
10. Quality is achieved when institutions
achieve according to resources and abilities
Quality performance indicators show the
institution/ disciplines perform well
Publishable quality indicators are achieved
and require no more than affordable
investment
A myriad of qualitative and quantitative
indicators are required
Will this approach suffice?