PowerPoint presentation of steps required in preparing for QAA Subject Review (2005)

1. Preparing for QAA Subject Review 2005-06 1
Preparing for QAA Subject
Review 2005-06

2. Preparing for QAA Subject Review 2005-06 2
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.

3. Preparing for QAA Subject Review 2005-06 3
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 process
6. What will the reviewers do?
7. Self-evaluation document
8. Aims of provision
9. What areas are being reviewed?
10. What do reviewers look at in these areas?
11. Judgements

4. Preparing for QAA Subject Review 2005-06 4
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 visits
16.What will the reviewers expect staff to be aware of?
17.What will the outcome of the review be?
18.The review report

5. Preparing for QAA Subject Review 2005-06 5
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

6. Preparing for QAA Subject Review 2005-06 6
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

7. Preparing for QAA Subject Review 2005-06 7
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.

8. Preparing for QAA Subject Review 2005-06 8
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.

9. Preparing for QAA Subject Review 2005-06 9
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

10. Preparing for QAA Subject Review 2005-06 10
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

11. Preparing for QAA Subject Review 2005-06 11
Judgements
At 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

12. Preparing for QAA Subject Review 2005-06 12
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

13. Preparing for QAA Subject Review 2005-06 13
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

14. Preparing for QAA Subject Review 2005-06 14
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.

15. Preparing for QAA Subject Review 2005-06 15
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.

16. Preparing for QAA Subject Review 2005-06 16
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

17. Preparing for QAA Subject Review 2005-06 17
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.

18. Preparing for QAA Subject Review 2005-06 18
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