The official watchdog has published a report on quality and standards at Brighton University today (Friday 21 June).
The Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) set out judgments about quality and standards and seven recommendations for action.
Its judgments were
- Academic standards at the institution meet UK expectations for threshold standards.
- The quality of student learning opportunities at the institution meets UK expectations.
- The enhancement of student learning opportunities at the institution meets UK expectations.
- Information about learning opportunities produced by the institution meets UK expectations.
The seven recommendations for action were
- Within one year of the publication of this report strengthen institutional-level oversight of academic standards through the consistent application of institutional policy in faculties and schools.
- Within one year of the publication of this report introduce and systematically implement at institutional level a policy for the accreditation of all prior learning and experience in such a way as to secure the credit value of all higher education awards.
- Within one year of the publication of this report take steps to ensure that approval and monitoring procedures reflect the risks inherent in different forms of collaborative activity.
- Within one year of the publication of this report strengthen institutional-level procedures to ensure that it takes a consistent approach to periodic course review and to course and module modifications.
- By the start of the academic year 2013-14 require all postgraduate research students with teaching responsibilities to be appropriately trained prior to commencing their duties.
- By the start of the academic year 2013-14 ensure in advance that all partner institution staff teaching on courses leading to its awards are appropriately qualified for their role.
- By the start of the academic year 2013-14 strengthen oversight of partner institutions’ published information to ensure its accuracy, currency and comprehensiveness.
