Quality Assurance, Collaborative Provision and Qualifications Frameworks

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Quality Assurance, Collaborative Provision and
Qualifications Frameworks

• Carolyn Campbell
• Assistant Director (International)
• QAA

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QAA Code of Practice Section 2 collaborative
provision and FDL (including e-learning)

• UK HEIs collaborative links encompass many types
  of organisationand often reflect the slow
  maturing of long-standing and successful
  partnerships. ..The best of these mature
  relationships are characterised by equity,
  integrity and honesty. Nevertheless it is
  important to recognise that the formal
  responsibility of an awarding body for its awards
  and qualifications actions places upon it an
  obligation to make certain that its academic
  standards are secure.

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Overarching framework of qualifications in the
EHEA

• Generic descriptors for the three cycles
  national interpretation
• Credit ranges for first and second cycle
• Be aware of potential issues around intermediate
  qualifications and integrated masters degrees?
• Using learning outcomes fiction or reality?
• What about recognition of qualifications outside
  of the EHEA?

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European Standards and Guidelines - basic
principles include that

• Providers of higher education have the primary
  responsibility for the quality of their provision
  and its assurance
• There needs to be efficient and effective
  organisational structures within which academic
  programmes can be provided and supported
• Transparency and the use of external expertise in
  quality assurance processes are important
• Institutions should be able to demonstrate their
  quality at home and internationally

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European standards and guidelines for internal QA
within higher education institutions

• Policy and procedures for quality assurance
• Approval, monitoring and periodic review of
  programmes and awards
• Assessment of students
• Quality assurance of teaching staff
• Learning resources and student support
• Information systems
• Public information

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European standards and guidelines for quality
assurance

• Intended to be A contribution to a common frame
  of reference..
• Will they be useful in collaborative provision
  with other European higher education
  institutions?
• Will they be useful in negotiations for and on
  joint degrees?
• Are you able to respond positively if asked?

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Joint degrees and QA partnership between equals
in collaborative provision

• Legal dimensions
• Power to award degrees
• Jurisdiction for complaints and appeals
• Determination of joint and several
  responsibilities
• Compatibilitybetween institutional systems and
  national systems
• Be aware of the consequences of regulatory
  sacrifice
• Protect the interests of students, your
  institutions reputation and that of the UKs HE
  system

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Where to go for more advice and
information

• Europe Unit
• QAA International_at_qaa.ac.uk
• www.enqa.net .links to member agencies
• Read the Bologna Black Book! www.esib.org
• Emerging OECD and UNESCO developments