Student involvement in audit: the auditors perspective Michael Wing Middlesex University Quality Ass

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Student involvement in audit the auditors
perspective Michael Wing Middlesex University
Quality Assurance and Audit Service
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Institutional Audit

• Audit determines
• soundness of the institution's present and likely
  future management of the quality of its
  programmes and the academic standards of its
  awards
• accuracy, integrity, completeness and frankness
  of the quality and standards information that the
  institution publishes

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Focus of audit

• Institution policies, procedures, and practices
  that assure quality (as laid out in relevant
  institutional documentation and elaborated upon
  in meetings with staff).
• The effectiveness of these policies, procedures,
  and practices in assuring quality. Sources of
  evidence could be provided by individuals or
  bodies external to the institution, the
  institution or the student body.

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The Student View

• Student views are sought on
• the quality of the student experience
• the institution's management of the quality of
  its programmes
• the accuracy,integrity,completeness and frankness
  of the information that the institution provides
  to students

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Quality (1)

• Views are sought on
• extent to which the teaching, learning and
  assessment allows students to achieve learning
  outcomes
• levels of academic support and guidance
• access to learning resources
• suitability of other facilities - lecture rooms,
  studios etc

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Quality (2)

• availability of pastoral support counseling,
  disability support, health advice, money and
  welfare, placement, general administration in
  support of students
• scope and fairness of regulations and procedures
  e.g. academic misconduct, appeals, complaints and
  grievances
• policy and practice in the area of equal
  opportunities

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Quality (3) - international students

• Additional areas that might be explored in
  particular detail might be
• suitability of induction, and admission
  procedures for international students
• adequacy of specialist support (e.g. English
  language support)

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Quality management

• Student representation at operational and
  institutional level who represents the students,
  how is this representation achieved, does the
  system work?
• Is the induction/training/support for student
  representatives effective?
• How and where are students comment elicited? Are
  comments taken seriously, how are institutional
  responses communicated to students?
• The auditors will also wish to confirm that any
  claims made for a student centered approach are
  reflected in practice

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Data and information

• The accuracy, integrity, completeness and
  frankness of information (including hard copy and
  web material)
• marketing materials and prospectuses
• information given during induction
• programme and module handbooks
• programme specifications
• academic regulations and quality procedures
• certificates and transcripts

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Other items

• Auditors would also welcome comments on the
• accuracy of the University Self Evaluation
  Document (SED)
• the involvement of students the generation of the
  SED
• the way in which the Student Written
  Submission(SWS) was written including the
  involvement of the student body.
• confidentiality of the SWS

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Presenting the student view

• The student view is presented within
• existing documents student liaison committee
  minutes, feedback questionnaire data, minutes of
  student forums, national graduate survey reports
  etc
• the student written submission
• meetings with students and the student union

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Students selected to meet the auditors

• Briefing visit student representatives - could be
  representatives from the SU Executive Body
• Main audit discipline audit trails students
  programme based and usually representing a cross
  section of students on one or more programmes
• Main audit institution students selected from
  across the institution and usually linked to a
  theme (e.g. international students)

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Discussion topics - overcoming issues

• Issues can include
• lack of continuity of key SU officers
• commitment of students or officers to the audit
  process
• obtaining and representing the views of the total
  student body
• keeping an audit focus on matters of significance
  interest
• confusion as to the intention of audit
• unclear or easily misunderstood audit questions