Quality: Strategy: Network

Universities are continually working hard to improve all aspects of their institutions by driving efficiency, embracing innovation, working smarter and learning from each other.

On 5th November 2018 the Education Select Committee published its report on 'Value for money in Higher Education' highlighting the importance of HE as part of our wider system of education and the need to ensure that students, graduates and the taxpayer all receive value from their investment in HE. The extent to which the concept of 'Value for Money' has become ingrained in higher education is demonstrated by the fact that ensuring “that students receive value for money” is one of the Office for Student's (OfS) four core objectives and is also one of the terms of reference of the Government's review of post-18 education.

To help set the scene and spark discussions, we will be joined by Nick Hillman, Director of HEPI, Vicky Hossack, Chief Executive Officer and Scarlet Moss, Vice-President (Education) of the Union of Students and Dr Ruth Ayres, Associate Pro Vice-Chancellor (Teaching, Learning & Academic Governance) at the University of Derby.

As ever, this QSN event offers the opportunity for us to get together in a constructive and supportive environment and we look forward greatly to welcoming new and returning delegates to our 2019 Summer Symposium at the University of Derby.

This full-day seminar will give you a chance to listen to and engage with the current challenges, opportunities and institutional case studies surrounding Higher and Degree Apprenticeships. The day will be an opportunity to gain a full understanding of Higher and Degree apprenticeship policy developments and best practice to help you make the most of the opportunities available to your institution.

Higher and Degree apprenticeships continue to be at the forefront of the university agenda. When looking at the financial benefits for both students and universities it is easy to see why they have become such a popular route of education but there are clear challenges for Higher Education providers and their dual responsibilities for quality assurance in delivering apprenticeships.

To help set the scene and spark discussions, we will be joined by Dr Alison Felce, Standards and Frameworks Officer, Universities, Quality Enhancement and Standards at the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA); Adrian Anderson, Chief Executive, University Vocational Awards Council (UVAC); Paul Beeby, Deputy Director and Lesley Goss, Senior Quality and Partnerships Manager from the Open University; Viki Faulkner, Head of Apprenticeships and Hannah Wallace, Head of Curriculum Management at the University of Brighton and Liz Gormley-Fleming, Associate Director, Academic Quality Assurance-Degree Apprenticeships, Centre for Academic Quality Assurance, the University of Hertfordshire

As ever, this joint CVU/QSN event offers the opportunity for us to get together in a constructive and supportive environment and we look forward greatly to welcoming delegates to our 5th July 2019 Seminar.

The transformation of the quality management landscape continues with great rapidity and intensity in a sector buffeted by daily media headlines and in the midst of potentially seismic changes affecting the sector as a whole. As the new regulator for English Higher Education, the Office for Students continues to adopt a bold, student-focused, risk-based approach, reflecting the significant changes to HE in the last 25 years and seeking to anticipate changes still to come.

Familiar features – notably, the UK Quality Code – have been subject to a fundamental review with QSN Executive members contributing to 11 out of the 12 Quality Code Theme Writing Groups.

The increasing numbers of degree students gaining first and upper second class degrees has been the focus of media headlines, reporting and a recent consultation about putative grade inflation. The latter includes a proposed sector statement about how to protect the value of the honours degree qualifications over time and once again raises the question of effective externality.

The TEF enters a second year of piloting, as work progresses to develop the subject-level assessment framework. The Augar review with its potential £2,500 headline fee reduction is keenly awaited as the media debate continues on the value for money of higher education. TNE in-country review is still on the radar but with clarity required on how it will be funded. Added to this we may soon be navigating Brexit and attempting to ensure that funding mechanisms to support research excellence remain, our global rankings are sustained, academic talent from the EU is retained and universities’ ability to drive growth and generate jobs are not hampered.

These ‘hot topics’ all impact quality practitioners and this year’s conference seeks to enable us to engage across a broad spectrum of current issues. However, our conference will also consider the question of what the changes require of us, as senior quality professionals. In the midst of this uncertainty, what can we do to help secure student success and maintain academic standards?