The publication of the Office for Students’ Regulatory Framework for English higher education identified the monitoring of ‘lead indicators’ as one of the three core elements of what it describes as its risk-based and proportionate approach to monitoring and regulating HEPs. However, this is only the latest in a series of changes (not least the introduction of the Teaching Excellence Framework) that has increased the importance of, and focus on, the way that HEPs across the UK use data to monitor and enhance the learning experience they offer their students. This Symposium will draw on contributions from sector bodies and case studies of developments and approaches in QSN member institutions. It will explore the ways in which we use data as quality practitioners is changing (including the way in which new data reporting tools such as Tableau and Power BI are being used to support quality assurance and enhancement) and provide an opportunity to share practice and to discuss the potential benefits and issues arising from the increased emphasis on data-based approaches to quality management.
Please note that if you wish to pay for the event by credit card then please ring the AUA on 0161 275 2156 once you have received your invoice.
| Time | Description |
|---|---|
| 13:00 | Arrival & Registration |
| 14:00 | Opening of Conference |
| 14:00 – 14:05 | Welcome from the Chair of QSN, Jack Aitken |
| 14:05 – 14:35 | Keynote Speech – Professor Shân Wareing, Pro-Vice Chancellor Education and Student Experience, London South Bank University |
| 14:35 – 15:00 | Professor John W Sawkins, Deputy Principal (Learning and Teaching) Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Heriot-Watt UniversityRegulatory frameworks and the UK HE Brand |
| 15:15 – 15:45 | WonkHE – David Kernohan, Associate Editor The Impact of TEF and what this means for students and Universities |
| 16:00 – 16:30 | Becky Huxley-Binns, Vice-Provost (Academic Enhancement), University of Law Generation Z, Consumer Law and a Regulated Quality Future |
| 16:30 – 17:00 | Panel Discussion: A Regulated Quality Future – Shân Wareing, John W Sawkins, David Kernohan, Becky Huxley-Binns, Ben Hunt and Maureen McLaughlin |
| 17:15 – 18:15 | Workshop: A Regulated Quality Future – What are the implications of the regulatory changes for quality managers?Workshop sessions will be facilitated by members of the QSN Executive |
| 19:15 | Champagne Reception in Bar – Sponsored by Achievability |
| 19:45 | Conference Dinner After Dinner Reflections |
| Time | Description |
|---|---|
| 08:30 | QSN Annual General Meeting |
| 09:00 – 09:30 | Ben Hunt, OfS Student Panel Member The Office for Students – market regulation, enhancement and student engagement |
| 09:30 – 10:00 | Maureen McLaughlin, Head of Universities and Standards, QAA Quality Management Futures |
| 10:00 | Parallel facilitated workshops See the “Workshops” tab button for topics |
| 11:00 | Refreshment break and interaction with workshop outcomes in the lounge |
| 11:45 | Parallel facilitated workshops (repeated) |
| 12:45 | Final Conference Plenary, highlighting key issues for QSN. Closing remarks |
| 13:15 | Lunch and departure |
Friday, 14 September – 10:00, repeated 11:45
| No. | Workshop Title | Indicative Content |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Higher and Degree ApprenticeshipsExternal Speakers: Adrian Anderson (Chief Executive of UVAC) –Ensuring the delivery of apprenticeships meet the needs of the employer and learner Liz Gorb, Director of Apprenticeships, Manchester Metropolitan University Business School – Working in partnership with employers to deliver quality Degree Apprenticeships Lead QSN Facilitator: Tam Milner |
In this session Adrian will outline the responsibilities of the higher education provider and the respective roles of the Institute for Apprenticeships, Office for Students, QAA, Ofsted and the Education and Skills Funding Agency. He will also cover End Point Assessment and approaches to External Quality Assurance for End Point Assessment. Liz will talk about how Manchester Metropolitan University has seen significant expansion of its degree apprenticeship provision and will explore how institutions can grow their provision in a sustainable way while navigating the multiple complex requirements and maintaining quality. |
| 2 | Developing Data Skills for the Quality PractitionerLead QSN Facilitator: Chris Laity | TBC |
| 3 | Quality Management FuturesExternal Speaker: Maureen McLaughlin, Head of Universities and Standards, QAA
Lead QSN Facilitator: Anne Miller |
The session will provide an update on the developments in relation to the UK Quality Code and plans for the new quality assessment system in England. |
| 4 | Student Protection Plans – a seemingly Kafkaesque part of the OfS registration process?External Speaker TBC
Lead QSN Facilitator: Angela Taylor |
Student Protection Plans set out what students can expect to happen should a course, campus, or institution close. What are the implications of these plans for quality professionals? This session will seek to share practical examples from QSN member organisations. |
| 5 | Pecha Kucha talks – New Approaches to Quality AssuranceDelegates and QSN members to submit presentations
Lead QSN Facilitator: Victoria Korzeniowska |
Delegates will be invited prior to conference to submit a presentation (20 slides in a slide show of 20 seconds per slide). Presentations include.Kings College London, ‘Employability-led QA Project’ |
| 6 | Managing Grade InflationExternal Speakers: Dr Gai Murphy, Head of Quality Design, QAA and Dr Charlotte Snelling, Policy Researcher, UniversitiesUK
Lead QSN Facilitator: Ruth Ayres |
Research re ‘How sector manages grade inflation’, Drivers, work with OfS and QAA, embed new classification into External Examining etc |
| 7 | Subject Level TEF ReviewExternal Speaker: Debbie Potts, Office for Students Lead QSN Facilitator: Chris Payne |
This session will consider the Subject TEF and its implications given the outcomes of pilots. |
| 8 | The Future of QA and QE in the devolved nationsLead QSN Facilitator: Julie Blackwell Young |
This workshop will look at the changing nature of QA and QE across the nations within the UK. The impact of the regulatory framework and Office for Students in England on the rest of the UK will be considered and how the role of UK-wide bodies such as QAA may now differ across the different nations will be discussed. |
Free to holders of QSN Season Ticket 2017/18 (one member per institution, see below)
£240 for delegates from member institutions
Unsubsidised fee of £350 for representatives from institutions that have not subscribed as members of QSN
The fee includes the Conference dinner, and overnight accommodation at the conference centre for the night of Thursday, 13 September. Places are limited so early booking is advised to avoid disappointment. Booking is not restricted to the institutional representative – a nominee can attend in his/her place.
QSN Season ticket 2018/19
The Network offers a QSN Season Ticket.
For an annual fee of £495, you receive:
The Network also offers a QSN Season Ticket Plus One – trial during 18/19 cycle.
For an annual fee of £750, you receive:
Any additional events during the year (such as extraordinary meetings to consider specific developments) will also be available at a preferential rate. The place is allocated to the institution, and is not tied to a named individual.
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