Grab a hot refreshment and meet this year’s conference exhibitors.

Time to enjoy your lunch and for all new QSN members to meet the Executive Committee.

Welcome from the QSN Chair, Maureen McLaughlin, Head of Wales, Northern Ireland and Educational Oversight, The Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education

Speaker Donald Clark, CEO, WildFire Learning.

Speaker TBC

Delegates are invited to discuss their current practice of external examining and examine the following provocations: 

“External examining is the wrong target for the government’s grade inflation concerns” and “If external examiners can’t stop grade inflation, what are we actually using them for?”.

Join our conference sponsors for a refreshment break in the Exhibitor Lounge.

As the revised UK Quality Code hits publication in September 2026, what are the challenges and opportunities to proved sector common ground while recognising diverging practices?

An opportunity for further networking and reflection on the day.

QSN Chair Maureen McLaughlin to open the dinner, followed by a Quiz led by QSN’s quiz master Rafe Smallman.

Grab a refreshment and come join us for the AGM, all members are welcome.

Welcome from the QSN Chair, Maureen McLaughlin, Head of Wales, Northern Ireland and Educational Oversight, The Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education.

Speaker Professor Osama Khan, Vice Chancellor, University of South Wales

Five workshop sessions facilitated by members of the QSN Executive in seminar rooms; with lightning talks and an opportunity to discuss, feedback and ask questions of presenters.  

 Workshop Schedules are outlined below; and repeated at 11:15

Workshop A: The changing size and shape of Academic Quality in UK Higher Education: Are we truly transformed? 

Aminah Suhail, Quality and Academic Development Manager Academic Section, University of Essex

Transformation has become a defining feature of UK higher education – but what picture emerges when we step back and look across the Academic Quality profession itself? Using a sector-wide snapshot of institutions across the UK, this workshop will identify emerging trends before asking the bigger question: ‘What do these changes tell us about the identity, purpose and future of Academic Quality?’

Workshop B: Confident Partnerships: Growing Collaboration While Securing Standards

Phil Berry, Director of Academic Quality, Kings College London

As institutions increasingly look to partnerships to support strategic ambitions, quality professionals have a key role in helping organisations grow confidently and sustainably. Through practical examples and discussion, this session will explore how effective partnership oversight can enable innovation while maintaining trust in quality and standards. 

Workshop C: Lifelong Learning  Entitlement– will it take us a lifetime to achieve?

Richard Appleby, Head of Academic Quality, University of London

Workshop D: Improving outcomes for students – the role of the student voice and the NSS

Don Ramsden, Head of Academic Quality, University of London & Evasys

Workshop E: Quality connections – a further chance to network and connect with colleagues in an informal session

QSN Executive

A more open and flexible session available to those who would prefer a less formal opportunity to share Quality challenges and solutions. 

Choose your next parallel workshop from the below schedule:

Workshop A: The changing size and shape of Academic Quality in UK Higher Education: Are we truly transformed? 

Aminah Suhail, Quality and Academic Development Manager Academic Section, University of Essex

Transformation has become a defining feature of UK higher education – but what picture emerges when we step back and look across the Academic Quality profession itself? Using a sector-wide snapshot of institutions across the UK, this workshop will identify emerging trends before asking the bigger question: ‘What do these changes tell us about the identity, purpose and future of Academic Quality?’

Workshop B: Confident Partnerships: Growing Collaboration While Securing Standards

Phil Berry, Director of Academic Quality, Kings College London

As institutions increasingly look to partnerships to support strategic ambitions, quality professionals have a key role in helping organisations grow confidently and sustainably. Through practical examples and discussion, this session will explore how effective partnership oversight can enable innovation while maintaining trust in quality and standards. 

Workshop C: Lifelong Learning  Entitlement– will it take us a lifetime to achieve?

Richard Appleby, Head of Academic Quality, University of London

Workshop D: Improving outcomes for students – the role of the student voice and the NSS

Don Ramsden, Head of Academic Quality, University of London & Evasys

Workshop E: Quality connections – a further chance to network and connect with colleagues in an informal session

QSN Executive

A more open and flexible session available to those who would prefer a less formal opportunity to share Quality challenges and solutions.

Grab a lunch bag and meet us in the Main Conference room for the next session.

A look at challenges for the New Japanese Quality Assurance System Drawing on the UK Model: Insights from a Comparative Survey of the UK, the US, and Japan’

Following a review of Japan’s 20-year-old institution-based accreditation system, a new tiered evaluation model, focused on quality enhancement at undergraduate and postgraduate level, has been introduced, drawing on the UK’s approach. This session presents an international comparative study of educational programme evaluation across the UK, US, and Japan, examining the merits and challenges of UK quality assurance and enhancement, and the impact of this for the future of Japan’s new system. 

Vicki Scott will bring her insights, experience and reflections on the current shape of Quality across the sector.