The University of Edinburgh
College of Humanities and Social Science
Directors of QA Group
Paper 11/03
For information
Disclosable
The University of Edinburgh
College of Humanities and Social Science
School Directors of Quality Assurance
Induction Information
2011/2012
Contents
1. Overview of the Director of Quality Assurance’s role 1
2. At the start of your role 2
3. Context for the work of the Director of Quality Assurance 2
4. Implementing the College Learning and Teaching Strategy 2
5. School QAE annual reports 3
6. Guidance for Schools on producing QAE annual reports 3
7. College annual QAE report 3
8. Some practical ideas for supporting QAE 4
9. Directors of Quality Assurance Group (DofQA Group) 5
10. Schedule of DofQA Group meetings for academic session 2011/2012 6
11. DofQA Group Key Contacts 6
1. Overview of the role of the Director of Quality Assurance
The Director of Quality Assurance:
· Proactively promotes and ensures quality assurance in the delivery of Schools’ plans
· Supports the continual development of the learning and teaching experience delivered by all UG and PG courses and programmes,
· advises the Head of School and other key office bearers on all matters relating to QA
· monitors QA systems
· co-ordinates and writes the annual School QAE report
· promotes best practice and QA developments across the School
The Director of Quality Assurance sits on the College Directors of Quality Assurance Group. They may also sit on the School Policy and Resources Committee and the College Undergraduate Learning and Teaching Committee and Postgraduate Studies Committee but this would depend on individual School arrangements.
The role is usually taken for 3 years to allow for continuity and for knowledge and experience to develop.
2. At the start of your role
Some suggestions to familiarise new Directors of Quality Assurance in their role:
· Meet with your Head of School to discuss your particular School quality and enhancement priorities in the short and longer-term
· Familiarise yourself with the College Learning & Teaching Strategy 2010
· Talk to your predecessor
· Look at last year’s School QAE reports
· Look at other Schools’ QAE reports
· Look at last year’s College QAE report
· ‘Buddy up’ with another Director of Quality Assurance
(contact Lynn Hyams, Directors of Quality Assurance Group Secretary on 651 3168 or for advice on other School and College information)
3. Context for the work of the Director of Quality Assurance
ð College Quality and Enhancement web pages
http://www.ed.ac.uk/schools-departments/humanities-soc-sci/information-for-staff/quality
ð University Priorities for quality and enhancement
http://www.docs.sasg.ed.ac.uk/AcademicServices/Policies/Learning_Teaching_and_Enhancement_Strategy.pdf
ð College Learning and Teaching Strategy
http://www.hss.ed.ac.uk/AcademicAdmin/LearnTeachStrategy/index.htm
ð QAA Enhancement Themes
http://www.qaa.ac.uk/Scotland/DevelopmentAndEnhancement/Pages/default.aspx
4. Implementing the College Learning and Teaching Strategy
Each School should produce its own brief document to show how it is implementing the Learning and Teaching Strategy. This should preferably be in the form of a clear and concise action plan. The Head of School would be expected to lead on this or delegate the responsibility to another member of staff.
Plans will be made differently in each School but as a guide it is helpful for Schools to be clear:
· what the Schools’ priorities are
· how they plan to achieve them
· when they plan to achieve them
· keep a record of progress
It is worth talking to colleagues in other Schools to find out what they have done or planning to do to share useful practices and experiences. Schools will be expected to report on the progress of the eight strategic priorities in their QAE annual report for 2010/11.
5. School QAE annual reports
School QAE annual reports need to be sent to the DofQA Group Secretary by
Friday 27 January 2012, reporting on the previous academic year’s activities (ie 2010/11 work will be reported on in January 2012)
It is useful to look at other Schools’ annual reports to get a broad view of what information is required. Reports should follow the items detailed in the guidance as much as possible (see 6.)
6. Guidance for Schools on producing QAE annual reports
This guidance is revised annually and the guidance for reviewing reporting on academic year 2010/11 is available at: http://www.hss.ed.ac.uk/AcademicAdmin/QualAssurance/documents/2010.11GuidanceforSchoolQAEreportsfor2009.10academicsession_000.doc
7. College QAE annual report
The College QAE report scrutinises Schools’ overall performance, draws out the broader issues of policy and practice, and makes sure that recommendations for improvement are taken forward.
Once finalised, the CHSS QAE annual report is reviewed by the Senatus Quality Assurance Committee (SQAC) at its May meeting.
The report for academic year 2009/10 is available at: http://www.hss.ed.ac.uk/AcademicAdmin/QualAssurance/documents/CHSSQAEreportforacademicyear2009.10.doc
8. Some practical ideas for supporting QAE
Every member of staff has a contribution to make in enhancing the quality of the student learning experience. The following headings give some examples of actions that may be taken to support this that might be of help to Directors of Quality Assurance if asked for advice by staff
Feedback from students:
All forms of feedback can be analysed and used to improve students’ learning experiences.
Examples can include:
· Informal feedback during a course
· Regular meetings between student reps and Head of School
· School Councils
· Student involvement in School QAE procedures
· Staff-Student Liaison Committees
· Focus groups to analyse feedback in greater detail
· Course questionnaires may include a question on the implementation of reasonable adjustments if required for a student with a disability
· Considering all feedback at both School and subject level
· Identifying actions to make improvements
· Feedback to the students any changes being made
· Make sure all course monitoring forms are returned
· Carry out annual programme monitoring for all UG and PGT programmes
· Action recommendations from Postgraduate Programme Reviews
· Action recommendations from Teaching Programme reviews
· Action recommendations from professional accreditation reviews
· Action recommendations from the annual CQAEC review cycle
Reporting back to students
· Allocate time at the beginning of a lecture to explain feedback is being sought and why student input is important
· Often worth giving students advance notice of this so they are more prepared
· Explain clearly how their feedback will be used to lead to changes
· Explain how useful last year’s feedback was and what changes were made
Peer Observation of Practice
· A helpful tool for colleagues to reflect on their teaching practice in a non-threatening way, both by observing and being observed
· Useful for staff early on in their careers (possibly on an annual basis) and less regularly for more experienced staff
· SQAC are making peer observation of practice a priority across the University
External Examiners
· These are an invaluable source of quality assurance and also enhancement and Schools are expected to act on issues raised to improve the quality of the learning experience. Schools need to ensure that the College Office and External Examiners are kept informed of any action and developments taken to improve processes.
Course Monitoring
· It can be useful for Heads of Subject Areas or Heads of Schools to be involved in signing off course monitoring forms, particularly if Schools have difficulty obtaining completed forms
· Deadline for the return of forms could be brought forward to that course monitoring forms are completed as soon as possible after the course is finished
Course audit files
· Monitored by support staff, these can be an efficient means of collating and collecting the information required for QAE purposes. Law and PPLS have successfully used course audit files. Files should include:
ð course booklet
ð examination paper
ð reports on student/staff liaison meetings
ð audit continuity sheet
ð course monitoring forms (including course grades and
ð comments by course organiser &
ð an analysis of student questionnaires)
Good Practice
· The College website is compiling a list of resources for Schools to use. Many of the examples allow academics to contact colleagues in their School or other Schools and share information and good practice:
http://www.ed.ac.uk/schools-departments/humanities-soc-sci/information-for-staff/learning-teaching-strategy-resource/resources-for-staff
9. Directors of Quality Assurance Group
Directors of Quality Assurance Group Remit
· develop appropriate policies and procedures for Quality Assurance covering all provision (for-credit and not-for-credit) in the College
· review the development of Schools’ and OLL’s QA models in the light of internal changes and external requirements
· receive and monitor the reports of all external bodies accrediting degrees and courses within the College
· monitor the operation of QA policies and procedures and Quality Enhancement changes and innovation within the College, to ensure systems used by Schools establish and maintain appropriate standards for courses and programmes, assessment and teaching, on the basis of:
ú School and Office of Lifelong Learning QA reports
ú External Examiner reports
ú Teaching Programme Review Reports
ú Postgraduate Programme Review Reports
· monitor Schools’ engagement and response to these last three sets of reports
· monitor the Directors of Studies service in each School
· report to College Planning & Resources Committee and Senatus Quality Assurance Committee
Membership
· Associate Dean, Quality Assurance (Convener)
· 11 School Quality Assurance Directors
· OLL Quality Assurance Director
· Director of Academic and Student Administration
· Head of CHSS Academic Affairs Office or representative
· Head of Postgraduate Office or representative
· 2 Student representatives
10. Schedule of Directors of QA Groups for academic session
2011/12
All meetings are held on Wednesdays from 2-4pm:
28 September 2011 Room 1.11 Main Library, George Square
23 November 2011 Room 1.11 Main Library, George Square
14 March 2012 Room 1.07 Main Library, George Square
16 May 2012 Room 1.11 Main Library, George Square
11. QA Directors Key College Contacts
Alan Ducklin, Associate Dean, Quality Assurance
& Directors of Quality Assurance Group Convener
(651 6121 8
Lynn Hyams, CHSS Academic Affairs Officer
& Directors of Quality Assurance Group Secretary
(651 6138 8
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Directors of Quality Induction Information for 2011/12