The 17th of September 2005 marks the beginning of the celebrations of 500 years of teaching and learning at the University of Aberdeen. It is therefore most timely that the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) today (Friday, September) publishes a report praising the quality of teaching and learning at the University.
This report details the outcome of a recent, four-yearly Enhancement-led Institutional Review (ELIR), undertaken by the Quality Assurance Agency.
The University, as with other institutions of higher education in the UK, must ensure that its educational provision operates within appropriate academic standards and offers students learning opportunities of the highest quality.
To ensure that the University meets these requirements, a number of quality assurance procedures operate. Some of these are internal processes run by the University itself, whereas others involve external scrutiny.
The main process of external scrutiny is that of the Enhancement-led Institutional Review (ELIR). This is a relatively new system of review which is specific to the Scottish Higher Education sector and is co-ordinated by the QAA, on behalf of SHEFC. This process of peer-led review looks at how the University manages the quality of its educational provision and the standards of its academic awards. It also looks at the steps the University is taking to manage quality enhancement – the “deliberate steps” it is taking to bring about improvement in its student learning experience.
The highest of the three levels of judgements, broad confidence, has been accorded to the University in terms of its current and likely future, management of the quality of its provision and the academic standards of its awards.
The report emphasises the effective quality assurance procedures in place at the University. A notable feature is the University’s demonstrable commitment to keeping policies and procedures under review to ensure that they remain fit for purpose and reflect changing requirements.
The report also highlights the commitment of the University in securing student involvement in its decision-making processes in relation to quality assurance and enhancement and further acknowledges the proactive approach taken by the University to enhancing provision for students with disabilities.
Cathy Macaslan, Vice Principal (Learning & Teaching), said: “The announcement that the University of Aberdeen has done so well in the recent Enhancement-led Institutional Review is testimony of the hard work put in by its staff.
“There are a great number of staff who have contributed a great deal of time and effort, notably, Dr Graeme Roberts, former Vice-Principal (Teaching and Learning). Dr Roberts retires from the University this month after 40 years of service to the University. This positive acknowledgement of the quality of teaching and learning at the University is, in large part, due to his dedication and enthusiasm for teaching and learning, particularly during his time as Vice-Principal.
“The University has done exceptionally well in this year’s ELIR, however, we will not rest on our laurels. As part of continuing enhancement, the University will continue to regularly review its policies and practice and will be working to further enhance our provision.
“As we will engage in this same process every four years, we will be putting much effort into securing even further achievements in key areas.”
In line with the ELIR method, the University submitted a Reflective Analysis (RA), which outlined the University’s strategy for quality enhancement, its approach to the management of quality and standards and its view of the effectiveness of its approach. The RA provided the focus for the review and was used as a basis for the programme of the visit by the QAA team.
The University highlighted two case studies in its analysis. These showed (i) how the University has, through successful collaboration between academic staff and its Learning Technology Unit, stimulated the evolution of e-learning to its current position as a core component of its teaching and learning provision, and (ii) how, through complete refurbishment of teaching laboratories in the School of Biological Sciences, the learning experience of students has been significantly enhanced.
The outcome of the ELIR will be a public report on the University’s overall ability to provide its students with a high quality learning experience. A copy of the report on the outcome of the University’s recent Enhancement-led Institutional Review is available on the web: www.qaa.ac.uk/reviews/reports/instReports.asp?instID=H-0170
Cathy Macaslan added: “The report following our recent review will be published today (Friday, September 16). This is most timely as this weekend (September 17) marks the beginning of the celebrations of 500 years of teaching and learning at the University of Aberdeen. This endorsement of the quality of our teaching provision by the QAA provides a positive signal that we can look forward to the next 500 years of excellence in teaching and learning at the University.”