Universities UK has welcomed today the findings of a Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) sub-committee report looking into quality and standards in English higher education. The report concludes that there is no systemic failure in quality assurance but does, however, say that the sector must improve the availability of information about quality and standards in higher education.

The report is the result of a review chaired by Professor Colin Riordan, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Essex.

Responding to the report’s findings, Professor Steve Smith, President of Universities UK, said: “Universities UK welcomes this report. Like HEFCE, we take any concerns raised about quality assurance and the experiences of students in higher education very seriously.

“We’re glad that the sub-committee does not consider that there is a systemic failure in quality in the higher education sector. However, one complaint is one too many. Therefore, we are making continuous improvements to the system for quality and standards.

“We know that quality is our greatest asset, and it must be safeguarded. The UK remains one of the world’s leading destinations for international students, in large part, due to our reputation for quality. The UK model for assuring quality and standards in higher education is well-respected internationally and has informed and influenced parallel developments worldwide.

“The sub-committee concludes that the external examining arrangements in the UK require some attention to ensure that they meet the challenges of the future. We agree. To tackle this Universities UK, together with GuildHE, is conducting a review of external examining arrangements. We are currently putting together an expert group to do this, and will ensure that students and employer voices are heard. It’s worth remembering that almost no other HE system in the world makes regular use of external examiners at undergraduate level.

“But quality costs, and needs investment. At this time of pressure on public funding, we are concerned that the quality of the student experience will come under increasing pressure unless we can find a way to resource better our teaching activity.  We are also keen to avoid increasing bureaucracy, as this would divert funding from front-line teaching, learning and research.”

The report finds that the concerns raised about quality and standards, ‘while receiving a large amount of publicity, have been made by a very small fraction of students and staff’. The sub-committee also makes recommendations about establishing further transparency about the higher education ‘offer’, such as contact hours, expected study time and assessment methods.

Professor Smith added: “What we must do more effectively as a sector is communicate to people - students, parents, employers - how standards are protected and maintained in higher education. Universities have also been putting significant resource into publishing information for prospective students - on their websites and elsewhere - about what to expect from their university experience.”
ENDS

Notes

1. For more information on the report from HEFCE’s sub-committee for Teaching, Quality and the Student Experience, visit: www.hefce.ac.uk    

2. In his keynote speech at the Universities UK Annual Conference, President Professor Steve Smith announced that UUK - together with GuildHE and in collaboration with agencies such as the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) and the Higher Education Academy (HEA) - would lead a UK-wide review of external examiner arrangements. For more information, click here

3. In terms of degree classification, a wide range of higher education institutions across the UK are currently piloting a new approach to representing the achievements of students, alongside the current degree classification system. The Measuring and Recording Student Achievement Steering Group – the “Burgess Group” – chaired by Professor Robert Burgess, recommended introducing a single document, to be known as a ‘Higher Education Achievement Report’ (HEAR), which would be the key vehicle for measuring and recording student achievement. Click here for more information.

4. Universities UK’s response to the IUSS Select Committee report is available.

5. Universities UK this week launched a micro-site dedicated to providing more information about quality and standards in UK universities. Please visit: www.universitiesuk.ac.uk/quality    

6. Universities UK supports the research which HEFCE is undertaking into public information needs, particularly the needs of prospective students. Following the findings of this research, we expect to consult, with HEFCE, and GuildHE, in 2010 on what should be published by institutions and where.

7. Universities UK has been working throughout this year with HEFCE, GuildHE, QAA, AoC and NUS to draft a consultation document which will be published in December 2009. This will set out the future of the quality assurance system in England and Northern Ireland and the principles underpinning institutional audit to come into play when the current institutional audit cycle ends in July 2011. It will take forward many of the recommendations of this report.