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A more risk-based approach to quality assurance in higher education in England June 2012 consultation events Heather Fry Director (Education Participation and Students), HEFCE

To outline: Main features Underlying principles Key proposals Continuing emphases: e.g. the student interest and educational enhancement Purposes

Applied to QA system as a whole - Review, progress monitoring, QAA Concerns scheme All providers with access to HEFCE funding All other QAA subscribers But no risk categories Taking a more risk-based approach

A system based on where we are now, and which: continues to align with and be built on institutional quality assurance yet is robust and rigorous, facilitating HEFCE’s statutory duty is universal, requiring all providers to engage with UK HE Quality Code continues to engage with and benefit students has a continued focus on enhancement aligns with HE Better Regulation Principles Q 1 RBQA principles

Maturity of track record of institution – wide assessment of HE determines frequency of review (a risk-based approach) Route A: Institutions who have not yet undergone two institution - wide external reviews of HE provision Route B: Institutions who have undergone two or more institution wide external reviews of HE provision Fast track option for FECs who have undergone IQER to move from Route A to Route B during Q 2 Proposals: Routes A & B

Proposals: period between Review What should the frequency be? Route B: options between 6 to 10 years A longer interval than the current 6 years has pros and cons: Advantages – further reduces frequency of external assurance for those with maturity of such assessment Disadvantages - International reputation and student interest: out of line with review intervals in the rest of UK and rest of Europe; not clear enables enhancement focus; more risk of Q&S failures Route A frequency would adjust in relation to Route B Q 4,5

Proposals: Variations in Review We are consulting about where risk might alter some aspects of review : in the nature of review, core and ‘module’ approach in intensity taking account of PSRB activity Q 3,6

A risk-based approach needs to be supported by mechanisms to address ‘out of cycle’ Q &S issues that may arise between Reviews The QAA Concerns Scheme already acts in this way, we propose: Better publicizing QAA’s Concerns Scheme, including to students Further OIA and QAA cooperation - ‘Clusters of complaints’ New annual review of data by a panel, with referral to QAA for further investigation of concerning ‘outliers’: What is the data that should be considered? The composition of the panel Q 7 Proposals: ‘Triggers’

Students are central to the approach: Continued involvement in review Ability to invoke QAA Concerns Scheme promoted Package of proposals designed to robustly assure reputation and thus protect the student interest Emphases: Student engagement

Enhancement focus retained: Judgment on enhancement of student learning opportunities Annual thematic element of Review Universal review means the full range of quality and standards will be experienced and good practice will be shared through reports Emphases: Educational enhancement

The proposals are designed to: take forward Government policy build on where we are now robustly assure quality and standards of English HE ensure a continued enhancement focus exists ensure the continued international reputation of English HE protect the student interest The consultation is open to anyone to respond We look forward to hearing from you Risk-based quality assurance: A summary

Outcomes will go to the HEFCE Board in October, resulting in a letter of guidance to the QAA The outcomes of the consultation will assist the QAA as they consult on the Operational Description for this new approach in December 2012 New approach comes into force for start of , although first reviews will only take place from January Next steps

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