Quality Assurance Dr Christopher Stevens Director of Quality and Standards Canterbury Christ Church University

What are we like Multi-campus University We work with a significant number of academic partners, with whom we collaborate to offer awards and credit There is an extensive portfolio of provision subject to professional and statutory regulation The QAA Institutional Audit of May 2005 commended us for maintaining “a strong, collegiate environment across the campuses and partners colleges”

Why have quality assurance To ensure that the student experience is of an appropriate standard To maintain the reputation of UK education in general and of the University in particular To provide the basis for reflection and enhancement

How is this managed The University’s Academic Board meets four times a year and is responsible is responsible for all aspects of the academic work of the University The Academic Planning Committee is responsible for planning University’s academic activities including the structure, The Quality and Standards Committee oversees policies, principles and procedures considered necessary to maintain and enhance the University’s work These committees are supported by the work of Faculty Quality Committees and various sub-committees

People The Pro-Vice Chancellor (Academic) chairs key committees and has strategic responsibility for this work The Director of Quality and Standards, who leads the Quality and Standards Office, has operational responsibility The Faculties have Faculty Directors of Quality Heads of Department and Programme Directors ensure that quality is maintained in the Lecture Theatre

Regulations The University has a set of detailed regulations for the operation of its programmes, especially concerning assessment and examination of students These are approved by the University’s Academic Board Academic staff must comply with these

Main activities Formal approval of programmes Rigorous use of external examiners in assessment Annual monitoring of programmes Periodic review and re-approval of programmes Periodic review of all departments

Values

Quality Assurance must further rather than inhibit collegiality is a collective activity undertaken by all staff is best undertaken closest as possible to the delivery of academic programmes to students Must allow, but manage academic diversity

Procedural Guidance The University uses extensive guidance to ensure that staff understand why regulations and procedures are there and what must be done to implement them The University is of a view that insistence on compliance without explanation and support is inadequate

Therefore Quality assurance is something that must reflect the way academics work Academics want students to have the best possible experience Academic reflect on what they do and seek to improve It must be explained It is not just a set of rules