LEEDS BECKETT UNIVERSITY CONTINUOUS AUDIT BRIEFING Quality Assurance Services

Outline of the Session What is academic audit Types of academic audit 2014/15 continuous audit activities Procedure for auditing Key matters to consider when auditing

Composition of Audit Activities ACADEMIC AUDIT Regulatory process (see section D1 of the APR) Serves to assure Academic Board that delegated responsibilities for quality and standards are being appropriately discharged (reports to Committees) Promotes quality enhancement through recognition and dissemination of good practice

Types of Academic Audit Continuous Audit Monitoring and evaluation of routinely produced evidence (desk-based) and observation of a range of activities Enhancement Audit Specific issues or themes which arise from consideration of the outcomes of continuous audit and/or any other form of internal or external monitoring and review at faculty or university level Collaborative Activity Mutual review of franchise partners (incorporates audit) Enhancement audits of partners

Continuous Audit 2014/15 OBSERVATIONS Board of Examiners -Consideration of level 6 profiles, particularly those with mixed economy profiles -Consideration of collaborative students -Ties in with staff development activities Mitigation Panels -Looking for consistency of approach to assure Academic Board -Fit to Sit/Submit introduced for collaborative provision

Continuous Audit 2014/15 DESK-BASED Unfair Practice Board -The desk-based audit activities will support the Short-Life Working Group that is currently reviewing these regulations and procedures Student Representation -Review the implementation of the revised process for appointment and guidance -Evaluate the use of the ‘MyVoice’ tool -Review the number of reps appointed

Observation Procedure 1 Areas for audit identified Schedules of activity requested at start of semester 1 Audit Team confirmed - QAS and Faculty QA&G Teams (quality practitioners) Participants assigned an event to observe in an non-aligned subject area Event secretaries notified of the audit and they confirm receipt of the notification Briefing sessions arranged, supporting materials produced and made available online

Observation Procedure 2 Participants Confirm availability to QAS via and thereafter liaises directly with the event secretary to confirm the event details (e.g. time/location) Familiarises themselves with the relevant guidance materials, regulations and the report template Attend, observes and submits completed observation report on the standard template to QAS

Observation Procedure 3 DO Remember to check the event details the day before Bring guidance materials with you Make notes and write up the form later Be unobtrusive and uninvolved! Look for good practice Anonymise individuals in your observations DO NOT Be late! Be a stranger! Introduce yourself on arrival Intervene or give advice – defer to appropriate teams Sit where you cannot see or hear what is going on

Boards and Committees – Key Matters Has a pre-Board been undertaken? Check with secretary afterwards if unclear Attendance – is there appropriate representation of internal and external examiners? Agenda – has the latest template used? Consideration of level 6 profiles – have appropriate methods/regulations been applied? Are collaborative students being considered consistently?

Mitigation Panels – Key Matters Frequency and scope – meetings should be monthly and at faculty level Constitution – appropriate panel members in attendance? Report of mitigation at point of assessment made by FMC? Who is presenting the cases? (Should be the FMC) Are tariffs being applied consistently? (Particularly with collaborative students) Are arrangements for onward reporting to Board clear? Any issues that the FMP feels are unclear?

Further Information Webpage: Claire Chapman (Quality Assurance Services) Tel: ext

Any Questions?