1. Julie Green Quality Manager ROLE AND ORGANISATION OF THE QUALITY UNIT

2. Contents >What constitutes quality? >The Quality Unit >The Quality Group >Main activities of the Quality Unit >Accreditation Framework >Internal and external accreditation >Main stages of a review >Example of closing the loop >Rankings >Useful websites

3. What constitutes ‘Quality’ >Courses/programmes (planning/development, validation/ approval, evaluation/monitoring, review processes, procedures for minor/major changes, withdrawal of modules/programmes) >Assessment (clarity and appropriateness, standards of marking, quality of feedback to students, complains, appeals, plagiarism) >External (reviews, external examiners – appointment, training, reports, external benchmarks, QAA subject benchmarks, Advisory Board) >Wider student experience (resources – physical and human, student support and guidance, communications and information, placement support) >Management Information (use of quantitative information on the monitoring of quality and standards) >Collaborative provision (approaches/procedures)

4. CHAIR OF QUALITY (Professor Jill Poole) QUALITY MANAGER (Julie Green) RANKINGS AND QUALITY OFFICER (Katy Barry) QUALITY SECRETARY (Julie Smith) School-Wide External Reviews (Project Leader – various) ABS Quality Unit

5. AIMS AND PURPOSE >To initiate, implement and coordinate all quality assurance and enhancement activity across Aston Business School’s teaching and research activities. This will include projects and initiatives for accreditation and rankings.

6. ABS Quality Group >Executive Dean of School >Associate Dean Faculty and Quality (Chair) >Associate Dean Learning and Teaching >Director, Centre for Executive Development >Directors/Managers of Programmes – UG; PG; MSc; MBA; Doctoral >Director of Information and Academic Discipline >Head of Administration >Information Systems Aston: Associate IT Director Applications >Rankings and Quality Officer

7. ABS Quality Group Remit >To monitor the implementation within the School of the University's quality assurance strategy. >To monitor all quality assurance and enhancement activity across the School. >To oversee the implementation of projects and initiatives for accreditation and inspection. >To oversee the management of the strategic and operational processes required for rankings exercises related to the School >To monitor student feedback (questionnaire and staff/student committees) on modules and courses. >To disseminate and encourage good practice. >To contribute to policies and strategies related to quality in the School and to influence the University's policies/strategies relating to quality. >To keep informed of external quality frameworks

8. Main Activities of the ABS Quality Unit >Accreditations/reviews – internal >Accreditations/reviews – external >Student Feedback – UG/PG/RDP >Staff/Student Committees feedback >Feedback Loops >Rankings >Resource Room >Collection of Information >Dissemination of Good Practice (Good Practice Guide)

9. ABS Accreditation >Aston Business School has been involved with accreditation of its degrees for a long time, for example, the MBA programme has been accredited by the Association of MBAs (AMBA) since 1976/77 >Aston University, Aston Business School first gained EQUIS accreditation in 1999 and AACSB in 2003 >The University/School has been re-accredited by EQUIS until 2016 >Aston Business School is among 1% of business schools worldwide with triple accreditation from AMBA, AACSB and EQUIS.

10. ABS Accreditation Framework ABS EQUIS: Accreditation 2011 Undergraduate Programmes QAA: Excellent (24/24) 2001 Postgraduate Programmes QAA: Excellent (24/24) 2001 Research/Doctoral Programmes RAE 2008: 5*A (old system) ESRC Re-accredited 2006 DBA Programme AMBA Re-accreditation 2010 ABS AACSB: Accreditation 2003 MBA Programme AMBA Re-accreditation 2010 MSc Accounting and Finance ACCA + AIA +CIMA MSc Human Resource Management & Business CIPD - 2012 MSc Work Psychology and Business BPS - 2008 CII Chartered Insurance Institute ACCA Association of Chartered Certified Accountants AIA Association of International Accountants CMI Chartered Management Institute CII Chartered Insurance Institute CIPD (2012) Chartered Institute of Personnel & Development CIM Chartered Institute of Marketing ICAEW Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales CIMA Chartered Institute of Management Accountants EQUIS - European Quality Improvement System ESRC- Economic and Social Research Council AACSB- Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business ACCA- Association of Chartered Certified Accountants AIA- Association of International Accountants AMBA- Association of MBAs BPS- British Psychological Society CIM - Chartered Institute of Marketing CIMA- Chartered Institute of Management Accountants CIPD- Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development MSc Marketing Management CIM CIPS Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply ICSA Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators LLB (Bachelor of Laws) Law Society/ Bar Council

11. ABS Quality Reviews and Accreditations EQUIS (European Quality Improvement System)November 1999 AMBA (Association of MBAs)February 2000 QAA Subject ReviewJanuary 2001 BPS (British Psychological Society)May 2001 CIPD (Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development) -(PG)March 2002 EQUIS (European Quality Improvement System)February 2003 AACSB (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business)February 2003 ”” ICAEW (Institute of Chartered Accountants for England and Wales) – UGMay 2006 Research Degrees Programme: DBA – AMBAJune 2006 CIMA (Chartered Institute of Management Accountants) - PGAugust 2006 AIA (The Association of International Accountants) – UG/PGSept 2006 CIPD (Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development) -(PG)March 2007 Research Degrees Programme: DBA – AMBA re-accreditationJuly 2007 Law Society - UGFeb 2008 British Psychological Society (BPS)March 2008 AMBA – MBA and DBAFeb 2010 ACCA and CIMA2010 EQUISFeb/Mar 2011 AACSB - Maintenance Review Application (+exemption cases)1 July 2010 CIPD – UG/PG2012 AACSB – Reaccreditation2012/2013 British Psychological Society (BPS), Law programmes and an internal review2012/2013

12. Internal Reviews The purpose of the review procedure is: >To assist academic/subject groups to assess their performance; >To improve performance based on the recommendations of the Review Panel; >To assist academic/subject groups in preparing for external review and professional body accreditation. The University carries out Programme Reviews, for all degree programmes, on a five-yearly cycle Reviews are intended to be constructive, with examples of good practice being identified and disseminated throughout the University. The continuation of each programme is conditional upon the receipt of a satisfactory review report.

13. External Accreditation >QAA (Quality Assurance Agency) >EQUIS (European Quality Improvement System) >AACSB (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business) >AMBA (Association of MBAs) >Professional Bodies >Rankings

14. Main Stages of a Review >Preparation of Self-Evaluation Document (EQUIS require students to also write a report) >Collection/collation of evidence/information >Briefing of all staff especially those who will be interviewed by the Review Panel >Hymn Sheets (summary sheets on various topics) >Setting up a Base Room of information (if required) >Visit by the Review Panel (usually 1 to 4 days) >Panel interviews various members of academic staff/support staff/ students/ employers/external advisors etc (based on triangulation) >Review Panel work through a set of criteria >Review Report received from the Review Panel >Response given to the Review Report >An annual progress report may be required (For EQUIS the School has to show continuous improvement on three agreed objectives)

15. Purpose of a Self Assessment/Evaluation Document >Provide an opportunity for the entire institution to take stock of its situation >Carry out a comprehensive strategic review >Result in an unbiased and critical self-examination >Provide a basis for the Peer Review >Contribute to a better understanding of the nature of quality in management education EQUIS ‘Guide to Self-Assessment, March 2007’

16. Student Feedback – ‘Closing the Loop’ 1. Questionnaires issued to students by Programme 2. Questionnaires completed; analysed by Quality Unit & revewed by Assoc Dean L & T 3. Analysis circulated to member of staff and Head of Group 4. Member of staff completes a Module Reflection Form 7. Response to actions received and monitored by ABS Quality Group 6. Actions arising from Module Reflection Forms sent to Programmes/other depts 5. Non-return of Module Reflection Forms chased 8. Production of Annual Monitoring Review of Programme 9. Improvements to degree programmes/ modules/facilities 10. Students informed of changes made (verbal, posters, Blackboard™) 11. Good Practice Guides produced

17. Rankings >1st in the UK and 5th in the world for career progression Financial Times Global MBA 2010 >4th in the world for careers, 3rd in the UK for careers and 5 th in the UK for overall ranking Financial Times Masters in Management 2012 >10th in the UK for Business Studies The Complete University Guide 2010 (The Independent) >83% overall student satisfaction UG National Student Survey 2012 http://www1.aston.ac.uk/aston-business-school/about-abs/rankings/

18. Useful Websites >QAA (Quality Assurance Agency) www.qaa.ac.ukwww.qaa.ac.uk >EQUIS (European Quality Improvement System) www.efmd.orgwww.efmd.org >AACSB (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business) www.aacsb.edu www.aacsb.edu >AMBA (Association of MBAs) www.mbaworld.comwww.mbaworld.com >HEA (Higher Education Academy) www.heacademy.ac.ukwww.heacademy.ac.uk >ABS Staff handbook http://www1.aston.ac.uk/aston-business- school/abs-staff-only/staff-handbook/http://www1.aston.ac.uk/aston-business- school/abs-staff-only/staff-handbook/

19. Contact Julie Green Quality Manager Room 615 Level 6 Nelson Building j.e.green@aston.ac.uk 0121 204 3112