2.  the purposes of quality assurance and accreditation  different types of quality assurance and accreditation (including rankings)

4.  An all-purpose phrase, covering a spectrum of activities: ◦ continuous inspection, ◦ compliance-based accreditation systems, ◦ consumer protection ◦ improvement-based personal development.  ‘Quality assurance is the planned and systematic activities implemented in a quality system so that quality requirements for a product or service will be fulfilled’( American Society for Quality )  In the world of higher education, quality assurance focuses on: ◦ accountability ◦ enhancement

5.  a series of formal procedures intended to help ensure that all those who are involved in teaching, learning and assessment can be confident of achieving their agreed individual and collective intentions  It is a spectrum running from: accountability <-----to-----enhancement

6.  Improvement of students‘ learning  Self-knowledge  Control of standards  Confirmation of effectiveness  Identification of weaknesses  Information for development and improvement  Evidence for external use  Basis for inter-institutional comparisons  Increased professionalism of academic staff

7.  Accountability  Government control  Improvement/enhancement  International reputation  Public reassurance/confidence  Public information  Rankings  Resource allocation  System standardisation

8.  Some internal quality assurance activities: ◦ Organisational procedures ◦ Student assessment procedures ◦ Student feedback ◦ Program approval/validation ◦ Program reviews ◦ Departmental/school reviews ◦ Staff appraisal ◦ Management information ◦ Reflective professional practice

9.  External quality assurance and accreditation ◦ Institutional accreditation (external criteria) ◦ Subject/department accreditation (external criteria) ◦ Program accreditation (external criteria) ◦ Institutional audit or evaluation ◦ External examiners