Upcoming course dates
Visit the event booking site for available dates and to book your place.
Our professional development programmes offer opportunities for you to extend your knowledge and skills and learn more about efficient and effective systems from QAA specialists. Each course provides a platform to actively engage as part of an online cohort, enabling you to discuss key issues, exchange ideas and share insights with other members across the UK.
There are professional development programmes for:
- those involved in managing academic quality and standards across the UK. The courses are designed for colleagues at different stages in their career with a selection of dates available throughout the year.
- those involved in managing and developing international partnerships. These form part of the International Insights enhancement package.
About our courses and how to book
Managing Academic Quality and Standards
Step into Quality
This lively, interactive workshop introduces the key concepts of academic quality and standards in the UK: what they are, why they matter, some of the main internal processes and the relevant sector bodies. We also signpost to useful resources and information.
Is this for me?
This course is suitable for anyone new to higher education, with no prior knowledge of the sector. It can be used as a standalone session for non-specialists or as a starting point from which those with a greater interest in the management of academic quality and standards can build through engagement with our other courses.
What is the commitment?
It is a 2-hour online session with no preparatory tasks. Active participation is encouraged to ensure all participants get the most value from the course.
Introduction to Quality
The course covers the key reference points for quality and standards such as the UK Quality Code for Higher Education, as well as different ways in which quality assurance and enhancement can be managed by a provider.
Is this for me?
This course is suitable for academic and professional services staff who need to understand the role of quality in higher education. It relies on participants having some familiarity with their provider so we suggest applicants should have been within their role for at least three months before joining the programme. You may wish to join this course after completing Step into Quality, but it is not a pre-requisite.
What is the commitment?
Participants are expected to attend two live sessions and access a range of asynchronous activities during the programme such as pre-recorded presentations and reading course materials.
Upcoming course dates
Visit the event booking site for available dates and to book your place.
Quality in Practice: Quality Management
The course builds on foundational knowledge of quality management and reference points, reflecting on challenges and debates in delivering quality assurance and enhancement.
Is this for me?
This course is intended to support professional services staff who are progressing at team leader/officer-level roles or academic staff taking on particular responsibility for the management of academic quality and standards (for example, programme leaders, department heads or learning and teaching quality leads). Quality in Practice offers suitable progression for those who have completed Introduction to Quality, but that step is not essential.
What is the commitment?
The programme includes two compulsory live sessions and a series of asynchronous activities to complete such as pre-recorded presentations and reading case studies.
Upcoming course dates
Visit the event booking site for available dates and to book your place.
Managing International Partnerships
These programmes are for QAA Members who have the International Insights enhancement package.
Introduction to International Partnerships and Transnational Education (TNE)
The session covers all fundamental aspects of international partnerships from the outline stages of the TNE journey, including how to mitigate risk.
Is this for me?
This training is aimed at staff who have recently started to work in professional support or academic roles with responsibilities for international partnerships. This may include partnership or international office staff, staff from quality teams or other relevant professional services.
What is the commitment?
This is a 2-hour online session with no preparatory tasks. Active participation is encouraged to ensure all participants get the most value from the course.
Upcoming course dates
Course dates will be announced soon.
Managing Risk in International Partnerships
The interactive session explores developing partnerships, partnership types and definitions, risks involved in international partnerships, and risk management processes including the challenges of undertaking due diligence.
Is this for me?
This course is for colleagues who have prior experience of international partnership work including staff working in management or operational roles in quality teams or international teams, academics with responsibility for international partnership arrangements and other experienced staff with responsibilities for delivery and/or support of international partnerships.
What is the commitment?
This is one-off online workshop where participation is required in group activities to enable sharing of experience and challenges. Some pre-reading of supporting documents is encouraged.
Upcoming course dates
Course dates will be announced soon.
Contact us
If you are not sure which is the best course for you, or would like further information, please email the Membership Team who will be happy to help.