Bangor University completes Quality Enhancement Review
| Date: | February 28 - 2025 |
|---|
Bangor University has successfully completed its Quality Enhancement Review.
Bangor University was founded in 1884, and today comprises three colleges: the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, the College of Science and Engineering, and the College of Medicine and Health. In academic year 2023-24, 13,738 students were enrolled at Bangor University.
Quality Enhancement Review is the method by which The Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) reviews Welsh higher education providers as part of the Quality Assessment Framework for Wales. Quality Enhancement Review provides quality assurance and supports quality enhancement, assuring governing bodies, students and the wider public that providers meet the requirements of Medr, the Commission for Tertiary Education and Research in Wales.
Bangor University's review visit took place on 3-5 December 2024. The review was conducted by a team of four independent reviewers, including a student reviewer.
The team concluded that Bangor University meets the requirements of the European Standards & Guidelines (ESG) Part 1 for internal quality assurance, and that it meets the relevant baseline regulatory requirements of the Quality Assessment Framework for Wales.
Their report confirmed that Bangor University has robust arrangements for securing academic standards, managing academic quality and for enhancing the quality of the student experience.
The review report listed six commendations and no recommendations, and identified one area of ongoing development.
The report commended Bangor University for:
- the strong relationship between the university and students
- the extent to which the Welsh language and bilingualism are embedded in the culture of the university
- the extensive academic and pastoral support available to students
- the significant value placed on staff development
- the implementation of the Assessment Equivalence Framework to ensure fairness and consistency in assessment practices
- and the use of data to inform quality assurance processes, facilitate student support, and underpin targeted enhancements.
It also noted, as an area of ongoing development, the steps being taken to strengthen the University’s approach to the management of collaborative provision.
The review team also reported that Bangor University's approach to enhancement is integral to its institutional strategy, which highlights a focus on 'Transformative Education' and emphasises teaching quality, the student experience, student retention and graduate outcomes.
Professor Edmund Burke, Vice Chancellor of Bangor University, said: "This outstanding outcome is a testament to Bangor University's unwavering commitment to academic excellence and student success. It reaffirms that our teaching, student support and quality assurance processes meet both national and European standards, with our six commendations indicative of Bangor University going beyond a provision that meets standards to one of excellence. We are proud to see our dedication to continuous improvement and the student experience recognised in such a significant way through this QER outcome."