QAA appoints new Director of Membership, Quality Enhancement and Standards

QAA is delighted to announce Dr Ailsa Crum as its new Director of Membership, Quality Enhancement and Standards. Ailsa has worked at QAA since 1998 in a number of roles, most recently as Head of Quality and Enhancement at QAA Scotland.

She will have responsibility for the management and delivery of QAA’s membership experience and services, and will provide oversight of the development of the UK Quality Code and other sector standards.

In her previous role, Ailsa designed and implemented Scotland’s Enhancement-led Institutional Review method (ELIR), and led QAA’s work on the Scottish higher education sector’s Enhancement Themes. She also played a key role in developing QAA’s recent guidance which supported the higher education sector’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Ailsa has worked extensively with higher education institutions, governments, students and sector agencies. This experience guides her vision for QAA Membership.

Ailsa holds a doctorate from the University of Glasgow and has previously worked for Universities Scotland and Robert Gordon University. She has been a member of the Sparqs Members’ Steering Group, the European Quality Audit Network and is a committee member of QQI, the Irish quality agency. Her commitment to continuous enhancement and her support for the higher education sector across the UK is evident throughout her career.

Ailsa said: ‘My vision is to work in partnership with our members, creating a valued and valuable resource for the sector. Even in these challenging times there is much to look forward to including providing a space for sharing good practice to ensure our talented students are engaged and able to achieve their potential. The Membership, Quality Enhancement and Standards team are a creative and resourceful group of colleagues with an exciting programme of work mapped out for the year ahead.’

You can find out more about QAA Membership on our website.