QAA commissioned to lead development of Scottish tertiary quality review and enhancement arrangements

We are delighted to announce that QAA has been commissioned by the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) to lead key workstreams of Scotland’s Tertiary Quality Project.

The project involves the development and delivery of a common approach to assuring and enhancing quality in Scotland’s tertiary sector. QAA will lead on two key workstreams within the project in collaboration with SFC, sector agencies, and staff and students from Scotland’s colleges and universities.

This includes the design and delivery of a multi-year quality cycle involving peer-led external review of colleges and universities, working closely with Education Scotland. QAA will also lead planning for the delivery of a national enhancement programme across Scotland’s tertiary sector, drawing on the expertise of Colleges Development Network (CDN).

Further collaboration with student partnerships in quality Scotland (sparqs) and NUS Scotland will be required to maximise the effectiveness of student partnership in the new arrangements.

The tertiary wide scope of the project is an exciting expansion of QAA’s work and aligned with the aims outlined in our new strategy to serve the needs of institutions across the tertiary sector, wherever the expertise of an independent quality body is needed.

Alastair Delaney, QAA’s Executive Director of Operations and Deputy Chief Executive said: ‘QAA is delighted to have been chosen by the SFC to lead on this exciting development of quality assurance and enhancement arrangements in Scotland’s colleges and universities. This project is a significant expansion of QAA’s work in Scotland and across the tertiary sector. We look forward to working closely with Scotland’s colleges, universities and sector agencies to contribute to the success of the project’.

Jacqui Brasted, SFC’s Deputy Director of Assurance and Outcomes said: 'The quality of Scotland’s tertiary education is crucial to ensure that the college and university experience is enhanced for students. With SFC’s role to secure provision for assessing and enhancing the quality of further and higher education in Scotland, we believe that QAA is the ideal organisation to lead on this work. We look forward to working with QAA on this common approach to quality assurance and enhancement.'