QAA statement on the Government's response to the HE reform consultation

As the UK higher education sector’s independent expert quality body, QAA believes students and learners from all backgrounds deserve the highest possible quality of education. Identifying and rectifying poor-quality provision is vital in any well-functioning higher education quality system.

We understand the Westminster Government’s desire to tackle pockets of low-quality provision in England. However, the recent announcements highlight anew the risks associated with defining quality based on student outcomes alone.

Using outcomes as a direct proxy for quality may result in a simplistic or skewed picture of provision across the sector. It can mean that pockets of poor-quality provision are overlooked because they are masked by other factors that influence positive outcomes. Similarly, it can result in disproportionate focus on pockets where academic quality is not the most significant driver of poor outcomes. Deep expertise is required to understand the environment and factors that contribute to positive outcomes for students, and accurately identify where academic quality is the key contributing factor to poor outcomes, in order to justify interventions.

If these interventions are to be implemented in future, the Office for Students should transparently explain how outcomes will be contextualised, both generally and when interventions are made, in order to reassure the higher education sector that actions are justified and aren’t used as a blunt instrument with unintended consequences. This will be increasingly important if more tangential factors like graduate salary are included in assessments of quality.

Such interventions should also be paired with a quality enhancement approach to support the individual provider to understand the causes of poor outcomes and rectify any pockets of low-quality provision. These insights should be shared with the wider sector so it can learn lessons and take action to prevent future issues. QAA’s membership activity and our new services in England provide opportunities for the sector to demonstrate this enhancement approach, including self-assessment of the quality of provision and undertaking a journey of continuous improvement. We will continue to act as a critical friend to providers to encourage them to do what it takes to stay ahead of the curve on quality.

As the regulator of the Access to Higher Education (HE) Diploma, QAA is pleased that Ministers recognise the value for money provided by the Diploma and its importance as a flexible pathway into higher education, including at levels 4 and 5. We will continue to develop the Access to HE Diploma to ensure it continues to deliver positive outcomes for learners, and look forward to working with policymakers to ensure it enables the Government’s lifelong learning ambitions.