QAA Guidance for Approved Education Institutions and Education Institutions on NMC Quality Assurance Reviews
Publication date: 12 Sep 2024
NMC Quality Assurance Framework
The Nursing and Midwifery Council’s Quality Assurance Framework is designed to give the NMC the confidence that Approved Education Institutions (AEIs) and new Education Institutions (EI) are meeting their standards for education and training. The Framework emphasises the importance of education and training underpinned by effective partnerships.
QAA Guidance
QAA has produced guidance for AEIs and EIs on the method that will be used during the assessment process for institution and programme approvals, major modifications and endorsements.
The guidance provides institutions with the information they need to understand how the process works and the activities that will take place as part of the review method. It is intended mainly for those directly involved in nursing, midwifery and nursing associate education, including post-registration and return to practice programmes.
Due to the partnership approach, and the practice learning requirements reflected in the NMC standards, this guidance may also be of interest to practice learning partners to support understanding of the process of NMC Quality Assurance Reviews that institutions will follow.
Please note: For institutions that requested quality assurance activity before 1 September 2024, QAA, in agreement with the NMC, may divert from the process in this guidance. Institutions will be contacted on an individual basis if this applies to them.
In September 2024, we held stakeholder feedback events to introduce information from the QAA Guidance and provided an opportunity for consultation. There were 161 participants across the sessions. The following document provides an analysis of responses and decisions.
NMC Quality Assurance Reviews: Analysis of Stakeholder Feedback Responses and Decisions
Publication date: 12 Sep 2024
Compliance with European Standards and Guidelines
QAA’s work and review methods are informed by the fundamental values of the European Higher Education Area and Bologna Process. This means a commitment to the fundamental values of institutional autonomy; academic freedom and integrity; participation of students and staff in higher education governance; and public responsibility for and of higher education. Our approach and methods are designed to meet the standards and reflect the guidelines set out in the Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance in the European Higher Education Area (ESG).
The NMC Quality Assurance Reviews process addresses the requirements of Part 1 of the ESG on either a programme or institutional level. The mapping document below is provided for reference to demonstrate how the review method meets ESG standards.
Mapping of the ESG Standards Part 1
Publication date: 12 Sep 2024
Contact us
If you have any questions about programme approval, you can contact QAA’s NMC team by email or telephone. Our office hours are Monday to Friday, 09.00-17.00hrs.