Review team expresses confidence in the University of the Highlands and Islands' quality arrangements

A review by the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) has expressed confidence in the University of the Highlands and Islands' progress in continuing to monitor, review and enhance its higher education provision to enable effective arrangements to be in place for managing academic standards and the quality of the student experience.

The review was carried out by a team of three independent reviewers who were appointed by QAA. The review visit took place on 2 May 2024.

The team identified the following area of good practice:

• Equity of student support and access across the federal structure of the University is ensured through a comprehensive and effective student support service. This is characterised by a proactive approach informed by a comprehensive understanding of the needs of, and challenges faced by, the student community and underpinned with effective communication structures that enable deployment of resources with the aim of providing an informed and consistent experience for students.

QAA also made the following recommendation:

• Professional development and opportunities for postgraduate research students with regard to teaching: whilst recognising that some work has taken place in this area, a number of issues remain to be addressed, including the need for postgraduate research students to have completed training before they teach, very limited opportunities provided for postgraduate research students who want to teach, an inconsistent understanding across the University of training requirements, and a lack of clarity around responsibility for addressing these issues.

Vicki Nairn, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of the Highlands and Islands, said: ‘I am delighted to see the positive outcome of the Quality Enhancement and Standards Review for the University of the Highlands and Islands. This recognition highlights our commitment to continuous improvement and our dedication to providing an outstanding learning experience for our students. The review's findings affirm that our strategic initiatives are effectively enhancing academic standards and student support across our diverse and geographically expansive partnership. I extend my gratitude to our staff and students for their collaborative spirit and unwavering commitment to excellence, which have been instrumental in achieving this milestone.’

You can read the full Quality and Enhancement Standards Review report for the University of the Highlands and Islands on the QAA website.