Quality Assurance Committee

The Quality Assurance Committee reports to Senate. The Committee is responsible for three major items of internal quality assurance: external examiner system, Annual Programme Review and monitoring of quality assurance and actions emerging from Vice-Chancellor’s Review. Receives reports from the Collaborative Provision Committee on collaborative provision review arrangements and the Graduate School Management Board.

Meetings during 2011/2012

Wednesday 19th October 2011, at 10.30am
Tuesday 6th December 2011, at 2.00pm
Tuesday 28th February 2012, at 2.00pm
Tuesday 1st May 2012, at 2.00pm

Terms of Reference 

(a) To monitor regularly all guidance and requirements issued by the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education, particularly in relation to Institutional Review and the UK Quality Code for Higher Education, initiating and co-ordinating action as appropriate.

(b) To develop and keep under review the University’s systems, policies and guidance for assuring and enhancing the quality of students’ learning experience and maintaining academic standards

(c) To develop and keep under review processes for annual review of modules and programmes at undergraduate, postgraduate taught and postgraduate research levels, and for collaborative provision, and to consider and manage the outcomes of these processes.

(d) To monitor the outcomes from, and the effectiveness of, the External Examiner system for taught programmes. 

(e) To consider the outcomes of Specific Checks and Thematic Reviews initiated by the Committee or by Colleges.

(f) To receive reports from the Education Committee on quality and standards issues emerging from Vice-Chancellor’s Reviews.

(g) To monitor a range of relevant risk and performance indicators, including risk indicators monitored by the QAA, such as:

  • Statistical data on the performance of programmes;
  • Student feedback and survey results;
  • Annual reports regarding complaints, appeals, misconduct, fitness to practice and cases submitted to the Office of the Independent Adjudicator

(h) To have oversight of the University’s approach to assuring the completeness, accuracy and reliability of information provided for applicants and students. 

(i) To consider reports from the Graduate School Management Board on quality assurance or academic standards matters relating to postgraduate research students, including in particular the outcomes of PGR annual review

(j) To consider reports from the Collaborative Provision Committee regarding the outcomes of annual and periodic reviews of collaborative provision, and any other matters relating to the quality assurance or academic standards of collaborative provision.

 (k) To consider proposals and reports from College committees with oversight of quality assurance matters.

 

Composition and Membership for 2011/12

  • Pro-Vice Chancellor (Education) - Chair
    Professor K O'Brien
  • Deputy Pro-Vice Chancellor (Education)
    Professor J S Bale
  • Vice-{resident (Education), Guild of Students
    Mr E Bauer (to 31 July 2012)
  • College Directors of Quality Assurance or nominee of the College Director of Education
  • Professor A Arnull
    College of Arts and Law
    Dr S Minchin 
    College of Life and Environmental Sciences
    Professor C Greaves
    College of Engineering and Physical Sciences
    Professor A Bradbury 
    College of Medical and Dental Sciences
    Dr G Watson
    College of Social Sciences
     
    Director of the Graduate School
    Dr B Ford-Lloyd (Ex officio)

Contact

For further information about the Quality Assurance Committee please use the following contact details -

Ms S J Letters
Academic Services
Email s.j.letters@bham.ac.uk
Telephone +44 (0)121 414 6718