Preparation for the QAA Institutional Review
30 October 2012
The School is preparing for the upcoming QAA Institutional review which will look at the threshold academic standards; the quality of students’ learning opportunities; the quality of public information and the enhancement of students’ learning opportunities.
The School is currently producing a Self-Evaluation Document (SED) – an analytical statement outlining the evidence that the institution uses to assure itself that its approach to meeting the review criteria is effective. The drafting of the SED was led by the Associate Deans Learning & Teaching, with input from academic and professional services staff. It has been considered by FLTCs and School committees and will be signed off by Executive Board before submission.
Alex Fulton, SU Co-President for Welfare and Education is SOAS' Lead Student Representative (LSR) for the Review. She is working with other student representatives to prepare a Student Written Submission (SWS), to give the Review team an impression of what it is like to be a student at the institution and how student views are incorporated into institutional decision-making and quality assurance processes.
The SED and all other documentation will be submitted to the QAA by December 17th. The Review Team will meet at SOAS on January 22nd – 23rd and the Review Visit itself will take place on the week commencing March 4th.
During their visit, the Review Team will meet with groups of staff and students - both those involved in producing the SED and SWS and broader groups. They may also ask to meet external examiners, recent graduates, employers etc.
The Review Team will then feed back on the main themes/issues it has been pursuing, and institution is given the opportunity to address these.
A summary of key findings and a draft report will be sent to the School within 4 weeks of the review taking place, and depending on the judgement made, an action-plan may then be put in place.
More information on the procedure can be found in the QAA Institutional Review Handbook.
