Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) institutional audit
Official audit confirms quality of University's academic performance
An institutional audit was carried out by the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) in November 2007.
The purpose of the audit was to provide public information on the quality of the learning opportunities available to students and on the academic standards of the awards that the University offers.
What the QAA says about us
The assessors particularly commended the University of Sheffield for its good practice in monitoring the teaching and learning experience, its student support systems and relationship with the Union of Students, and the high standard of the information it produces for the guidance of students.
They also commended many other achievements and procedures, including steps the University has taken to identify and reward staff who demonstrate excellence in teaching, or take on national or international responsibilities in teaching policy and innovation.
Specifically the report says:
"Institutional approach to quality enhancement
The University has a structured and strategic approach to the enhancement of learning opportunities that operates across the institution.
The University is effective in taking deliberate steps both to enhance the learning experience of its students and also to identify and reward staff who demonstrate excellence in teaching or take on national or international responsibilities in teaching policy and innovation.
Postgraduate research students
The University's arrangements for maintaining academic standards and quality of provision of postgraduate research programmes are clearly documented and appropriate. They broadly meet the expectations of the code of practice for the assurance of academic quality and standards in higher education (Code of practice), Section 1: Postgraduate research programmes.
Published information
The audit found that reliance could reasonably be placed on the accuracy and completeness of the information that the University publishes about the quality of its educational provision and the standards of its awards.
Features of good practice
The audit team identified the following areas as being good practice:
- the distinctive and innovative approach to the annual monitoring of teaching and learning, which draws on a range of performance indicators to determine the level of scrutiny to be applied to individual departments.
- the thorough and systematic procedures for quality assurance which are characterised by a high degree of self-reflection and a rigorous cycle of follow-up actions.
- the procedures for consideration of external examiners' reports, which secure the requisite central oversight and action in response to issues both at the local level and those with institution-wide implications.
- the University's prompt and effective response to national external initiatives and to matters raised internally through both informal and formal channels.
- the Academic Diary, which provides students with a single, concise and comprehensive source of information about the University and its policies, procedures and regulatory requirements
the use of directors of learning and teaching development, and of departmental learning and teaching advocates, to stimulate and support the University's enhancement agenda in line with its learning, teaching and assessment strategy. - the 'PGR Link' newsletter for postgraduate research students, the production of which exemplifies the constructive relationship between the University and the Sheffield Union of Students, and which contributes to the fostering of a sense of community among postgraduate research students.
- the structured and strategic approach to the enhancement of learning opportunities across the institution."
QAA recommendations
QAA institutional audit reports always contain recommendations for improvements. In the case of the University of Sheffield there are two principal recommendations:
- Ensure that the process for the approval of joint awards includes the production of a clear specification of the procedures and regulatory provisions to be applied to delivery of the programmes of study.
- Secure consistent and equitable application of central and local guidance for the management of postgraduate research provision with particular reference to supervisory arrangements and rules for progression from MPhil to PhD.
Outcomes
The small number of recommendations have already been discussed at appropriate levels. That relating to postgraduate research students has been considered by Faculty Graduate Research Committees and by the Graduate Research Development Committee, and there is resolve to tighten up on the operation of agreed processes.
Recommendations relating to Collaborative Studies have already been incorporated in guidelines on procedures.
The University is currently revising its governance structures, and the views expressed in the audit report will strongly inform discussions on that revision.
Full report
The full report is available as web pages or downloadable PDF: