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Quality and academic standards

As an institution with mature quality assurance mechanisms, we focus on operating quality management structures that not only uphold academic standards, but also emphasise the process of self-evaluative reflection that supports ongoing enhancement and development.

Our framework

We make decisions and monitor our processes through committees. The supreme academic authority of the University is Senate, which is the body responsible for regulating and directing the academic work of the University.

Under delegated authority from Senate, a number of committees have responsibility for aspects of quality management and the student learning experience. These institutional committees inform business at College and School level.

Our approach to quality management

Our approach to quality management is underpinned by core elements:

Our processes for managing quality and standards are set out in our Academic Regulations and supporting policies and procedures. These documents outline our expectations for baseline level of provision, but also encourage opportunities to develop and enhance practice.

Through our Institutional Expectations, we ensure all our programmes and modules meet academic standards that are consistent with relevant national qualifications and credit frameworks. Where applicable, our provision meets professional body and accreditation requirements, and apprenticeship standards.

There is always an emphasis on the assurance of minimum standards with ongoing improvement and development.

We have a Student Charter that sets out the mutual commitment of staff and students and our collective expectations, one of which is the recognition of the role of students as active partners in the academic community.

Student representatives are members of all University Committees. Students also provide feedback via module evaluation questionnaires and a range of institutional and national surveys and participate in a number of quality management processes such as revalidation, review and enhancement, programme development and approval, and institutional oversight of our education partnerships.

The emphasis is on the informed student voice by engaging with students as academic partners to ensure they have opportunities to take an active part in shaping their own learning.

External reviews provide an insight into the comparability of our approach to managing quality and academic standards set against baseline regulatory requirements.

In March 2020 the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) completed our latest Quality Enhancement Review. The review team confirmed that we continue to meet the requirements of the European Standards and Guidelines (ESG) Part 1 for internal quality assurance, and the relevant baseline regulatory requirements of the Quality Assessment Framework for Wales.

Our next review will be in 2026.

Major policy reviews, continuous and structured development of our quality assurance and enhancement policies and procedures will be informed by our strategic priorities, national developments and changing sectoral practice.

Our Annual Enhancement Report provides a strategic overview on the initiatives undertaken through the education and student experience programme and evaluates the implementation of initiatives to enhance the student experience.