1. Embedding quality enhancement Anthony McClaran Chief Executive

2. Presentation overview QAA: strategic direction Private providers in the higher education sector The Quality Code Enhancement within review Questions

3. QAA: strategic direction

4. QAA STRATEGY 2014-17 Aim 1: enhance the quality and secure the academic standards of UK higher education, wherever delivered, in order to maintain public confidence Aim 2: provide leadership, through knowledge and resources, in assuring and enhancing the quality of higher education within the UK and internationally Aim 3: extend and enhance the value and reach of QAA’s services, within and beyond UK higher education

5.  UK Quality Code for Higher Education  Evidence-based external reviews of higher education providers and reporting our findings publicly  System-wide analysis and dissemination of good practice to improve quality  Student engagement in reviews and governance  Working internationally with other agencies on common criteria for standards and quality  Providing training and events to help higher education providers develop and improve their own quality assurance processes  Advising government on applications for degree-awarding powers and university title  Regulating the Access to Higher Education Diploma which provides an alternative route into higher education for adults

6. QAA subscriber profile today Subscriber typeNumber of subscribers Higher education institutions/ universities168 Further education colleges/ colleges207 Alternative/ private providers5 Other1 Total381

7. QAA governance New QAA Chair: Christopher Banks CBE Governance review Possible subscription structure review

8. The changing sector landscape Removal of student number controls 2015 General Election and future HE Bill Growth in diversity of the sector: broader reputational range Continual innovation (for example, massive open online courses) Continued budgetary pressure

9. Quality assessment review and procurement exercise in England, Northern Ireland & Wales Key principles for any future system: Autonomy and independence of the sector Co-regulation Operationally independent quality assurance Common UK quality assurance framework and the UK Quality Code Peer review, with students as reviewers on an equal basis Full engagement with students and their representatives Involvement of employers and others Operating internationally and complying with the UK’s Bologna commitments System-wide analysis to inform policy development

10. Private providers in the sector

11. Scope: Educational Oversight Introduced in 2011 Applications and reviews began in 2012 Review for Educational Oversight Recognition Scheme for Educational Oversight Embedded College Review for Educational Oversight

12. Size and impact Educational Oversight Around 347 reviews for 307 private providers and constituent colleges Of those, 177 still in the system undergoing annual monitoring Number of full reviews has decreased year on year (loss of Tier 4 licences) Good practice and commendations Higher Education Review Plus 7 private providers in 2013-14 6 in 2014-15

13. The Quality Code

15. Enhancement within review ‘Taking deliberate steps at institutional level to improve the quality of learning opportunities.’

16. © The Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education 2014 Registered charity numbers 1062746 and SC037786 qaa.ac.uk enquiries@qaa.ac.uk +44 (0) 1452 557000 Thank you