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Developments to Watch

Several issues concerning academic quality are likely to be prominent:

with the growth in costs to students and parents, institutional and programme quality in relation to prospective student admission is likely to continue to be an important issue for institutions and governing bodies. In order to demonstrate competitive advantage many institutions are likely to emphasise particular aspects of quality, and governing bodies may need to ensure that any such actions are consistent with both the learning and teaching strategy and the overall corporate strategy.
the volume of quality assurance processes (and from an institutional perspective the associated management burden) is likely to continue to remain an issue. Most governing bodies are likely to support their institutions in arguing for a 'lighter touch' regime, but in doing so they will need to understand the concerns of the funding bodies that public confidence needs to be assured in the quality of provision of higher education.
the growth of e-learning programmes (that is through the internet and associated technologies) is likely to raise a series of quality assurance issues both for those institutions involved, and the higher education system as a whole. The growth of internet plagiarism and other problems provides a substantial challenge, and governing bodies will need to assure themselves that appropriate quality assurance and management systems are in place.
As the competitive pressures on institutions continue, public judgements of quality are increasingly likely (for good or ill) to be judged on league tables and other publicly available information. This represents both opportunities and potential problems for institutions and governing bodies, and there is likely to be much greater differentiation of providers based on the nature of what is offered. A major concern for governing bodies is therefore likely to be the extent to which public quality measures are consistent with institutional learning and teaching strategies and overall mission.
Concerns expressed in the press and to a parliamentary select committee in 2008 and 2009 were examined in a report commissioned by the HEFCE, which concluded that there are no systemic failures but that there are issues to be addressed.

The Quality Assurance Agency (QAA), after consultation, has introduced a new method of institutional review, which, from September 2011, replaces the system of institutional audit in England and nisymbol Northern Ireland.

HEFCE has updated its policy relating to institutions experiencing serious problems with the quality of their teaching and learning and HEFCW welshflag has published Circular W12/16HE setting out the arrangements for dealing with unsatisfactory quality in institutions in Wales.

HEFCE has announced a consultation on a risk-based approach to quality assurance in England and nisymbol Northern Ireland.

Following a consultation process, it has been announced that from September 2012 universities and colleges in England will have to publish Key Information Sets (KIS), showing a range of data, to give more comprehensive information for prospective undergraduate students.

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