24th November 2003
Group Minutes
SCONUL/UCISA WORKING GROUP ON QUALITY ASSURANCE
Minutes of Meeting held on 24 November 2003 at the SCONUL Secretariat
Present: Jeremy Atkinson - University of Glamorgan (Chair)
Michael Breaks - Heriot-Watt University (Secretary)
Scott Robertson - University College Chichester
Brian Clifford - University of Leeds (replaced Keith Webster)
Carys Thomas - Loughborough University (UCISA)
Cathryn Gallacher – University of Bristol (replaced Julie Howell)
Apologies: Ann Mathie – University of Gloucestershire
Biddy Fisher – Sheffield Hallam University
Copies: Wayne Morris - University of Glamorgan
1. Membership
Brian Clifford and Cathryn Gallacher were welcomed to their first meeting.
2. Previous Minutes of Meeting
The minutes of the previous meeting dated 13 June 2003 were approved as a correct record.
Matters Arising from the Minutes
JA remains in regular contact with Nicola Channon of the QAA and will have further
discussions with her in the near future. She has noted the lack of concentration of
Libraries/IT in the new quality processes, but has indicated this could be seen as a positive
sign, showing confidence in their management and service delivery. JA has sent details of
the UCISA MIS Group to Nicola Channon in response to QAA’s need for more information
on student data requirements. A response has been made to the consultation HEFCE
document 2003/23 on Improving standards in postgraduate degree programmes. The group
noted HEFCE 2003/51 (October 2003) : Information on quality and standards in higher
education : final guidance (www.hefce.ac.uk/Pubs/hefce/2003/03_51), and JA would alert
the membership.
Action: Jeremy Atkinson
The group noted that John Horton, Hilary Johnson and Mary Heaney had been appointed as
QAA auditors.
3. Feedback on Institutional Audit
In order to assist the membership, the Group agreed to adopt the following strategy: -
1) Institutions who have been audited would be asked to provide for the membership a
reflective view of the process. The example of SR's document would be placed in a
password protected area on the SCONUL web site and cited to as an exemplar.
Action: Jeremy Atkinson
2) The Group would prepare a document for members providing advice on how to
ensure that library/IT issues were properly addressed by the institution during the
subject and institutional audits.
Action: Scott Robertson
3) The Group would collect examples of internal documents prepared by
libraries/computer centres as part of their contribution to the preparation for an
institutional and discipline quality review visit. These documents would be made
available on the SCONUL website in a password-protected area.
Action: Michael Breaks
5. Quality Assurance for NHS funded Higher Education Programmes
JA reported that he had been approached by Val Trinder with a view to sharing documents
and experience on discipline and institutional audits. It was agreed to respond positively to
the approach and to consider inviting Val Trinder to a meeting of the group.
Action: Jeremy Atkinson
6. Report from SCONUL Strategic Planning Meeting
SCONUL Executive Board requires Advisory Committees to prepare and circulate:-
• Bullet points of meetings Action: Michael Breaks
• Email Digests Action: Jeremy Atkinson
• Briefing papers
It was noted that the group had prepared the Aide Memoire which met the third requirement.
7. English Quality Matters
SR reported that OFSTED were continuing to audit institutions that provided teacher
education. The process could last a year and had involved relevant subject librarians to
assess their contribution to the curriculum.
8. Scottish Quality Matters
MB reported on the new approach in Scotland – Enhancement-led institutional reviews
which involved: -
• a comprehensive programme of subject reviews, to be run by institutions
themselves;
• institution level review, which is the subject of this Handbook, and which will
involve all Scottish HE institutions over a four-year cycle;
• improved forms of public information about quality, based on addressing the
different needs of a greater range of stakeholders including students and
employers;
• a greater voice for student representatives in institutional quality systems,
supported by a new national development service;
• a national programme of enhancement themes, aimed at developing and sharing
good practice in learning and teaching higher education.
9. Welsh Quality Matters
The Handbook for Institutional Review in Wales had been published on the QAA web site
(http://www.qaa.ac.uk/public/welsh_hbook/welsh_handbook_section1.htm) and it is likely
that any new process will start in October 2004. However, the timetable is uncertain as
there is the possibility of more institutional mergers taking place.
10. Quality Working Group Web Site
It was agreed to increase the number of links to the quality section of professional
institutional web sites.
Action: All
11. Annual Report and Action Plan
The following Annual Report and Action Plan have been submitted to the Executive Board:
There were a number of changes to the membership of the Group during the year. Julie
Howell (London Metropolitan) and Keith Webster (SOAS) were replaced by Cathryn
Gallacher (Bristol) and Brian Clifford (Leeds). Carys Thomas (Loughborough) replaced
Alison Allden (Bristol) as UCISA representative. Thanks to Julie, Keith and Alison for their
contributions to the work of the Group.
Formal responses were made to the consultation on the final report of the Teaching Quality
Enhancement Committee and to the HEFCE consultation on improving standards in
postgraduate research degree programmes. Activities of the Group were concentrated on
the new Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) processes for Institutional Audit. Close liaison
was maintained with QAA on the learning resources aspects of the processes and excellent
feedback was obtained from members on early experiences of Institutional Audit in
practice.
Work began on bringing together a collection of resources that will help members
undergoing Institutional Audit; these will be made available on a secure website. There also
continued to be monitoring of quality developments in Scotland and Wales.
Initial contact was made with the NHS Library and Knowledge Development Network to
discuss possible collaborative work on quality assurance processes for NHS funded HE
programmes. Information was disseminated to SCONUL and UCISA members on quality
developments and further improvements were made to the Group's website, particularly
links to quality documentation on professional body websites.
Action Plan 2004
1) Monitor and respond to developments related to the implementation of the new QAA
quality procedures, including specific developments in Scotland and Wales. Track
developments with the National Student Satisfaction Survey.
2) Liaise with a QAA representative to update her on the Group's activities and to receive
information on QAA plans/developments.
3) Develop a resource for SCONUL and UCISA members on a secure website providing: a)
Commentaries on members' experiences of Institutional Audit in practice b) Links to
Institutional Audit reports c) Examples of input by members to institution and discipline self
evaluation documents
4) Develop separate guidelines for library and ICT staff and for institutional managers on
learning resources input to institutional quality procedures. Seek QAA endorsement of these
guidelines as appropriate.
5) Collaborate with the NHS Library and Knowledge Development Network on quality
assurance processes for NHS funded HE programmes.
6) Track relevant developments in HE quality assurance overseas, e.g. in Australia.
7) Disseminate to SCONUL and UCISA members information on quality assurance
developments.
8) Further develop the Groups web pages, including the provision of links to quality
documentation on professional body websites.
12. Uke-Universities Committee for Academic Quality
The Group noted that Elizabeth Heaps, University of York, has been invited to join the Uke-
Universities Worldwide Ltd Committee for Academic Quality. Her role is to ensure that
library and information needs for programmes are adequately addressed, by helping to put in
place the necessary checks and balances, and to make sure they are audited. It was noted
that the QAA has no guidelines for eLearning, but now views it as part of mainstream
education.
12. Date of Next Meeting
This will be held in May/June 2004.
Action: Michael Breaks