Annual Report 2004

There was one change to the membership of the Group during the year, with Helen Fletcher (Buckinghamshire Chilterns University College) replacing Carys Thomas (Loughborough) as the UCISA representative. Thanks are due to Carys for her contribution to the work of the Group.

The activity of the Group during 2004 again focused on the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) processes for Institutional Audit and their implications for learning resources. The Group continued to liaise closely with QAA on the learning resources aspects of the processes. The main achievement of the year was the development of a collection of resources for members undergoing Institutional Audit, available via the SCONUL website. These included SCONUL Guidelines for QAA Institutional Audit (which incorporated suggestions made by the QAA), examples of institutional self assessment documents and a number of reflective post audit views from SCONUL and UCISA members. These resources were publicised and well received by members. It is hoped to expand this collection of resources, not only with further examples from England, but also with examples from colleagues in Scotland and Wales who have experienced the Scottish quality enhancement approach and the Welsh Institutional Review process.

Some initial collaboration also took place with the NHS Library & Knowledge Development Network on the quality assurance of NHS-funded HE programmes.

Jeremy Atkinson