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Equipe Plus Workshop

Quality in UK University Lifelong Learning

University of Graz8 May 2006

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Quality in UK University Lifelong Learning

11.30 -11.45 Introduction and overview

11.45 -12.05 UoL QA NCB Framework

12.05 - 12.35 NCB Matrix exercise/discussion

12.35 – 12.50 UoL Quality Monitored Status

12.50 – 1 p.m. General questions

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Lifelong Learning in UK Universities

• Generally: flexible, adult and part-time

• Continuing Education (CE)Non-vocational

• Continuing Professional Development (CPD)Vocational

• Widening ParticipationAccess to undergraduate study

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Academic Accreditation of UK LL

• Non-credit-bearing (NCB)Carries no university credit

• Academic credit bearing – full awardAccredited course leading to a full award

• Academic credit-bearing – stand-alone modulesShorter accredited course, not a full award

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UK National-level QA of Accredited Courses

• Quality Assurance Agency (QAA)Formal QA role for Universities’ LL

• QAA Academic InfrastructureIncludes frameworks for HE qualifications; subject benchmark statements; Code of Practice

• QAA AuditExternal peer review including: self-evaluation; external review visits; and published results

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UK National-level Informal Support for LL QA

• Universities Association for Lifelong Learning (UaLL)

• UaLL networksNetworks include Quality Assurance; Work Based Learning; Staff Support; Student Support

• UaLL Quality Assurance Handbook

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QA of NCB LL courses (1)

• Statistically large number of courses/participants

• University of Liverpool (UoL) model

• UoL QA Framework and Manual

• Manual Flowchart

• Manual matrix

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UoL QA of NCB LL courses (2)

Purpose:• New course providers• For providers’ continued use year-on-year• Capturing good practice• Establishes quality to external professional bodies• Demonstrates quality and level of activity to Head

of Department/ Faculty• Used by UoL at last QAA audit• Backed up by central university assistance

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UoL QA of NCB LL courses (3)

• A flexible process

• Feedback important – both to and from course providers

• Visits

• Changes in providers’ practice

• Changes in reporting requirements

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UoL QA of NCB LL courses (4)

• Annual Report requirements:

Target Audience

Course Evaluation

Tutors

Course Finance

Marketing

Future Plans

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QA of NCB LL courses (5)

UoL Matrix Case Study• Which indicators are the most useful? Why?

• What is missing?

• What would you leave out?

• How would you in your University provide evidence of meeting the indicators?

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QA of External Organisations’ NCB LL

• Quality Monitored Status (QMS) – University of Liverpool model

• QA of course design/delivery processes NOT content

• Some differences from the internal model: Language needs to be business-oriented Annual monitoring process including visits

• Year- on-year changes in practice

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Quality in UK Universities Lifelong Learning - Web references

• Quality Assurance Agency:http://www.qaa.ac.uk/

• QAA explanatory document for international readers:http://www.qaa.ac.uk/international/studentGuide/English_readers.asp

• Universities Association for Lifelong Learning (UaLL):http://www.uall.ac.uk/Home.aspx

• UaLL QA Handbook: http://www.personal.rdg.ac.uk/~ees96pew/UACE/quality_handbook.htm

• University of Liverpool – CEPDhttp://dbweb.liv.ac.uk/cll/cepd.asp

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Quality in UK Universities Lifelong Learning

Alison J Hughes

Continuing Education & Professional Development

Centre for Lifelong Learning

University of Liverpool

Tel: +44 151 794 4636

Email: ajhughes@liv.ac.uk