Liverpool Hope University was reviewed by the Quality Assurance Agency in December 2015. The main purpose of the review was to investigate the higher education provided by Liverpool Hope University and to make judgements as to whether or not its academic standards and quality meet UK expectations. These expectations are the statements in the UK Quality Code for Higher Education (the Quality Code) setting out what all UK higher education providers expect of themselves and of each other, and what the general public can therefore expect of them.
In Higher Education Review, the QAA review team makes judgements on:
the setting and maintenance of academic standards
the quality of student learning opportunities
the information provided about higher education provision
the enhancement of student learning opportunities
and provides a commentary on the selected theme, makes recommendations, identifies features of good practice and affirms action that the provider is taking or plans to take.
These pages are designed to provide information for staff and students about the process of Higher Education Review. Through these webpages you will be able to find information such as:
Who are the QAA and what do they do?
What Higher Education Review is, and why we undertake it;
The timings and deadlines for Higher Education Review;
Key Information for staff and students
The detailed report on the outcomes of our most recent review (click on HER outcomes tab)
For information about Academic Quality at Liverpool Hope University, please follow this link.
About the QAA
The Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) is responsible for safeguarding the quality and standards of higher education in the UK. To help facilitate this, they carry out reviews of all universities and colleges delivering higher education once every 5 years or so.
QAA reviews are based on the reference points found in the UK Quality Code for Higher Education. The Quality Code sets out the expectations that all providers of higher education should meet, and covers topics such as admissions, student support, learning and teaching, academic standards and working in partnership.
For more information about the QAA and what they do visit their website.
Higher Education Review is the method by which universities are reviewed by the QAA. Higher Education Review uses a peer review method, so all members of the review team are drawn from other higher education providers - and the team also includes a student reviewer.
How is the review undertaken?
Higher Education Review consists of two parts. Firstly, the University submitted a Self Evaluation Document to the QAA which set out how we meet the expectations of the Quality Code, evidencing how we do this. Liverpool Hope students also provided a Student (Written) Submission at the same time. A HER student steering group was set up to co-ordinate production of the student submission and the group was led by the Chair of the Student Sounding Board and the Vice President (Education) in the Student Union.
The QAA review team scrutinises the Self Evaluation Document and supporting evidence and the Student Submission. The team then come to the University for the review visit, where they met with a selection of staff and students to gather more evidence and test the statements contained in the Self Evaluation Document.
What does the review cover?
Higher Education Review (HER) is concerned with all programmes of study at undergraduate and postgraduate level, including postgraduate research awards. The review looks at all elements that contribute to the academic experience of students.
The review does not consider non-academic aspects of the student experience such as accommodation, transport or social activities.
What are the review team looking for?
QAA are looking for “intelligent engagement” with the Quality Code, not tick box compliance. The QAA review team cannot check every lecture or assessment, but what they are concerned with is how the University assures itself that standards and quality are being maintained across all provision, and how supporting policies, procedures and practices are being monitored and enhanced.
What are the possible outcomes of the review?
The team will make a judgement in four areas; standards, quality of learning opportunities, enhancement and provision of information. There are three possible judgements:
Meets UK expectations (the pass judgements)
Requires improvement to meet UK expectations
Does not meet UK expectations (fail judgements)
The only exception is there is no commended judgement available in standards.
What is the thematic element?
The thematic element of the review is additional to the four core judgement areas. The thematic element is selected by the Higher Education Review Group, which includes representatives of the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE), Universities UK, GuildHE and the Association of Colleges, and changes year by year. It focuses on areas that are particularly topical and worthy of further exploration.
The thematic element does not receive a judgement from the team but QAA will analyse the review team’s findings on the thematic element across all reviews and produce reports that highlight good practice and make recommendations for the sector. The thematic element for our review will be employability. You can find out more about this by clicking the link below.
HER at Hope
Liverpool Hope’s review visit was undertaken in December 2015.
In advance of our Higher Education Review we submitted a Self Evaluation Document, along with over 1,000 pieces of evidence.
Liverpool Hope was reviewed by four QAA review officers, supported by a QAA Review Manager. The QAA website has full profiles for each reviewer, which can be accessed through the QAA Reviewer Database. Click on the links below for the full reviewer profiles.
Head of Department Performing Arts, Bath Spa University
Rozina Hashmi
QAA Review Manager
HER Outcomes
QAAs judgements about Liverpool Hope University
The QAA review team formed the following judgements about the higher education provision at Liverpool Hope University.
The setting and maintenance of the academic standards of awards meet UK expectations.
The quality of student learning opportunities meets UK expectations.
The quality of the information about learning opportunities meets UK expectations.
The enhancement of student learning opportunities is commended.
Good practice
The QAA review team identified the following features of good practice at Liverpool Hope University.
The early and considered engagement with internal and external stakeholders during the design and approval of programmes (Expectation B1).
The University's strategic, comprehensive and coordinated approach to supporting staff development to enhance learning and teaching practices (Expectations B3 and Enhancement).
The effective integration of student support services within the academic provision to enhance students' engagement with their studies (Expectation B4).
The Communities of Practice, which provide an effective platform for identifying, developing and sharing good practice to enhance learning and teaching (Expectations B3 and Enhancement).
The significant emphasis on development and improvement within the annual review and enhancement process, which informs the University's strategy and priorities for enhancement (Expectations B8 and Enhancement).
Recommendations
The QAA review team makes the following recommendations to Liverpool Hope University.
By June 2016:
develop a clearly defined process for the conversion of study abroad grades (Expectations A3.2 and B6)
ensure clarity and consistency in the policy for the accreditation of prior learning (Expectations B6 and C)
ensure the appropriate evaluation of the physical resource needs of individual postgraduate research students (Expectation B11).
By September 2016:
ensure the regular and timely review of terms of reference for all committees within the academic governance and management framework (Expectation A2.1).
Liverpool Hope University was reviewed by the Quality Assurance Agency in December 2015. The main purpose of the review was to investigate the higher education provided by Liverpool Hope University and to make judgements as to whether or not its academic standards and quality meet UK expectations. These expectations are the statements in the UK Quality Code for Higher Education (the Quality Code) setting out what all UK higher education providers expect of themselves and of each other, and what the general public can therefore expect of them.
In Higher Education Review, the QAA review team makes judgements on:
the setting and maintenance of academic standards
the quality of student learning opportunities
the information provided about higher education provision
the enhancement of student learning opportunities
and provides a commentary on the selected theme, makes recommendations, identifies features of good practice and affirms action that the provider is taking or plans to take.
These pages are designed to provide information for staff and students about the process of Higher Education Review. Through these webpages you will be able to find information such as:
Who are the QAA and what do they do?
What Higher Education Review is, and why we undertake it;
The timings and deadlines for Higher Education Review;
Key Information for staff and students
The detailed report on the outcomes of our most recent review (click on HER outcomes tab)
For information about Academic Quality at Liverpool Hope University, please follow this link.
About the QAA
The Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) is responsible for safeguarding the quality and standards of higher education in the UK. To help facilitate this, they carry out reviews of all universities and colleges delivering higher education once every 5 years or so.
QAA reviews are based on the reference points found in the UK Quality Code for Higher Education. The Quality Code sets out the expectations that all providers of higher education should meet, and covers topics such as admissions, student support, learning and teaching, academic standards and working in partnership.
For more information about the QAA and what they do visit their website.
Higher Education Review is the method by which universities are reviewed by the QAA. Higher Education Review uses a peer review method, so all members of the review team are drawn from other higher education providers - and the team also includes a student reviewer.
How is the review undertaken?
Higher Education Review consists of two parts. Firstly, the University submitted a Self Evaluation Document to the QAA which set out how we meet the expectations of the Quality Code, evidencing how we do this. Liverpool Hope students also provided a Student (Written) Submission at the same time. A HER student steering group was set up to co-ordinate production of the student submission and the group was led by the Chair of the Student Sounding Board and the Vice President (Education) in the Student Union.
The QAA review team scrutinises the Self Evaluation Document and supporting evidence and the Student Submission. The team then come to the University for the review visit, where they met with a selection of staff and students to gather more evidence and test the statements contained in the Self Evaluation Document.
What does the review cover?
Higher Education Review (HER) is concerned with all programmes of study at undergraduate and postgraduate level, including postgraduate research awards. The review looks at all elements that contribute to the academic experience of students.
The review does not consider non-academic aspects of the student experience such as accommodation, transport or social activities.
What are the review team looking for?
QAA are looking for “intelligent engagement” with the Quality Code, not tick box compliance. The QAA review team cannot check every lecture or assessment, but what they are concerned with is how the University assures itself that standards and quality are being maintained across all provision, and how supporting policies, procedures and practices are being monitored and enhanced.
What are the possible outcomes of the review?
The team will make a judgement in four areas; standards, quality of learning opportunities, enhancement and provision of information. There are three possible judgements:
Meets UK expectations (the pass judgements)
Requires improvement to meet UK expectations
Does not meet UK expectations (fail judgements)
The only exception is there is no commended judgement available in standards.
What is the thematic element?
The thematic element of the review is additional to the four core judgement areas. The thematic element is selected by the Higher Education Review Group, which includes representatives of the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE), Universities UK, GuildHE and the Association of Colleges, and changes year by year. It focuses on areas that are particularly topical and worthy of further exploration.
The thematic element does not receive a judgement from the team but QAA will analyse the review team’s findings on the thematic element across all reviews and produce reports that highlight good practice and make recommendations for the sector. The thematic element for our review will be employability. You can find out more about this by clicking the link below.
HER at Hope
Liverpool Hope’s review visit was undertaken in December 2015.
In advance of our Higher Education Review we submitted a Self Evaluation Document, along with over 1,000 pieces of evidence.
Liverpool Hope was reviewed by four QAA review officers, supported by a QAA Review Manager. The QAA website has full profiles for each reviewer, which can be accessed through the QAA Reviewer Database. Click on the links below for the full reviewer profiles.
Head of Department Performing Arts, Bath Spa University
Rozina Hashmi
QAA Review Manager
HER Outcomes
QAAs judgements about Liverpool Hope University
The QAA review team formed the following judgements about the higher education provision at Liverpool Hope University.
The setting and maintenance of the academic standards of awards meet UK expectations.
The quality of student learning opportunities meets UK expectations.
The quality of the information about learning opportunities meets UK expectations.
The enhancement of student learning opportunities is commended.
Good practice
The QAA review team identified the following features of good practice at Liverpool Hope University.
The early and considered engagement with internal and external stakeholders during the design and approval of programmes (Expectation B1).
The University's strategic, comprehensive and coordinated approach to supporting staff development to enhance learning and teaching practices (Expectations B3 and Enhancement).
The effective integration of student support services within the academic provision to enhance students' engagement with their studies (Expectation B4).
The Communities of Practice, which provide an effective platform for identifying, developing and sharing good practice to enhance learning and teaching (Expectations B3 and Enhancement).
The significant emphasis on development and improvement within the annual review and enhancement process, which informs the University's strategy and priorities for enhancement (Expectations B8 and Enhancement).
Recommendations
The QAA review team makes the following recommendations to Liverpool Hope University.
By June 2016:
develop a clearly defined process for the conversion of study abroad grades (Expectations A3.2 and B6)
ensure clarity and consistency in the policy for the accreditation of prior learning (Expectations B6 and C)
ensure the appropriate evaluation of the physical resource needs of individual postgraduate research students (Expectation B11).
By September 2016:
ensure the regular and timely review of terms of reference for all committees within the academic governance and management framework (Expectation A2.1).
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