PowerPoint presentation of preparations required for internal Subject Review 2008-09

1. Preparing for UHI Subject Review 2008-09 1
Preparing for QAA Subject
Review 2008-09

2. Preparing for UHI Subject Review 2008-09 2
Introduction
• In November 2009, UHI will carry out a subject review
in the area of
– Hospitality, Tourism, Leisure & Sport
• Note: unlike the 2005-06 review, this will not be being
conducted by QAA – but many of the processes and
outcomes remain the same
• These slides explain the process of subject review and
look at how Academic Partners can prepare for it.

3. Preparing for UHI Subject Review 2008-09 3
Why have a Review?
• Subject review is an important element of
UHI’s quality assurance processes. It provides
assurance to UHI and to external stakeholders of the standards
of awards and the quality of the learning experience for higher
education provided within the institution.
• Internal subject review is required for all
Scottish Higher Education Institutions, to meet
the requirements of the QAA and the Scottish
Funding Council.

4. Preparing for UHI Subject Review 2008-09 4
Purpose of a Review
• To provide assurance that the requirements of the
standards of awards and the quality of students’
learning experiences are met.
• The subject review is complementary to programme
based quality processes such as annual monitoring,
programme approval and external examination and
moderation.
• The review will make evidence-based judgements on
how effective current provision within a subject is,
identify best practice for sharing within UHI and make
recommendations on how the subject area might
develop.

5. Preparing for UHI Subject Review 2008-09 5
Features of the review process
• Review of all Higher Education provision within the
Subject Network
– Undergraduate
– Postgraduate
– CPD
• Peer review
– by reviewers who understand the subject
• Review against the aims of the subject provider (these
are in the self-evaluation document: see slide 7)

6. Preparing for UHI Subject Review 2008-09 6
What will the reviewers do?
• The reviewers will:
– consider the self-evaluation document (see slide 7)
– look at documents
– compare provision along outlines from QAA
Subject Review Handbook
– meet staff
– meet students
– consider teaching facilities
– consider support facilities
– consider online and distance learning material

7. Preparing for UHI Subject Review 2008-09 7
Self-evaluation document
• The self-evaluation document is central to the
process of subject review.
• A self-evaluation document (SED) will be
prepared for each subject area being
reviewed in UHI.
• The statements made in the SED are tested
by the reviewers. It is important for staff to
know what is in the SED.

8. Preparing for UHI Subject Review 2008-09 8
Aims of provision
• The aims of the provision are set out in the
SED. The aims of a subject provider look at:
– What the subject provision seeks to achieve
– How the aims relate to external indicators (e.g.
employer expectations)
– The general attributes of that subject’s graduates
• UHI reviewers will be interested in how these
aims are being achieved and in how the
learning outcomes relate to the aims.

9. Preparing for UHI Subject Review 2008-09 9
What areas are being reviewed?
The review will look at three major areas:
• Academic standards (degree courses only)
• Quality of learning opportunities (both degree and HN courses).
Within this area, 3 aspects are examined:
– Teaching and learning
– Student progression
– Effective use of learning resources
• Maintenance and enhancement of standards and quality

10. Preparing for UHI Subject Review 2008-09 10
What do reviewers look at in these areas?
• In academic standards, reviewers will check that
– learning outcomes are clear and appropriate
– curricula and assessment allow learning outcomes to be
achieved effectively
• In learning opportunities, reviewers will examine
– effectiveness of teaching and learning in relation to aims and
curricula
– student progression: how students are managed through the
programme (recruitment, academic support, progression)
– what learning resources are available and how effectively they
are used
• Maintenance and enhancement of standards and quality
– how quality issues are dealt with across the institution

11. Preparing for UHI Subject Review 2008-09 11
Who’s involved in UHI?
Subject Review Subcommittee Committee of UHI Academic Standards and
Quality Committee: manages subject reviews
Subject leaders Co-ordinate the writing of SEDs; lead
preparation of subject teams; collect and
manage documents
Subject review facilitators Liaise between reviewers and UHI subject
leaders; help colleges to present themselves to
reviewers
Faculties Support subject networks and leaders; provide
guidance throughout process
Academic Registry team Support subject leaders and review facilitators;
manage review and approval of SEDs; liaise
with QAA
Academic Partner staff Meet with reviewers; may be involved in subject
team preparations
Academic Partner students Meet with reviewers

12. Preparing for UHI Subject Review 2008-09 12
What evidence will the
reviewers want to see?
The following are examples of the types of evidence or
documents that the reviewers will want to see.
• Student handbooks
• Student work, with feedback
• Student evaluations
• Course and subject documents
• Course annual reports
• External examiners’ reports
• Exam board minutes
• Quality committee minutes

13. Preparing for UHI Subject Review 2008-09 13
Who will the reviewers meet,
and why?
• The reviewers will meet with staff, and will want to
know about teaching strategies and how these relate
to the assessments and learning outcomes of the
course.
• The reviewers will not observe teaching, but will meet
students and look at learning materials and student
evaluations.
• The reviewers will want to meet either employers
directly related to delivered provision or graduates of
provision in local employment.

14. Preparing for UHI Subject Review 2008-09 14
Preparing for review visits
• Review visits should allow the reviewers to
meet relevant staff and students (who should
understand the purpose of review), examine
appropriate evidence, and see the strongest
features of the provision.
• The subject review facilitator will help each
Academic Partner to prepare a programme
for the review visit.

15. Preparing for UHI Subject Review 2008-09 15
What will the reviewers expect
staff to be aware of?
• The purpose of subject review
• The SED for the subject area
• UHI Academic Regulations
• UHI Staff Guide
• UHI Academic Register
• Staff development

16. Preparing for UHI Subject Review 2008-09 16
What will the outcome of the
review be?
• Once the review is complete, UHI will publish
a report on the subject provision.
• The report may name examples of good
practice and weakness in individual Academic
Partners.
• Therefore, managing the review visits so that
reviewers see the best aspects of provision is
very important.

17. Preparing for UHI Subject Review 2008-09 17
The review report
• The subject review report for each area will
cover:
– Description of review process
– Aims of subject provider
– Evaluation of quality of learning opportunities
provided and academic standards provided
– Conclusions and judgements
– One-page summary