-
Universities in England will develop a charter to help
identify and improve potentially low value or low quality
courses
-
Examples of existing best practice will be shared,
including use of metrics and rapid action
-
Options for independent review will be considered to
strengthen processes
Universities in England are developing a charter to help ensure
they take a consistent and transparent approach to identifying
and improving potentially low value or low quality courses.
Institutions already monitor and review their courses regularly
and have robust processes in place to uphold quality and
standards. Assessing value however is challenging, can be
subjective and may involve areas such as graduate career
satisfaction or employment outcomes many years after graduation.
Development of the charter, led by a Universities UK advisory
group, will initially focus on the following areas:
- Demonstrating the sector's commitment to consistency and
transparency in processes to tackle low value courses through the
publication of a Statement of Intent, agreed by universities.
- Highlighting best practice where universities are already
identifying low value or low quality courses, including the use
of metrics, and taking rapid action to address issues.
Following this work, Universities UK will publish guidance which
universities will be expected to follow.
In the longer term, universities will also consider options for
external assurance or independent review to make their processes
stronger as part of an ongoing charter.
Professor Julia Buckingham, President of Universities UK
and Chair of the advisory group said: "The overwhelming
majority of courses are high quality and offer good value for
students, but we want to address concerns that some could deliver
more for students, taxpayers, and employers.
"The development of this charter will help universities take
consistent and more transparent approaches in tackling low
quality or low value courses.
"The public needs full confidence in the value and quality of a
UK university degree and the charter will demonstrate
universities' commitment to constant improvement."
ENDS
Notes
As of 13 November, the advisory group comprises of the following
UUK members:
- Professor Julia Buckingham CBE (Chair of advisory group),
Brunel University London
- Professor Graham Baldwin, University of Central Lancashire
- Professor Dame Janet Beer DBE, University of Liverpool
- Professor Frances Corner OBE, Goldsmiths University of London
- Professor Susan Lea, University of Hull
- Professor Edward Peck, Nottingham Trent University
- Professor Malcolm Press, Manchester Metropolitan University
- Professor Lisa Roberts, University of Exeter
- Professor Andy Schofield, Lancaster University
- Professor Mark Smith CBE, University of Southampton
- Professor Wendy Thomson CBE, University of London
