ROLE AND ORGANISATION
OF THE QUALITY UNIT
Julie Green
Quality Manager
Contents
> What constitutes quality?
> The Quality Unit
> The Quality Group
> Main activities of the Quality Unit
> Accreditation Framework
> Internal and external accreditation
> Main stages of a review
> Example of closing the loop
> Rankings
> Useful websites
What constitutes ‘Quality’
> Courses/programmes (planning/development, validation/
approval, evaluation/monitoring, review processes, procedures
for minor/major changes, withdrawal of modules/programmes)
> Assessment (clarity and appropriateness, standards of marking,
quality of feedback to students, complains, appeals, plagiarism)
> External (reviews, external examiners – appointment, training,
reports, external benchmarks, QAA subject benchmarks,
Advisory Board)
> Wider student experience (resources – physical and human,
student support and guidance, communications and information,
placement support)
> Management Information (use of quantitative information on the
monitoring of quality and standards)
> Collaborative provision (approaches/procedures)
ABS Quality Unit
CHAIR OF QUALITY
(Professor Jill Poole)
QUALITY MANAGER
(Julie Green)
RANKINGS AND QUALITY OFFICER
(Katy Barry)
QUALITY SECRETARY
(Julie Smith)
School-Wide External Reviews
(Project Leader – various)
ABS Quality Unit
AIMS AND PURPOSE
> To initiate, implement and coordinate all quality assurance and
enhancement activity across Aston Business School’s teaching
and research activities.
This will include projects and initiatives for accreditation and
rankings.
ABS Quality Group
> Executive Dean of School
> Associate Dean Faculty and Quality (Chair)
> Associate Dean Learning and Teaching
> Director, Centre for Executive Development
> Directors/Managers of Programmes – UG; PG; MSc; MBA;
Doctoral
> Director of Information and Academic Discipline
> Head of Administration
> Information Systems Aston: Associate IT Director Applications
> Rankings and Quality Officer
ABS Quality Group Remit
> To monitor the implementation within the School of the University's
quality assurance strategy.
> To monitor all quality assurance and enhancement activity across the
School.
> To oversee the implementation of projects and initiatives for
accreditation and inspection.
> To oversee the management of the strategic and operational
processes required for rankings exercises related to the School
> To monitor student feedback (questionnaire and staff/student
committees) on modules and courses.
> To disseminate and encourage good practice.
> To contribute to policies and strategies related to quality in the School
and to influence the University's policies/strategies relating to quality.
> To keep informed of external quality frameworks
Main Activities of the ABS Quality Unit
> Accreditations/reviews – internal
> Accreditations/reviews – external
> Student Feedback – UG/PG/RDP
> Staff/Student Committees feedback
> Feedback Loops
> Rankings
> Resource Room
> Collection of Information
> Dissemination of Good Practice (Good Practice Guide)
ABS Accreditation
> Aston Business School has been involved with accreditation of
its degrees for a long time, for example, the MBA programme
has been accredited by the Association of MBAs (AMBA) since
1976/77
> Aston University, Aston Business School first gained EQUIS
accreditation in 1999 and AACSB in 2003
> The University/School has been re-accredited by EQUIS until
2016
> Aston Business School is among 1% of business schools
worldwide with triple accreditation from AMBA, AACSB and
EQUIS.
ABS Accreditation Framework
ABS
EQUIS: Accreditation
2011
Research/Doctoral
Programmes
RAE 2008: 5*A (old system)
EQUIS
ESRC
AACSB
ACCA
AIA
AMBA
BPS
CIM
CIMA
CIPD
Postgraduate
Programmes QAA:
Excellent (24/24) 2001
ABS
AACSB: Accreditation
2003
Undergraduate
Programmes QAA:
Excellent (24/24) 2001
ESRC
Re-accredited 2006
MBA Programme
AMBA Re-accreditation
2010
MSc Accounting and
Finance
ACCA + AIA +CIMA
ACCA
Association of Chartered
Certified Accountants
CMI
Chartered Management
Institute
DBA Programme
AMBA Re-accreditation
2010
CII
Chartered Insurance
Institute
MSc Human Resource
Management & Business
CIPD - 2012
AIA
Association of
International Accountants
CIPD (2012)
Chartered Institute of
Personnel & Development
MSc Marketing
Management
CIM
MSc Work Psychology
and Business
BPS - 2008
CII
Chartered Insurance
Institute
CIPS
Chartered Institute of
Purchasing and Supply
CIM
Chartered Institute of
Marketing
ICAEW Institute
of Chartered Accountants
in England and Wales
CIMA
Chartered Institute of
Management Accountants
ICSA Institute
of Chartered Secretaries
and Administrators
- European Quality Improvement System
- Economic and Social Research Council
- Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business
- Association of Chartered Certified Accountants
- Association of International Accountants
- Association of MBAs
- British Psychological Society
- Chartered Institute of Marketing
- Chartered Institute of Management Accountants
- Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development
LLB (Bachelor of Laws)
Law Society/
Bar Council
ABS Quality Reviews and Accreditations
EQUIS (European Quality Improvement System)
AMBA (Association of MBAs)
QAA Subject Review
BPS (British Psychological Society)
CIPD (Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development) -(PG)
EQUIS (European Quality Improvement System)
AACSB (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business)
””
ICAEW (Institute of Chartered Accountants for England and Wales) – UG
Research Degrees Programme: DBA – AMBA
CIMA (Chartered Institute of Management Accountants) - PG
AIA (The Association of International Accountants) – UG/PG
CIPD (Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development) -(PG)
Research Degrees Programme: DBA – AMBA re-accreditation
Law Society - UG
British Psychological Society (BPS)
AMBA – MBA and DBA
ACCA and CIMA
EQUIS
AACSB - Maintenance Review Application (+exemption cases)
CIPD – UG/PG
AACSB – Reaccreditation
British Psychological Society (BPS), Law programmes and an internal review
November 1999
February 2000
January 2001
May 2001
March 2002
February 2003
February 2003
””
May 2006
June 2006
August 2006
Sept 2006
March 2007
July 2007
Feb 2008
March 2008
Feb 2010
2010
Feb/Mar 2011
1 July 2010
2012
2012/2013
2012/2013
Internal Reviews
The University carries out Programme Reviews, for all degree
programmes, on a five-yearly cycle
The purpose of the review procedure is:
> To assist academic/subject groups to assess their performance;
> To improve performance based on the recommendations of the
Review Panel;
> To assist academic/subject groups in preparing for external
review and professional body accreditation.
Reviews are intended to be constructive, with examples of good practice being
identified and disseminated throughout the University. The continuation of
each programme is conditional upon the receipt of a satisfactory review report.
External Accreditation
> QAA (Quality Assurance Agency)
> EQUIS (European Quality Improvement System)
> AACSB (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business)
> AMBA (Association of MBAs)
> Professional Bodies
> Rankings
Main Stages of a Review
> Preparation of Self-Evaluation Document (EQUIS require students to also write a report)
> Collection/collation of evidence/information
> Briefing of all staff especially those who will be interviewed by the Review Panel
> Hymn Sheets (summary sheets on various topics)
> Setting up a Base Room of information (if required)
> Visit by the Review Panel (usually 1 to 4 days)
> Panel interviews various members of academic staff/support staff/ students/
employers/external advisors etc (based on triangulation)
> Review Panel work through a set of criteria
> Review Report received from the Review Panel
> Response given to the Review Report
> An annual progress report may be required (For EQUIS the School has to show
continuous improvement on three agreed objectives)
Purpose of a Self Assessment/Evaluation Document
> Provide an opportunity for the entire institution to take stock of its
situation
> Carry out a comprehensive strategic review
> Result in an unbiased and critical self-examination
> Provide a basis for the Peer Review
> Contribute to a better understanding of the nature of quality in
management education
EQUIS ‘Guide to Self-Assessment, March 2007’
Student Feedback – ‘Closing the Loop’
11. Good
Practice Guides
produced
9. Improvements to
degree programmes/
modules/facilities
8. Production of Annual
Monitoring Review of
Programme
7. Response to actions
received and monitored
by ABS Quality Group
1. Questionnaires issued
to students by
Programme
10. Students informed of
changes made
(verbal, posters,
Blackboard™)
6. Actions arising from
Module Reflection Forms
sent to Programmes/other
depts
2. Questionnaires
completed; analysed by
Quality Unit & revewed
by Assoc Dean L & T
3. Analysis circulated to
member of staff and
Head of Group
5. Non-return of Module
Reflection Forms chased
4. Member of staff
completes a Module
Reflection Form
Rankings
> 1st in the UK and 5th in the world for career progression
Financial Times Global MBA 2010
> 4th in the world for careers, 3rd in the UK for careers and 5th
in the UK for overall ranking Financial Times Masters in
Management 2012
> 10th in the UK for Business Studies The Complete University
Guide 2010 (The Independent)
> 83% overall student satisfaction UG National Student Survey
2012
http://www1.aston.ac.uk/aston-business-school/about-abs/rankings/
Useful Websites
> QAA (Quality Assurance Agency) www.qaa.ac.uk
> EQUIS (European Quality Improvement System) www.efmd.org
> AACSB (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business)
www.aacsb.edu
> AMBA (Association of MBAs) www.mbaworld.com
> HEA (Higher Education Academy) www.heacademy.ac.uk
> ABS Staff handbook http://www1.aston.ac.uk/aston-businessschool/abs-staff-only/staff-handbook/
Contact
Julie Green
Quality Manager
Room 615 Level 6
Nelson Building
[email protected]
0121 204 3112