Individual courses which make up degree programmes are reviewed annually through the annual course monitoring process which is operated through the Faculty Quality Assurance Officers and the Senate Office culminating in an annual report to the Academic Regulations Committee. ARC also conducts other monitoring activities including consideration of reports concerning validation and re-validations from the University's accredited and associated institutions, reports on the University's three year degrees, and the annual External Examiners' report compiled by the Senate Office.

The External Examiners system provides a key monitoring role for the University, whereby every course has at least one expert either from another institution of Higher Education, or less frequently from the relevant professional field, allocated to it to act as External Examiner. In addition to participating in the annual assessment round and sitting on Examination Boards, External Examiners are also required to provide an annual report to the University covering the assessment procedure and also providing comment on the content and operation of the course(s) they oversee.

Programme review is conducted through the University's cycle of review of Departmental Programmes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment, see section 14.4 below

Courses are reviewed annually through the annual course monitoring process where assessment, amongst other things, will be reviewed. Any changes proposed as a result of this review would need to be approved via the course approval process (see 14.1 above).

In addition to staff-student liaison committees, all courses have a student feedback mechanism integral to the Annual Course Monitoring Process which gives all students involved the opportunity to express their opinions on the quality of content, teaching and administration of the course. In most cases this is by means of paper questionnaires in various styles that are distributed for completion at a lecture or tutorial. Some departments have begun to make greater use of on-line feedback through a virtual classroom. The feedback is analysed, and normally circulated on departmental noticeboards and discussed at staff-student liaison committees.

Student feedback is also actively encouraged by central student services and systems are in place in the Careers Service, the University Library and the Student Counselling and Advisory Service.

The University operates a system of Faculty-based Advisers of Studies. Academic staff offer students advice and guidance on programmes of study and coherence of option choices. Students meet with their Adviser of Studies at the beginning of each year to discuss their choices. Advisers of Studies also provide pastoral support to students which dovetails with more specialised services.

The University Library is one of the largest university libraries in Europe and in addition, houses one of the foremost resources in Scotland for academic research and teaching, the Special Collections Department. The University Library operates a well-established system of Subject Librarians who liaise closely with academic Departments over Library induction programmes to ensure that students are provided with the necessary introduction to the Library.

Degrees of Excellence

Student Representation and Staff-Student Liaison Committees

Careers Service - feedback

University Library - contacts

SCAS - feedback

Advisers of Studies

Student Feedback

A Review Panel produces a report, following the review of documentation and a visit to the department, identifying the key strengths along with conclusions and recommendations for improvement or change. The Panel also highlights good practices with a view to rolling these out to other parts of the University. The recommendations contained within the report indicate who is to take action: this may be targeted at the department, the Faculty, a University Service, etc. The review reports will be made available on the Senate Office Web pages in due course.

The Learning and Teaching Centre (LTC), the Staff Development Service and IT Services provide training, support and professional development opportunities to staff within the University. External development opportunities are also available through bodies such as Learning and Teaching Support Network (LTSN) or subject specific professional bodies.

The LTC provides the New Lecturer Programme (NLP) which has been running for several years. The NLP is accredited by Institute for Learning and Teaching (HE) and leads to the Certificate in Academic Practice, with automatic eligibility for membership of the ILT(HE).

Review of Departmental Programmes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment [previously known as Departmental Review]

Learning and Teaching Centre

Staff Development Service 

IT Services

A range of professional and statutory bodies (PSBs) accredits the University's provision at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Currently, departments are responsible for accreditation arrangements which are generally overseen by Faculties. Accreditation reports and associated responses are routinely included as part of the documentation for DPTLA reviews.

The Senate Office will be establishing a database to identifying the nature and duration of accreditation by professional, and statutory or regulatory bodies. Information on the programmes that are accredited, including the nature of the accreditation, is normally contained on departmental web sites or in the University's prospectuses.

An institutional review was conducted by the QAA in March/April 2004. The report is also available on the QAA's website

The Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education