UK Quality Mark for Sunderland College

The Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) has confirmed the quality and standards of provision at Sunderland College following its review in March 2016.

A team of QAA reviewers visited Sunderland College and judged that its academic standards, the quality and enhancement of its student learning opportunities, and the quality of information about its learning opportunities all meet UK expectations.

The review made some recommendations for improvement, which were to ensure that:

• the College formalise progression of curriculum proposals to the awarding body into the existing programme approval procedures

• there is effective engagement of Higher National students with quality assurance and enhancement activities

• the College develop and implement an internal process of annual monitoring and periodic review at programme level for the College’s Pearson Education provision.

Judith Quinn, Assistant Principal, said ‘We are delighted to have received such a positive review. The findings are testament to our commitment to providing high standards of support and a quality assured learning experience for our students. Our higher education offer is closely aligned to the skills agenda and enables us to ensure successful learner destinations upon completion. We continue to develop our higher education programmes at the College each year and they remain a key priority for us.’

QAA’s Higher Education Reviews are carried out by experts from other universities and colleges. Every review team includes a student reviewer, because QAA believes that students should be partners in the quality assurance of their education.

The team that reviewed Sunderland College comprised Dr Jenny Gilbert (independent reviewer), Elizabeth Shackels (South West College) and Daniel McCarthy-Stott (student reviewer at the University of Hertfordshire).

A successful review means that the College can display the QAA Quality Mark, indicating to UK and international students that it meets national requirements for standards and quality.