QAA Review Graphic for Northern College

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

A team of QAA reviewers visited the 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 identifies three examples of good practice:

• the highly effective use of learning technologies to inform and underpin learning, teaching and assessment

• the high level of individualised support provided by the College to improve students’ learning opportunities

• the embedded and comprehensive APEL process that promotes student transition to higher education programmes.

The review made a number of recommendations for improvements, including:

• integrate the curriculum, and teaching and learning strategies, to secure the higher education strategic aims

• further develop formal student representation to enable fuller engagement in the quality assurance and enhancement processes

• ensure that oversight of annual monitoring processes is applied systematically and operated consistently.

Denise Pozorski, Vice Principal of the College, said: ‘We are delighted with the outcome of the QAA Review. It was a rigorous process, forcing us to really scrutinise our provision and we are very proud that in the key areas of digital learning and individualised support we have been found to emphatically achieve our mission of transformational education.’

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 the College comprised Ann Hill (independent reviewer) and Stuart Cannell (student reviewer, University of the West of England, Bristol).

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