UK Quality Mark for Grŵp Llandrillo Menai

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

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

The review identifies a number of examples of good practice. These include:

• the sustained proactive and systematic support for students who are preparing for their engagement with higher education

• the highly effective use made of external examiner reports to inform quality development

• the sustained and cohesive partnerships with employers, which support curriculum development and delivery.

The review made a number of recommendations to the Grŵp, including:

• develop arrangements to maximise the use made and impact of the student representative system

• strengthen mechanisms for ensuring that all students are informed of the outcomes of institutional and module-level survey.

Mr Glyn Jones, CEO of the Grŵp, said: ‘This is an outstanding achievement and reflects the quality of higher education provision which our three colleges – Coleg Llandrillo, Coleg Meirion-Dwyfor and Coleg Menai – deliver.

‘For many people, the cost and practicalities of going away to university makes getting a degree an impossibility. The provision of degrees locally has changed that.

‘Our students often tell us that studying for a degree with us has literally been life-changing. Increased knowledge and skills, more confidence, and better career and promotion opportunities are just some of the benefits they tell us they derive.’

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 Grŵp comprised Professor Jethro Newton (University of Chester), Dr Nicola Jackson (independent reviewer) and Emily Connor (student reviewer, Sheffield Hallam University).

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