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The Pro Vice-Chancellor (Academic) & Provost is the senior manager with overall accountability for academic compliance (as prescribed by the Office for Students’ Conditions of Registration) and quality assurance and enhancement (as defined in the Quality Assurance Agency’s UK Quality Code for Higher Education); operational responsibility is delegated to Deans of Schools and the Deputy Head of Academic Services (Quality) with support from the Head of Academic Services.

The Pro Vice-Chancellor (Academic) & Provost provides assurance to the University’s Council that the University has met its obligations in respect of academic compliance and quality assurance and enhancement by means of an annual Assurance Statement. This Assurance Statement is supported by the minutes of meetings of the University’s Senate as well of those of its key sub-committees: the University Research Committee, the University Assessment Learning & Teaching Committee and the University Partnerships Committee.

The Quality Assurance Team is led by the Deputy Head of Academic Services (Quality), with Faculty Quality Managers based within each of the faculties. The team provides advice, training and support to the University in meeting the expectations of the Quality Code. Consistency with these expectations provides confirmation that the University’s degrees meet UK thresholds for academic standards and that the quality of learning opportunities meet national expectations.

Key areas of responsibility for the Quality Assurance team include:

• Monitoring and reviewing the University’s policies, procedures and regulations to ensure they are consistent with the UK Quality Code and other external regulatory requirements;
• Overseeing and supporting the implementation of the University’s processes for approval and annual and periodic review of new, changed and closed programmes and modules;
• Overseeing and supporting the implementation of the University’s external examiner processes;
• Providing training to staff and student representatives on University committees;
• Providing termly reports to University committees and Schools Boards of Study in respect of changes to external or internal policies, procedures and regulations; and
• Providing guidance on the implementation and review of academic regulations and the operation of the University’s governance structures.