Interactive Education Unit identified as
area of good practice in QAA audit
December 2004
The IEU has been identified as an area of particular
good practice in a recent audit of The Institute’s educational
activities. The institutional audit was carried out in March
2004 by the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education
(QAA). The agency is charged with ensuring that appropriate
standards are being achieved and that top quality education
is being offered in higher education institutions (see info
box).
The audit report, published on the QAA website in July 2004,
highlights "the breadth, depth and accessibility of material
provided by the internet-based Interactive Education Unit
to meet the needs of students with respect to their personal
development and wider understanding of cancer and cancer therapies".
The auditors recognised the IEU as an evolving initiative
and identified it as central to The Institute's policy of
providing information to students, scientists and clinicians,
adding significantly to the cohesiveness of The Institute's
operation in this area.
"It’s very gratifying to
receive such positive feedback about the IEU, particularly
recognition of the importance of students’ contribution
to our work."
Kate Allen, Former Director,
IEU ('99-'05) |
Overall The Institute was awarded a broad confidence rating,
the highest that can be achieved in a QAA audit. In addition
to the IEU, two other areas of good practice were highlighted
by the auditors:
- The combination of a student supervisory team, portfolio
and transfer viva as a way of ensuring successful student
progression throughout their studies
- The care taken in the project planning and student admissions
processes to ensure that students are matched to the right
projects and are properly supported
The full report is available at http://www.qaa.ac.uk/reviews/reports/institutional/icr/summary.asp
(new window) (see paragraphs 99-104 for information on
the IEU).
"The report from the QAA has
provided The Institute with confirmation that its MPhil/PhD
and MS/MD programmes are being managed properly and
are of the highest quality. This result encourages us
to believe that we can make a substantial contribution
to the education and training of future cancer researchers
in the UK."
Professor Bob Ott, Academic
Dean |
The QAA at a glance
- The QAA was established in 1997 to provide an integrated
quality assurance service for UK higher education·
It is contracted by the Higher Education Funding Council
for England (HEFCE)
- It is an independent body funded by subscriptions
from universities and colleges of higher education,
and through contracts with the main higher education
funding bodies
- The QAA reviews standards and quality, providing
reference points that help to define clear and explicit
standards and encouraging continuous improvement in
the management of the quality of higher education.
- The agency uses peer review processes where teams
of academics conduct audits and reviews, with some
team members drawn from industry and the profession
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