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Academic Quality Strategy

(reviewed by ASQC 28/11/07)

1.1       'Academic Quality Strategy' describes the University's holistic approach to managing the learning opportunities available to its students to help them achieve their awards.  It is about making sure that appropriate and effective teaching, support, assessment and learning opportunities are provided for students.  As such, it is derived from the University's Vision, Mission and Strategic Plan and is underpinned by a fully aligned suite of strategies, policies and procedures, including:

  • clear and effective academic planning processes;
  • a consistent and clearly-stated Academic Quality Policy;
  • the component strands of the Learning, Teaching and Assessment Strategy;
  • and a comprehensive Academic Quality System, including fully documented academic quality and standards procedures and regulatory framework

1.2        Cardiff's Academic Quality Strategy, and the policies and procedures which underpin it, embodies a partnership between the University, its Schools and staff and students.  Much of the detailed specification and implementation of the Academic Quality Strategy is designed to be carried out at School level with student involvement.  Thus, the operational means to deliver the objectives of the Strategy can be adapted to accord with local circumstances.  Cardiff's commitment to partnership derives from a belief that staff must feel, and be prepared to embrace, ownership of and accountability for the University's Academic Quality Strategy and the policies, procedures and systems which underpin it.

1.3        Cardiff's Academic Quality Strategy operates in an integrated, layered, fashion, where the various levels of responsibility (individual members of staff - Boards of Studies – School Boards - central University) nest one within another and thereby derive mutual reinforcement. The integrated nature of Cardiff's system in respect of taught programmes can be seen in the diagrammatic representation provided in the Academic Quality System.

The Academic Standards and Quality Committee shall keep the operation of the Academic Quality System under regular review.

Definitions

2.1       Quality Assurance: encompasses all the policies, systems and processes directed to ensuring the maintenance of the quality of the University's educational provision and the student learning experience.  These are documented within the University's Academic Quality System.

2.2       Quality Enhancement: is the process of taking deliberate and systematic steps at all levels in the institution in order to improve the quality of learning opportunities.  It is designed to secure, within the context of the University's strategic goals, continuous, reliable and demonstrable improvements in the quality of learning opportunities.

2.3       Academic Standards: are the expected levels of academic attainment that are used to describe and measure academic requirements and achievements of individual students or groups of students.  The University is committed to the maintenance of high academic standards, equivalent to the best in the sector, and will take action as necessary to ensure that this commitment is met.