Academic Quality Service

The Academic Quality Service provides a range of quality assurance and enhancement services to the Schools and Services of the University. The Service works in partnership with other areas of the University to provide a means by which we can be assured of the quality of our educational provision and its relevance to our students.

Led by the Head of Academic Quality, the Service includes a central team located in the University's Catalyst Building and Quality Officers located within each School.

Primary purpose

The Primary purpose of the Academic Quality Service is to assist in the maintenance and enhancement of the quality of the University's educational provision.

Primary responsibilities

AQS is responsible for the administration of the University's quality assurance and enhancement procedures. The Service has the following primary responsibilities:

• to advise Schools and Services on quality policy and process both internal to the University and those of external bodies such as the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA);
• to arrange the approval of new courses and the critical review of existing provision;
• to provide administrative support for the quality assurance of the University's collaborative provision;
• to provide officer support for a number of University Committees;

General responsibilities

Members of AQS act as officers to a range of University Committees including Academic Board and Quality Enhancement Committee, plus other ad hoc working groups related to quality matters when required;

External examiner nominations and appointments are administered within AQS, as are the reports external examiners submit at the end of each year;

AQS is responsible for establishing and overseeing the continuous monitoring of University awards;

University course approval panels and reviews, both on and off campus, are administered by the Service.