‘Robust arrangements’ for quality in University of Wales Trinity Saint David, according to UK’s independent quality body


17.06.2022

University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD) has ‘robust arrangements in place for securing academic standards, managing academic quality, and for enhancing the student experience’, according to a review by the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA). The review commended the University’s achievements in several areas such as data-informed decision making and teaching and learning enhancement.

University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD) has ‘robust arrangements in place for securing academic standards, managing academic quality, and for enhancing the student experience’, according to a review by the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA).

The review was undertaken by a team of three independent reviewers, who were appointed by QAA and took place online between 21 and 24 March 2022. Overall, the review panel concluded that UWTSD meets the requirements of the European Standards and Guidelines (ESG) Part 1 on internal quality assurance, and that it meets the relevant baseline regulatory requirements of the Quality Assessment Framework for Wales.

Its commendations include:

  • The University’s ‘Student Hwb’ provides students with a comprehensive and accessible electronic contact and information point that effectively supports their learning experience.
  • The wide range and impactful use of digital training, pedagogy and support developed during the pandemic continues to enhance the staff and student experience.
  • The University’s data dashboard provides staff with a wide range of accurate, useful and accessible data, enabling the University to comprehensively and effectively monitor its performance in relation to the standards of its awards and the quality of the student learning experience.

Professor Catrin Thomas, Deputy Vice-Chancellor said: “The University is delighted that the QAA has found that our arrangements for securing academic standards, managing academic quality, and for enhancing the student experience are robust. This is the result of excellent teamwork across the University involving our academic and professional teams working with the Students’ Union.  We value the recommendations of the QAA’s review to ensure continuous improvements in our processes and practices”. 

Professor Mirjam Plantinga, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Academic Experience added: “We welcome the QAA’s assessment of our academic arrangements and are delighted to receive commendations for the Student Hwb which is highly valued by our students. The student experience is central to our planning and delivery. This was particularly evident in our approach to the pandemic and the way in which we transformed our delivery to provide novel opportunities to enhance our campus experiences”.

QAA’s report also makes several recommendations, asking the University to:

  • develop a robust system that ensures that all current and future postgraduate research students undertaking or supporting teaching undergo appropriate training
  • develop a cohesive strategic approach to improve highly-skilled professional employability outcomes across all programmes
  • involve students from collaborative partner institutions in the development of teach-out plans when closing courses.

Note to Editor

 

  1. For more information, please contact Kevin McStravock, QAA’s PR, Press and Communications Officer on mcstravock@qaa.ac.uk.
  2. The University of Wales Trinity Saint David review outcome will be available at https://www.qaa.ac.uk/reviewing-higher-education/quality-assurance-reports/University-of-Wales-Trinity-Saint-David from Friday 17 June. It is a Quality Enhancement Review (QER). QER provides quality assurance and supports quality enhancement, assuring governing bodies, students and the wider public that providers meet the requirements of the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales. QER assesses providers against agreed baseline regulatory requirements and the European Standards and Guidelines. More information is available at https://www.qaa.ac.uk/reviewing-higher-education/types-of-review/quality-enhancement-review.
  3. For 2021-22, the scope of QERs focused on quality assurance in line with the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales (HEFCW)'s changes to external quality assurance requirements in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, QAA published an addendum to accompany the QER handbook which explains the adaptations to the method delivery. For 2021-22, providers have the opportunity to engage with QAA separately on quality enhancement.
  4. There are three categories of judgement for QER: ‘meets these requirements’, ‘meets them with conditions’, or ‘does not meet requirements’. UWTSD has obtained the highest judgement available through the QER process.
  5. The University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD) was formed on 18 November 2010 through the merger of the University of Wales, Lampeter and Trinity University College, Carmarthen, under Lampeter's Royal Charter of 1828. In 2013, Swansea Metropolitan University (SMU) became part of UWTSD; with Coleg Sir Gâr (CSG) in 2013-14 and Coleg Ceredigion (CC) in 2014-15 becoming dual-sector partners, forming the UWTSD Group. Since 2014, UWTSD has been awarding its own awards, rather than those of the University of Wales.
  6. The expert team that reviewed UWTSD comprised Professor Diane Meehan, Dr Katie Thirlaway and Mr Matthew Kitching (student reviewer).
  7. QAA (The Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education) is a charity and the UK’s independent body entrusted with monitoring and advising on standards and quality in UK higher education. We work with and on behalf of our members across all four nations of the UK and build international partnerships to enhance and promote the reputation of UK higher education worldwide. More information on QAA in Wales is available at https://www.qaa.ac.uk/about-us/where-we-work/our-work-in-wales.