Learning and teaching

Quality assurance and enhancement of learning and teaching

A student collecting a degree The University's quality assurance and enhancement mechanisms are outlined in its Guide to Quality Assurance. These mechanisms are regularly reviewed by the General Board's Education Committee. The Education Committee is also responsible for considering External Examiners' reports, proposed changes to courses and examinations and a regular cycle of faculty and departmental reviews. Much of this work is carried out in the Education Section of the Academic Division.

The quality of teaching in lectures and supervisions is monitored by faculties, departments and Colleges, who arrange feedback on courses and supervisions. Students are also represented on relevant bodies which may include: teaching committees, degree committees, staff/student consultative committees, and College councils. Colleges also receive feedback from students through Tutors and Directors of Studies, which helps to improve individual pastoral and educational support, and via national surveys, such as NSS, PTES and PRES.

External quality assurance

The Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) provides an integrated quality assurance service for UK higher education. Its mission is to safeguard the public interest in sound standards of higher education qualifications and to inform and encourage continuous improvement in the management of quality in HE.
The most recent Institutional Audit took place in February 2008. Copies of the report can be downloaded from the QAA's website and a statement by the General Board, in response to the report, is included as an Appendix.

The title of this document is: University of Cambridge: quality assurance and enhancement of learning and teaching
URL: http://www.cam.ac.uk/univ/learning/qa.html

Last updated: 22/08/2011

Further Information: Education Section; General Board’s Education Committee; How the University works

The University's Educational provision: CamDATA: course information and statistics; The Reporter; The Learning and Teaching Support (LTS) initiative

Quality assurance: SPARQS (Student Participation in Quality Scotland)

External quality assurance: University of Cambridge review reports on the QAA website