The Framework for Higher Education and the Review of Institutional Audit

SEDA Seminar supported by the Centre for Higher Education Studies (CHES), Institute of Education, University of London

View Powerpoint presentation from the seminar In “Higher Ambitions – the future of universities in a knowledge economy”, Lord Mandelson has unveiled the Framework for Higher Education for the next 15 years. It covers three key areas: giving students more consumer-style information about universities, improving social mobility and aiding the recovery of the economy by engaging with employers. There are strong emphases on the development of vocational education and the development of skills for employability. The outcomes of the public debate about quality and standards in 2009 have coincided with the Review of the Quality Assurance Agency’s process of Institutional Audit, its Academic Framework and its Codes of Practice. The Government expects that many issues (such as clarity about quality and standards, the role of external examiners, rewarding good teaching, the professional development of all teaching staff, feedback to students, the quality of assessment) will be decided within this review. These two developments point to significant areas of work for our community in the next few years. This seminar seeks to provide support and ideas for:      

• rapidly reconstructing a significant new relationship between teacher and student which goes beyond Mandelson’s call for better student consumer information. This may be around the concepts of “student engagement”.

• re-modelling higher education to respond to the challenges of “employer engagement” while applying high-quality pedagogic principles and practice to new and perhaps uncomfortable environments.

• contributing to debates and processes for quality enhancement and rewards for teaching.

Seminar coordinators

• Julie Hall, SEDA Vice-Chair and Head of the Learning, Teaching and Enhancement Unit, University of Roehampton

• Prof. James Wisdom, HE consultant

• Stephen Marston, Director General, Universities and Skills, Department of Business, Innovations and Skills

The seminar will run from 10.00am until 4.00pm. The fee is £79 per person (to include refreshments and lunch). Places are limited and so early registration is recommended.