5.2 Internal Review of Learning and Teaching
All Schools in the University submit an annual report to the Academic Monitoring Group reflecting on their previous year's teaching. This routine monitoring of quality and standards is supplemented by a more thorough review, with external participation, every 5-6 years. A schedule for internal review of learning and teaching (IRLT Schedule 2011-16 (PDF, 67 KB)) has been agreed by the Academic Monitoring Assurance Group and the current cycle is planned up to 2011. This programme may be expanded to include special reviews of particular areas as required and includes central units associated with learning and teaching.
The reviews are first and foremost by and for the University. The aims are to satisfy ourselves that standards and quality of learning and teaching (and assessment) are being maintained; to alert senior management to areas of concern; and to identify good practice that deserves commendation and dissemination.
Normally there are 6-7 reviews of this kind held in any academic year. The review itself will last for one full day. The Schools/Units to be reviewed will be contacted by the Learning and Teaching Quality Officer (LTQO), Carol Morris, to arrange an initial meeting (normally with the Director of Teaching or Director of Unit) to discuss the process and to identify a suitable date. The review team will comprise:
- External 1 (from a Scottish institution)
- External 2
- Dean(s)
- University staff member
- Director of Representation, Students' Association
- Postgraduate Student representative
- Carol Morris (Deputy Director, SALTIRE and Learning & Teaching Quality Officer)
The external members of the review team are agreed after consultation with the School/Unit; this also applies to appointment of the University staff member (who will be from a cognate area and can give a wider University perspective).
The School/Unit will be asked to provide advance documentation as stated in the Internal review guideline (PDF, 140 KB). The primary document is the Self-Evaluation Document (SED) which the School is asked to prepare after reflecting on its own practices in learning and teaching. Headings are given in the Guideline which are to be used in preparation of the SED and the evaluative report.
The programme (Sample IRLT programme (PDF, 5 KB)) for the review day is agreed with the School/Unit, but will certainly include meetings with staff, undergraduate and postgraduate students. A Student note (PDF, 80 KB) will be provided to give students some background on the review procedure. Notes will be taken at each meeting, but nothing will be attributed to any individual. The aim for the day is to have full and frank discussions to identify any areas for concern, or for recommendation and dissemination as good practice to the rest of the institution.
Following the review, an evaluative report will be prepared by the review team under the co-ordination of the LTQO. When finalised, this will be sent to the School/Unit (within 25 working days of the review itself) and then submitted to the Academic Audit Assurance Group. The Group will then request a response to this report specifying what action the School/Unit intends as a consequence of the team's findings. The outcome of this will be followed up by the Group during the following year's annual audit process.
Internal review documentation are available for viewing by University staff only.