Institutional review

The Quality Assurance Agency Scotland (QAA Scotland) carries out enhancement-led reviews of all higher education institutions in Scotland. A new enhancement-led external institutional quality review method is currently being developed and will be delivered in two phases.

Phase 1 comprises the Quality Enhancement and Standards Review (QESR) and Institutional Liaison Meeting (ILM) and will take place in 2022-23 and 2023-24.

Phase 2 is under development and will be implemented in 2024-25, coinciding with the anticipated implementation of the Scottish Funding Council’s Tertiary Quality Framework.

The University’s QESR took place on 31 January 2024. The main purpose of the review was to provide assurance about the University’s management of its responsibilities for academic standards to inform an enhancement-led full institutional review in Phase 2; provide assurance about the University’s management and enhancement of the quality of learning opportunities for students to inform an enhancement-led full review in Phase 2; report on any features of good practice; and make recommendations for action. 

Following the one-day review, the QAA has published its report and expressed confidence in the University's progress in continuing to monitor, review and enhance its higher education provision to enable effective arrangements to be in place for managing academic standards and the quality of the student experience.

The University received three commendations and one recommendation. An action plan is being developed to address the recommendation and this will be published on 11 September 2024. 

The report can be accessed at: Quality enhancement and standards review report (PDF)