TO BE PUBLISHED January 2025
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This conference focuses on next steps for improving quality and standards in UK higher education.
It will be an opportunity for stakeholders, regulators and policymakers to discuss implementation of the new UK Quality Code issued by the Quality Assurance Agency, and the role of the new Quality Council for UK Higher Education.
Delegates will examine strategies and best practice for meeting aims in the code, including ensuring that students have a meaningful say in the quality of their HE experience, against the backdrop of the recent rise in tuition fees announced by the Government and heightened financial pressures on the HE sector. With the code‘s alignment with the Framework for Qualifications of the European Higher Education Area, further discussion will consider achieving consistency of provision across HEIs, and accommodating variations in expectations and standards across the UK nations.
Sessions will assess how the Quality Council for UK Higher Education will oversee the new code, identifying and implementing systems of best practice. Areas for discussion include ensuring that quality assurance keeps pace with innovation, including increased use of remote and blended learning, as well as maintaining academic integrity and tackling potential challenges facing the sector arising from the impact of AI on teaching and learning.
The agenda will also bring out latest thinking on innovative opportunities and best practice in developing high-quality courses across academic and vocational pathways that are challenging and engaging, meet student demands, and can serve the future skills and educational requirements for employment.
Issues for qualifications and assessment will be discussed, focusing on tackling grade inflation, and enhancing employer confidence in degree standards and classification. With the code applying to providers operating internationally, delegates will also consider transnational education (TNE) quality and priorities moving forward.
Overall, areas for discussion include:
- UK Quality Code: strategies and best practice for integrating the new code in HEIs - Quality Council role - alignment with European standards - implementation across UK nations
- regulation: enhancement-led and risk-based approaches - priorities for quality assurance - fostering innovation - lessons from international best practice
- financial pressures: maximising value for money - mitigating financial constraints in course development - equitable resource distribution - supporting diverse HE routes and new providers
- student engagement: frameworks for meaningful input on quality and value - improving communication - involvement in curriculum design - addressing student needs and preferences
- curriculum innovation: anticipating trends, needs and capabilities - next steps for remote and blended learning - future-ready course design - safeguarding quality standards
- AI: tackling challenges for teaching and learning - maintaining academic integrity - updating policies to address AI use - leveraging AI for quality enhancement
- graduate employability: aligning courses and standards with employment needs - building employer confidence - tackling grade inflation - wider strategy for enhancing graduate prospects
- TNE: ensuring standards in international provision - protecting UK HE global reputation - aligning TNE with European standards - quality assurance in franchise provision
All delegates will be able to contribute to the output of the conference, which will be shared with parliamentary, ministerial, departmental and regulatory offices, and more widely. This includes the full proceedings and additional articles submitted by delegates. As well as key stakeholders, those due to attend include officials from DBT; DfE; and the Welsh Government.
