higherEducation.ppt

The Higher Education System in England and Wales Peter Hartley University of Birmingham, UK Content Higher Education Access to Higher Education The ‘Traditional’ System Degree Progression Quality Assurance Agency Academic Content QAA Framework Academic Achievement QAA Guidelines Structure of Degree Programmes Undergraduate Degrees Module Failure and Progression Level of Degree Student Funding Undergraduate Loans Bologna Compliance Higher Education Higher Education: Post-18 years Education, Distinguished from ‘Further Education’ University education at Degree level Approximately 1.5m Full-time and part-time students Access to Higher Education Normal requirement for UK students Three passes at A-level A-level: Advanced level General Certificate of Education Number and level varies by institution and programme of study The ‘Traditional’ System Bachelor Degree (BSc, BEd, BEng…) Normally three years Master Degree taught (MSc, MA, MBA…) Normally one year Master Degree research (MPhil) Normally 1.5 to two years Doctoral Degree (PhD, SocScD, EdD, EngD…) Normally three years Degree Progression Quality Assurance Agency QAA – Established in 1997: Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (http://www.qaa.ac.uk) Three Important Aspects Sets out a framework of awards for different levels of achievement (2001) Produce subject ‘benchmark’ statements Assesses the quality of the operating procedures supporting academic activities Academic Content Academic content must be subject to external scrutiny External Examiner Professional Accreditation (IMechE, IMC…, UK-SPEC*) Programme Review QAA Framework Academic Achievement Award of any qualification is based on the achievement of specific skills or ‘learning outcomes’ Degree programmes must specify expected outcomes at programme and module level QAA Guidelines Honours level An Honours graduate will have developed an understanding of a complex body of knowledge, some of it at the current boundaries of an academic discipline. Throug