The paper provides the QAA’s current proposals for changes to the Academic Infrastructure. This consultation follows QAA’s evaluation of the existing Academic Infrastructure which was undertaken in 2009-10 and drew on feedback from higher education professionals, students and other stakeholders.

QAA is now proposing a revision and restructuring of the existing Academic Infrastructure.

QAA proposes that, instead of consisting of the current four separate elements, the Academic Infrastructure should be restructured as a single Code of Practice for standards, quality and enhancement, incorporating all the elements of the existing Academic Infrastructure, supplemented by some brand new sections.

It is proposed that the new Code of Practice will be in two parts: Part A on Standards and Part B on Quality and enhancement. New chapters will cover learning and teaching, student support and student representation. There will also be the option to add a Part C on Information at a later stage.

Further information on the consultation can be found at: http://www.qaa.ac.uk/news/consultation/AI/.

The Director of the Senate Office attended a recent sector event on the consultation and will provide feedback to members on matters discussed there.

Members are invited to comment on the proposals presented in the consultation in order to inform the University’s response.

There are four questions in the paper as follows:

For the purposes of the UK Code of Practice for standards, quality and enhancement, the following definitions are proposed:

• Threshold academic standards are the level of achievement that a student has to reach to gain an academic award. For similar awards, the threshold level of achievement should be the same across the UK.
• Academic quality is a way of describing how well the learning opportunities available to students are managed to help them to achieve their award. It is about making sure that appropriate and effective teaching, support, assessment and learning opportunities are provided for them.

1. Are these the appropriate definitions?
2. Do you agree that the components of the Academic Infrastructure should be restructured into the UK Code of Practice for standards, quality and enhancement? Will the new Code of Practice make clear the distinction between standards and quality?
3. The two areas highlighted for future work are the status of credit frameworks and provision of information at programme level. Do you agree that these should be priorities for future work? Do you agree that in due course the Code of Practice should include a Part C on Information?
4. Will the UK Code of Practice make clear how UK higher education providers set and maintain threshold academic standards and assure and enhance academic quality? Is the name 'UK Code of Practice for standards, quality and enhancement in higher education' appropriate?

Senate Office to co-ordinate University response.

Not applicable.

Consultation deadline is 1 March 2011.

None identified.