Quality Assurance Committee

A meeting of the Quality Assurance Committee will be held on Wednesday 17 September 2025 at 2:05pm – 3:55pm via Microsoft Teams and Committee Room 2, University Office.

Mr Liam Dyker, Administrative Officer

Clerk to the Quality Assurance Committee

(Email: liam.dyker2@abdn.ac.uk )

AGENDA

Previous Agendas

Quality Assurance Committee (QAC) Digest

This digest provides a short summary of the outcome of the meeting of the Quality Assurance Committee (QAC) held on 17 September 2025. Staff can access the full agendas and papers on the University website.

 Committee Governance

The Committee approved the Remit and Composition for 2025/26, and agreed that members wishing to express an interest in the vacancies for Senate and Academic Policy & Regulations Group should contact the Clerk.

 Academic Quality Handbook: Guidance for Students’ Work Affected by Them Undertaking Paid Employment

The QAC approved the revised Guidance for Students’ Work Affected by Them Undertaking Paid Employment.

 Greece TNE Project

• Validation Report for Biomedical Science (Applied) (BMS)
• Validation Report for MBA and Business Management and Information Systems (BMIS)

The QAC approved, for its part, the Validation Reports for (i) Biomedical Science (Applied); and (ii) MBA and Business Management and Information Systems, for onward consideration by the Senate..

• Degree in Medicine Degree Regulations
• Degree in Medicine Education Policy

The QAC approved, for its part, the Degree Regulations and Education Policy matters for the Degree in Medicine, part of the Greece TNE Project, for onward consideration by the Senate. 

Internal Teaching Review (ITR)

The QAC approved the Internal Teaching Review Reports for the Schools of (i) Natural and Computing Science; and (ii) Engineering.

Update on Tertiary Quality Enhancement Review

The QAC heard an update on the Tertiary Quality Enhancement Review (TQER), for which preparations were ongoing.

Students’ Progress Committee Remits and Compositions 2025/26

The Committee approved the Remits and Compositions for (i) Students’ Progress Committee; and (ii) Students’ Progress Committee (Medicine and Dentistry) in 2025/26.

Fitness to Practise Committee Remits and Compositions 2025/26

The Committee approved the Remits and Compositions for (i) Fitness to Practise Committee (Education); and (ii) Fitness to Practise Committee (Medicine and Dentistry) in 2025/26.

Academic Policy and Regulations Group Remit and Composition 2025/26

The Committee approved the Remit and Composition of Academic Policy and Regulations Group for 2025/26.

UK Quality Code Mapping

The QAC approved the UK Quality Code Mapping as follows:

1. Principle 1: Taking a strategic approach to managing quality and standards
2. Principle 2: Engaging students as partners
3. Principle 3: Resourcing delivery of a high-quality student experience
4. Principle 4: Using data to inform and evaluate quality
5. Principle 5: Monitoring, evaluating and enhancing provision
6. Principle 6: Engaging in external review and accreditation
7. Principle 7: Designing, developing, approving and modifying programmes
8. Principle 8: Operating partnerships with other organisations
9. Principle 9: Recruiting, selecting and admitting students
10. Principle 10: Supporting students to achieve their potential
11. Principle 11: Teaching, learning and assessment
12. Principle 12: Operating concerns, complaints and appeals processes

Report from Academic Policy and Regulations Group

The Committee noted the report from the Academic Policy and Regulations Group.

Institutional Liaison Meeting: Note of Meeting

The Committee noted the note of the meeting from the Institutional Liaison Meeting with QAA Scotland.

Generative AI and Emerging Technologies in Education

The QAC noted the update in respect of Generative AI and Emerging Technologies in Education.

Professional, Statutory and Regulatory Bodies

The Committee noted various matters in respect of Professional, Statutory and Regulatory Bodies (PSRBs), including the PSRB Register, and accreditations for Royal Society of Biology; IEMA; General Teaching Council for Scotland; CIArb; Association for Nutrition; and Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine.

Matters Approved by Convenor’s Action and by Circulation

The Committee noted the following matters previously approved by Convenor’s Action or by Circulation:

1. India Admissions Protocol
2. Qatar Admissions Protocol
3. Qatar C6 and C7 Process for Block Taught Courses
4. Winter Graduations 2025 Schedule

Any questions regarding the Quality Assurance Committee digest should be sent to academicservices@abdn.ac.uk.

(To be reviewed annually at last meeting of committee cycle with proposed changes to be considered by Senate)

To be responsible to the Senatus Academicus for the strategic oversight of:

1. the quality assurance of undergraduate, postgraduate taught and taught elements of postgraduate research provision;
2. the development of policies and practices for the assurance of the quality of the University's education provisions, particularly in relation to the design, implementation, evaluation and review of mechanisms for the quality assurance and quality enhancement of education provision;
3. the safeguarding of academic standards.

The Quality Assurance Committee shall:

• In consultation with School Education Committees, and the Graduate School (PGR) as appropriate, review proposals for (a) the introduction of new courses and programmes of study (b) amendments to existing courses and programmes, and (c) the withdrawal of existing courses and programmes, and make appropriate recommendations;
• Approve changes to the Regulations for Certificates and Diplomas and to General and Supplementary Regulations for Degrees in advance of their incorporation into a formal draft Resolution for consideration by Senate;
• Oversee the quality assurance of taught courses and programmes through scrutiny of reports from the Annual Course Review (ACR) Exercise, Annual Programme Review (APR) Exercise, External Examiner Reports, Internal Teaching Review Reports and Reports from Professional, Statutory & Regulatory Bodies, as applicable; and address any policy issues that arise, as appropriate;
• Be responsible for co-ordinating a regular programme of Internal Teaching Reviews for monitoring and reviewing courses and programmes of study and consider and recommend to Senate revisions to the procedures for Internal Teaching Review, as necessary;
• Be responsible, on behalf of Senate, for the oversight of the University's engagement with the work of the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA), including Enhancement-led Institutional Review (ELIR);
• Informed by the work of the Academic Policy and Regulations Group, have oversight of the development, implementation and regular review of University policy relating to educational provision in regard to undergraduate, postgraduate taught and taught elements of postgraduate research provision ensuring their alignment to the QAA Quality Code, the wider Academic Infrastructure, legal compliance (e.g. equality, diversity and inclusion) and other relevant external reference points, seeking input from the University Education Committee, as appropriate, prior to recommending new policies or revisions to Senate for approval;
• Ensure that collaborative partnership agreements meet University quality assurance requirements and monitor the quality of provision provided by collaborative partners through the scrutiny of annual reports and recommend to Senate revisions to the procedures for the approval and oversight of collaborative provision, as necessary;
• In partnership with Aberdeen University Students' Association, ensure effective student engagement and representation of student voices in the University's quality framework;
• Monitor the quality of work-based learning provision and study abroad opportunities;
• Appoint from its membership, four members to serve on Senate, ex officio, as required;
• Oversee issues relating to student progress, including the establishment of Student Progress Committees and Fitness to Practise Committees, as appropriate, and make recommendations to the Senate for the discontinuation of attendance, as appropriate;
• Ensure regular review of academic appeals, complaints and academic discipline to identify any trends or issues which require to be addressed;
• Review annual reports from the Students' Progress Committee;
• Act on behalf of Senate, after consultation with Heads of School to: a. approve dates of terms; b. approve deadline for refusal of class certificates; c. approve deadlines for return of examination results; d. approve arrangements for graduation ceremonies; e. approve changes to minimum entry requirements.
• Work closely with the University Education Committee and its sub-committees in regard to any matters for which there are quality assurance implications;
• Undertake such other functions as may be referred to the Committee by Senate.

Members' Responsibilities:

Each member will ensure that they consult with their own School, through their School Education Committee and other forums, on relevant matters, and provide feedback into QAC which represents the views of their School. Each School member of the Quality Assurance Committee shall have delegated authority to have oversight, on behalf of the Quality Assurance Committee, for their area of responsibility.

Chair: Professor Steven Tucker

Clerk: Liam Dyker

Email: liam.dyker2@abdn.ac.uk

Attendance Records

Previous Attendance Records

• Attendance Records for 2020/21
• Attendance Records for 2019/20
• Attendance Records for 2018/19
• Attendance Records for 2017/18

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• QE-TNE Survey Response