Quality Assurance Committee

A meeting of the Quality Assurance Committee will be held on Wednesday 15 April 2026 at 2:05pm – 3:55pm via Microsoft Teams and Committee Room 2, University Office.

Mr Liam Dyker (Academic Policy and Quality Manager)

Contact: liam.dyker2@abdn.ac.uk

AGENDA 

1. Minutes of Previous Meeting

• 18 February 2026 (QAC/150426/001a)
• 11 March 2026 (QAC/150426/001b)
• 23 March 2026 (QAC/150426/001c)

2. Matters Arising 

• Action Log (QAC/150426/002a)
• School of Education ITR Follow-Up Report (QAC/150425/002b)
• PGT Programmes with Populations Less Than 6FTE (QAC/150426/002c)

Presenter: Clerk (if required) 

          The Committee is invited to (i) note the action log; (ii) approve the School of Education ITR Follow-Up Report; and (iii) note the PGT Programmes with Populations Less Than 6FTE (updated since the last meeting).  

3. Postgraduate Taught Policy Review TFG 

• Code of Practice on Assessment (Postgraduate Taught)  (QAC/150426/003)

          Presenter: Jason Bohan

          Members of the Committee are invited to consider and approve the revisions proposed to the Code of Practice on Assessment (Postgraduate Taught).

• Code of Practice on Student Discipline (Academic)    (QAC/150425/004)

          Presenter: Jason Bohan

          Members of the Committee are invited to consider and approve the revisions proposed to the Code of Practice on Student Discipline (Academic).

4. Transnational Education Projects 

• China University of Geosciences (Beijing): Business School Programmes (Education Policy and Term Dates) (QAC/150426/005 and 006)
• China University of Geosciences (Beijing): School of Geosciences Programmes (Education Policy and Term Dates)   (QAC/150426/007 and 008)

• China University of Geosciences (Beijing): Regulatory Requirements                                                                                                      (QAC/150426/009)

Presenter: Joyce Chen (Business), Alex Brasier (Geosciences) and/or Clerk 

Members of the Committee are invited to consider and approve the papers in respect of China University of Geosciences (Beijing) TNE project.

• Northwestern University (Education Policy) (QAC/150426/010, to follow)
• Northwestern University (Term Dates) (QAC/150426/011, to follow)
• Northwestern University (Regulatory Requirements) (QAC/150426/012, to follow)

Presenter: Joyce Chen and/or Clerk

 Members of the Committee are invited to consider and approve the papers in respect of Northwestern University TNE project.

5. Future of Academic Policy & Regulations Group (QAC/150426/013)

          Presenter: Chair and/or Faye Hendry 

          Members of the Committee are invited to approve, on the recommendation of the Academic Policy & Regulations Group, the proposals set out in the Future of the APRG paper.  

6. Update on Tertiary Quality Enhancement Review (TQER) (Oral Item)

          Presenter: Chair

          Members of the Committee will hear an update on the Tertiary Quality Enhancement Review (TQER) for which the main review visit took place in early February 2026. 

7. Date of Next Meeting

          The next meeting of the Committee will be held on 30 September 2026 at 2.05 p.m. in Committee Room 2, University Office or via Microsoft Teams.

8. Business for Routine Approval (see below) 

9. Business for Information (see below)

          Declaration of interests: Any member and individual in attendance (including Officers) who has a clear interest in a matter on the agenda should declare that interest at the relevant meeting, whether or not that interest is already recorded in the Registry of Member’s interests.

8. FOR ROUTINE APPROVAL

8.1  PGDip Counselling: In-Person Graduation (QAC/150426/025) 

Members of the Committee are invited to approve, by routine approval, the proposals in relation to the PGDip Counselling in-person graduations.

9. FOR INFORMATION

9.1     Report from the Academic Policy and Regulations Group

• 13 February 2026 (QAC/150426/014a)
• 31 March 2026 (QAC/150426/014b) 

9.2     Matters Approved by Circulation and Convenor’s Action

• Qatar Term Dates 2026/27 (QAC/150425/015)
• MBChB Intercalated PhD Opportunity (QAC/150426/016)

          Presenter: Clerk (if required)

          The Committee is invited to note the matters approved by circulation or Convenor’s Action.

9.3     Professional, Statutory and Regulatory Bodies

• Health & Care Professions Council (QAC/150426/017)
• Nursing & Midwifery Council (QAC/150426/018)
• Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (QAC/150426/019)
• Principles for Responsible Management Education (QAC/150426/020)
• Energy Institute (QAC/150426/021)
• Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (QAC/150426/022)
• Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales (QAC/150426/023)
• Chartered Institute of Marketing (QAC/150426/024) 

Members of the Committee are invited to note the matters related to Professional, Statutory and Regulatory Bodies.

9.4     Partnerships & Collaborative Provision: Universities of Glasgow and Strathclyde – Delivery of PMPI Programme

          The Committee is invited to note that the partnership with the Universities of Glasgow and Strathclyde related to the Delivery of the PMPI programme, has now ended.

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 18 February 2026. Staff can access the full agendas and papers on the University website.

Code of Practice on Assessment (Postgraduate Taught)

The Committee approved, for its part and for onward consideration by the Senate, the Code of Practice on Assessment (Postgraduate Taught).

Code of Practice on Student Discipline (Academic)

The Committee approved, for its part and for onward consideration by the Senate and the Court, the Code of Practice on Student Discipline (Academic).

Transnational Education Projects

China University of Geosciences (Beijing): Business School Programmes

The Committee approved (i) Education Policy Updates and (ii) indicative Term Dates for the partnership with China University of Geosciences (Beijing) and the Business School.

China University of Geosciences (Beijing): School of Geosciences Programmes

The Committee approved (i) Education Policy Updates and (ii) indicative Term Dates for the partnership with China University of Geosciences (Beijing) and the School of Geosciences.

China University of Geosciences (Beijing): Regulatory Requirements

The Committee approved, for its part and for onward consideration by the Senate and the Court, the regulatory requirements, including a resolution for the creation of degree regulations and a programme specification, for the programmes delivered in partnership with the China University of Geosciences (Beijing).

Future of Academic Policy and Regulations Group

The Committee considered and approved a paper outlining a future direction, namely the disbanding, of the Academic Policy and Regulations Group.

Update on Tertiary Quality Enhancement Review

The Committee received an oral update on the Tertiary Quality Enhancement Review (TQER).

Postgraduate Diploma in Counselling: In-Person Graduation

The Committee approved, by routine approval, a proposal for the Postgraduate Diploma in Counselling to graduate in-person, to bring the diploma into line with the existing arrangements for the Postgraduate Diploma in Person-Centred Counselling.

Reports from the Academic Policy and Regulations Group

The Committee noted the reports from the Academic Policy and Regulations Group from its meetings on (i) 13 February 2026; and (ii) 31 March 2026.

Matters Approved by Circulation and/or Convenor’s Action

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

• Qatar Term Dates 2026/27
• MBChB Intercalated PhD Opportunity

Professional, Statutory and Regulatory Bodies

The Committee noted matters in respect of Professional, Statutory and Regulatory Bodies as follows:

• Health & Care Professions Council
• Nursing & Midwifery Council
• Chartered Institute of Arbitrators
• Principles for Responsible Management Education
• Energy Institute
• Association of Chartered Certified Accountants
• Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales
• Chartered Institute of Marketing

Partnerships and Collaborative Provision: Universities of Glasgow and Strathclyde – Delivery of PMPI Programme

The Committee noted that the partnership with the Universities of Glasgow and Strathclyde related to the delivery of the PMPI Programme has now ended.

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