Quality Assurance and Enhancement in Scotland >

Standards of qualification and the quality of the student learning experience are maintained by the Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) using a range of processes including extensive use of external examiners. In some subject areas, Professional and Statutory Bodies have a role to ensure that programmes meet the needs and standards of the particular profession.

HEIs in Scotland demonstrate their public accountability for quality and standards through a national quality assurance framework that has a strong focus on enhancement.

Quality Assurance Agency in Higher Education in Scotland (QAA Scotland)

QAA Scotland is an independent body established to provide public confidence in the quality and standards of higher education which involves students in its quality enhancement activities. 

HEIs take account of the QAA published UK Quality Code for Higher Education which is a code of practice for quality assurance, and U.K. subject level 'benchmark statements' on standards.

Quality Enhancement Framework in Scotland

QAA Scotland, in conjunction with the Scottish Funding Council (SFC), Universities Scotland and NUS Scotland have developed an enhancement-led approach to quality in the Scottish higher education sector.

The five main elements are:

  • A comprehensive programme of institution-led reviews, carried out by HEIs with guidance from the SFC.
  • Enhancement-Led Institutional Reviews (ELIR) which are external reviews run by QAA Scotland that involve all Scottish HEIs over a four-year cycle.  The report from GSA's most recent ELIR can be viewed here.
  • Improved forms of public information about quality, based on addressing the different needs of a range of stakeholders including students and employers.  More information about public information can be found on the SFC website.
  • A greater voice for student representatives in institutional quality systems, supported by a new national development service.  sparqs (student participation in quality scotland) assists and supports students, students' associations and institutions to improved the effectiveness of student engagement in quality processes and provides advice to the SFC and institutions on good practice in student engagement.