Learning, Teaching and Enhancement - Keele University
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Quality Assurance

Learning, Teaching and Enhancement

The University is committed to continuous improvement of the quality of the student experience. The Pro Vice-Chancellor (Education and Student Experience) is the lead on the development of institutional strategies and approaches to articulate the University’s priorities in this area e.g. University learning and teaching strategic map, 2011-15; the Volunteering Strategy, 2012-2015; and on-going oversight of the Student Experience. 

University Learning & Teaching Strategy

Those aspects of enhancement and student opportunity that are delivered through, and/or impact on, the academic curricula, are reflected in the University Learning and Teaching Strategy. When the most recent Learning and Teaching Strategy was developed in 2011, a cross-institutional working group defined priorities that were moulded into the six aims of a strategic map and an underpinning annual operating plan, agreed at ULTC after presentation at ASC and the FLTCs.

The nested approach to strategic planning ensures that School operating plans reflect the institutional priorities within their disciplinary contexts. Local plans draw on a range of evidence, for example student survey data and information from planning and quality assurance processes. These are discussed and shared within Faculties where an overarching plan is developed which can address how best to support, invest or seek new resources to enable plans to be achieved. It can also seek efficiencies and opportunities from an intra-Faculty approach.

Institutional enhancement priorities are cascaded operationally to academic Schools using the committee structures, and also through cross-institutional networks which are supported by relevant central services’ expertise. Systematic sharing of good practice through discussion of learning and teaching news occurs at monthly Faculty Learning and Teaching Committees. 

The PVC and DLT meetings

The Pro Vice-Chancellor (Education and Student Experience) meets quarterly with the Directors of Learning and Teaching from Schools and Faculties and the group offers a forum for informal consultation, with the aim of sharing practice and learn from and with each other, with the explicit intention of raising the quality of the student experience and the educational offer.  The meetings offer space for dialogue and discussion, as well as for professional updating and development on key areas of enhancement activity. Additionally, the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Education and Student Experience) also meets regularly with the Faculty Directors of Learning and Teaching.

Other School role holders, such as Senior Tutors and Academic Conduct Officers, also meet regularly through the academic year with similar intentions: to share and develop their local practices, to learn from the sector, and to contribute expertise to the University when developing and improving policy and/or guidance.

Consultation

Keele places a high value on representation and involvement from relevant stakeholders, and works closely with individuals and groups to facilitate changes that will enhance student learning opportunities. Where planned changes will impact significantly on the widest University community, for example the current academic year change proposals, wide and open consultation is used.  For large scale or complex institutional enhancement work, the approaches taken are to develop cross-institutional working groups and to encourage participation and critical engagement among the widest community of stakeholders, both staff and students, across the lifecycle of the project or until developments or changes are embedded into practices.  This is in full accord with the Keele approach to quality assurance. The model is also used at a much smaller scale, for example, to deliver the annual Teaching Symposium (where quality enhancement work and good practice is shared and celebrated in the Institution).