A message from Professor Alex Neill, Pro-Vice Chancellor for Education:
I’m very pleased to share with you the results of our institutional review, following the publication today of the review report by the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA).
I’m especially proud to reveal that the QAA has singled out for commendation our enhancement of student learning opportunities (a commendation is the highest possible rating the QAA can award). The QAA also confirms that our academic standards, the quality of our student learning opportunities and the quality of information about our learning opportunities all meet UK expectations for standards and quality.
This is an incredibly positive report that represents a terrific outcome for the whole of the University. The report confirms what we already believe about our strengths in developing and delivering high quality services and programmes that provide great opportunities and experiences for our students.
The QAA is the principal monitor of standards in UK higher education, and their review identified a number of features of good practice here in Southampton, including:
- our well-planned student induction programme – the Southampton Welcome Project – which helps our students make the transition from school to university,
- the varied, interdisciplinary opportunities available to students through the Curriculum Innovation Programme, which has increased student choice and enhanced the learning, teaching and assessment practice of staff,
- our use of students to lead enhancement projects, which has a demonstrable impact on both staff practice and the student experience,
- our use of Post Graduate Research (PGR) Tracker for the benefits it brings to supervisory teams, students and senior academic staff in the monitoring of postgraduate research student progress,
- our strategic approach to cross-institutional enhancement through projects and activities that successfully engage staff and students, and
- the clarity, availability and accessibility of regulations, policies and procedures.
The review also highlighted the clarity, scope and effectiveness of our complaint and appeals procedures and our emphasis on early and alternative forms of resolution.
Every faculty and professional service, as well as the Students’ Union, should be proud of the major contribution they have made to this successful outcome. The review took many months to prepare for, and hundreds of colleagues from very different parts of the University were involved, working collaboratively towards an important institutional goal.
I hope that like me you’ll be proud of this outcome and happy to join me in sharing this excellent news.
Professor Alex Neill
The QAA’s full institutional review of the University of Southampton is published here.