高等教育教與學質量保證的發展與前瞻國際學術研討會

International Conference on The New Frontiers of Teaching and Learning Quality Assurance in Higher Education

2016/11/22-24

Macao Polytechnic Institute, Macao, China

主題發言
Keynote Sessions


Current developments in UK HE and the quest for ‘excellence’
英國高等教育的當下發展與“卓越”追求
Maureen McLaughlin (Head of Universities and Standards, Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education, UK)
Abstract

In keeping with the theme of new frontiers in teaching and learning quality assurance in HE I will take a personal look at the ‘frontier’ of striving for excellence: what does excellence mean, how can quality assurance help to shape and define it and can we measure it?

I will look at the challenges that face quality systems in identifying and promoting excellence. It is an ethos central to the culture and values of higher education motivated by a need to demonstrate continuous improvement at all levels – individual staff, student experience, faculty, institutional and national.

As a concept it has an important part to play in:

  • Enhancing the quality of university teaching and research
  • Improving the quality of the student experience
  • Disseminating good practice
  • Encouraging healthy competition

How should we define it and can we measure it? Is it the preserve of an elite or a concept which can be applied to all types of institutions and subject disciplines?

Author Profile(s)
Maureen has worked in the further education and higher education sector since 1989. She has held senior administrative positions, both central and faculty based, in five UK universities as well as spending a few years in the post of Manager of the Committee Secretariat/Clerk to Council at the University of the South Pacific, Fiji.

Maureen first joined QAA in 2009 as an Assistant Director and was Institutional Review (England and Northern Ireland) Method Coordinator, leading on the training and deployment of reviewers, and specifically focused on the introduction of student reviewers in England and NI reviews. She led review teams in overseas reviews of UK higher education provision in Singapore and China, also leading the QAA's first formal overseas institutional review of the Macao Polytechnic Institute in 2013. She rejoined the HE sector in early 2014 as the Dean of Quality & Standards at the University of Gloucestershire where she led the University through its successful QAA Higher Education Review in April 2015. Maureen was also an adviser to a number of UK institutions on approaches to quality assurance and preparation for external review. In September 2015 Maureen returned to the QAA as Head of Engagement leading on the Agency’s wider engagement with the key stakeholders of the HE sector in the UK (HE institutions, students, professional bodies and employers/industry links). From September 2016, Maureen has taken on the new role of Head of Universities and Standards.