Xaverian College, April 2016
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Higher Education Review of Xaverian College April 2016 Contents Contents .................................................................................................................... 1 About this review ..................................................................................................... 1 Key findings .............................................................................................................. 2 QAA's judgements about Xaverian College ........................................................................... 2 Good practice ....................................................................................................................... 2 Recommendations ................................................................................................................ 2 Theme: Digital Literacy ......................................................................................................... 2 About Xaverian College ........................................................................................... 3 Explanation of the findings about Xaverian College ............................................. 6 1 Judgement: The maintenance of the academic standards of awards offered on behalf of degree-awarding bodies and/or other awarding organisations .................... 7 2 Judgement: The quality of student learning opportunities ............................................. 21 3 Judgement: The quality of the information about learning opportunities ....................... 43 4 Judgement: The enhancement of student learning opportunities ................................. 46 5 Commentary on the Theme: Digital Literacy ................................................................ 49 Glossary .................................................................................................................. 50 Higher Education Review of Xaverian College About this review This is a report of a Higher Education Review conducted by the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) at Xaverian College. The review took place from 18 to 20 April 2016 and was conducted by a team of two reviewers, as follows: Professor Ian Robinson Ms Cara Williams (student reviewer). The main purpose of the review was to investigate the higher education provided by Xaverian College and to make judgements as to whether or not its academic standards and quality meet UK expectations. These expectations are the statements in the UK Quality Code for Higher Education (the Quality Code)1 setting out what all UK higher education providers expect of themselves and of each other, and what the general public can therefore expect of them. In Higher Education Review, the QAA review team: makes judgements on - the setting and maintenance of academic standards - the quality of student learning opportunities - the information provided about higher education provision - the enhancement of student learning opportunities provides a commentary on the selected theme makes recommendations identifies features of good practice affirms action that the provider is taking or plans to take. A summary of the findings can be found in the section starting on page 2. Explanations of the findings are given in numbered paragraphs in the section starting on page 7. In reviewing Xaverian College the review team has also considered a theme selected for particular focus across higher education in England and Northern Ireland. The themes for the academic year 2015-16 are Student Employability and Digital Literacy,2 and the provider is required to select, in consultation with student representatives, one of these themes to be explored through the review process. The QAA website gives more information about QAA and its mission.3 A dedicated section explains the method for Higher Education Review4 and has links to the review handbook and other informative documents. For an explanation of terms see the glossary at the end of this report. 1 The UK Quality Code for Higher Education is published at: www.qaa.ac.uk/quality-code. 2 Higher Education Review themes: www.qaa.ac.uk/publications/information-and-guidance/publication?PubID=2859. 3 QAA website: www.qaa.ac.uk/about-us. 4 Higher Education Review web pages: www.qaa.ac.uk/reviews-and-reports/how-we-review-higher-education/higher-education-review. 1 Higher Education Review of Xaverian College Key findings QAA's judgements about Xaverian College The QAA review team formed the following judgements about the higher education provision at Xaverian College. The maintenance of the academic standards of awards offered on behalf of its degree-awarding body meets UK expectations. The quality of student learning opportunities meets UK expectations. The quality of the information about learning opportunities meets UK expectations. The enhancement of student learning opportunities meets UK expectations. Good practice The QAA review team identified the following features of good practice at Xaverian College. The extensive opportunities for pedagogic and subject-specific staff development that support high quality teaching and learning (Expectation B3 and Enhancement). The regular and varied programme of teaching observations, which focuses on the enhancement of the student learning experience (Expectation B3). The access to a wide range of learning materials and resources that enables students to develop their academic, personal and professional potential (Expectation B4). The thorough internal moderation processes, including double-marking of all assessed work, which facilitates the security of assessment decisions (Expectation B6). Recommendations The QAA review team makes the following recommendation to Xaverian College. By September 2016: develop a formal mechanism to inform students of actions taken in response to their feedback (Expectation B5). Theme: Digital Literacy Xaverian College has invested significantly in information technology resources since the QAA Integrated Quality and Enhancement Review (IQER) in 2011, and has achieved some prominence for its virtual learning environment (VLE) developments. It has for some time been regarded as an early adopter of technology and plays a leading role in promoting the use of technology in teaching and learning. It acts as a mentor in good practice for the development and implementation of innovative learning technologies, coordinated by the Technology Exemplar Network, a network supported by the Learning and Skills Council and the British Educational Communications and Technology Agency (BECTA). It received the Colleges 'Next Generation Learning Award' from BECTA in 2010 in recognition of its work developing its own bespoke virtual and managed learning environments. The continued investment in creating a technology-enabled learning environment has catalysed and encouraged the use of information technology in teaching. The College supports these developments by committing an increasing proportion of staff development funds and time to enhancing digital literacy. Staff are encouraged to make appropriate use 2 Higher Education Review of Xaverian College of social media both in their teaching and to support students, and associated procedural protection has been put in place to safeguard both staff and students. Further explanation of the key findings can be found in the handbook available on the QAA webpage explaining Higher Education Review. About Xaverian College Xaverian College (the College) is an inner city Catholic sixth-form college situated two miles south of Manchester city centre. It is located in Rusholme, a district close to the local university campuses and halls of residence. The mission statement of the College is based on that of the Xaverian Brothers: 'through excellent education and example, we commend to our students a way of life rooted in the love of God and our neighbour'. Based on its mission the College aims to enable young people to realise their full potential; to nurture their spiritual, moral and personal development; and to positively contribute to local and national developments. Through its mission statement the College is committed to embracing the agendas of safeguarding equality and diversity, social inclusion and widening participation. The College's strategic objectives for 2013-16 can be summarised as to nurture and celebrate its distinctive Catholic nature; to provide a range of programmes responsive to the needs and interests of the individual; to deliver outstanding provision; to support young people to overcome the challenges they face on a personal and academic level; and to provide outstanding leadership. Over the last eight years the College has seen a significant growth (47 per cent since 2007-08) in the number of 16-19 year old full-time students. It now has over 2,200 students, of whom 93 per cent are studying Level 3 programmes. In 2015-16 the College enrolled 127 students on three foundation year higher education programmes. The foundation programmes are in Life Sciences, Pharmacy, and Medicine and Dentistry (combined); these are offered on behalf of the University of Manchester (the University) and constitute year zero of four to six-year programmes. Since the QAA IQER in 2011 the College has invested in several infrastructure projects. This investment has included improvements in physical resources in the Ryken building, the extension of wireless internet access across the campus, new refectory provision, new laboratory facilities in the science block, a complete refresh of the College