Rotherham College of Arts and Technology, June 2014
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Higher Education Review of Rotherham College of Arts and Technology June 2014 Contents About this review ................................................................................................................ 1 Key findings ........................................................................................................................ 2 QAA's judgements about Rotherham College of Arts and Technology .............................. 2 Good practice .................................................................................................................... 2 Affirmation of action being taken........................................................................................ 2 Theme: Student Involvement in Quality Assurance and Enhancement .............................. 2 About Rotherham College of Arts and Technology .......................................................... 3 Explanation of the findings about Rotherham College of Arts and Technology ............ 4 1 Judgement: Maintenance of the threshold academic standards of awards ................ 5 2 Judgement: Quality of student learning opportunities ............................................... 14 3 Judgement: Quality of the information produced about its provision ........................ 32 4 Judgement: Enhancement of student learning opportunities .................................... 35 5 Commentary on the Theme: Student Involvement in Quality Assurance and Enhancement .......................................................................................................... 38 Glossary ............................................................................................................................ 39 Higher Education Review of Rotherham College of Arts and Technology About this review This is a report of a Higher Education Review conducted by the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) at Rotherham College of Arts and Technology. The review took place from 10 to 12 June 2014 and was conducted by a team of three reviewers, as follows: Mr Seth Crofts Mr Christopher McIntyre Miss Lucy Bannister (student reviewer). The main purpose of the review was to investigate the higher education provided by Rotherham College of Arts and Technology 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 (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 threshold 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 4. In reviewing Rotherham College of Arts and Technology 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 2013-14 are Student Involvement in Quality Assurance and Enhancement, and Student Employability,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/qualitycode. 2 Higher Education Review themes: www.qaa.ac.uk/publications/information-and- guidance/publication?PubID=106. 3 QAA website: www.qaa.ac.uk/about-us. 4 Higher Education Review web pages: www.qaa.ac.uk/InstitutionReports/types-of-review/higher-education- review. 1 Higher Education Review of Rotherham College of Arts and Technology Key findings QAA's judgements about Rotherham College of Arts and Technology The QAA review team formed the following judgements about the higher education provision at Rotherham College of Arts and Technology. The maintenance of the academic standards of awards offered on behalf of its degree-awarding bodies and awarding organisation meets UK expectations. The quality of student learning opportunities meets UK expectations. The quality of the information produced about its provision meets UK expectations. The enhancement of student learning opportunities is commended. Good practice The QAA review team identified the following features of good practice at Rotherham College of Arts and Technology. The rigorous and well embedded programme development and approval processes which involve extensive engagement with a range of stakeholders (Expectations B1 and A4). The wide-ranging opportunities provided to academic staff to develop learning and teaching practices informed by the reflection and evaluation of professional practice (Expectation B3). The engagement of students as partners in the quality assurance and enhancement of their educational experience (Expectation B5 and Enhancement). The College's effective deliberative and management structures, which enable a higher-education-specific culture of enhancement (Enhancement). The high level of engagement with employers, professional stakeholders and with external reference points to inform college-wide enhancement initiatives (Enhancement). Affirmation of action being taken The QAA review team affirms the following actions that Rotherham College of Arts and Technology is already taking to make academic standards secure and/or improve the educational provision offered to its students. The significant investment underway to provide appropriate learning resources for new and existing higher education provision (Expectation B4). The steps being taken to formalise the processes for managing work placements (Expectation B10). Theme: Student Involvement in Quality Assurance and Enhancement The College has established a culture whereby students feel valued and encouraged to express their views through a range of effective student engagement mechanisms. The student voice is an integral part of the College's processes for critically evaluating its provision and developing enhancement initiatives. Staff and students work as mutual partners in the quality assurance and enhancement of the educational experience. 2 Higher Education Review of Rotherham College of Arts and Technology Further explanation of the key findings can be found in the handbook available on the QAA webpage explaining Higher Education Review. About Rotherham College of Arts and Technology Rotherham College of Arts and Technology (the College) is a medium sized mixed-economy further education college with over 9,000 students. The College operates from three main sites in Rotherham with the majority of its higher education based at the Town Centre Campus. The College serves a socio-economically disadvantaged population characterised by lower than national average academic attainment and above national average unemployment. The College's mission is 'to develop skills for the future of our students and community by delivering outstanding education and training'. At the time of the review the College had 312 higher education students of which 155 were full-time and 157 part-time. The higher education offer at the College comprises a range of foundation degrees, a Bachelor's Degree in Education, a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE), and several Higher National Certificates and Diplomas (HNCs/HNDs). The main subject areas in which higher education is delivered are computing, education, childhood studies, engineering, and the visual and performing arts. These higher education programmes are offered through partnerships with three degree-awarding bodies: the University of Hull, Sheffield Hallam University, and the University of Huddersfield; and Higher National programmes are awarded by the awarding organisation Pearson. The College is in the process of transferring most of its validated provision to the University of Hull and is currently teaching out a number of programmes delivered through its other two awarding bodies. This strategic decision has been taken to allow the College to streamline its higher education provision and to focus its attention on further developing its strong partnership with the University of Hull. Since its last QAA review, the College has undergone a number of significant changes. In 2011 there was a change of Principal, following which there was a reorganisation of the College structure resulting in the faculty and curriculum areas being replaced by a single tier departmental structure. Heads of departments have day-to-day operational responsibility for higher education programmes located within their respective departments. The Assistant Principal Post 19 Curriculum is now responsible for the strategic oversight and quality assurance of all higher education within the College. There is also now a more simplified deliberative committee