Educational Quality Committee • City, University of London

Overseeing specific aspects of the framework and operation of academic regulation, policy and practices concerning the quality and standards of City awards.

Commenced February 2018

Terms of Reference and Membership 2020/21

Purpose

The Educational Quality Committee is responsible to Senate for the oversight of specific aspects of the framework and operation of academic regulation, policy and practices concerning the quality and standards of City awards.

This includes all taught and research degree programmes. The Committee supports the enhancement of the quality of the educational offer and the dissemination of good practice.

Additionally, it is responsible for ensuring that the framework and practices are aligned with external regulatory requirements and expectations.

It works alongside the Collaborative Provision Committee, which provides institutional oversight on behalf of Senate of the framework for educational provision delivered with others (validated programmes, partnership programmes, outgoing student mobility schemes and student placement activity).

It also works alongside the City Doctoral College.

Educational Quality Committee is responsible to Senate for:

(i) Monitoring and supervising the development and implementation of City's academic regulatory and policy framework for all award-bearing provision, subject to the approval of Senate where applicable, to ensure and enhance the high quality of the educational offer, and assure the standard of City awards.

(ii) Providing detailed and regular scrutiny of the framework to ensure appropriate alignment with relevant external reference points and guidance, and advising Senate on necessary changes and enhancements.

(iii) Considering requests for exemption from the Senate Regulations relating to educational provision and/or approved quality and standards framework, and making recommendations to Senate.

(iv) Receiving reports, as appropriate, from any sub-committees established by Educational Quality Committee and ensuring that all relevant matters concerning educational quality and standards are reported to Senate.

(v) Undertaking scrutiny and advising Senate of outcomes from and the effectiveness of academic quality processes, including:

Programme approval, amendment, termination
External examining
Annual Programme Evaluation
Periodic Review
PSRB and accreditation events
Audits of academic processes that impact on the quality and standards framework

(vi) Oversight of City's approach to assuring the completeness, accuracy, reliability and fitness for purpose of published information.

(vii) Reviewing the outcomes from any external quality review or assessment of the City’s educational quality and/or academic standards and advising Senate on the implementation and monitoring of related action plans.

(viii) Advising Senate on appropriate action to take in order to address areas of academic risk to educational quality and/or academic standards.

(ix) Through the above, supporting the enhancement of educational quality and the dissemination of good practice.

Educational Quality Committee will receive reports from, and/or will liaise with, the following committees to support institutional oversight of quality and standards, and to inform regulation and policy review, enhancement and development as appropriate.

Education and Student Committee
City Learning and Teaching Committee
City Doctoral College
Collaborative Provision Committee
University Programme Approval Committee
Boards of Studies [1]

Where appropriate, business will be reported and/or recommendations made to Senate via Academic Governance Committee, where they relate to matters within Academic Governance Committee’s remit or its delegated authority from Senate.[2]

Equality and Diversity Statement

City, University of London is committed to promoting equality, diversity and inclusion in all its activities, processes, and culture, under its Public Sector Equality Duties and the Equality Act 2010.

This includes promoting equality and diversity for all, irrespective of any protected characteristic, working pattern, family circumstance, socio-economic background, political belief or other irrelevant distinction.

Diverse membership of all committees is expected. Wherever possible membership will consist of at least 30% women and 30% men and representation of other protected groups will be actively considered.

Where this has not been met committees should be able to demonstrate what action has been taken to achieve this target.

[1] Boards of Studies have delegated authority from Senate for the maintenance of academic standards and quality within their academic subject area as noted in their terms of reference

[2] Academic Governance Committee undertakes detailed scrutiny of proposed changes to Senate Regulations prior to recommendations being made to Senate. Membership will comprise of individuals with appropriate quality assurance and enhancement expertise.