CAQE is the University's process for the annual review of programmes.
Undergraduate full-time provision
Within CAQE each course will be categorised according to a range of quantitative and qualitative metrics.
This categorisation will be determined annually in November and advised to Faculties. Each course will fall into one of the following three categories:
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Active Monitoring
Courses in this category will have not met baseline expectations and will be subject to specific and targeted monitoring activity at both University and Faculty level, including:
- supportive measures reporting in respect of NSS and retention/progression issues; and
- Faculty investigations and interventions in relation to other quantitative and qualitative data which will be reviewed at AD (Education) monthly meetings with the PVC (Education).
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Local Enhancement
Courses in this category will have met and, in some cases, will have exceeded baseline expectations in one or more elements.
They are progressing satisfactorily with some good practice evident but with scope for further enhancement activity.
It is anticipated that such activity will take account of available metrics and other information such as feedback through SSCCs and will be locally initiated with support from CHERP as requested.
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Academic Excellence
Courses in this category will have exceeded the baseline expectations across all categories.
They demonstrate consistently high student performances, outcomes and satisfaction and provide evidence of innovative learning and teaching practice.
Funding will be allocated from the Learning and Strategy Fund to recognise the achievement of course teams in the academic excellence category.
This money will be split between all courses in this category and course teams will be allowed to access their share of this fund to:
- Purchase items of equipment / furniture / software or other resources.
- Support CPD activity / conference attendance for members of the course team.
Funds will be available from December to July (to end of financial year).
All full time undergraduate provision will, as currently, be monitored against existing data and benchmarks with data continuing to be provided to course teams/Schools/Faculties throughout the year. NSS supportive measures activity and oversight will also continue.
The CAQE will be conducted by the PVC (Education) in conjunction with the Associate Deans (Education) through monthly meetings and facilitated by Quality Enhancement.
The cycle of monthly meetings and key agenda items is available here.
Supportive Measures processes will continue in parallel and DLHE Employability Workshops will be held with Faculties in October / November.
Courses in the active monitoring group will be supported by CHERP which will also provide support for other provision as requested. CHERP will also seek to identify institutional learning from the process.
Part-time and Postgraduate Provision
A review of available course data will be undertaken in January/February each year and will inform an annual discussion between the PVC (Education) and Associate Dean (Education) for each Faculty.
Link to Integrated Curriculum Design Framework and Revalidation Schedule
Outcomes of the review will inform the Revalidation Schedule and the Integrated Curriculum Design Framework where appropriate.
| Month | Activity | Outcomes |
|---|---|---|
July – November | End of Year Statistics and External Examiner reports become available | NSS, PTES and course level data published on QE data website as per usual schedule (https://www.ulster.ac.uk/quality/data) |
September/October | Supportive Measures courses identified, and meetings held | Intervention plans by course |
| November | CAQE categorisation by Quality Enhancement of FT UG courses |
|
December | Faculty meetings to discuss courses in Active Monitoring |
|
January | Review by QE of Part-time UG and PGT provision | Draft agenda for Faculty meetings |
February | Faculty meetings to discuss Part-time UG and PGT provision |
|
Review of data and monitoring of interventions continues throughout the year, overseen by Associate Deans (Education) and discussed at monthly meetings between PVC (Education) and AD(E)s