Welcome t our Service Planning Conference

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Welcome t our Service Planning Conference
Ruth Carter Head of Quality Assurance and
Enhancement Implementing the QAA Code of
Practice on Admissions
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Welcome t our Service Planning Conference

• Presentation to cover
• Why a code of practice?
• The code precepts and principles
• Our working group
• Our experience
• Further work required
• Information links

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Welcome t our Service Planning Conference

• Why a code of practice?
• In general, QAA Code supports assuring quality
  across HEIs
• It identifies sector-wide principles or precepts
  for managing quality and standards
• Section 10 - Admissions to Higher Education
  updated September 2006
• Concerned with fairness, consistency and
  transparency in admissions (see also Schwartz
  report)
• At QAA audit, HEIs expected to demonstrate how
  principles have largely been adopted

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Welcome t our Service Planning Conference

• Code Focus and Principles
• General principles
• Recruitment and selection
• Information to applicants
• Complaints and appeals
• Monitoring and review of policies and procedures

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Welcome t our Service Planning Conference

• Precepts General Principles
• Admissions policies are fair, clear, explicit
  and consistently applied
• Admissions decisions are made by competent staff
  equipped to make these judgements

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Welcome t our Service Planning Conference

• Precepts Recruitment and Selection
• Promotional materials/activities are accurate,
  relevant, current, accessible and enable informed
  applicant choices
• Selection policies are clear and fairly applied
  these along with entry criteria are used when
  decision-making
• HEIs conduct their admissions processes in line
  with documented procedures that are readily
  accessible to those involved in admissions
  staff, advisors, applicants

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Welcome t our Service Planning Conference

• Precepts Information to applicants
• When we make an offer, applicant obligations are
  clear ie CRB / Health checks / course deposit
  etc
• Prospective students are informed of any
  significant changes to their intended course
• Clear information is provided on enrolment and
  induction
• Systems are in place to provide unsuccessful
  applicants with constructive feedback

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Welcome t our Service Planning Conference

• Precepts Complaints and Appeals
• HEIs have policies and procedures deal with
  complaints
• HEIs can respond to an appeal against a selection
  decision are appeals permitted and if so in
  what circumstances?

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Welcome t our Service Planning Conference

• Precepts Monitoring and Review
• Required to regularly review admissions policies
  and procedures are they still fit for purpose?
  Do they support our mission? Are they still
  relevant and current?

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Welcome t our Service Planning Conference

• Further information
• QAA Code of Practice Section 10, Admissions to
  HE www.qaa.ac.uk
• Schwartz Report - http//www.admissions-review.org
  .uk/downloads/finalreport.pdf
• UCAS training eg Entry Profiles www.ucas.com
• Supporting Professionalism in Admissions good
  practice statements etc www.spa.ac.uk