Quality and standards

Quality and standards at The University are managed by Quality and Curriculum Services.

The quality strategy flows from the institution's mission which is 'committed to high quality Higher Education at undergraduate and postgraduate levels through taught courses and research'.

The primary aims of the strategy are twofold:

• Academic standards for taught programmes can be defined in terms of learning outcomes. All of the University's programmes have intended learning outcomes which set standards and stipulate the level and extent of knowledge, understanding and skill which a student is expected to achieve. In order to be awarded a particular University of Northampton qualification, a student must demonstrate that s/he has met these learning outcomes
• Academic standards for research degree programmes can be defined in terms of explicit statements which stipulate the level of research, understanding and skill and the contribution to new knowledge that a student is expected to demonstrate in order to be awarded a particular University of Northampton award.

It follows that academic standards need to be set appropriately and student achievement measured appropriately in terms of these standards. While academic standards is mainly an outcome approach, the quality of education is mainly a process approach. It refers to the appropriateness of programmes in terms of the quality of teaching, learning and research environment that the University provides, and the quality of student support more generally.

Quality and standards at The University of Northampton - An overview

Annual report for Senate on Quality and Standards for 2009-10

Each year the Academic Quality and Standards Committee advises Senate of the continuing appropriateness of the standards of the University's awards and of the suitability in place to assure those standards.

The annual report to Senate comprises:

• An overview statement
• Statistical Report
• Commentary on External Examiner's Reports for taught programmes
• Commentary on validation and periodic subject review reports
• Reports on collaborative provision

In order to ensure that the most up-to-date version is being used we ask colleagues to always refer to this website as hard copies of the report are no longer available from Quality and Curriculum Services. Download individual sections and appendices.