Following extensive consultation with staff, students and The Students’ Union (The SU), the University has revised QA48: Student Engagement with Quality Assurance and Enhancement for AY26/27.
Why has QA48 changed?
Over time, practice has drifted from the original code of practice and our student cohort and modes of study has diversified. At the onset of Curriculum Transformation, several reporting requirements were also paused to create time for staff to develop the new curriculum. The review provided an opportunity to align QA48 more clearly with new regulatory expectations and sector guidance, and to ensure that our approaches work effectively for different modes of study.
The revised framework aims to make student engagement with Quality Assurance and Enhancement (QA&E) clearer, more consistent, inclusive and influential, while providing appropriate flexibility for different student cohorts.
Why does student engagement matter?
Effective student engagement is fundamental to providing a high-quality academic experience. As our student body becomes increasingly diverse, we need inclusive and accessible ways to understand the experiences and priorities of our students, ensuring that a wide range of voices can influence decisions and improvement. This matters beyond student engagement itself: our annual analyses consistently show that positive student engagement is significantly associated with students’ experiences across a range of areas, including departmental organisation and management, assessment and feedback. Strong engagement processes therefore help us meet our Office for Students’ Condition of Registration B2.2 regulatory responsibilities, identify what is working, respond effectively when improvements are needed, and work in partnership with students to enhance the academic experience for everyone.
What are the main changes?
Clearer expectations for effective student engagement
The revised QA48 clarifies what we mean by student engagement with QA&E and sets out common principles and minimum expectations across the University. There is a stronger emphasis on ensuring that engagement is inclusive and accessible, evidence-informed and demonstrably influences enhancement and decision-making.
Greater focus on closing the feedback loop
Students should be able to see what happens as a result of providing feedback. The revised framework therefore places greater emphasis on communicating actions and outcomes to students, including explaining where change is not possible.
More appropriate approaches for different modes of study
Rather than applying the same model to every student cohort, separate operational guidance has been developed for taught in-person, doctoral and distance-learning provision. In particular, new approaches provide greater flexibility for engaging doctoral students and distance learners.
Clearer and more consistent Staff–Student Liaison arrangements
Requirements for Staff–Student Liaison Committees and equivalent mechanisms have been clarified, including expectations around frequency, representation, action tracking, reporting and communicating outcomes. The emphasis is on ensuring that these mechanisms provide meaningful opportunities for students to influence their academic experience.
A more coordinated approach to student surveys
A new dedicated Annex brings together expectations for surveys used in QA&E, including Online Unit Evaluations, which has moved from QA51. It aims to reduce duplication and survey fatigue, improve coordination, and strengthen how survey findings are considered alongside other forms of student insight and translated into action.
Clearer roles, responsibilities and assurance
The revised framework provides greater clarity about responsibilities at course/programme, Department/School, Faculty/School and University levels, alongside clearer reporting and monitoring arrangements. This will help the University understand not simply whether engagement activity has taken place, but whether it is effective, inclusive and influential.
A clearer distinction between academic QA&E and the wider student experience
QA48 now focuses specifically on student engagement with the quality assurance and enhancement of teaching, learning and the academic experience. Wider student engagement and voice are addressed through the complementary University–Students’ Union Student Engagement and Voice Partnership Agreement which will be launched in Semester 2.
What happens next?
The revised QA48 will be supported by practical guidance, templates, resources and training to help colleagues implement the new arrangements.
Colleagues whose roles are directly affected by particular changes will receive more targeted information about what is changing, what they need to do and the support available.