Wednesday 17-03-2021 - 13:27

The Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) has published the GCU Enhancement-led Institutional Review (ELIR) Outcome Report. 

The QAA appointed a team of five independent experts to review the University, with a Planning Visit taking place in February 2020 and a Review Visit in November 2020. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Review Visit had been postponed from March 2020. 

The review panel concluded: “The institution has effective arrangements for managing academic standard and the student learning experience. This is a positive judgement, which means the University meets sector expectations in securing the academic standards of its awards and enhancing the quality of the student learning experience it provides, currently and into the future.” 

This judgement is the highest award that can be achieved in the ELIR system. 

One of the six commendations from ELIR was the partnership working between the Students' Association, our academic and student reps and the University:

"The University and GCU Students' Association have a long-standing, embedded and collaborative relationship which is based on genuine and effective partnership working across all aspects of university life. This relationship brings a wide range of benefits to the student experience - for example, a well-established Student Partnership Agreement updated in partnership with students and the Students' Association and representation structures that support the diversity of the University's student population. The Student Action Group for Engagement (SAGE) provides students, and their representatives, with the opportunity to play a full part in the development of University policy and practice associated with learning, teaching and the wider student experience. Students are clear that their contributions are valued and acted upon."

Principal and Vice-Chancellor Professor Pamela Gillies, CBE, FRSE said:

“I am delighted that the findings of the ELIR have assessed the University to have achieved the highest quality standards possible under its framework. There are a number of recommendations that will help us further enhance our approach to quality but all the staff and students who took part in the assessment should be congratulated for their work."

“The University was commended for our embedded partnership working with the Students’ Association which is integral to the enhancement of the student experience and in ensuring that the student voice is at the heart of everything we do.”