Academic standards and quality

Information and guidance about quality assurance and enhancement.

The summary of academic policy decisions is prepared principally for the benefit of Heads of Department/School, relevant Centre Directors and for Departmental Administrators.

These are designed to ensure information is scrutinised by the appropriate experts and representatives from across the University.

The University must ensure it meets the standards as outlined by external, independent regulators in order to operate as a provider of higher education.

Advice is offered by teams across the University on the various aspects of new course and module approval, from initial development, through to ongoing review and enhancements.

Teaching, learning and assessment overviews provide information about approaches within the department and cover each level of provision, all modes of delivery and both assessment and reassessment.

The University has a risk-management approach to the approval of new degree courses and awards. The intensity of scrutiny is determined largely by the volume of new curriculum.

Proposals for new modules on existing courses should be submitted in line with the annual update deadlines. New modules designed as part of a new course proposal should be incorporated into that approval process.

All courses and modules are updated annually as part of the ongoing cycle of monitoring and review.

New courses are considered via a Validation Panel where they are in a new curriculum area, involve a significantly new method of delivery or external collaboration, or require validation to meet an external organisation’s requirements.

Work-based learning within a course or module should be considered as part of the normal approval process, following consideration of the University’s guidance on work-based and placement learning.

The Code of Practice when sharing Open Educational Resources summarises our commitment and approach to Open Educational Resources (OER).

The Annual Review of Courses provides a summary of all developmental activity undertaken and planned by a department in relation to a course/group of courses.

Guidance on how to prepare and write the Annual Review of Courses.

This formal process evaluates a course or group of related courses to assure the continuing quality of provision in the department.

Guidance on how to prepare and write for the Periodic Review.

The Periodic Review event concentrates on the review and re-approval of courses and considers any recommendations and areas of good practice.

Heads of Department are responsible for nominating External Examiners.

Detailed description of External Examiners' role and responsibilities.

Details of the External Examiner nomination criteria

Detailed description of preparation for the External Examiner role.

Information about using the External Examiner Portal to report submissions for the University of Essex.

Guidance for External Examiners working with the University of Essex's partner institutions

Information about fees and expenses payments for External Examiners.

A contract with an External Examiner will be terminated in the event of a failure to fulfil the role or a conflict of interest.

Student feedback is a vital part of the University's approach to quality assurance and enhancement.

The University and external bodies regularly conduct surveys to list to the voice of our students.

Guidance primarily for departmental administrative staff on how to manage module evaluations through the current Student Module Feedback process.

Student Voice Groups provide an arena for students to discuss with staff issues connected to teaching, learning and student support.

Student Handbooks contain information students may need on academic procedures, teams they may need to contact and the way things work in their department.