Quality of higher education at College highlighted

15th May 2012 4:53pm - Return to press releases

Inspectors have praised the quality of higher education courses at East Riding College in a newly published report.
The team of reviewers from the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) made the most positive judgements in each of the three key areas and also outlined areas of best practice.
The report follows on from a two-stage “Integrated Quality and Enhancement Review” which saw reviewers first visit the College in early 2011 and then return to make their final judgements in January 2012. 

Principal Derek Branton said: “The QAA report is a ringing endorsement of the quality of the higher level qualifications on offer at East Riding College and the quality of the learning experience we offer our students.
“It highlights areas of good practice and supports our approach to ensuring our HE programmes and other higher level courses meet the exacting academic standards expected and that our students are supported to achieve their potential. Our excellent work with employers is also acknowledged.
“The report assures anyone considering applying for a higher level course at the College that our students have a very positive experience and leave armed with  qualifications which are invaluable in helping them progress in their careers.”

The team of reviewers examined the College’s range of higher education programmes and teacher training courses, which are a mixture of full and part-time courses available at the Beverley and Bridlington campuses.
A new range of BTEC higher national certificates and diplomas and “top-up” degrees has since been added and will be available from September. This now means that students can come to the College and complete a whole degree over three years.
In its main findings, the QAA report said reviewers had “confidence” in the standards of the qualifications available from the College and the quality of learning opportunities it offers.
They also said “reliance” could be placed on the quality of information the College publishes about itself and its courses.

The reviewers also highlighted the following areas of best practice:

• The involvement of  employers in assessments that enhance the student experience of working practice
• The 'bite-size' modules for prospective students, which are fully appreciated and very useful to prepare them for higher level study
• The significant and innovative progress in the mentors' use of the  College’s  virtual learning environment

For more information about higher level courses available at the College, go to www.eastridingcollege.ac.uk/higher-education or call 0845 120 0037.

Ends

Notes to editors:

More about IQER judgements

Reviewers can make judgements of “confidence”, “limited confidence” and “no confidence” in the two core themes covering the standards of the qualifications available from an institution and the quality of learning opportunities it offers. For the core theme relating to public information an institution publishes about itself and its courses, reviewers state whether or not “reliance” can be placed on its accuracy and completeness.

For more information on this press release, call Matthew Croshaw, marketing and communications manager, on 01482 306612 or email [email protected]