Managing academic quality

Each module has a module leader designated by the faculty. Module leaders are responsible for academic leadership, management and assessment, for the modules they have been designated to lead on.

Specific areas of responsibility relating to academic quality management include delivering the module using appropriate teaching and learning and assessment methods, effecting any necessary modifications, and communicating information to students. Module leaders are responsible for conducting monitoring, evaluation and review activity, responding to student feedback and external examiner input, and liaison with collaborative partners. They should be responsive to the national agenda, including Professional, Statutory and Regulatory Body (PSRB) requirements, and engage with peer observation. Module leaders should liaise with programme leaders and other key roles, as required.

Each programme within the university has a programme leader designated by the faculty. Programme leaders are responsible for academic leadership, management and assessment, for the programme they have been designated to lead on.

Working closely with the module leaders and the faculty Associate Dean (Academic) and Associate Professors (Quality) or equivalent, programme leaders are responsible for delivering the programme using appropriate teaching and learning and assessment methods, effecting any necessary modifications, and ensuring accurate and timely communication of information to students. They ensure the effective planning, management and review of the programme, adhering to specified monitoring and evaluation procedures. Programme leaders are also responsible for taking forward any new programme proposals following due process and in accordance with faculty strategy.

In doing so, programme leaders should respond to feedback from students, external examiners, Professional, Statutory and Regulatory Bodies (PSRBs) and industry. They are required to ensure student representatives are allocated to the programme board, and that all students have access to a personal tutor. Programme leaders should therefore have good communication with colleagues across the university and collaborative partners (if applicable), and with external bodies and national organisations.

Associate Deans (Academic) (ADA) lead on strategic developments relating to all academic issues and learning and teaching matters.

The ADA leads on the management and development of all taught programmes within the faculty and is supported by the Associate Professors (Student Experience) when dealing with student matters.

Contacts

Faculty	Role	Contact
Art, Design and Humanities	Associate Dean (Academic)	Dr Claire Orwin (0116) 257 7553 CNO@dmu.ac.uk
	Academic Support Officer	Tina Masani (0116) 366 4400 tina.masani@dmu.ac.uk
Business and Law	Associate Dean (Academic)	Chris Goldsmith c.goldsmith@dmu.ac.uk
	PA/Administrator	Heather Cadman (0116) 207 8365 heather.cadman@dmu.ac.uk
Computing, Engineering and Media	Associate Dean (Academic)	Zoe Allman zallman@dmu.ac.uk
	CEM Advice Centre	(0116) 207 8499/8497 cemadvicecentre@dmu.ac.uk
Health and Life Sciences	Associate Dean (Academic)	Dr Nicola Brooks (0116) 201 3860 nbrooks01@dmu.ac.uk
	HLS Advice Centre	(0116) 257 7749 hls.advice.centre@dmu.ac.uk

On behalf of the Pro Vice-Chancellor/Dean, the faculty Associate Professors (Quality) (APQ) and BAL Faculty Head of Quality (FHOQ) have responsibility for:

• The implementation of changes arising from new university policy relevant to quality and standards
• Ensuring academic quality processes are followed and implemented
• Raising issues at higher levels where appropriate

The APQ and FHOQ prioritise academic quality and standards, being alert to instances where quality might become at risk, and helping to identify and share best practice to continually enhance the student experience.

They are responsible for the management of faculty quality assurance arrangements relating to programme development and validation, modification, and the continuous monitoring of subjects, programmes and modules. These arrangements include periodic review, module enhancement and student feedback, and performance analysis at module and programme level.

They provide an important link between the faculty, university level quality committees and central departments such as the Department of Academic Quality (DAQ). APQs and FHOQ are members of their Faculty Academic Committee (FAC).

Contacts

Faculty	Role	Contact
Arts, Design and Humanities	Associate Professor (Quality)	Caroline Smith
	Administration Team Leader	Sallyann Robinsons
Business and Law	Faculty Head of Quality	Sarah Easton
	Quality Assurance Officer	Sophia Welton / balqa@dmu.ac.uk
Computing, Engineering and Media	Associate Professor (Quality)	Chris Fidler / Luke Attwood / CEMQualityLead@dmu.ac.uk
	Quality Administrator	CEMQuality@dmu.ac.uk
Health and Life Sciences	Associate Professor (Quality)	Emma Reith-Hall
	Quality Assurance Administrator	Liz Benge / Sian Sadler / hlsquality@dmu.ac.uk

The Department of Academic Quality is responsible for ensuring adherence to external quality requirements, supporting relationships with external bodies, and for keeping the university informed of national developments in quality management.

Office for Students (OfS)

The Office for Students (OfS) is an independent public body. The OfS is not part of central Government but reports to Parliament through the Department for Education (DfE). The OfS aims to ensure positive outcomes for all students and sets requirements for the quality and standards of the courses we offer at DMU.

Quality Assurance Agency (QAA)

The Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) is the UK’s independent quality body, advising on standards and quality in UK higher education. The QAA developed, and maintains, the UK Quality Code for Higher Education as a reference point for effective quality assurance.

Click here to view QAA's action plan in response to outcomes

Office for Standards in Educations, Children's Services and Skills (OFSTED)

DMU’s higher and degree apprenticeships are subject to inspection by Ofsted under its Inspection Framework for Further Education and Skills.

‎Pearson

Additionally, our Higher National Diploma (HND) programme is delivered and awarded under the Pearson license agreement. This allows DMU as an awarding body to customise and devise our own higher-level programmes under the license. For Pearson related queries, contact Louise Newell.

Professional, Statutory and Regulatory Bodies (PSRBs)

DMU also manages relationships with a number of PSRBs who accredit and inspect some areas of provision. DAQ maintains the central record of PSRB relationships –  contact Laura Sanderson for more information.

Other external reference points

There are other external reference points which inform our academic regulations. These assist in setting and maintaining academic standards, and guide on the use of credit in the design of programmes leading to qualifications. Please contact Sally Lloyd for additional information.

Surveys and returns

DMU’s Strategic Planning and Insight team are responsible for the university's statutory data returns including Unistats and information to support student surveys, such as the National Student Survey and Graduate Outcomes. These external surveys and returns are national initiatives conducted annually across most higher and further education institutions.