Quality assurance is about maintaining standards and ensuring students have the best possible experience at university. It ensures standards are consistent within the University and comply with national frameworks. Enhancement refers to the ways the University systematically reviews and improves the quality of its academic provision. Together, quality assurance and enhancement mean students and others can have confidence in their degrees and education.

In the UK, the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) sets out expectations that all providers of UK higher education are required to meet. The full version of the revised UK Quality Code is scheduled for publication later in 2018 but intial guidance and expectations are available and continue to underline the importance of engaging students in 'the development, assurance and enhancement of the quality of their educational experience'.  

All students have opportunities to contribute to quality assurance and enhancement, for example through completing module evaluation questionnaires and other surveys, while Student Reps have additional responsibilities in representing the student voice to the University.

Additionally, the University has a number of specific processes for overseeing quality assurance and enhancement to which the student voice is essential and to which relevant Student Reps are invited to participate. Together, these help the University fulfil the expectations of the Quality Assurance Agency.

Quality assurance and enhancement events with student representation include:

• Validation of new courses
• Annual Course Review
• School Periodic Review

Each of these process are interesting opportunities for Student Reps to be involved in assuring and enhancing the quality of their courses and to be part of the work that oversees the delivery of teaching and learning. Reps are invited as needed.