Learning and Teaching Committee

Subject: Teaching Quality Information

Origin: Academic Registrar

An initial briefing paper on the Teaching Quality Information (TQI) site was presented to Learning and Teaching Committee at its previous meeting in June 2004. The following update is based on an e-mail recently sent to all departments.

The TQI site went live at the end of August (see www.tqi.ac.uk) although at present only a limited amount of information is available. i.e.

- summary of Learning and Teaching Strategy
- statement of links with employers
- listing of UG programmes
- web link to QAA institutional audit report

The timetable for the rest of the information is as follows:

1.  HESA data on admissions, progression and completion (from 2002/03)

i.    These data are due to be available on the TQI website on 8 November 2004.  (There may be some slippage on this deadline.)

ii.    Data received at various stages during the summer were not received in a format that made it straightforward for HEIs to check.   One reason was that data were organised at the JACS 19 subject area level, which do not correspond well to individual departments.   The tables were therefore not passed on to departments for further checking, as originally intended.

iii.  Data received more recently has been easier to check because they are
in the form they will appear on the website itself.   Registry staff have
been checking this information.

iv.  We are satisfied that the UG entry tariff and highest qualifications on
entry data are reasonable accurate, although the methodology makes them
rather unhelpful and misleading.  The data makes it appear that we have a
high number of VCE entries, rather than the typical A-Level (and BTEC) entry
qualifications.

Data on PGT entry qualifications are reasonably accurate.

UG degree classification data are fairly accurate, too.

v.     For technical reasons, the progression/continuation data for undergraduate students are very misleading, and we have asked that these to be suppressed for this year.  The cause of the problem has been addressed and we should not need to seek suppression in future years.

vi.    We have not sent the data to departments for checking because of the way it is broken down.  However, Howard Jones is willing to answer any queries departments may have on the admissions figures and Chris Spendlove can advise on the remaining data if required.

vii. Our institutional commentary on the data (due to be submitted by 8 November) will highlight the weaknesses in the methodology used as it applies to Loughborough.   Most of our concerns are shared by other universities.

2.  Qualitative data

i.    External Programme Assessors' summary reports:
The PDQ Team decided that departments would be asked to compile these, using the new TQI summary form which is appended to External Examiners' reports.   The EEs' reports will be those for finalist UGs, and PGTs, and will include relevant reports from outside the department.   Departments are being advised to use only the extremely positive (or any negative)  comments to prepare the summary.

It is intended that the summary should be passed to the External Programme Assessor for approval.  As much as possible, departments should use the same summary for a group of related programmes. Further advice will be issued to departments shortly.

The summaries for summer 2004 undergraduate Boards have to be mounted on the site by 31 January 2005.

ii.    National Student Survey (NSS):
We recently received the further guidance document from HEFCE.  This shows that the NSS will go ahead as planned in late January/early February 2005. It applies only to finalist UGs.   HEFCE has not yet decided how to present the results, but these are due to be mounted on the TQI website in August 2005, for use by students hoping to enter in 2006.

Further information on the NSS is provided in a separate agenda paper.