the quality assurance agency for higher education
The Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) is an independent
charity working to benefit students and higher education, and one of the world’s
experts in quality assurance. We are trusted by higher education providers and
regulatory bodies to maintain and enhance quality and standards. We work with
governments, agencies and institutions globally to benefit UK higher education
and its international reputation. In England, we have two distinct roles, which
we keep separate through an ‘ethical barrier’ or firewall. A ring-fenced team
fulfils our role as the Designated Quality Body in England, providing reviews
and advice to the regulator, the Office for Students (OfS). Separately, we
provide services and advice to our member institutions in England, including
support with quality enhancement activities. We do not provide any guidance to
institutions in England on how to meet the regulator’s requirements. In
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, there is no such separation of roles, and
our quality enhancement and membership work is provided in concert with, and
informed by, our quality assurance activities. We work closely with all higher
education providers and the respective funders and regulators, in line with the
policy and regulatory approach of each nation. Our UK-wide responsibilities
include being the regulator of the Access to HE Diploma, which transforms lives
by offering students from non-traditional backgrounds access to higher
education. We also work internationally on behalf of our members and the wider
UK higher education sector. We now welcome international members as well as
those from the UK.
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