Quality Assurance Agency (QAA)

Code of Practice

The QAA Code of Practice for the assurance of academic quality and standards in higher education, postgraduate research degrees was first published in January 1999.

In September 2004, Section 1: Postgraduate research programmes, was revised and designed to be student-centred so that researchers can be confident about what they can expect from institutions and know what their own responsibilities are. The aim of the code is to achieve a consistently good experience for postgraduate researchers.

"This revised section of the Code is structured into a series of precepts and accompanying explanations. The precepts express key matters of principle that the higher education community has identified as important for the assurance of quality and academic standards. Individual institutions should be able to demonstrate they are addressing the matters tackled by the precepts effectively, through their own management and organisational processes, taking account of institutional needs, traditions, culture and decision-making. The accompanying explanations show why the precepts are important."

The publication of this second version follows consultation with staff in institutions, who have helped to update the Code to take account of institutions' practical experience of using the guidance contained in its predecessor. It incorporates the principles of using training needs analyses (TNA) and personal development planning (PDP). QAA have confirmed that the next update of the Code will incorporate the Researcher Development Statement, which replaces the joint statement on skills training requirements as a key reference document  for researcher development.

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Special audit and review 2005/6 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland

A special review of postgraduate research programmes was conducted in 2005-06 by QAA in England, Wales and Northern Ireland in order to evaluate institutions' implementation of the revised section of the Code, including the precepts concerning ‘development of research and other skills' (precepts 18-20).

The review was based on completion of a questionnaire and Institutions were asked about their practice and requested to provide evidence to support their answers under the nine headings in Section 1 of the Code of Practice.

Following completion of the questionnaire, Institutions were given a peer reviewed judgment expressed in terms of quality of provision being ‘appropriate and satisfactory'or ‘further action is required'.

Results

In 2007, the QAA released their reports on their review of postgraduate research degree programmes for England and Northern Ireland, Review England and Northern Ireland (February 2007), and a separate report for Wales, Review Wales (February 2007).

Overall, the review was highly positive, with institutions demonstrating good levels of engagement with QAA's Code of practice for postgraduate research programmes, and offering many examples of good practice.

In terms of skills development, the picture was generally good with satisfactory arrangements in place at the majority of institutions, although most have better developed provision for supporting research skills development than for development of generic skills.

The report for England and Northern Ireland noted that several HEIs were sharing resource with respect to skills training and other facilities. Training and development for supervisors was found to vary, and full integration of postgraduate researchers into institutional research environments was highlighted as an area for further consideration in many cases.

Since 2006/07 monitoring of research degree programmes has been integrated with the normal QAA audit and review cycle in England. HEFCE use Institutional research degree qualification rates outputs to inform QAA audit activities.

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QAA consultation on doctoral degrees (May 2007)

The QAA published a consultation paper on doctoral degrees and were particularly interested in whether:

• the definition of a research degree in the Code of Practice is still appropriate
• a masters degree should be a necessary entry qualification
• the FHEQ attributes of doctoral graduates still apply
• institutional regulations differ for PhDs and professional doctorates
• HEIs have different outcomes and assessment criteria for different doctorates
• HEIs have concerns relating to the development of joint degrees within Europe
• HEIs have any views about the status of researchers

Many of the questions had a direct relevance to the doctoral degree as the Third Cycle of the Bologna Process. Download the full text of the consultation QAA consultation May 07 [pdf] or go to the QAA website.

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QAA preliminary analysis of doctoral programmes consultation

The QAA has published its analysis of the consultation.

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UK Descriptors for qualifications at Doctoral (D) level

The QAA in its role to safeguard standards of higher education qualifications works with higher education institutions to define academic standards and quality. It has defined the requirements for awarding a doctorate. Doctorates are awarded to students who have demonstrated:

• the creation and interpretation of new knowledge, through original research or other advanced scholarship, of a quality to satisfy peer review, extend the forefront of the discipline, and merit publication
• a systematic acquisition and understanding of a substantial body of knowledge which is at the forefront of an academic discipline or area of professional practice
• the general ability to conceptualise, design and implement a project for the generation of new knowledge, applications or understanding at the forefront of the discipline, and to adjust the project design in the light of unforeseen problems
• a detailed understanding of applicable techniques for research and advanced academic enquiry.

Typically, holders of the qualification will be able to:

• make informed judgements on complex issues in specialist fields, often in the absence of complete data, and be able to communicate their ideas and conclusions clearly and effectively to specialist and non-specialist audiences
• continue to undertake pure and/or applied research and development at an advanced level, contributing substantially to the development of new techniques, ideas, or approaches.

and will have:

• the qualities and transferable skills necessary for employment requiring the exercise of personal responsibility and largely autonomous initiative in complex and unpredictable situations, in professional or equivalent environments.

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