Strengthening institutional monitoring, self-evaluation and reporting on quality

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SFC sought to co-create quality processes and reporting mechanisms as part of developing the TQEF, that would be effective, meaningful, and proportionate.

Feedback collated from our stakeholder engagements suggested there was significant scope for streamlining the reporting on quality processes and outcomes and for capitalising on the outputs of institution-led annual monitoring processes.

In addition, we heard from stakeholders of the need to develop capacity to undertake institution-led self-evaluative work.

SFC was interested in optimising reporting outputs from across quality processes – to SFC, its partner agencies, and where possible, to awarding bodies – to secure greater impact, support transparency and accountability and ensure that self-evaluation, as a key part of our quality arrangements in Scotland, was used as effectively as possible in the new TQEF.

Key questions

How can we support sector and institutional capacity for effective self-evaluation that supports assurance, improvement, and enhancement?
How can we ensure stakeholders, including SFC, get the reporting and assurance needed, avoiding duplication of effort and resource?

Lead agency

This work will be co-ordinated by SFC, and the relevant sector quality networks – The Quality Forum and the College Quality Network.

Progress update

Building on the collaborative work across AY 2022-23, led by the workstream leads and the SFC, the Self-Evaluation and Action Plan (SEAP) was piloted between November 2023 and January 2024 by Ayrshire College, Borders College, Scotland’s Rural College, University of Edinburgh and University of St Andrews.

On completion of the pilot the submissions were reviewed internally and shared with key sector agencies for feedback. This was followed by a series of meetings, including with the pilot centers to capture their experience.

The learning and insights from the pilot exercise were used to further develop and refine the SEAP. A further draft of the guidance and template was shared with TQSG members who sought feedback from their institutions and networks. This feedback was used to create an updated version for final consideration and inclusion in SFC Guidance on Quality for Colleges and Universities AY 2024–25 to AY 2030-31.

The SFC would like to thank the Chairs of The Quality Forum and CDN Quality Steering Group, their members, pilot centres, TQSG and the wider sector for contributing to the development and refinement of the SEAP.

Next steps

The first submissions of the SEAP will be submitted in 2024-25 and the guidance will be reviewed and refined prior to being updated and published in spring 2025.