ABSTRACT
Higher education has changed fundamentally, from a system catering for a relatively small elite, to one based on mass participation. This chapter focuses on the consequences of the fundamental change for the assurance of quality and standards. It explains the establishment and functions of the United Kingdom's Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education, and describes the new method of quality assurance known as academic review. The reviewers who assess quality and standards are the peers of those whose work is under review. Peer review enables judgements to be made by those who understand the subject, the teaching and learning processes, or the academic management systems under scrutiny. In making judgements about learning resources, reviewers consider how effectively these are utilised in support of the intended learning outcomes of the programmes under review. Review addresses the robustness and security of the systems supporting an institution's awarding function.
