ABSTRACT

In the early 1980s and with great foresight, the then vice-chancellor set in train discussions about quality assurance in the University of Southampton. By 1989, then, the University had developed and refined the methodology for a programme of quality assurance that was based upon departmental self-assessment. In advance of the visit the panel will have been provided with the departmental 'profile' and any associated appendices. Central funding has been made available for a teaching and learning developments grant scheme, for which departmental bids are solicited annually. The value of self-assessment, therefore, needs to be sought in less obvious areas and one such area would be the way in which a department manages and prioritizes its research activities. The original methodology was designed for the assessment of academic and medical departments but this has been developed as a tool for the assessment of 'service' and administrative departments.