HL Deb 12 March 2001 vol 623 c58WA
Lord Norton of Louth

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is the estimated cost to universities of the assessments of teaching quality carried out by the Quality Assurance Agency in 1999 and 2000. [HL 1025]

Baroness Blackstone

Institutions are not required to maintain records of costs associated with assessments carried out by the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA). They will vary between type of provision and the amount institutions invest in their internal quality assurance. In 2000, a report commissioned by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (Better Accountability of Higher Education), based on a study of two institutions and other unpublished work, estimated that the higher education sector has incurred costs in the region of £45 million in QAA reviews. Quality of teaching is a small part of the reviews for the QAA.

Lord Norton of Louth

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What value for money studies have been undertaken of the work of the Quality Assurance Agency in assessing teaching quality in universities; and what have been the results of such studies. [HL1026]

Baroness Blackstone

In 2000, a report commissioned by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (Better Accountability of Higher Education), assessed the accountability burden for institutions. It found that institutions do not maintain any systematic cost or value data but concluded that the efficiency of the accountability regime could be improved. The Quality Assurance Agency has overhauled its review mechanisms and from September 2001 will use a method which will significantly reduce the amount of work carried out by institutions for reviews which include assessment of teaching quality.