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For immediate release: Positive judgement for Centre for Alternative Technology after QAA review

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A review of the Centre for Alternative Technology (CAT) by the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA), the UK’s independent quality body for higher education has expressed confidence that “academic standards are reliable, meet UK requirements, and are reasonably comparable” - the highest judgement available through the review process. 

The Centre for Alternative Technology (the Centre) is an internationally renowned environmental charity, a world-leading, eco centre and leading provider of postgraduate environmental education. Its mission is to inspire, inform and enable humanity to respond to the climate and biodiversity emergency. Established in 1973, it is located near Machynlleth in mid-Wales, and has been delivering education for over 40 years in the field of sustainability. 

The review was undertaken by a team of three independent reviewers, who were appointed by QAA and took place online between 21 and 22 March 2022. The review also expressed “confidence that the quality of the student academic experience meets relevant baseline regulatory requirements”.  

The review provides the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales (HEFCW) with an expert judgement about the readiness of the provider to enter, or continue to operate within, the higher education sector. 

The review team did not identify any specified improvements or areas for development.  

Head of School at the Centre, Dr Adrian Watson said: “CAT Masters degrees cover a wide range of issues relating to sustainability, and our practical, immersive approach to learning has now helped over 2,000 postgraduate students to gain skills, knowledge and networks to make a real difference in the world.  

 “Achieving the highest possible judgement from the body that oversees quality and standards for higher education in the UK is testament to the calibre and dedication of CAT’s teaching and support staff, showing that our unique approach to education meets rigorous academic standards whilst offering a highly inspirational and empowering student experience.” 

Ends 

Notes to Editor: 

  1. For more information, please contact Kevin McStravock, QAA’s PR, Press and Communications Officer on k.mcstravock@qaa.ac.uk. 

  1. The Centre for Alternative Technology review outcome is available at https://www.qaa.ac.uk/reviewing-higher-education/quality-assurance-reports/Centre-for-Alternative-Technology. It is a Gateway Quality Review: Wales (GQRW). GQRW is designed to ensure that the student interest is protected, provide expert advice to ensure that the reputation of the UK higher education system is protected and to identify areas for development and/or specified improvements that will help a provider to meet the baseline regulatory requirements. More information is available at https://www.qaa.ac.uk/reviewing-higher-education/types-of-review/gateway-quality-review-wales. 

  1. There are three categories of judgement for each aspect of GQRW: ‘confidence’, ‘limited confidence’ and ’no confidence’. CAT has obtained the highest judgement available through the GQRW process in both aspects of the review. 

  1. The expert team that reviewed the Centre for Alternative Technology comprised Professor Paul Brunt, Ms Diane Rainsbury and Dr Harry Williams (student reviewer).  

  1. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the review was conducted online and included meetings with the senior management team, teaching and support staff, and students.     The scope of the evidence considered, and the nature of the judgements and operational milestones have remained the same but with some adjustments due to the online format. During the pandemic QAA has continued to review its arrangements for delivering online reviews in order to identify and mitigate any risks. 

  1. QAA (The Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education) is a charity and the UK’s independent body entrusted with monitoring and advising on standards and quality in UK higher education. We work with and on behalf of our members across all four nations of the UK and build international partnerships to enhance and promote the reputation of UK higher education worldwide. More information on QAA in Wales is available at https://www.qaa.ac.uk/about-us/where-we-work/our-work-in-wales. 

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Datganiad i'r wasg gan QAA 

I'w ryddhau ar unwaith 

Dyfarniad cadarnhaol i’r Ganolfan Dechnoleg Amgen yn dilyn adolygiad QAA 

Mae adolygiad o’r Ganolfan Dechnoleg Amgen (CAT) gan yr Asiantaeth Sicrhau Ansawdd ar gyfer Addysg Uwch (QAA), corff ansawdd annibynnol y DU ar gyfer addysg uwch, wedi mynegi hyder bod “safonau academaidd yn ddibynadwy, eu bod yn bodloni gofynion y DU, ac yn rhesymol gymaradwy” - y dyfarniad uchaf sydd ar gael drwy'r broses adolygu. 

Mae’r Ganolfan Dechnoleg Amgen (y Ganolfan) yn elusen amgylcheddol sy’n adnabyddus yn rhyngwladol, yn ganolfan ecolegol sy’n arwain y byd ac yn ddarparydd addysg amgylcheddol ôl-raddedig blaenllaw. Eu cenhadaeth yw ysbrydoli, hysbysu a galluogi’r ddynoliaeth i ymateb i'r argyfwng hinsawdd a bioamrywiaeth. Wedi’i sefydlu ym 1973, mae’r Ganolfan wedi’i lleoli ger Machynlleth yng nghanolbarth Cymru, ac mae wedi bod yn darparu addysg ym maes cynaliadwyedd ers dros 40 mlynedd  

Cynhaliwyd yr adolygiad gan dîm o dri adolygydd annibynnol, a benodwyd gan QAA, ac fe’i cynhaliwyd ar-lein rhwng 21ain a’r 22ain Mawrth 2022. Mynegodd yr adolygiad hefyd “hyder bod ansawdd profiad academaidd myfyrwyr yn bodloni gofynion rheoleiddiol sylfaenol perthnasol”.  

Mae'r adolygiad yn darparu Cyngor Cyllido Addysg Uwch Cymru (CCAUC) â barn arbenigol ynghylch parodrwydd y darparydd i ymuno â'r sector addysg uwch, neu barhau i weithredu ynddo. 

Ni nododd y tîm adolygu unrhyw welliannau penodol neu feysydd i'w datblygu.  

Meddai Pennaeth Ysgol y Ganolfan, Dr Adrian Watson: “Mae graddau Meistr CAT yn ymdrin ag ystod eang o faterion yn ymwneud â chynaladwyedd, ac mae ein hymagwedd ymarferol, ar ffurf trochi, at ddysgu bellach wedi helpu dros 2,000 o fyfyrwyr ôl-raddedig i ennill sgiliau a gwybodaeth, yn ogystal â ffurfio rhwydweithiau i wneud gwahaniaeth gwirioneddol yn y byd.  

 “Mae sicrhau’r dyfarniad uchaf posibl gan y corff sy’n goruchwylio ansawdd a safonau ar gyfer addysg uwch yn y DU yn dyst i sgiliau ac ymroddiad staff addysgu a chymorth CAT, gan ddangos bod ein hymagwedd unigryw at addysg yn bodloni safonau academaidd llym, tra’n cynnig profiad hynod ysbrydoledig a grymusol i fyfyrwyr.” 

Gorffen 

Nodiadau i'r Golygydd: 

  1. Am ragor o wybodaeth, cysylltwch â Kevin McStravock, Swyddog y Wasg, Cysylltiadau Cyhoeddus a Chyfathrebu QAA ar k.mcstravock@qaa.ac.uk. 

  1. Mae canlyniad yr adolygiad o’r Ganolfan Dechnoleg Amgen ar gael yn https://www.qaa.ac.uk/reviewing-higher-education/quality-assurance-reports/Centre-for-Alternative-Technology. Adolygiad Ansawdd Porth Cymru (GQRW) yw hwn Mae GQRW wedi’i gynllunio i sicrhau bod buddiannau myfyrwyr yn cael eu diogelu, ynghyd â darparu cyngor arbenigol i sicrhau bod enw da system addysg uwch y DU yn cael ei ddiogelu; hefyd i nodi meysydd i’w datblygu a/neu welliannau penodol a fydd yn helpu darparydd i fodloni’r gofynion rheoleiddiol sylfaenol. Mae mwy o wybodaeth ar gael yn https://www.qaa.ac.uk/reviewing-higher-education/types-of-review/gateway-quality-review-wales . 

  1. Mae tri chategori dyfarniad ar gyfer pob agwedd ar GQRW: 'hyder', 'rhywfaint o hyder' a 'dim hyder'. Mae CAT wedi sicrhau’r dyfarniad uchaf sydd ar gael drwy broses Adolygiad Ansawdd Porth Cymru (GQRW). 

  1. Roedd y tîm arbenigol a adolygodd y Ganolfan Dechnoleg Amgen yn cynnwys yr Athro Paul Brunt, Ms Diane Rainsbury a Dr Harry Williams (myfyriwr adolygydd).  

  1. O ganlyniad i’r pandemig COVID-19, cynhaliwyd yr adolygiad ar-lein ac roedd yn cynnwys cyfarfodydd gyda’r uwch dîm rheoli, staff addysgu a chymorth, a myfyrwyr.     Mae cwmpas y dystiolaeth a ystyriwyd, ynghyd â natur y dyfarniadau a cherrig milltir gweithredol wedi aros yr un fath, ond gyda rhai addasiadau oherwydd y fformat ar-lein. Yn ystod y pandemig, mae QAA wedi parhau i adolygu eu trefniadau ar gyfer cynnal adolygiadau ar-lein er mwyn nodi a lliniaru unrhyw risgiau. 

  1. Mae QAA (Yr Asiantaeth Sicrhau Ansawdd ar gyfer Addysg Uwch) yn elusen a chorff annibynnol y DU yr ymddiriedir ynddo i fonitro a chynghori ar safonau ac ansawdd mewn addysg uwch yn y DU. Rydym ni’n gweithio gydag, ac ar ran, ein haelodau ar draws pedair gwlad y DU, ac yn adeiladu partneriaethau rhyngwladol i wella a hyrwyddo enw da addysg uwch y DU ledled y byd. Mae mwy o wybodaeth am QAA yng Nghymru ar gael yn https://www.qaa.ac.uk/about-us/where-we-work/our-work-in-wales