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‘Robust arrangements’ for quality at University of South Wales according to UK’s independent quality body

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Embargoed until 00.01 Wednesday 14 September

The University of South Wales (USW) has ‘robust arrangements in place for securing academic standards, managing academic quality, and for enhancing the student experience’, according to a review by the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA). The review commended the University for its achievements particularly in responding to the COVID pandemic, and in engaging with external guidance, expertise and networks to inform the management of academic standards. 

The review was undertaken by a team of three independent reviewers, who were appointed by QAA and took place online between 4 and 6 July 2022. Overall, the review panel concluded that the university meets the requirements of the European Standards and Guidelines (ESG) Part 1 on internal quality assurance, and that it meets the relevant baseline regulatory requirements of the Quality Assessment Framework for Wales. 

Its commendations include: 

  • The clear focus on strategic aims across the University, developed and implemented in partnership with students, that creates a cohesive approach to the enhancement of learning, teaching and assessment.   

  • The University’s considered, well informed and effectively communicated response to the pandemic, which has enabled it to reduce the impact on students and staff and to provide a positive foundation for active learning.  

  • The University’s extensive engagement with external guidance, expertise and networks which has positively informed their management of academic standards and enhancement of the student experience.  

  • The comprehensive availability and use of data that is embedded in quality processes, and enables timely and informed decisions that enhance the student experience.  

Professor Donna Whitehead, Deputy Vice-Chancellor at the University of South Wales, said: ‘This is a fantastic result and provides evidence of the quality of learning, teaching and support provided by USW and our partners to our learners.  

‘It is particularly pleasing to be commended for our response to the pandemic. Everyone adapted quickly and resourcefully to ensure that our students continued to receive high quality learning and support, and to reduce the impact on them as far as was possible, despite the challenging circumstances.’ 

QAA’s report makes no recommendations to the University. 

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 University of South Wales review outcome will be available at https://www.qaa.ac.uk/reviewing-higher-education/quality-assurance-reports/University-of-South-Wales from Wednesday 14 September. It is a Quality Enhancement Review (QER). QER provides quality assurance and supports quality enhancement, assuring governing bodies, students and the wider public that providers meet the requirements of the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales. QER assesses providers against agreed baseline regulatory requirements and the European Standards and Guidelines. More information is available at https://www.qaa.ac.uk/reviewing-higher-education/types-of-review/quality-enhancement-review.  

  1. For 2021-22, the scope of QERs focused on quality assurance in line with the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales (HEFCW)'s changes to external quality assurance requirements in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, QAA published an addendum to accompany the QER handbook which explains the adaptations to the method delivery. For 2021-22, providers have the opportunity to engage with QAA separately on quality enhancement. 

  1. There are three categories of judgement for QER: ‘meets these requirements’, ‘meets them with conditions’, or ‘does not meet requirements’. USW has obtained the highest judgement available through the QER process. 

  1. The University of South Wales was established following a merger of the University of Glamorgan and the University of Wales, Newport in 2013. The University has campuses in Pontypridd, Cardiff and Newport. In terms of student numbers, the University is the second largest university in Wales. The University is the head of a Group that includes the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama (RWCMD) and The College Merthyr Tydfil. They are both wholly owned subsidiary companies of the University.    

  1. The expert team that reviewed USW comprised Professor John Baldock, Dr Tim Burton and Dr Nina Di Cara (student reviewer). 

  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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Embargo tan 00.01 dydd Mercher 14 Medi 

Mae 'trefniadau cadarn' ar gyfer ansawdd ym Mhrifysgol De Cymru, yn ôl corff ansawdd annibynnol y DU 

Mae gan Brifysgol De Cymru ‘drefniadau cadarn ar waith ar gyfer sicrhau safonau academaidd, rheoli ansawdd academaidd, ac ar gyfer gwella profiad myfyrwyr’, yn ôl adolygiad gan yr Asiantaeth Sicrhau Ansawdd ar gyfer Addysg Uwch (QAA). Canmolodd yr adolygiad y Brifysgol am ei chyflawniadau yn enwedig wrth ymateb i’r pandemig COVID, ac wrth ymgysylltu ag arweiniad allanol, arbenigedd a rhwydweithiau i lywio rheolaeth safonau academaidd. 

Cynhaliwyd yr adolygiad gan dîm o dri adolygydd annibynnol, a benodwyd gan QAA, ac fe’i cynhaliwyd ar-lein rhwng y 4ydd a’r 6ed Gorffennaf 2022. Yn gyffredinol, daeth y tîm i’r casgliad fod y Brifysgol yn diwallu gofynion Rhan 1 y Safonau a Chanllawiau Ewropeaidd (ESG) o ran sicrhau ansawdd mewnol, a'i bod yn ateb gofynion rheoliadol sylfaenol perthnasol y Fframwaith Asesu Ansawdd ar gyfer Cymru. 

Mae’r ganmoliaeth gan yr adolygwyr yn cynnwys y canlynol: 

  • Ffocws clir ar nodau strategol ar draws y Brifysgol, a ddatblygwyd ac a weithredir mewn partneriaeth â myfyrwyr, sy'n creu dull cydlynol o wella dysgu, addysgu ac asesu.   

  • Ymateb pwyllog a gwybodus y Brifysgol i'r pandemig, a fynegwyd yn effeithiol, sydd wedi ei galluogi i leihau'r effaith ar fyfyrwyr a staff a darparu sylfaen gadarnhaol ar gyfer dysgu gweithredol.  

  • Ymgysylltiad helaeth y Brifysgol ag arweiniad allanol, arbenigedd a rhwydweithiau, sydd wedi llywio eu rheolaeth o safonau academaidd a gwella profiad myfyrwyr yn gadarnhaol.  

  • Argaeledd a defnydd cynhwysfawr o ddata sydd wedi’i wreiddio mewn prosesau ansawdd, gan alluogi penderfyniadau amserol a gwybodus sy’n gwella profiad myfyrwyr.  

Meddai’r Athro Donna Whitehead, Dirprwy Is-Ganghellor Prifysgol De Cymru: 'Mae hwn yn ganlyniad gwych ac yn darparu tystiolaeth o ansawdd y dysgu, yr addysgu a’r cymorth a ddarperir gan Brifysgol De Cymru a’n partneriaid i’n dysgwyr.  

“Mae’n arbennig o braf cael ein canmol am ein hymateb i’r pandemig. Addasodd pawb yn gyflym ac yn ddyfeisgar i sicrhau bod ein myfyrwyr yn parhau i dderbyn addysg a chymorth o ansawdd uchel, gan leihau'r effaith arnynt cyn belled ag y bo modd, er gwaethaf yr amgylchiadau heriol.' 

Nid yw adroddiad QAA yn gwneud unrhyw argymhellion i’r Brifysgol. 

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. Bydd canlyniad adolygiad Prifysgol De Cymru ar gael yn https://www.qaa.ac.uk/reviewing-higher-education/quality-assurance-reports/University-of-South-Wales  o ddydd Mercher 14eg Medi. Adolygiad Gwella Ansawdd (QER) yw hwn Mae QER yn darparu sicrwydd ansawdd ac yn cynorthwyo gwella ansawdd, gan roi sicrwydd i gyrff llywodraethu, myfyrwyr a'r cyhoedd yn ehangach bod darparwyr yn diwallu gofynion Cyngor Cyllido Addysg Uwch Cymru. Mae QER yn asesu darparwyr yn erbyn gofynion rheoliadol sylfaenol y cytunwyd arnynt, ynghyd â Safonau a Chanllawiau Ewropeaidd. Mae mwy o wybodaeth ar gael yn https://www.qaa.ac.uk/reviewing-higher-education/types-of-review/quality-enhancement-review.  

  1. Ar gyfer 2021-22, roedd cylch gorchwyl Adolygiadau Gwella Ansawdd (QER) yn canolbwyntio ar sicrhau ansawdd yn unol â newidiadau Cyngor Cyllido Addysg Uwch Cymru (CCAUC) o ran gofynion sicrhau ansawdd allanol mewn ymateb i bandemig COVID-19. O ganlyniad i hyn, cyhoeddodd QAA atodiad i gyd-fynd â'r llawlyfr QER sy'n esbonio'r addasiadau i'r dull cyflwyno. Ar gyfer 2021-22, mae gan ddarparwyr gyfle i ymgysylltu â QAA ar wahân ynghylch gwella ansawdd. 

  1. Mae tri chategori dyfarniad ar gyfer QER: 'yn bodloni'r gofynion hyn', 'yn eu bodloni gydag amodau', neu 'ddim yn bodloni'r gofynion'. Mae PDC wedi ennill y dyfarniad uchaf sydd ar gael drwy’r broses Adolygiad Gwella Ansawdd. 

  1. Sefydlwyd Prifysgol De Cymru yn dilyn uno Prifysgol Morgannwg a Phrifysgol Cymru, Casnewydd yn 2013. Mae gan y Brifysgol gampysau ym Mhontypridd, Caerdydd a Chasnewydd. O ran niferoedd myfyrwyr, Prifysgol De Cymru yw'r ail fwyaf yng Nghymru. Mae'r Brifysgol yn arwain Grŵp sy'n cynnwys Coleg Cerdd a Drama Cymru (CCDC) a Choleg Merthyr Tudful. Mae'r ddau yn is-gwmnïau sy'n eiddo llwyr i'r Brifysgol.    

  1. Roedd y tîm arbenigol a adolygodd PDC yn cynnwys yr Athro John Baldock, Dr Tim Burton a Dr Nina Di Cara (myfyriwr adolygydd). 

  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