Outcome of Quality Enhancement and Standards Review (QESR) of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland Conducted in December 2022

A review by the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) has expressed confidence associated with a Quality Enhancement and Standards Review (QESR) review in the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland’s progress in continuing to monitor, review and enhance its higher education provision to enable effective arrangements to be in place for managing academic standards and the quality of the student experience.  

The review was carried out by a team of three independent reviewers who were appointed by QAA. It took place on 9 December 2022.   

The team identified the following good practice:  

  • Student partnership: The range of opportunities available for students to participate as partners in decision-making, for example, through the Student Experience Forum, annual staff-student Programme Committees and student input to annual monitoring action plans.  

Dr Lois Fitch, Deputy Principal of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, and institutional lead for Quality Assurance said: 

“On behalf our community of staff and students we’re delighted to receive the formal confidence of QAA Scotland following their recent Quality Enhancement and Standards Review (QESR). We’re particularly pleased that the review team noted the strength of RCS’s approach to student engagement, our focus on the student experience, as well as the clarity with which we articulate and share our ambitions for the future with our students and staff.

‘We are grateful to the QESR review team for the considerate attention they gave to understanding the learning and teaching context of a performing arts education environment and for their feedback which was both positive and constructive.”

QAA has also made the following recommendations:

  • Assessment: RCS should use this cycle of Curriculum Review to ensure greater consistency in the design and delivery of assessment, building upon the progress made in some areas. 
  • Curriculum Review process: Curriculum Review should be included in the Quality Assurance Handbook, describing what this process is, ensuring information is reflective of the current approach, and clearly distinguishes Curriculum Review from other quality assurance and enhancement processes.   

Those interested can read the full QESR outcome report.

The Conservatoire has developed an action plan in response to the recommendations and suggestions detailed within the QESR report. Users can also read this action plan. 

Further details regarding QESR can be found on the QAA (Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education) website.