Episode 26: Quality counts, the work of the QAA at home and abroad and the value of HE

The latest edition of University Registrars Talking About Stuff offers the opportunity to hear from Douglas Blackstock, Chief Executive of the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education. 

We learn all about the work of the QAA and how it has shrunk significantly in size in recent years but remains an organisation with global reach and one which is still complex in terms of its operations dealing with hundreds of institutions in the UK and many similar agencies overseas too.

QAA operates as a UK-wide organisation and, while there may be policy divergence, the quality code remains UK wide and the agency sustains important relationships with funding bodies in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The international perspective is significant and valuable as there is real respect for the UK higher education brand overseas but also a desire to learn from the British experience and overseas agencies will look at QAA reports for the authoritative view of the quality of UK provision.

We also discuss the QAA's key relationships and work with PSRBs which is really important to the sector, particularly during the pandemic and look at how it relates to other part of of the regulatory landscape too.

Covid has had a significant impact on the work of the Agency - although many staff were already working remotely because they tend to spend a lot of time on the road the organisation had to adapt quickly to the new challenges, to help people with working from home.  There are undoubtedly opportunities for different working approaches in future, especially given the previous requirements for significant international travel for staff, leading to savings in time and money. Douglas applauds the efforts of all staff and students in universities in supporting the response to the pandemic noting in particular the extent of student volunteering and the work of Students' Unions.

Having bumped into each other in a number of roles over the years Douglas reminds me that I advised him many years ago not to go and work for the QAA as it wouldn't be around for long. I could not have been more mistaken and we hear about his time at the agency following a journey which took him from a late starting student in Glasgow to SU officer and sabbatical then working in students' unions before joining the QAA. He ended up staying and developing his career there and then found himself as acting Chief Executive before being confirmed in the position and sees all of this as fundamentally confirming the value of higher education - he would not have got to where he is now without it.

With retirement now in sight for Douglas this is a really great run through the work of QAA and his part in it.