The team

Jackie Hughes and Donna Fisher work within the Secretariat as part of the Academic Quality and Standards group, ASQ, (University House, C-Floor) and act as an interface between the central University administration and faculty-level activities.

Simon Cresswell works within and supports FST and SH&M.

Andrew Okey works within and supports FASS.

Kerry Fenton works within and supports LUMS.

The contact details for TQSO core staff can be found on the staff list

About TQS

TQS information is primarily aimed at staff and can be found in the Quality Processes section from the link below:

The Quality Processes section contains the Manual of Academic Regulations & Procedures (MARP) and information on Annual & Periodic Monitoring and Review, the Course Design and Approvals Process, External Examiners' Role, Committees and more...

Teaching Quality Support helps university staff and external reviewers & examiners in the task of assuring and enhancing the quality of the university's educational provision. Our aim is that the team will provide a friendly and approachable service and work closely with cognate administrative units, for example with our colleagues in the Secretariat, the Faculty Offices, CELT and the Student Registry.

What we do 

The office has a central role in relation to the following:

1. internal annual and periodic quality reviews
2. external reviews
3. course design, approvals and modifications
4. the external examiner system
5. dissemination and interpretation of general information in relation to national and international contexts, for example initiatives from the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education
6. a resource of committee minutes and other information associated with supporting and enhancing learning teaching and assessment at the university.

Teaching Quality Support - Service Statement

At Lancaster it is recognised that whilst expert knowledge about, and primary responsibility for, academic quality and standards resides with academic staff in departments, it is the University that has ultimate responsibility for the quality and standards of the awards and educational programmes delivered in its name. In order to assure standards and quality, and to ensure consistency and equity of treatment of students, there needs to be an overarching regulatory framework for the management of quality of learning, teaching and assessment which is known and understood across all areas of the institution. Teaching Quality Support coordinates the implementation of such a framework.

Staff across the Institution can thus expect that TQS will:

1. Support the strategic objectives of the University in the area of quality assurance and enhancement of learning, teaching and assessment
2. Help to ensure that the University meets its obligations in relation to external teaching quality requirements
3. Assist in initiating, developing and implementing new and revised policies and procedures in relation to teaching quality (e.g. reviews of Annual Programme Review and Periodic Quality Review processes)
4. Contribute, through liaison with partners in academic and non-academic departments, to the development of guidance in relation to quality processes in learning, teaching and assessment (e.g. course approval, course design, student feedback)
5. Coordinate the operation of internal quality processes, including Annual Programme Reviews, Periodic Quality Reviews, Thematic Reviews and involvement of External Examiners in programme assessment
6. Provide informed advice to staff across departments, faculties and the Institute on matters related to teaching quality
7. Service faculty teaching committees, the Learning, Teaching and Assessment Committee and associated working groups
8. Support departments, faculties and the University in external review and accreditation events
9. Have regular liaison with a range of relevant external bodies in the area of quality assurance and enhancement
10. Be effectively managed to deliver its services within the resources available
11. Be accountable through regular reporting to the Secretariat and the Faculties, thematic committees and, in particular, the Learning, Teaching and Assessment Committee