MyGlasgow News

‌The University is currently undergoing Enhancement-led Institutional Review (ELIR).

ELIR assesses our institutional approach to quality assurance and enhancement of the student learning experience. It covers all credit-bearing academic provision, including research degrees and collaborative provision and is undertaken on a five-year cycle. It is managed by the Quality Assurance Agency (Scotland) (QAA) on behalf of the Scottish Funding Council (SFC).

ELIR informs the ongoing dialogue with the SFC about our performance in relation to the funding we receive from the SFC. Importantly, it also offers a useful opportunity for us to reflect on the progress the University has made over the review period (the last ELIR was in 2014) and to consider any further enhancements that need to be made.

There are a number of steps in the review process. The first step is for the University to submit a Reflective Analysis (a self-evaluation document) and to propose "contextual themes" which will focus and add value to the review process. The Reflective Analysis has already been developed with input from staff and students and was submitted to the QAA in late November 2018 - it can be downloaded here: University of Glasgow RA ELIR (pdf).

The University then undergoes a planning visit where a team of reviewers visit the University to decide on the focus of the main review. The planning visit took place on the 23 January, 2019, and we expect to hear the conclusions of the review team shortly about the focus of the main review visit. The main visit will take place over five days from 18-22 March, 2019.

What are the next steps and how will this affect me?

Over the course of the main review visit in March, the ELIR team will be meeting with a range of staff and students. Once the University is notified of the focus of the main visit we will be reaching out to the University community to identify relevant individuals to take part in the review. We may also be seeking information in relation to the areas identified as a focus for the review visit.

Please keep an eye out for these further communications. We will work through the Colleges, Schools, Research Institutes and Graduate Schools and will provide occasional progress updates through MyGlasgow. The Students’ Representative Council (SRC) is closely involved in the review and we will be working with them to identify students to participate.‌

Professor Frank Coton, Vice Principal for Academic and Educational Innovation, said: “ELIR is an important process for our institution. Accordingly, in developing our Reflective Analysis we have worked extremely hard to present an open and balanced view of our ambitions, priorities and challenges as a University. As we engage in the next stage of the process and plan for the main review visit in March, it will be important to ensure we are well placed to engage constructively with the review team. This means we will need to reach out to our colleagues and our students for their insights and perspectives. I would encourage anybody with a stake in the future of the University to read the Reflective Analysis document and, should you be approached, to support the review process in any way you can.”

Any questions relating to ELIR can be directed to Ryan Reed (ryan.reed@glasgow.ac.uk), who is coordinating the ELIR process for the University.

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First published: 1 February 2019