Academic Quality

Academic Quality is led by the Academic Quality Manager, Cheryl Jackson.  

Mission Statement

As the RVC becomes larger and more complex, we must adapt and develop in order to thrive and achieve our mission of being recognised as one of the world's leading veterinary schools. We will provide high quality support to assure the quality of the RVC's courses efficiently and economically, so that we meet the Office for Students (OfS) ongoing conditions of registration and maintain our standing with professional bodies such as the RCVS, EAEVE, AVMA, SAVC, AVBC and RSoB.

The role of the Academic Quality team is to assure, and facilitate enhancement of, the quality of the RVC's taught courses . Our quality processes also ensure that the RVC's taught provision meets the appropriate academic standards and that these standards are maintained. We use a variety of methods to assure and enhance quality and set and maintain standards:

We map our Academic Quality Assurance and Enhancement Procedures against the OfS conditions of registration and the QAA Quality Code for Higher Education.

Strategy: we prepare and periodically update the RVC's strategy for the Enhancement and Assurance of the Quality of Learning, Teaching and Assessment (this Strategy is now out of date and this is under review).

Student evaluation surveys: we systematically collect student, graduate and employer views on the education the RVC provides. The data is used to support the enhancement of the quality of education provision.

External examiners: we manage the external examiner system which ensures assessment is effective and appropriate and assures the standard of the RVC's degrees.

Course review: we organise periodic reviews of all taught courses and report on the findings.

Teaching Quality Committee: we report on the above activities to Teaching Quality Committee (or sub-groups thereof), which has responsibility for the quality assurance and enhancement of taught courses and which reports to the Academic Board.

Advice/training: we give advice on all aspects of College Academic Quality practices to members of staff, particularly new curriculum managers, and SU Course Representatives.

Key Responsibilities

Ms Cheryl Jackson

Academic Quality Manager

cjackson@rvc.ac.uk 
01707 666 046
Extension 6046
Eclipse Building
Hawskhead Campus

Manages the RVC's academic quality assurance and enhancement procedures related to teaching and learning, in particular:

  • developing and implementing quality assurance strategy;
  • advising staff on quality assurance procedures and policies;
  • coordinating the RVC's responses to the Quality Assurance Agency;
  • revising and updating the academic quality assurance and enhancement procedures;
  • managing the preparation for visits by the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) and the Office for Students (OfS)
  • assist with the preparation for visits by Professional, Statutory and Regulatory bodies such as the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS), American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), etc;
  • managing the Validation process for approval of new courses;
  • managing the periodic review of taught courses;
  • overseeing the External Examiner system;
  • ensuring that courses offered in collaboration with other institutions are managed in accordance with the RVC's quality assurance procedures;.

Maxine Bailey 

Senior Academic Quality Officer 'Student Engagement'

mbailey@rvc.ac.uk 
01707 666 870
Eclipse Building
Hawskhead Campus

Responsible for:

  • RVC Student Surveys (including termly survey; module/strand surveys; rotation surveys; staff teaching surveys; satisfaction surveys; graduate surveys)
  • RVC SU Course Representatives     
  • ‘You said...We did...’ project ·       
  • Secretary for Learning,Teaching and Assessment Committee
  • Supporting Academic Committees, including changes to membership
  • Updates to the Academic Quality Assurance and Enhancement procedural chapter for 'Student Engagement'

Ana Filipovic

Ms Ana Filipovic

Senior Academic Quality Officer ‘Standards’

afilipovic@rvc.ac.uk 
01707 666 938
Extension 6938
Hawkshead Campus

  • Responsible for appointment and training of RVC's External Examiners 
  • Secretary to Teaching Quality Committee and subgroups
  • Main point of contact relating to the RVC's participation in the national student surveys e.g. National Student Survey, Postgraduate Research Experience Survey
  • Organises events such as Course Validations, Periodic Reviews, and supports review visits by professional bodies e.g. OfS, QAA, RCVS, AVMA; etc.
  • Looks after Academic Quality Assurance and Enhancement procedural chapter for External Examiner

Mr Richard Sherry

Head of Collaborative Programmes

rsherry@rvc.ac.uk 
01707 666 602
Extension 6602
Hawkshead Campus

Quality manages and provides expert advice and guidance on the RVC’s taught collaborative programmes and associated contractual arrangements, in order that the interests of the RVC and its students are protected and the expansion of the RVC’s collaborative programmes portfolio is supported. Contributor to committees considering: course development, approval and management; and amendments to related processes and procedures. 

Duties/tasks include:

  • Updating the Academic Quality Assurance and Enhancement procedural chapters for 'Collaborative Provision' and, with the Academic Quality Manager, 'Design and Approval of Courses'.
  • Main administrative point of contact, liaison and communication within the RVC regarding taught collaborative provision polices and associated quality assurance procedures;
  • Negotiation, review and maintenance of commercial and teaching contracts and associated agreements for all new and existing taught academic programmes delivered in collaboration (whether in full or in part) with other providers;
  • Completion of due diligence on existing and prospective collaborative partners;
  • Advice to collaborative partners regarding the annual monitoring procedure and partner input to Annual Monitoring reports;
  • Monitoring the performance of collaborative partners and the RVC against collaborative agreements and the outcomes of the annual monitoring exercise;
  • Oversight of the RVC’s Register of Collaborative Provision;
  • Ensuring RVC compliance with UKVI requirements for registration of teaching partnerships and non-RVC teaching sites.
  • Periodic course reviews, course validations and visits from OfS, QAA, RCVS, AVMA and other external bodies;

Mrs Victoria Nicholls

Academic Quality Administrator 'Student Engagement'

vnicholls@rvc.ac.uk 

Eclipse Building
Hawkshead Campus

Responsible for:

  • RVC Student Surveys administration (including module surveys; satisfaction surveys; graduate surveys)
  • Administration and tracking of Module Reviews.
  • Updating ‘You Said...We did...’ notices.
  • Processing Curriculum Manager nominations, maintaining and publishing updated lists on the website (including Course/Deputy Course Director, Module/Strand Leaders)
  • Secretary for Student Engagement and Quality Enhancement Working Group
  • Academic Committees, including changes to membership lists and meeting dates
  • Co-ordination of Annual Quality Improvement Reports and administration of Annual Quality Improvement Group meetings.
  • Administration of Programme Specification updates.
  • Maintaining and updating Academic Quality website pages.

Mrs Abi Connell

Academic Quality Administrator 'Standards'

aconnell@rvc.ac.uk

01707 669 786  

Ext 9786

Eclipse Building
Hawkshead Campus

Responsible for:

  • RVC Student Surveys administration (including module/strand surveys; rotation surveys; staff teaching surveys; satisfaction surveys; graduate surveys).
  • Administration and tracking of Module/Strand and Rotation Reviews.
  • Updating ‘You Said...We did...’ notices.
  • Processing external examiners expense and fee claims.
  • Maintaining and publishing updated examiners lists on the website and processing of internal examiners appointments.
  • Secretary for Undergraduate Medicine Course Management Committee and College Services Forum.
  • Co-ordination of Annual Quality Improvement Reports and administration of Annual Quality Improvement Group meetings.
  • Administration of assessment and award regulation updates.
  • Maintaining and updating Academic Quality website pages.

Miss Eileen Kelly

Accreditation Administrator

eikelly@rvc.ac.uk

Eclipse Building

Hawkshead Campus

Responsible for:

  • provide administrative and operational support in preparation for professional body reaccreditation visits.
  • serves as secretary to meetings in preparation for reaccreditation visits.
  • collate evidence to provide to the professional reaccreditation bodies.
  • serve as a main point of contact with respect to the organisation and logistical arrangements for each visit.  

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