A NEW “quality framework” for FE colleges is to be launched in Edinburgh on September 19. The inspectorate and the FE funding council, who both have charge of quality assurance in the colleges, will expect them to use the new blueprint to evaluate their own performance from the beginning of the academic year 2001-02.
The council has responsibility for quality assessment as well as collegefunding, governance and strategy. The inspectorate will concentrate on students’ experiences, college leadership and quality improvements.
Eight colleges will undergo an HMI inspection this academic year, aimed at streamlining the process to reduce audit burdens. Fife and Dundee colleges will pilot a joint review of their work by HMI and the Scottish Quality Management System.
