Quality Enhancement and Standards Review (QESR)

The report follows a QAA institutional review carried out by a team of three independent reviewers on December 6. The review team met with the Student President, Vice-Presidents and a number of students from across the university; and staff members drawn from both academic and professional services and senior management and academic staff in lead roles. Key areas of exploration included our strategic approach to enhancement, digital developments in learning and teaching, use of data and evidence, quality processes, AI, student experience, engagement and partnership.

Professor Steve Decent, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of Glasgow Caledonian University, said: "It is fantastic that an external peer review from the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education has, again, led to an expression of confidence in Glasgow Caledonian University. I am delighted that the reviewers recognised our clear and systematic approach to monitoring, reviewing and enhancing our higher education provision.

"We have a strong culture of working in partnership with our students and staff. This is exemplified by our approach to the challenges and opportunities afforded by artificial intelligence, which is commended as good practice in the QAA report. We are also deeply committed to the wellbeing and success of all our students and staff, which is demonstrated by the wide range of support, initiatives and resources made available; it is great to see this commended by the reviewers too."

The full QESR Report is available on the QAA website.

In summary, the QESR Report identified the following areas of good practice:

• The University's proactive response to the challenge presented by generative Artificial Intelligence, including close engagement and partnership-working with both students and staff, a positive communications strategy and appropriate development and training provision, as well as the carefully planned ways in which the University's work around the challenges of Generative AI is being moved into the classroom to enhance student understanding and knowledge.
• The University's strong commitment to student wellbeing, with a number of initiatives developed within a structured Mental Health and Wellbeing Framework such as the implementation of the Mental Health Charter, and partnership working with external organisations and the GCU Students' Association to improve support for mental health and create a more consistent, open and holistic approach to wellbeing.

The Report recommended one area for action, that the University should address its support for and expectations of postgraduate research students to ensure common levels of provision and consistency of experience within all schools and subjects.

The University has developed an action plan to respond to the recommendation. This will be updated in Autumn 2024.