Good Practice Principles for Chairs of Validation and Major Review Events

Your detailed preparation is essential to your role as Chair. You are expected to review critically the submission documentation and collate panel comments so that you have a clear agenda and awareness of emerging issues. You should have a good understanding of academic quality processes and in particular UPR AS17.

You should have a good working knowledge of the University’s Strategic Plan and education operational objectives. This will enable you to promote these and ensure that there is a clear alignment between the programme and the strategic direction of the University.

You should establish and maintain a good working relationship with the Clerk to the event and seek support and guidance from the relevant Associate Director of Academic Quality, if required. Remember that your role as Chair extends from before, and beyond, the event.

As Chair of the event you will need to be articulate and authoritative, and possess effective listening skills. You should be independent, impartial and act with diplomacy when required. You should be able to summarise and reflect the collective views of panel members.

You should ensure panel members know the panel’s responsibilities and their own remit, signposting and guiding as necessary. You should remind the panel of their responsibilities at the outset and refer to these during the event if required, to ensure that the panel fulfils, but does not go beyond, its role and responsibilities.

The environment should facilitate the sharing of current practice and ideas for further development. You should encourage constructive dialogue and allay anxieties wherever possible.

You should agree the schedule of meetings in advance and ensure that sufficient time is allowed. Remember that prior arrangements will have been made with participants at these times.

You should provide opportunities to explore examples of excellence in learning and teaching practice and promote the dissemination of good practice. This will enable the panel to contribute positively to the quality enhancement agenda and student learning experience. You should identify areas of outstanding practice worthy of commendation.

There should be a fair and equal contribution from all panel members and respect for all involved. You may need to prevent dominance and be aware of ‘hidden agendas’. When issues emerge, gain a sense of the importance and check your interpretation with other panel members. For example, where Professional and Statutory Regulatory Bodies are involved, approval may be dependent upon a standard being met. All panel members should contribute towards the collective academic judgement and have an equal voice in the recommendations, which are made to the Academic Board. However where differences of opinion do arise, you will have the discretion and authority as Chair of the panel.

Reflect on and learn from your experiences as a Chair. Think about what went well and whether you would manage an event differently in the future. You may find it helpful to seek informal feedback from the relevant Associate Director of Academic Quality. After the event, you will also be expected to comment on the draft report and complete an online evaluation. Where applicable, you will also be asked to attend a conditions meeting to ensure that any conditions of approval have been met.