Analytic Quality Glossary
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Citation reference: Harvey, L., 2004–12, Analytic Quality Glossary, Quality Research International, http://www.qualityresearchinternational.com/glossary/
This is a dynamic glossary and the author would welcome any e-mail suggestions for amendments or additions.
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Subject assessment refers to quality assurance process that focuses on a subject or disciple and examines it in detail.
explanatory
context
Subject assessment, when undertaken by an external body, is usually a process in which all providers in a country of a programmes in the subject area or disciple are evaluated. Assessment usually implies that there is some sort of grading or ranking of the subject areas evaluated.
analytical
review
Brennan et al. (undated) described the quality assurance process, which involved peer review of subject areas, introduced in the UK in the wake of the ending of the polytechnic in 1992:
Quality assessment focused on subjects and aimed to link quality of provision to funding, to improve quality, and to provide public information on quality to users (students and employers). Quality assessment reports were published and contained a graded summative result, initially on a three point scale of excellent, satisfactory and unsatisfactory and subsequently on a graded profile of six Òaspects of provisionÓ. The assessment process required a self-assessment produced within the institution and a three-day assessment visit by a team of ÒpeersÓ from other higher education institutions selected by the funding council. Much of the assessment visit was spent in observing classroom teaching plus discussions with staff and students and reviewing course documentation
related terms
sources
Brennan, J., Holloway, J. and Shah, T., undated, Open University, The United Kingdom. OECD/IMHE, available at http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/49/23/1871706.pdf, accessed 25 January 2012.