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Academic Audit

Supporting the enhancement strategy e.g. ELIR, FELT (Forum for Enhancing Learning and Teaching).

Supporting and implementing the University's Annual Review.

The Quality Assurance Handbook provides an overview of University policies and information related to learning and teaching.

Enhancement-Led Institutional Review (ELIR)

A team of four Reviewers, appointed by the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA), visited St Andrews on 15-16 February and again during the week beginning 20 March, to review the University's approach to the quality assurance and enhancement of its learning and teaching. They have since written a report for the Agency which is available on the QAA website.

The Reviewers were:

Professor Graham Chesters, University of Hull

Mr Tim Cobbett, University of Edinburgh

Professor Monica Shaw, University of Northumbria

Dr Andrew Walker, Scottish Agricultural College

Mr Cobbett was the student member of the team. All four were trained in the ELIR method by QAA. They were supported by:

Ms Joanna Gamblin, University of Stirling (Review Secretary)

Ms Ailsa Crum, QAA Scotland

The team did not visit different parts of the University. Rather, they were based in the Gateway Building, where they spent most of their time interviewing small groups of staff and students.

As part of the review process the Reviewers were sent copies of:

The University's Reflective Analysis Reflective Analysis (PDF, 5,795 KB). This is a 60 page account written in accordance with guidelines provided by the QAA. It describes and evaluates the University's approach to learning and teaching, focussing on quality assurance, the student experience, and the University's quality enhancement strategy. A supplement Supplement (PDF, 5,350 KB) containing 3 Case Studies which illustrate aspects of our teaching and how innovation is encouraged and 18 School Summaries.

The Reflective Analysis in particular is supported by an extensive body of documentation accessible from hyperlinks within.

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Supplement (PDF, 5,350 KB)

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Fri, 11 JanWinter Reflectorium ...

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2007-2008

Semester 1: 1 Oct 2007 - 25 Jan 2008

Semester 2: 11 Feb 2008 - 30 May 2008

University of St Andrews, College Gate, St Andrews, Fife KY16 9AJ +44 (1334) 476161 © 2007

How others see us

The University of St Andrews continues to maintain an enviable reputation for success in teaching, research and employment. St Andrews was placed sixth in the Sunday Times UK University Guide table 2007 and again tops the Guide's league table of Scottish universities and runner up for the Sunday Times UK University of the Year award. The newspaper said: 'St Andrews has equalled its highest-ever ranking this year with a string of improvements in performance during the past year. Our Scottish University of the Year in 2006 and a winner of the UK University of the Year title back in 2002, this is the nearest a former winner of the UK title has come to repeating the trick.'

In the Times Good University Guide 2007 the University was named Scottish university of the year and attributed the award to the 'University's consistently outstanding teaching and research' combined with its success in the National Student Survey which measured student satisfaction with teaching and resources at their university. St Andrews students rated themselves as the top mainstream university in the UK (second only to the Open University).

In May 2007 St Andrews was named fourth best university in the UK and the 'big success story' of this year's Guardian University Guide. Its environmental credentials were also recognised in June 2007 when it was rated one of the greenest universities in the UK in the Times Higher Education Supplement 'green league' in joint top place in Scotland and joint eighth place in the UK. St Andrews was commended for its carbon emissions, recycling rates and energy consumed from renewable resources.

Teaching Quality

St Andrews has the highest accumulating Teaching Quality Assessment average rating in Scotland. (Further details on Facts and Figures page.)

Research Assessment Exercise

The latest Research Assessment Exercise (in 2001) saw St Andrews win the most consistently high set of ratings of any Scottish University. (Further details on Facts and Figures page.)

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Research at the University of St Andrews

The University of St Andrews is Scotland's top rated research institution and one of the leading research-intensive universities in the world.

Over many centuries St Andrews has attracted outstanding scholars from around the world who have continually enhanced the reputation of this academic gem by conducting ground breaking research across all disciplines within the Faculties of Arts, Divinity, Medicine and Science.

In the most recent UK Research Assessment Exercise (RAE), the University of St Andrews was placed top in Scotland and in the top 10 in the UK for research, with internationally leading research recognised in all academic disciplines.

Research varies from single scholar endeavours to large research groups within the 18 Academic Schools. Over 40 Research Centres and Institutes bring researchers together to focus on specific topics with an emphasis on interdisciplinary research.

In 2006-07 the total value of research grants and contracts awarded to the University was over ?37 million.

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University Government

The constitution of the University is laid down in a series of Acts of Parliament enacted between 1858 and 1966. Under these the University Court is the supreme governing body having responsibilities for the finances, appointment of staff and general managerial functions. Its twenty-five members come from within the University, the local community and beyond. The Court is chaired by the Rector, elected by the matriculated students of the University.

The Senatus Academicus is the supreme academic body under the presidency of the Principal. It consists of all professors, heads of Schools, a number of elected non-professorial members of staff, and four student members. Much of the Senate's business is delegated to a smaller body, the Academic Council.

The University is divided into four Faculties - Arts, Divinity, Science, Medicine - representing all permanent members of academic staff in each school in the Faculty (members of cross-Faculty Schools may be identified with either or both Faculty constituencies). The Dean of Medicine, re-established in 2002, is appointed by the University Court, but the other three Deans are currently elected by their Faculty constituencies. Their term of office is three years with a possible extension of one year. Deans appoint other Faculty Officers and Pro-Deans and convene Faculty Business Committees. The Faculties, comprising all their permanent staff, have one formal meeting annually, towards the end of each acadmic year. Faculty meetings review matters that have arisen duiring the year and provide a vehicle for communication across the academic community and advice for the Deans and Pro-Deans.

The Faculty Business Committee's recommendations are considered throughout the year by the Teaching, Learning and Assessment (TLA) Committee, a standing committee reporting to Senate and Academic Council. The Faculty Business Committees, comprising the Faculty officers and any other co-opted members, meet in advance of each TLA committee to dispatch routine affairs and review issues arising from the implementation of policy or course proposals, highlighting issues which may need discussion in the wider forum of the TLA.

Management Group

As of January 2002, the former Executive is now replaced by a wider Senior Management Group, consisting of the former Executive together with (inter alia) Deans and some Directors of Units.

The following are as of January 2006:

List of current Management Group personnel

List of personnel in the Office of the Principal

Student participation

There is ample scope for student participation in University government, at both undergraduate and postgraduate level. All matriculated students of the University have the right to vote in the election of a Rector who holds office for a three-year period and chairs the University Court. The Rector appoints an Assessor who is also a member of the University Court and is usually a student.

In addition, the University Court has two ex officio student members: the President and the Director of Representation of the Students' Association. There are student representatives on the Senate and the Academic Council. Students also have representatives on a wide range of University committees. The SRC itself exists to represent students on all matters and is the recognised channel of communication between students and the University authorities.

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