Programme Monitoring and Review - Internal Reviews

9.5 Internal reviews of taught and research programmes (full-time, part-time, network and distance learning including external programmes of the University of London of which Birkbeck is the Lead College) should normally be carried out once every four years by the College’s Teaching and Quality Enhancement Committee.  Full details of the Internal Review process may be found in the 'Guidance Notes on the Process for Internal Review of Taught and Research Programmes 2010/11'. Departments should follow these guidance notes and should work positively with the Internal Review Panels.

9.6 For all internal reviews the key document should continue be the Self-Evaluation, provided by Departments and covering the four-year period, with the other documents required to be made available through a searchable database held in Registry Services as well as through Department websites.  A template for the SED has been produced together with a standard set of learning and teaching documentation which should be made available on Department websites, as detailed in the above guidance notes.  The internal review procedures should encourage attention to be placed on enhancement, with Departments being asked to present to the review panel one detailed example of such taking place within the Department.

9.7 Review Panels report to the College’s Teaching and Quality Enhancement Committee (TQEC) at the conclusion of the process through presentation of the full review report.  The Chair of the Panel (or another member) may attend the TQEC to speak to the review report as well as a representative from the Department that has been reviewed to hear the discussions held and to feed these into the response to the recommendations made.  The Committee will ratify any follow up action recommended by the Review Panel and consider any College-wide matters that the report may raise.  Any matters requiring referral to post holders or committees outside of the TQEC will be referred by the Quality Enhancement and Validation section of Registry Services.

9.8 Dates will be established by which the recommendations set by the Review Panel are to be met by the Department/School and a report should be given on action taken in response to these (using the standard template) at a meeting of the TQEC.  The responses given are considered by the TQEC as a whole, or by the Chair on behalf of the Committee, and any further clarification or action required is requested until the TQEC is satisfied that all of the recommendations have been met.

9.9 After each year's schedule of reviews has been concluded, the views of the Panel members and the Department will be sought by the TQEC on the benefits they may have experienced as a result of their involvement in the review process using the standard feedback form provided.  Their views will also be sought on how the procedure for internal review might be improved and if there are any criticisms of the way that the process was carried out.  The views of the external subject specialist will also be sought on conclusion of each event using the standard feedback form provided (see above link).

9.10 Departments/Schools should consult the reports deriving from the databases of commendations and recommendations raised during internal reviews and annual monitoring which can be found on the Quality Enhancement and Validation website at:

http://www.bbk.ac.uk/qev/internal/good_practice_internalandexternal

http://www.bbk.ac.uk/qev/internal/Recommendations

http://www.bbk.ac.uk/qev/reports/2005-2006Commendations

http://www.bbk.ac.uk/qev/reports/2005-2006_Recommendations.