Academic Board
Purpose
The Academic Board is the senior academic authority of the provider. It is responsible for the oversight of academic standards, quality assurance, quality management, learning and teaching, research activity, and the protection of academic freedom and freedom of speech within the academic domain. This includes all higher education provision delivered in partnership with awarding universities. The Academic Board provides assurance to the Board of Directors that academic governance is effective and that the provider meets the regulatory expectations of the Office for Students.
Key Responsibilities of the Academic Board
Academic Standards
- Ensure academic standards are set, maintained and reviewed in line with awarding university requirements, the OfS regulatory framework and sector reference points (including the UK Quality Code).
- Approve and monitor programme learning outcomes, assessment strategies and academic regulations, within the context of partnership arrangements.
- Oversee external examining arrangements and consider external examiner reports.
Quality Assurance and Quality Management
- Approve and monitor policies, procedures and frameworks relating to students, Higher Education and Research, including the SoC Partnership Handbook.
- Manage programme approval, modification and review processes, within the context of partnership arrangements, including: Annual Monitoring, Periodic or Partnership reviews by university partners, or reviews by Professional, Statutory and Regulatory Bodies (PSRBs).
- Monitor student achievement, progression, retention and completion data and related quality enhancement action plans.
- Ensure effective mechanisms for student engagement and feedback.
- Receive and act upon reports relating to academic quality, including those required by partner universities.
Research
- Promote a culture of research, scholarly activity and professional practice appropriate to the provider’s mission and scale.
- Oversee policies relating to research ethics, research integrity and responsible research conduct.
- Monitor the quality, relevance and impact of research and scholarly activity undertaken by staff and students.
- Ensure compliance with the research‑related requirements of awarding universities and external partners.
Freedom of Speech and Academic Freedom
- Uphold and promote freedom of speech and academic freedom.
- Ensure academic policies, teaching practices and research activities support open, rigorous and respectful debate.
- Advise the Board on academic matters relating to freedom of speech, including risks or barriers that may affect compliance with statutory duties.
- Monitor the effectiveness of procedures that protect lawful freedom of speech in academic settings.
Partnership Oversight
- Ensure compliance with the academic and research‑related requirements of all awarding university partners.
- Monitor the effectiveness of partnership arrangements relating to academic delivery, assessment, quality assurance, standards and research activity.
- Receive reports from partner universities and ensure appropriate follow‑up actions.
Academic Integrity and Enhancement
- Promote academic integrity, scholarly practice and continuous enhancement.
- Oversee policies relating to academic misconduct, assessment integrity and student conduct.
- Identify and disseminate good practice across programmes.
Student Experience
- Monitor the quality of learning, teaching and assessment.
- Review student feedback, survey outcomes and student representation reports.
- Review an annual report from the Welfare Group on arrangements to support student wellbeing, learner support and student success.
- Ensure that actions to enhance the student experience are implemented and monitored.
Reporting and Assurance
- Provide the Board with regular reports on academic standards, research activity, quality assurance, academic freedom and academic risk.
- Provide an annual Academic Assurance Report to support the Board of Director’s responsibilities under the OfS regulatory framework.
- Maintain a clear record of decisions, actions and evidence to support regulatory compliance.
Authority
The Academic Board is authorised by the Board to:
- Approve, monitor and review academic and research‑related policies, procedures and frameworks.
- Oversee academic standards and quality assurance across all programmes delivered with partner universities, ensuring compliance with awarding‑body requirements and sector reference points.
- Recommend strategic academic developments relating to including proposals relating to educational partnerships.
- Provide assurance reports to the Board.
Membership
- Senior academic with extensive experience of executive and academic management in UK Higher Education (Chair) or their nominee.
- Principal or nominee.
- Course Leaders for all higher education programmes.
- Representatives from partner universities (as required by partnership agreements).
- One student representative.
- One academic or professional staff with responsibility for research or scholarly activity.
- The lead Independent Board Member with responsibility for academic matters [one with the HE leadership experience].
The Clerk to the Board shall act as secretary to the Academic Board.
Meetings
- Meets at least three times per year, with additional meetings scheduled as required.
- Quorum: at least 50% of the membership present, including the Chair or their nominee from within the membership and at least one course leader.