Industry Trends in Quality Assurance
The landscape of education and training seems to be forever changing. With the rise of online learning, increased competition, and greater scrutiny from regulatory bodies, quality assurance has become more critical than ever.
This article explores the importance of quality assurance in education and training and current industry trends and how we address this in our IQA training.
Digitalisation of Learning
The shift towards online and blended learning models has created new challenges for maintaining quality standards. Quality assurance processes must now account for digital delivery methods, online assessment integrity, and remote learner support. Ensuring robust systems for quality control and maintaining learner engagement is critical to ensuring digital learning remains impactful and effective.
Increased Regulatory Scrutiny
Regulatory bodies are placing greater emphasis on demonstrable, well-evidenced quality assurance processes. Educational institutions and training providers must show robust systems for maintaining and improving standards. This means quality processes must be consistent, regular, and evidenced.
Focus on Learner Outcomes
There’s a growing emphasis on measuring and improving learner outcomes rather than just focusing on the delivery process. Quality assurance now extends beyond the classroom to track long-term learner success. Learner experience can be consistently evaluated, and feedback analysed, reviewed, and added to plans as part of a continuous improvement process.
Demand for Transparency
Learners, employers, and stakeholders demand greater transparency and accountability in educational processes and outcomes. Quality assurance plays a crucial role in providing this transparency. With the right policies and processes in place, quality becomes the foundation for a solid and accountable system to support enriching experiences for learners at any level.
Rapid Curriculum Changes
With industries evolving quickly, curricula need to keep pace. Quality assurance processes must be agile enough to accommodate and validate frequent updates to course content and delivery methods. This includes ensuring that onboarding and induction approaches remain current and up-to-date so that learners understand the content and expectations of the courses they are attending.
Addressing Education Trends Through IQA Training
At Aim Higher Training, our Internal Quality Assurance (IQA) training programme is designed to equip professionals with the skills and knowledge to navigate these trends effectively:
Digital Quality Assurance
We cover techniques for ensuring quality in online and blended learning environments, including digital assessment and remote observation practices. We guide and support our learners in following internal quality reporting processes so we can provide relevant guidance to assessors and trainers. This helps them to develop these skills and gain confidence from the increasing demands of working with online learners.
Regulatory Compliance
Our training provides a comprehensive understanding of current regulatory requirements and how to implement compliant quality assurance processes. We share our policies and procedures and discuss current changes and guidance from our regulatory bodies, NCFE and Ofqual, during standardisation sessions, which we will build into the training programme for our IQA awards.
Compliance and risk management are integral to quality assurance for accredited and government-funded programmes. As part of our IQA training, we incorporate how this can be managed and address the following areas:
- Regulatory Compliance: Our training covers staying compliant with relevant educational standards and regulations, reducing the risk of penalties or loss of accreditation.
- Data Protection: With increasing amounts of learner data being collected and stored, we address the importance of data protection in quality assurance processes.
- Reputational Risk: We discuss how effective quality assurance can mitigate reputational risks by ensuring consistently high standards.
- Financial Risk: By improving the quality of education and training, organisations can reduce financial risks associated with poor outcomes or compliance issues.
Outcome-Based Quality Measures
We share our processes and paperwork and teach methods for tracking and improving learner outcomes, going beyond traditional input-based quality measures. These are referenced and shared during our IQA training programme, and guidance is provided on using these effectively as part of a comprehensive quality assurance process.
Transparency and Reporting
Our IQA programme includes training on creating clear, accessible reports and maintaining transparent quality assurance processes. We encourage Trainee IQAs to produce several reports while studying to be IQAs. examine these for the quality of shared feedback and the interpretation of how students’ work is reviewed. We then share feedback so trainee IQAs can grow their confidence in writing reports and delivering feedback.
Responding to Curriculum and Sector Change.
We integrate keeping up-to-date with curriculum changes and news in education as part of our approach towards standardisation and professional development during training. We aim to embed good practice in professional and personal development as fundamental to our approach to delivering all our training programmes. This encourages the development of good practice towards continuous professional development. This is critical to helping education professionals maintain their competency and currency regarding their overall approach towards delivery and supporting their learners.
The Importance of Continuous Improvement
Quality assurance is not a one-time effort but a continuous process of improvement. At Aim Higher Training, our IQA training emphasises the importance of the following:
- Regular self-assessment and reflection
- Gathering and acting on feedback from learners, staff, and stakeholders
- Staying updated with industry best practices and innovations
- Implementing cyclical review and improvement processes
By cultivating a culture of continuous improvement and implementing robust quality processes, organisations can exceed current standards, deliver outstanding education and learning, and prepare for future challenges and opportunities.
Why Quality Matters in Education
As the training sector evolves, the importance of robust quality assurance processes cannot be overstated. By addressing current trends, focusing on continuous improvement, and effectively managing compliance and risk, organisations can ensure they deliver high-quality education and training that meets the needs of learners and stakeholders alike.
Aim Higher’s IQA training programme equips professionals with the skills and knowledge to implement effective quality assurance in this dynamic environment. Through investment in quality assurance, educational institutions and training providers can meet current standards and position themselves for future success and growth.
Please visit our website or contact us to learn more about our IQA training. We can then discuss how we can help you develop your quality assurance skills and career.