How does the QAA monitor the work of the AVAs?

The quality assurance framework for Access to HE is the responsibility of the Quality Assurance Agency for HE (QAA). QAA manages its responsibilities in this area through its regulation of the Authorised Validating Agencies (AVA)s, which are the awarding bodies for the Access to HE qualification. The three main ways in which QAA monitors AVAs' work are:

  • licensing: organisations which wish to act as AVAs must apply to QAA for a licence. Applicants are assessed against a set of AVA licensing criteria which includes detailed requirements about the governance and management structures of the AVA and its proposed procedures for maintaining the quality and standards of Access to HE courses and the Access to HE qualification.
  • annual reporting: AVAs are required to submit data and annual reports to QAA. QAA operates a process for the scrutiny of annual reports and provides feedback to AVAs, which may require them to take action.
  • review: AVAs are reviewed every five years. QAA-appointed reviewers consider AVAs' previous annual reports and data, and visit the AVA. The reviewers submit a report to QAA which includes a recommendation about whether the AVA licence should be renewed or not. Conditions are imposed in order to address any identified shortcomings and, in extreme circumstances, the AVA licence can be withdrawn.

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