Arts University Bournemouth receives commendations in seven areas in successfully completed Elective Quality Review

EQR offers institutions the opportunity to be reviewed by the UK's Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education. The review benchmarks institutions' quality assurance processes against international quality assurance standards set out in Part 1 of the Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance in the European Higher Education Area.

The review was conducted by a team of three independent reviewers in April 2025 who concluded that AUB meets the requirements of the European Standards and Guidelines (ESG) Part 1 for internal quality assurance.

The review report identified seven areas of good practice and commended AUB for:

• The systematic use of feedback from its quality assurance framework, together with the willingness and engagement of Industry Patrons and partners, that enhances and develops opportunities for students.
• The involvement and embedding of student support services throughout induction, which provides an enhanced experience for new students.
• The collaborative effort of all stakeholders across the university in the design and delivery of Offer Holder Days that provide potential students with a holistic view of the opportunities and support open to them.
• The opportunities and support provided to new members of academic staff, particularly the newly established HEA Fellowship programme that facilitates the speedy development of skills and knowledge.
• The annual verification exercise that enables staff at AUB to calibrate their approach to student assessment and feedback.
• The use of the Learning, Teaching and Assessment Framework, for its systematic approach, clear articulation of pedagogical principles and collaborative development process, and its subsequent employment in a university-wide approach to the review of the taught portfolio that has resulted in a renewed, congruent and coherent set of courses.
• The opportunities provided to students through the Industry Patrons scheme for professional development and authentic learning, and to gain clarity on professional expectations, together with helping students to develop the insight, confidence and adaptability needed to navigate the complexities of the creative sector.

“AUB is delighted to have secured this excellent outcome in the QAA EQR process," says Lisa Mann, Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive Officer. "It reflects the University's commitment to high quality creative arts education.

"I'm incredibly grateful to all the staff and externals who were involved in the review process, and thankful to the QAA panel for their diligence in reviewing our practice and taking the time to visit our campus and understand our values. The University is very proud of this achievement and looks forward to building on the positive outcome in the coming years.”

QAA's Director of Contract Services Jennifer Taylor adds, “We would like to congratulate our colleagues at Arts University Bournemouth on their successful completion of the EQR process and its demonstration of their alignment with these international quality assurance standards – and to thank staff and students at Arts University Bournemouth for their positive engagement with this review.”