Introduction

BIBF’s Code of practice for the assurance of academic quality and standards in higher education (the Code of practice) has been created to provide the necessary systems, policies and processes needed for the growth and development of BIBF programs in the coming years. The Code of practice is intended to help BIBF Centers to meet their responsibilities for the assurance of academic standards and quality, by providing a framework within which they can consider the effectiveness of their individual approaches to a range of activities.

Approach

Each section of the Code of practice indicates the key issues that BIBF will consider in the respective areas of activity. The precepts encapsulate the matters that BIBF will address through its own quality assurance arrangements. The accompanying guidance/explanation suggests possible ways by which those expectations might be met and demonstrated.

Scope and principles

The Code of practice does not, of course, cover all the activities of a higher education institution like BIBF. Nor does it explicitly identify all the circumstances in which a particular section would be relevant - to do so would be impossible for a complex and innovative sector in which new developments take place all the time.

However, there are a number of principles that appear throughout the sections of the Code of practice; an awareness of, and commitment to, these key principles will help BIBF to assure itself and others that it has developed and is applying good practice for its wide range of activities. The main principles identified in the Code of practice as underpinning good practice in assuring quality and standards in professional and academic education are:

A clear definition of responsibilities

The responsibilities within a particular area of activity of, for example, committees and boards, Centers, Departments and staff members, together with the responsibilities of students and others, should be clearly defined.

Consistent application of policies and practices that are underpinned by principles of fairness and equality of opportunity.

Policies and procedures should be clear and explicit and applied consistently. Such explicitness supports fairness, secures equality of opportunity and engenders public confidence.

The availability of clear and accessible information Information on policies, procedures, responsibilities and opportunities should be clear, up to date and accessible to all the potential audiences. Information should help students to understand what they should expect from their particular training or education experience and staff members to ensure that they are contributing effectively, and working within, the arrangements in place to secure quality and standards.

The competence of staff

All staff need to be supported to ensure their competence to fulfil their particular roles and responsibilities.

Monitoring and review of policy, procedures and practices

Policies, procedures and practices need to be monitored and reviewed to ensure their effectiveness and to identify and correct any consequences that might undermine the assurance of quality, standards, fairness or equality of opportunity.

Use of the Code of practice in audit and review

Centers will not be asked about their adherence to the Code of practice on a precept by precept basis. They will be expected to explain in their self-evaluation documents how they have addressed the intentions of the precepts, including any resulting changes to their practices. Any areas of difficulty that Centers have experienced should also be discussed in their self-evaluation documents. The sections of the Code of practice will be reviewed and revised regularly, to ensure their continuing currency.

The Code of practice has the following 12 sections:

01.  Recruitment and Admissions
02.  Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL)
03.  Learning and Teaching
04.  Collaborative Provision
05.  Program Design, Approval, Monitoring and Review
06.  Assessment Strategy and Principles
07.  Assessment of Student
08.  Student Representation Policy
09.  Malpractice, Appeals and Student Complaints
10   Faculty and Staff Development
11.  Placement/Work Based Learning
12.  Code of Conduct for BIBF staff, faculty and students