Defining quality in academic programming is a complex and multifaceted endeavor. The term itself is inherently elusive, encompassing a range of dimensions and shaped by the diverse perspectives of stakeholders. Academic quality is further influenced by a variety of factors, including social and historical contexts, government policies, and external expectations (Papanthymou, 2022). Importantly, quality is not a fixed or static concept, but rather an ongoing, evolving pursuit of excellence (Schnider, 2015).
The Academic Quality and Excellence (AQE) division has adopted the following definition to inform and to guide its work.
At UCN, academic quality reflects our commitment to fulfilling our mission and vision through transformative, responsive, and inclusive education and training. We achieve quality through teaching excellence, academic rigour, continuous improvement, and integrated student services.
Our approach to academic quality is guided by four key principles: accountability, purposefulness, transformation, and holistic student support.