Understanding standards‐based quality assurance: part I ‐ rationale and conceptual basis

Examines the reasons for the strategic move in UK higher education to a new national quality assurance regime that is primarily focused on academic standards. Considers the conceptual basis on which the new approach is founded as a precursor to examining the proposals made by the National Committee of Inquiry in Higher Education and the initial development work undertaken by the Quality Assurance Agency to create a policy framework.