The Cambridge quality assurance cycle of activity

Cambridge Validation Services are based on the annual quality assurance of programmes submitted by clients for validation. This quality assurance will typically take the following form:

(Please move your mouse pointer over the diagram to view further information about each stage of the process.)

A) Initial communications to discuss range and scope of validation arrangement – however the partnership starts, both CIE and the partner organisation will need to agree on the range and scope of the programme(s) to be submitted for validation.
B) CIE due diligence – during this initial period, CIE will carry out due diligence activity to assess the 'health' and viability of the client organisation. If appropriate, an Memorandum of Understanding will be drafted at this stage.
C) CIE review of programmes and systems – CIE will require the client to submit programme material (syllabuses, schemes of work, lesson plans, study material, assessments, examination structure, standard procedures, etc) for a UK-based review by leading subject experts. During this phase, CIE will also carry out a quality assurance visit to the client to review systems and processes (including internal administration, academic and assessment processes, provision for marking and internal moderation, student enrolment, data storage and management, teaching arrangements (including centre management and lesson planning), courseware development, syllabuses development and review, assessment procedures and assessment performance statistics, etc).
D) Development and negotiation of contract – CIE will draft a report of its review of programmes and assessment and, this will form the basis of a contract of agreement between the two parties.
E) Programme cycle – following acceptance of the terms, the client may start to recruit students onto the validated programme(s), teaching, assessing and graduating them as agreed by CIE. Depending upon the nature of the agreement, CIE may 'intervene' at key points of this cycle, reviewing question papers prior to examination, for example, inspecting teaching centres and teaching, or monitoring the marking and/or internal moderation process. In some cases, CIE may also assume the responsibility of external moderator, applying scaling and grading where due.
F) Data submission – following the assessment, the client will submit data to CIE and, where appropriate, CIE will print and distribute certificates for successful students.
G) Annual quality assurance review – CIE will carry out a review of the clients' performance over the programme cycle, and in relation to key performance indicators identified in the initial review of the programme(s) and systems. Targets will be set and agreed upon for the subsequent programme cycle. CIE can also provide training and professional development for administrators and examiners during these visits, if required.
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