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Are you passionate about higher education in Wales's colleges and universities?
Do you have current or recent experience of overseeing, managing and/or assuring academic standards in a senior academic or professional support capacity, as well as experience in assessing students and conducting quality assurance activity in a higher education setting?
If so, you might be the person we are looking for!
Through an open call and through nominations by institutions, we are now seeking to expand our pool of QAA reviewers and student reviewers, to take part in Quality Enhancement Review (QER). QER is the external peer-led and enhancement-focused review method that supports assurance and enhancement of the quality of provision across Wales's higher education sector. It is a key delivery mechanism of the Quality Assessment Framework for Wales (QAF).
While we welcome applications from across four nations of the United Kingdom, we are particularly interested in receiving applications from colleges and universities in Wales.
QAA endeavours to ensure that a Welsh speaker is allocated to every Quality Enhancement Review team where applicable. We therefore welcome applications from Welsh speakers to help us fulfil this undertaking.
Effective reviewers are essential to the delivery of a peer-review system of quality assurance, and the credibility of review findings and outcomes depends upon review teams having up-to-date knowledge and experience. The peer-review system is also critical in building the capacity and capability of the sector for quality improvement and enhancement. Institutions also benefit through having staff trained as reviewers and through the experience and insights they gain through review team involvement which they can bring back to their institution.
This is an exciting time to join an organisation with an essential role in the UK's tertiary education sector. While we are seeking experienced individuals specifically for QER, as a member of our reviewer pool you can be invited to participate in other QAA review activity in the UK and abroad.
The Quality Assurance Agency
We are a world-leading quality agency with unmatched experience of providing impartial regulatory and collaborative quality assurance and enhancement. We support universities and colleges, and work with students and learners, governments, funders and regulatory bodies, to evidence and enhance the excellent quality and high standards of the education they provide.
We work towards a greater public understanding - domestically and internationally - of how excellent quality is demonstrated in UK higher education, and how autonomous institutions both assure its delivery and address weaknesses. Our work safeguards the value of qualifications for students and learners and protects and promotes the reputation of higher education.
About The Role
The time commitment depends on the activities you choose to accept and is likely to involve desk-based activity over a series of weeks, virtual team meetings, at least one visit to the institution, coming to judgements and writing a report. Review teams for Wales's QER method are put together to reflect and respond to the contextual circumstances and strategic ambitions of individual institutions.
Further details about the main duties and responsibilities, and the knowledge and skills required, are available in the role profile.
Fees for each quality assurance activity are confirmed at the point you are invited to participate.
Completion of mandatory (Health and Safety, GDPR, Equality Diversity & Inclusion and Cyber Security), generic and method training will be required prior to undertaking any quality assurance activity.
If you have any questions about the role we'd love to hear from you. Please do get in touch by emailing nations@qaa.ac.uk.
How To Apply
Early applications are appreciated although the closing date for applications is midnight on 12 January 2026.
Applications for can be submitted in either Welsh or English. Applications submitted in Welsh will not be treated less favourably than applications submitted in English
To apply, please create a profile on our recruitment portal and submit your CV as well as completing all the application questions. Only completed applications will be considered for the role.
QAA recognises the positive benefits of equity, diversity and inclusion. Our aim is to be truly representative of all sections of society, and for all to feel respected, free to be themselves no matter what their identity or background, and able to give their best. We value the differences that a variety of backgrounds, experiences, perspectives and skills brings and strongly encourage suitably qualified applicants to apply and join us.
We are committed to ensuring accessibility for all applicants. If you need any reasonable adjustments to participate in the recruitment process, please contact careers@qaa.ac.uk. We are committed to working with all to understand what accommodations are necessary to ensure a fair and accessible process.
If you have not heard from QAA within three weeks of the closing date for this vacancy, then your application has not been successful. Please be aware that we are unable to provide feedback on individual applications.
