For Higher Education Institutes

As an Authorised Validating Agency (AVA), certifying Access to HE Diploma courses, OCN Eastern Region leads a regionally-based consortium which includes members from FE and HE institutions. We are responsible for ensuring the continued fitness for purpose of the Access to HE Diploma as an entry qualification for HE.

In our most recent licence review by the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA), we received an ‘outstanding’ outcome with nine commendations – confirming our widely-recognised reputation for quality. The full report can be found on the QAA website.

Under the QAA Recognition Scheme, AVAs have the following specific responsibilities in relation to quality assurance:

• advice and guidance to providers wishing to develop new courses
• validation of courses by a panel which includes HE representation
• moderation arrangements for Access courses
• review and evaluation of Access courses
• monitoring of standards of student achievement
• collaboration with local HE institutions to ensure the continuing fitness for purpose of recognised programmes

You can find out more on the QAA website.

Higher Education Institutes will also be aware that work is underway to review the grading of Access to HE Diplomas.