The future of the quality assurance system was in doubt this week as the Quality Assurance Agency faced challenges to its attempt to impose a uniform set of national degree standards.
The Association of University Teachers decided to "vigorously oppose" the QAA's national benchmarks, published earlier this month for the first 22 subjects, as a crude threat to diversity and independence. Howard Newby, president of the Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals, said that the CVCP would be "reviewing the QAA" as its new regime of quality assurance rolled out next year. But the standards were warmly welcomed by higher education minister Baroness Blackstone.