What is an IPR?

Information for Schools, subject areas, and students on programmes under review, and for review team members.

The Scottish Funding Council (SFC) requires all tertiary sector institutions to review and evaluate their provision on a periodic cycle of not more than six years in line with the Tertiary Quality Enhancement Framework (TQEF). The University meets this requirement via the Internal Periodic Review (IPR) process and a report on all internal review activity is included each year in the annual institutional report to the SFC, the Self Evaluation and Action Plan (SEAP).

A review team is appointed to visit the School, meet with academic and professional staff and student representatives, and to produce a report with commendations and recommendations for the School.

What are the benefits?

An IPR provides an opportunity for the School to dedicate time and space to reflect on specific issues or challenges and gain external insight from disciplinary peers at another institution. It also provides the School with an opportunity to amplify its voice on a particular issue or request support at College or University level.

Who participates from your School?

Your Head of School will appoint an Academic Lead, who will be the main point of contact for the IPR in your School.

Typical attendees at IPR review visit meetings include:

  • Students
  • Head of School
  • School management teams
  • Academic teaching staff
  • Programme Directors
  • Course Organisers
  • Professional Services staff
  • Postgraduate Tutors
  • Student Advisors
  • Learning technologist staff
  • Tutors and Demonstrators

What documentation are you required to provide?

The Impact Analysis (IA) is the key document and reference point produced by the School for its IPR. The IA is used by the School as a self-evaluation of key aspects of the student experience, as set out in the four sections of the University Standard Remit (see IPR Handbook below).  

An IPR Information Set is also provided to the review team as the evidence base for its decisions, with documentation supplied by the School and Internal Review Support (such as student surveys, QA reports, external examiner feedback).   

What are the School Specific remit items?

The School Specific Remit items are topics proposed by students and staff which should be of most value and relevance to your School. It might be something that you are looking to implement and want to have feedback on, or it might be something that is not working as well as it could be. The IPR is an opportunity to discuss issues and get feedback from a panel of peers from outside the School who may be able provide you with a different perspective and a fresh pair of eyes.

Who participates in the review panel?

The review panel will typically consist of the following members:

  • Convener (senior academic from another School at the University of Edinburgh)
  • Internal member (academic from another School at the University of Edinburgh)
  • Two external members (with specialist knowledge of the discipline under review)
  • Student member (University of Edinburgh)
  • Professional Services member (University of Edinburgh, normally Academic Quality and Standards staff)

What happens after an IPR?

After the review visit, the review team produces a report for the School, with commendations and recommendations, which is approved by Senate Quality Assurance Committee.  Your School is then expected produce an IPR Action Plan in response to the recommendations which is reviewed and updated annually, in partnership with students, until all actions are completed.

Further information

The Internal Periodic Review Handbook provides guidance on roles, process and key stages for Schools being reviewed and for review team members: Internal Periodic Review Handbook.pdf

Academic Quality and Standards (AQS) has produced information for students: Internal Periodic Review Information for Students.pdf

Further guidance (and Word versions of the forms and templates in the IPR Handbook) are available on the IPR Information SharePoint (UoE only - EASE log in required)

Contact

Ongoing support for Schools, subject areas and review teams throughout each review is provided by the Interval Review Support team within the Academic Quality and Standards (AQS) area in Registry Services: Internalreviewsupport@ed.ac.uk

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