Terms of Reference of LOETB FET Quality Forum

Role:

The purpose of the FET Quality Forum is to oversee the development of FET QA policies and procedures in LOETB. This includes the establishment of new policies/procedures and the ongoing review of existing FET QA policies and procedures.

Membership:

The membership of the FET Quality Forum is designed to enable LOETB management and external stakeholders to collectively contribute to the development and quality of the LOETB’s Further Education and Training provision.

Chair: The FET Quality Forum has significant responsibilities. The Chair will be a member of the QA Department.

Secretary: The Secretary will be appointed by the FET Quality Council and the members of QA Policy Development & Review Groups.

Ordinary Members:

• Representatives from FET Centres/Services
• QA Staff Members

Accountable to:                    

LOETB FET Quality Council

Schedule of Meetings:

• The FET Quality Forum will meet at least 3 times a year. In order for a quorum to be established, 50% of members plus one additional member must be in attendance.
• The meeting agenda and supporting documentation will be made available to members at least one week in advance of a scheduled meeting. Meeting outcomes are recorded and circulated in draft form within two weeks of a meeting. The minutes of meetings are approved at the beginning of the subsequent meeting of the FET Quality Forum. Confirmed minutes are submitted for noting to the next meeting of the FET Quality Council.
• Decisions are made by consensus or by the exercise of a vote if necessary; the Chair has the deciding vote in the event of a split decision.

In some cases, at the discretion of the Chair, an incorporeal meeting of the FET Quality Forum may be held where reports can be circulated virtually and accepted by members without the FET Quality Forum having to meet.

Responsibilities:

Policies

• Reviewing proposals for the development of new policies and procedures and making recommendations to the FET Quality Council
• Appointing the QA Policy Development & Review Group to develop draft policy documentation and identifying the expertise required for its membership
• Reviewing proposals for the provision of new QA policies and procedures and making recommendations to the FET Quality Council
• Making recommendations to the FET Quality Council for the establishment of appropriate structures to support new or existing provision

Monitoring and Review

• Reviewing feedback reports on existing policies and making recommendations, including staff development and learner support requirements, to the FET Quality Council
• Assigning the QA Policy Development & Review Group the responsibility to implement minor modifications and additions to policies/procedures recommended as a result of policy reviews, where these do not affect module outcomes
• Approving modified policy documentation submitted by the Policy Development & Review Group and submitting to the FET Quality Council
• Receiving reports of progress against action plans arising from policy/procedure reviews and reporting issues arising to the FET Quality Council