Acronym Buster

Some acronyms which those new to the sector may find useful. This list will be updated on an ongoing basis and you can download the Acronym Buster for ease of access. 

AM

Assurance Model

AQE

Annual Quality Engagement

AT

Associate Trainer

AY

Academic Year

CAG

College Advisory Group

CDN

College Development Network

CLD

College Leaver Destination

CoWA

Commission for Widening Access

CRT

Course Rep Training

EDI

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

EdS or ES

Education Scotland

EHEA

European Higher Education Area (and Bologna Process)

ENQA

European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education

EQAR

European Quality Assurance Register for Higher Education

ESG

European Standards and Guidelines for Higher Education

FA

Foundation Apprenticeship

FES

Further Education Statistical return

HESA

Higher Education Statistics Agency

HMI

His Majesty's Inspector

HMIE

His Majesty's Inspector of Education

HNC

Higher National Certificate

HND

Higher National Diploma

IAT

Institutional Associate Trainer

ILM

Institutional Liaison Meeting

ILR

Institution-led Review

JAG

Joint Advisory Group

Jisc

Joint information systems committee (previously)

KPI

Key Performance Indicator

MA

Modern Apprenticeship

MCHP

Model Complaints Handling Procedures

NEON

National Education Officers’ Network

NSS

National Student Survey

NUS

National Union of Students

OA

Outcome Agreement

OF

Outcomes Framework

OF and AM

Outcomes Framework and Assurance Model

OfS

Office for Students

OSCR

Scottish Charity Regulator

PGT

Postgraduate Taught

PGR

Postgraduate Research

PI

Performance Indicator

PRES

Postgraduate Research Experience Survey

PSRB

Professional, Statutory and Regulatory Body

PTES

Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey

QAA

Quality Assurance Agency

QEF

Quality Enhancement Framework

REF

Research Excellence Framework

SAAS

Student Awards Agency Scotland

SCQF

Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework

SDS

Skills Development Scotland

SEAP

Self-Evaluation and Action Plan

SESN

Student Engagement Staff Network

SFC

Scottish Funding Council

SIA

Strategic Impact Analysis

SIMD

Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation

SLE

Student Learning Experience

SPA

Student Partnership Agreement

sparqs

student partnerships in quality Scotland

SPSO

Scottish Public Service Ombudsman

SQA

Scottish Qualifications Agency

SQCS

Scottish Quality Concerns Scheme

SSES

Student Satisfaction and Engagement Survey

STEP

Scotland's Tertiary Enhancement Programme

TEF

Teaching Excellence Framework

TNE

Transnational Education

TQEF

Tertiary Quality Enhancement Framework

TQER

Tertiary Quality Enhancement Review

TQF

The Quality Forum

TQSEG

Tertiary Quality Student Expert Group

TQSG

Tertiary Quality Steering Group

UAG

University Advisory Group

VLE

Virtual Learning Environment

Last updated: 14.01.25

Student Engagement Framework

National Education Officers' Network meeting

25 Feb 2025

Our second meeting of sparqs’ National Education Officers’ Network (NEON) of 2024-25 will take place on…

Read more...