Some acronyms which we hope will be useful to those new to the sector, or indeed to anyone navigating the developing tertiary sector. You can download the Acronym Buster in both pdf format and Word format (for ease of copying). Use Ctrl+F to search on this page to find a specific acronym. This list will be updated on an ongoing basis - please feel free to email any suggested additions to Ali McDade.
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AIS |
Advance Information Set |
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AM |
Assurance Model |
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AQE |
Annual Quality Engagement |
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AT |
Associate Trainer |
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AY |
Academic Year |
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CDN |
College Development Network |
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CLD |
College Leaver Destination |
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CoWA |
Commission for Widening Access |
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CRT |
Course Rep Training |
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EDI |
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion |
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EdS or ES |
Education Scotland |
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EHEA |
European Higher Education Area (and Bologna Process) |
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ENQA |
European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education |
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EQAR |
European Quality Assurance Register for Higher Education |
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ESG |
European Standards and Guidelines for Higher Education |
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FA |
Foundation Apprenticeship |
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FE |
Further Education |
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FES |
Further Education Statistical return |
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GTCS |
General Teaching Council for Scotland |
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HE |
Higher Education |
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HESA |
Higher Education Statistics Agency |
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HMI |
His Majesty's Inspector |
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HMIE |
His Majesty's Inspector of Education |
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HNC |
Higher National Certificate |
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HND |
Higher National Diploma |
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IAT |
Institutional Associate Trainer |
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ILM |
Institutional Liaison Meeting |
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ILQR |
Institution-led Quality Review |
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Jisc |
Joint information systems committee (previously) |
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KPI |
Key Performance Indicator |
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LSR |
Lead Student Rep |
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MA |
Modern Apprenticeship |
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MCHP |
Model Complaints Handling Procedures |
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NEON |
National Education Officers’ Network |
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NSS |
National Student Survey |
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NUS |
National Union of Students |
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OA |
Outcome Agreement |
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OF |
Outcomes Framework |
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OF and AM |
Outcomes Framework and Assurance Model |
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OfS |
Office for Students |
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OSCR |
Scottish Charity Regulator |
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PGCAP |
Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice |
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PGT |
Postgraduate Taught |
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PGR |
Postgraduate Research |
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PI |
Performance Indicator |
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PRES |
Postgraduate Research Experience Survey |
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PSFSE |
Professional Standards Framework for Student Engagement |
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PSF 2023 |
Professional Standards Framework 2023 |
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PSRB |
Professional, Statutory and Regulatory Body |
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PTES |
Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey |
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QAA |
Quality Assurance Agency |
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QEF |
Quality Enhancement Framework |
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QESR |
Quality Enhancement and Standards Review |
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REF |
Research Excellence Framework |
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SAAS |
Student Awards Agency Scotland |
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SCQF |
Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework |
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SDS |
Skills Development Scotland |
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SEAP |
Self-Evaluation and Action Plan |
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SESN |
Student Engagement Staff Network |
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SFC |
Scottish Funding Council |
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SIA |
Strategic Impact Analysis |
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SIMD |
Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation |
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SLE |
Student Learning Experience |
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SPA |
Student Partnership Agreement |
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sparqs |
student partnerships in quality Scotland |
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SPSO |
Scottish Public Service Ombudsman |
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SQA |
Scottish Qualifications Agency |
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SQCS |
Scottish Quality Concerns Scheme |
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SSES |
Student Satisfaction and Engagement Survey |
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STAG |
sparqs Tertiary Advisory Group |
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STEP |
Scotland's Tertiary Enhancement Programme |
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TEF |
Teaching Excellence Framework |
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TNE |
Transnational Education |
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TQEF |
Tertiary Quality Enhancement Framework |
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TQER |
Tertiary Quality Enhancement Review |
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TQF |
The Quality Forum |
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TQFE |
Teaching Qualification in Further Education |
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TQSEG |
Tertiary Quality Student Expert Group |
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TQSG |
Tertiary Quality Steering Group |
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VLE |
Virtual Learning Environment |
Last updated: 07.11.25