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