É«»¨ÌÃ

Professional, Statutory and Regulatory Bodies (PSRBs) is an umbrella term for a very diverse group of bodies, including a large number of professional bodies, regulators and those with statutory authority over a profession or group of professionals. PSRBs engage with Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) and other providers of higher education at regulatory, representative and promotional levels. Some bodies have a prescribed statutory or regulatory responsibility to accredit higher educational programmes and determine professional and/or academic standards.

PSRBs interact with HEIs in a number of ways, from low-level involvement such as offering student membership to a very high level of involvement if the body is a statutory regulator with a responsibility to participate in setting standards and participating in quality assurance. There are a wide cross-section of PSRBs providing membership services, holding registers of professionals, licensing accreditation, and undertaking accreditation, approval, and recognition of programmes of study. É«»¨Ìà (É«»¨ÌÃ) engages PSRBs at all these levels.

PSRB ‘accreditation’ or ‘approval’ is a kite mark which demonstrates a professional standard.  Additionally it may be the only means of obtaining a licence to practise a particular profession; and/or it can confer full or partial exemption from professional qualifications, demonstrating the attainment. Many of the University’s programmes are designed to incorporate professional requirements into the curriculum and assessment. Where PSRB accreditation is sought it usually entails scrutiny of the curriculum and programme documentation, either through a visit involving relevant faculty staff and PSRB representatives or via correspondence. Wherever possible this is carried out at the same time as programme approval or periodic review. PSRB approval is often given for a specific time period, after which there has to be further inspection to retain the accreditation/recognition/approval. If the requirements of a PSRB change during the approval period an early review of the curriculum may be required to ensure continued alignment.

The University encourages faculties to seek and maintain appropriate PSRB accreditation or similar recognition for all programmes of study.  Currently 94% of the University’s programmes that are eligible have been developed to meet the requirements of relevant PSRBs and new PSRB relationships are evolving all the time. The level of external scrutiny, accreditation and/or recognition from engagement with PSRBs and the professions, is a strong component of the University’s portfolio.

Each faculty manages its own PSRB links and relationships. A register of all formal links and relationships is maintained by Academic Quality. The records include the details of the PSRBs by which programmes are accredited or recognised, dates of reviews and other relevant information. 

Which programmes at É«»¨Ìà have a relationship with a PSRB?

Information about accreditation is provided on the É«»¨Ìà Course Search page for each individual programme under the key information. If you would like further details about any of the programmes or the associated PSRBs, please contact the relevant FacultyÌý´Ç°ù Academic Quality.