Academic Affairs services two core academic governance committees: Education Committee (Quality and Standards), and Honorary Titles Committee. These are subcommittees of, and report to, Academic Council. Please contact egp@qub.ac.uk with any queries.
These subcommittees of Academic Council align to core University Strategies (Strands of Strategy 2030) or Frameworks as follows:
- Education Committee (Quality and Standards) – Quality Assurance Framework.
- Honorary Titles Committee – Honorary Titles Framework.
Core, indicative schedules of business for 2025-26 have been devised for each committee (see sections below) to enable committee members to plan for and engage in upcoming academic matters; to support committee members to actively represent their constituency; and to encourage wider staff and student engagement with developments, enabling better cross-University debate, planning and action, with resources focused on key priorities. The schedules are flexible so that emerging issues can be included, and will be adapted to respond to changing priorities in the internal or external environment.
Download the ECQS, and HTC meeting schedule 2025-26.
Access the Education Committee (Quality and Standards) committee papers and minutes (QUB staff login required)
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Engaging with Committee Members
Membership of these subcommittees of Academic Council has been considered to ensure that each committee can avail of pertinent expertise and respond with agility, and to strengthen consultation with, and input from, a diverse range of stakeholders leading to more ownership of decision-making, more inclusive dissemination of information, and more effective implementation.
Committee members are expected to actively represent their constituency; engage in information gathering, discussion, debate and decision-making; disseminate decisions; and provide feedback on progress and the impact of actions, for example. The sections below include the Schedule of Business, Terms of Reference and membership for Education Committee (Quality and Standards), and Honorary Titles Committee to enable staff and students to contact their representatives and get involved in academic governance matters.
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Supportive Measures for Effective Academic Governance
The following practices encourage engagement, streamline paperwork, and focus the business of the committee on matters for discussion and decision:
- Green Papers to increase consultation and engagement with major issues at the formative stage, and White Papers to present informed recommendations for approval.
- A risk based approach to oversight, not requiring reports on implementation unless an action needs approved, or a risk has been identified.
- Streamlined papers with executive summaries, and focused on providing only pertinent information to inform decision making, or to provide updates on agreed actions.
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Education Committee (Quality and Standards)
Remit: The Education Committee (Quality and Standards) shall, subject to the powers of Academic Council, act as guardian of the University’s Quality Assurance Framework by having ownership of, and responsibility for, its development, implementation and management of risks, while also horizon scanning, forward planning and developing new approaches in response to national and regional requirements and good practice. The Quality Assurance Framework relates to the maintenance of standards and the enhancement and assurance of the quality of academic provision for all taught and research programmes leading to awards by, or in partnership with, the University.
ECQS Terms of Reference and membership
ECQS indicative Schedule of Business for 2025-26
Education Committee (Quality and Standards) is serviced by, and contacted through, Academic Affairs.
- Honorary Titles Committee
Remit: The Honorary Titles Committee shall, subject to the powers of Academic Council, act as guardian of the University’s Honorary Titles Framework by having ownership of, and responsibility for its development and implementation including the conferral of the University’s Honorary Titles, Visiting Titles and Titles for Chairs, whilst ensuring beneficial external contributions to the University, and equality of opportunity.
HTC Terms of Reference and membership
HTC indicative Schedule of Business for 2025-26
The Honorary Titles Committee is serviced by, and contacted through, Academic Affairs.