Reviewer Ethics and Independence Charter
Principles for objective institutional review, professional judgement and confidential evidence handling.
Role of a reviewer
QUAA review panel members are expected to apply published criteria to evidence and explain findings in an objective manner. A reviewer provides an informed technical assessment and must not make unauthorised promises about the final outcome.
Conflicts and impartiality
Reviewers disclose employment, financial, family, consultancy, governance and other material interests before appointment and throughout a procedure. Actual or apparent conflicts are considered under recusal rules. Members do not assess their own organisation or entities for which an independent judgement cannot reasonably be maintained.
Evidence and confidentiality
Evidence is examined within the agreed review scope, stored securely and shared only with authorised participants. Panel members should rely on the record, appropriate interviews and source documents, rather than unverifiable marketing claims or reputational assumptions.
Panel contributions and student voice
Academic, employer/practice and learner perspectives may be included depending on the scheme, nature of the provision and applicable competence requirements. No individual is named as a reviewer unless actually appointed and permissioned for public listing.
Decision and appeals separation
Technical reviewers provide reasoned reports. A designated independent decision body approves formal outcomes, and an appeal is handled through the stated independent procedure. Payment for a review is not payment for approval.