A slight fall for Douglas Blackstock of QAA here. But navigating towards a successful conclusion to the Second Quality Wars, and preserving the integrity of a UK-wide quality assurance system in the face of some (questionable) policy decisions, all the while expanding international work and retaining ENQA certification has made this quite a year for the Gloucester-based designated quality body.
He has a talented team around him, but Blackstock’s political skills have arguably done his agency and the sector a lot of good. But how much influence will a UK-wide quality agency have in coming years as the home nation sectors continue to diversify?