External reviews are an important means of promoting accountability and transparency across educational institutions. UBC not only participates in external assessments, but also conducts reviews of faculties, academic units and administrative units in order to continuously improve academic excellence.
Anticipated External Reviews
Completed External Reviews
Previous External Reviews of Faculties and Major Administrative Units:
See all related appointments here.
External Review Guidelines
A new set of External Review Guidelines has been developed to coincide with the new Senate Policy on External Reviews, which was approved by Senate in the fall of 2024. The final Guidelines are now posted below.
Any new external reviews initiated at UBC Vancouver in 2024/25 should follow these Guidelines.
- Guidelines for External Reviews of Academic Units - Colleges, Departments, Schools, Divisions, Institutes and Centres
- Guidelines for External Reviews of Academic Units - Faculties
If you have any questions about the Guidelines, please contact selina.fast@ubc.ca.
Reports to Senate on External Reviews
External reviews and preliminary responses are summarized each year in a Report to Senate from the Provost's Office. View the reports below:
- 2023/24 Report to Senate
- 2022/23 Report to Senate
- 2021/22 Report to Senate
- 2020/21 Report to Senate
- 2019/20 Report to Senate
- 2018/19 Report to Senate
- 2017/18 Report to Senate
- 2016/17 Report to Senate
- 2015/16 Report to Senate
- 2014/15 Report to Senate
- 2013/14 Report to Senate
- 2012/13 Report to Senate
Quality Assurance Process Audit
The Quality Assurance Process Audit (QAPA) is an external review process to ensure that public post-secondary institutions periodically conduct rigorous, ongoing program and institutional quality assessment. All B.C. public institutions participate in the QAPA once every seven years. This process was developed by the Quality Assurance Audit Committee, a standing committee of the Degree Quality Assessment Board. The Committee is comprised of representatives from the public institutions and the Board.
Similar processes have been implemented across Canada, with each Province having developed its own approach.
UBC Vancouver underwent a QAPA visit in December 2018 after developing and submitting an institutional self-study report. All of those involved in the process appreciated the opportunity to reflect upon UBC’s strengths as well as the areas identified for improvement in our quality enhancement policies and processes. The Okanagan campus’ QAPA process is scheduled for 2021.
Summary reports are available for institutions with completed QAPA audits. For quick access to the report for UBC Vancouver, click here.