STROUD MP Neil Carmichael last Friday, January 22, visited the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) at its Gloucester headquarters, and met with Chief Executive, Douglas Blackstock, and Fiona Crozier, Head of International.

As Chair of the Education Select Committee and the Conservative Group for Europe, Neil was invited to meet with Mr Blackstock and the Senior Management team to discuss the work of QAA in promoting the competitiveness of the UK’s higher education sector in connection with quality agencies in Europe.

The QAA is an independent charity which monitors and advises on the standards and quality of UK higher education, and is also a member of the European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education.

The QAA takes a leading role in developing good practice and fostering the European approach to quality assurance, and works to enhance the quality and integrity of the UK’s higher education sector internationally.

The QAA employs over 160 people at its headquarters in Gloucester, with a quarter of staff living within Stroud district.

Neil said: “I was delighted to meet with Douglas Blackstock and staff to discuss the important work of the QAA to support higher education in the UK and its links with European agencies. The work of the QAA is extensive, and further highlights the vital importance of the UK maintaining our links with Europe, sharing best practise and valuable ideas and networks. Many of QAA’s staff are Stroud constituents and I would also like to thank them for their hard work supporting our education system.”