INTO Queen's University Belfast earns British Council accreditation following stellar review
The British Council review found INTO Queen’s University Belfast to meet all requirements of the scheme and exceed expectations in several areas
(BELFAST): INTO Queen’s University Belfast has earned official accreditation from the British Council, following a comprehensive review conducted in October 2023.
The review, conducted by a panel of experts from the British Council, assessed and accredited INTO Queen’s on the basis that the academic and centre management, teaching, welfare and student support services, safeguarding of under 18’s, resources and premises, and quality of learning opportunities met the required standards.
All courses have previously been quality assured and validated through Queen’s University’s internal quality assurance procedures and the Centre is subject to the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) review processes. The most recent QAA review took place in February 2023 and commended the Centre for its effective management and enhancement of the quality of learning opportunities.
In the October 2023 review, British Council inspectors found that the Centre meets all of the required standards as set out by the Accreditation Scheme, and the following four areas were awarded strengths in every category.
1. Excellence in management: The review recognized INTO Queens’ robust management strategy, highlighting this strength across human resources support, strategic and quality management, staff management, and student administration.
“We are immensely proud to have earned accreditation from the British Council at the INTO Queen’s Centre – marking the successful completion of two major external validations in a year. This is a testament to the hard work that has gone into delivering exceptional academic opportunities to international students, providing them with the tools they need to study at a world-class university,” said INTO QUB’s Centre Director, Liam O’Hagan.
2. Exceptional premises and resources: INTO QUB’s premises and resources were regarded as being of a high standard, with strengths including the premises being well looked after, well-equipped, and providing a comfortable environment for study and relaxation for students and academic staff.
3. Excellence in teaching and learning resources: The panel expressed confidence that INTO and QUB’s partnership provides clearly communicated information and advice to students, which is readily available to them, with excellent learning resources and a cohesive course design underpinning the range of courses delivered at the Centre.
4. Abundance of leisure opportunities: Comprehensive information is shared with students in different formats enabling them to appreciate fully the opportunities at INTO, QUB, and beyond. The report went on to commend the wide range of activities and excursions available to students, with teachers well-equipped to deliver them.
INTO University Partnerships and QUB operate a joint venture that delivers a range of undergraduate, graduate, and Academic English programs, designed to prepare international students for their chosen course at Queen’s.
Courses are delivered at the INTO Queen’s University Belfast Centre – located in the heart of The University of Belfast’s vibrant campus – which has seen thousands of students from over 90 nationalities enrol with INTO QUB since the two started their collaboration in 2009-10.
As the awarding body, QUB holds ultimate responsibility for academic standards and the quality of the provision at INTO Queen's LLP. The Centre operates in alignment with the university's business plan and quality assurance agreement.
“Our partnership with Queen’s University Belfast is a clear example of how working in partnership on quality academic programmes combined with outstanding student support can provide an exceptional learning experience for international students and help them realise their full potential,” said Mr O’Hagan.
The high standard of teaching was reflected in the level of engagement and group coherence observed across various classes at INTO Queen’s LLP. Inspectors noted that students and academic staff alike demonstrated a sense of shared purpose through strong presence and rapport.
The report outlined the inclusive academic and pastoral support provided by INTO Queen's as a feature of good practice. This support was recognized for enhancing the quality of the student learning experience. Safeguarding of under 18s was also noted as a key strength.
Queen’s is part of the UK’s elite Russell Group of 24 research-intensive institutions and ranked 12th in the UK for career prospects. Based in Ireland’s cosmopolitan capital, Belfast, the University is known for its rich history, research focus, and world-class education.
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Davinder Kumar
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davinder.kumar@intoglobal.com