Chair | Education Quality Assurance Committee (EQAC)

Chair, Education Quality Assurance Committee (EQAC)

RCOG Education Board 

Three years, commencing June 2025

The Education Quality Assurance Committee (EQAC) is responsible for safeguarding and assuring the quality of all College educational resources. The Committee reports to the RCOG Education Board and consists of a group of clinicians with major interests and expertise in education and training from the relevant Committees and Honorary Roles they currently hold. The Committee working alongside lay and RCOG staff representation, has formal responsibility for the approval of new and the maintenance of existing educational resources. It does this by scrutinising new product proposals, receiving reports from resource providers on quality processes and reviews.  The Committee has direct responsibility for the quality assurance of eLearning.

1. Oversee the work of EQAC
2. Chair two meetings a year
3. Ensure that the product proposal process is smoothly implemented by taking Chair’s action to approve proposals, with the benefit of EQAC members’ input, and report to the next EQAC meeting
4. With the support of the Committee secretary, set the agendas and ensure that decisions taken are properly and effectively followed up and completed
5. Represent EQAC at Education Board meetings
6. Recommend future membership of the Committee
7. In conjunction with RCOG staff, produce reports on EQAC activities to Education Board meetings

EQAC works with College educational committees, Global Education Directorate, the Women’s Network, Events and eLearning teams.

The nature of the role means that the EQAC Committee Chair will be required to handle a fluctuating workload. It is up to the candidate to discuss and agree this with their NHS employer.

It will be a requirement of the role to attend the following meetings at the RCOG:

• EQAC meetings (twice a year)
• Education Board (four times a year)

It will be a requirement to undertake work digitally as required between meetings; i.e. to deal with Committee matters, including taking action to approve product proposals on a regular basis.

This role reflects the present requirements of the post. As duties and responsibilities change and develop the role description will be reviewed and be subject to amendment in consultation with the post holder. 
The role description will be re-evaluated at the end of the term.  

• Registered with a licence to practise with the GMC, in good standing
• MRCOG/FRCOG
• Current substantive post at Consultant, SAS or senior locally employed doctor in obstetrics and/or gynaecology in UK NHS practice
• Evidence of annual appraisal
• Evidence of equal opportunities and diversity training within previous three years
• Recognised Clinical or Educational Supervisor

Essential

• Experience of taking part in quality assurance processes in education or experience of undergraduate quality assurance
• Experience of and understanding of GMC Regulatory System
• Experience of quality management processes

Desirable

• Experienced external visitor for quality assurance processes (visits, ARCPs)
• Can evidence effecting change through a QA process
• GMC Partner or equivalent 

• Good understanding of the principles of quality assurance and governance
• Excellent knowledge of RCOG core educational products
• Able to pay great attention to detail as well as ability to view the bigger picture
• Be aware of current educational developments both in O&G and in postgraduate medical education more generally
• Be aware of the requirements of the GMC in relation to the quality assurance of postgraduate medical education
• Clear demonstration of a commitment to improving women’s health
• Good communicator
• Agreement from host organisation to be released to fulfil role
• Flexibility
• Prepared to respond rapidly to issues as they arise (by email)
• Prepared to undertake work for the Committee, outside of the committee meetings
• Prepared to represent the College at external events
• Prepared to represent EQAC views for formal consultations
• Prior experience of a significant leadership role
• Up to date with College membership subscriptions
• Of good standing with the College

The 2019 RCOG CPD Guide can be found here.

Committee Chair/Member/Course Convenors and Organisers

If within your committee role or work as course convenor or organiser you gain knowledge which enhances patient care or leadership and technical skills (including for example, giving presentations, teaching sessions or mock examining) credits can be claimed as an ‘Experiential Learning Event’.

Reflection is required to claim credits for an Experiential Learning Event. 2 CPD credits are claimable following reflection. In addition 1 or 2 credits are claimable for an action following the learning (1 credit for a simple action, 2 credits for a complex action). To claim credits for an action, the individual needs to demonstrate how they have applied their learning to their practice, the service they provide and/or the potential impact of the learning.

1. Is responsible for the content, format and updating of all College curricula – to include core, advanced and subspecialty.
2. Ensures that the appropriate assessment tools are developed and incorporated into the curriculum framework.
3. Considers curricular changes and new curricula for all curricula, ensuring that all such changes receive appropriate scrutiny from other college bodies, e.g. Trainees Committee, Women’s Network
4. Receives and considers proposed curricular changes from the Advanced Training Committee and the Subspecialty Committee.
5. Ensures that, together, all curricula form a coherent programme of learning.
6. Recommends any changes needed to knowledge criteria for the Core Curriculum to the Examinations and Assessment Committee.
7. Commissions further curricular elements as requested by the Specialty Education Advisory Committee, or Education Board.
8. Prepares curriculum submissions to the GMC on behalf of the Education Board, in conjunction with the Advanced Training Committee and Subspecialty Committee where appropriate.
9. Provides the evidence of review, consultation and quality control required by the GMC. The Committee will work to the standards defined by the GMC and those of the Public Sector Equality Duty. 
10. Ensures that all elements of O&G curricula are coherent and up to date 
11. Responds to requests for elements of all curricula curriculum to be changed in accordance with changes in practice and reflect modern UK developments. 
12. Works with other College committees to allow an integrated approach across all aspects of the curriculum and training programme. 
13. Meets four times per year (with remote working groups and workshops as required) and reports to SEAC and carries out ongoing work to develop the curricula. 

Four times a year

Reports to Specialty Education Advisory Committee (SEAC)

• Chair
• Vice Chair
• Vice President for Education
• Education Resources Adviser
• Chair or Vice Chair of Curriculum Committee
• Chair of Examination and Assessment Committee
• Chair Professional Development Committee
• Education Supervision Champion
• Representative from Global Health Board
• Honorary Director of Events
• Honorary Co-Director of Events
• Trainees’ Representative
• Lay Representative
• Director of Education
• International Education Development Manager
• Head of Education Innovation
• Head of Events
• Head of Specialty Education and Training
• Committee Secretary