Governance

EduQual works with experts and leaders in the education and training sector to ensure that we maintain high standards across all our qualifications.

The EduQual Standards Committee and the EduQual Standards Review Group are instrumental in ensuring we meet these standards, and to the requirements of the qualification regulator(s) with whom we engage.

Standards Committee

Our senior governance and leadership committee, the Standards Committee (SC) is composed of executive and non-executive Directors, all of whom possess the necessary expertise and experience required to govern EduQual’s business. The main objectives of the Standards Committee are to ensure that EduQual complies with the requirements for awarding bodies, as set out by UK qualifications regulators and other relevant stakeholders, and to oversee the validity of all EduQual qualifications.

See below for information about our Standards Committee members.

John Black

John is EduQual’s Director of Compliance and acts as our Accountable Officer. John held several senior roles in Pearson, including Head of Compliance and Director of International IP Governance, where he was responsible for protecting the copyright of all Pearson publications and materials.

Having spent over 20 years with the police, John joined Pearson in 1998 where he was well-placed to head-up the Compliance team, responsible for all investigations into malpractice and for maintaining the integrity and status of all Pearson qualifications.

Driving Pearson’s Self Evaluation Reporting system, John was responsible for monitoring and reporting to the ‘Executive’ on performance against regulatory standards. He was instrumental in ensuring that Pearson (formerly Edexcel) was one of the first UK awarding organisations to achieve Ofqual recognition.

John continues to be active in the field of legal and investigative work, including the provision of training in investigative techniques and presenting on behalf of the Federation of Awarding Bodies.

Jason Raife

Jason is an education professional with over twenty-five years’ experience in the Education, Training and Awarding sectors.

After graduating from University College London and Cardiff University, Jason began his career as a lecturer, followed by a lengthy spell working for Edexcel (now Pearson), which included a variety of managerial roles in qualification development, quality assurance, compliance and international business development. This breadth of experience, underpinned by the Warwick MBA, has since enabled Jason to make a significant contribution to the growth of many smaller UK awarding bodies.

Jason is currently the Chief Executive Officer of EduQual, a position he has held since the company’s formation in 2014. Jason lives in Wimbledon with his wife and four children and is an enthusiastic footballer and tennis player!

Dave Ruppenthal

Dave is an accomplished writer, speaker, and trainer. He is currently MD of Quality for Qualifications Learning & Achievement Ltd (QQLA) and serves as Chair of EduQual’s Standards Committee, our senior governance and leadership committee. Dave’s company, QQLA, specialises in providing leadership and support to awarding bodies, particularly in relation to the acquisition and maintenance of regulatory recognition.

Dave has delivered presentations and training sessions on behalf of the Federation of Awarding Bodies, specialising in malpractice, maladministration, complaints and appeals, and investigative interviewing.

Dave has had a long and rewarding career, which includes teaching in the secondary and FE sectors as well as in the Royal Air Force. He moved into the Awarding sector in the mid-1990s, soon becoming the General Manager in Edexcel’s BTEC Further Education Business Unit.
 

Other EduQual Committees

Standards Review Group

The Standards Review Group (SRG) is composed of a mix of senior EduQual employees and experienced external Quality Assurance professionals acting as Independent Panel Members. The SRG meets biannually and ensures that EduQual delivers and awards qualifications to the high professional standard expected by its stakeholders. Reporting to the EduQual Standards Committee (SC), the SRG monitors EduQual’s compliance with regulatory requirements, including the ongoing validity of all EduQual qualifications.

Audit and Risk Management Group

The Audit and Risk Management Group (ARMG) reports to the Standards Committee and meets biannually, or as required (e.g. where merited by extraordinary circumstances). This group’s focus ensures that EduQual continues to rigorously adhere to regulatory requirements (and the requirements of other similar bodies), including the absolute necessity to manage risk in an effective way.

Qualification Validity Review Group

The Qualification Validity Review Group (QVRG) is a subcommittee of the SRG which meets biannually to review and confirm the ongoing validity of all EduQual qualifications. Like the ARMG, the QVRG retains the capacity to hold extraordinary meetings outside this schedule (as circumstances may require).