Higher education heads have overruled Gillian Shephard, Secretary of State for Education and Employment, in their proposals for a unified quality regime.

Members of the joint planning group for a single quality agency have called for flexibility in the timing of subject reviews to allow for diversity in the sector, streamline the system and cut costs.

Their recommendations fly in the face of Mrs Shephard's instruction that assessments of individual subjects should not take place over a lengthy cycle and should not exceed two years.

But the group's final report, circulated for consultation this week, proposes that more than two years would lapse between subject reviews. The timetable for both subject/programme area assessments and institution-wide quality probes would be eight years. Within this, related subject areas would be grouped together for assessment in two-year blocks, where possible.

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However, institutions would be allowed to negotiate with the new agency, which should be "fully operational" from October 1998, to lengthen the cycle. They could have the review period extended if they could show in a quality assurance plan, to be agreed with the agency, that the two-year cycle would not fit in with internal or professional body quality arrangements. Some professional body reviews take place over five years.

The report says: "In some circumstances the possibility of greater harmonisation with the internal arrangements of institutions, of collaboration with professional and statutory bodies, and of a consequent reduction in what is a significant area of overlap, would be enhanced if the review period for individual subject/programme areas was extended."

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The planning group is trying to integrate quality assessment and audit roles into a single reformed system. This would involve collaboration with professional bodies to cut visits and red tape, and so reduce costs.

Institutions would be expected to draw up a quality assurance plan, setting out provision to be reviewed over the eight-year cycle, including any review by professional and statutory bodies.

"An institution's quality assurance plan will enable an institutional perspective to be brought to bear on the process form the outset," the report says.

The present peer review formula will be maintained, but with the addition of observers form the institution under review. The precise role of observers, however, is yet to be determined.

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New subject area reviews will start in October 1998. The new agency is expected to take over assessment activities and the functions of the ³ÉÈËVRÊÓƵ Quality Council from April next year.

Quality, Standards and Professional Accreditation: a Mapping Exercise, available from the distribution department, UCAS, Fulton House, Jessop Avenue, Cheltenham, price Pounds 9.50.