A NORTH-East university has received top marks for its teaching and management.

Inspectors from the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education spent a week examining the University of Teesside, Middlesbrough, from top to bottom.

The team concluded that "broad confidence can be placed in the soundness of the university's current management and likely future management of the quality of its academic programmes and the academic standards of its awards".

Also praised were the learning resources provided to students, the professional commitment of staff in providing support for students, the university's partnerships with business, which demonstrated "outstanding mutual respect and trust", the university's effectiveness and widening accessibility.

Professor Leni Oglesby, deputy vice-chancellor said: "It was especially gratifying that so many areas of good practice at Teesside were recognised. The findings will assist the university's review of its quality assurance mechanisms, which aim to reduce any undue burdens on the staff while further developing areas of good practice in a number of key aspects of our work."

The agency's report, published today, says students' views have been instrumental in curriculum development and improving support, while academic staff are rewarded for excellence through initiatives such as the Teaching Fellowship Scheme.

The team was also impressed with the high levels of student satisfaction.

The university has been advised to be more consistent in the way reports from external examiners are dealt with, and the inspectors recommend a review of the university's complex structure of committees and working groups.