Please note that the content of this book primarily consists of articles available from Wikipedia or other free sources online. Established in 1997, the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) helps to ensure that higher education qualifications in the United Kingdom are of a sound standard. It protects the public interest by checking how universities and colleges maintain their academic standards and quality. QAA is not an accrediting body and does not hold a list of recognised universities or colleges. This is held currently by the UK Government''s Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS). The Chief Executive since October 2009 has been Anthony McClaran, who was previously Chief Executive of UCAS for six years. QAA is based in Gloucester with QAA Scotland in Glasgow.