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Programmes Team |
Rule
Overview
Once the Executive Committee approves the Operational Fulfilment Document (OFD), the development team must prepare the required documentation for academic approval by the Academic Board. This documentation should align with academic regulations, including the Academic Standards Regulations and Credit Accumulation Regulations, the School’s Learning and Teaching Strategy, the Teaching and Learning Policy, and sector good practice. The documentation should include, amongst other documents:
- The business case and OFD, Stage 1 and 2 approval documents, and how recommendations from the Boards have been addressed.
- Draft programme specification with awards compliant with Academic Standards Regulations and other academic regulations.
- All module specifications.
- CVs of the programme leader and all staff.
- Outcomes of stakeholder engagement.
- External experts’ report.
- Any other supporting documentation needed for approval.
The documentation must reflect the School’s Learning and Teaching Strategy, which is based on:
- Innovative Programmes
- Innovative Pedagogy
- Innovative Research
This ensures that the new programme aligns with the School’s strategic plan and incorporates its Learning and Teaching Strategy. The programme’s outcomes should be at the appropriate level, and content should be current. Programme and module leaders must review and ensure compliance during annual monitoring.
The Academic Board will assess how well the strategy has been applied when reviewing academic approval. The Programme Development Team can seek advice from the Director of Education or the Academic Board on programme and module design and academic regulations.
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Programmes Team |
Rule
A. Programme and Module Specification
The programme must adhere to the School's regulations and policies, which are based on regulatory requirements. The programme specification should include:
- The primary award and a clear title reflecting the programme’s subject matter.
- A concise description of the programme.
- The HECoS (Higher Education Classification of Subjects) code for the subject.
- The required level and credits for the primary award, including coherent pathways and any exit awards, as per the Academic Standards Regulations, Credit Accumulation Regulations, and Modes of Study Regulations.
- The total notional hours for the primary award.
- The awarding title, awarding body, teaching institute, and accreditations.
- The language of instruction.
- Reference to the applicable School Descriptor and how the programme’s aims and outcomes align with the OfS’ qualification descriptors, SEEC Credit Level Descriptors, and relevant Subject Matter Benchmarks.
- A list of relevant modules, indicating whether they are core or optional, their learning outcomes, credit values, teaching methods, and semester of delivery.
- The graduate attributes.
- Teaching and assessment strategies, including School assessment criteria and formats.
- Entry criteria for the programme.
- Available cohort entry points and all modes of study.
- Details of the programme leader.
- Dates of programme approval and reapproval.
This ensures that the programme meets all regulatory and academic standards, provides clear and comprehensive information for prospective students, and aligns with the School's strategic objectives and quality requirements. The specification helps maintain transparency and consistency in programme delivery and supports the School's commitment to delivering high-quality education.
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Programmes Team |
Rule
B. CVs of Programme Team
The programme development team must submit CVs as part of the overall documentation.
This ensures that the team and leader possess the necessary knowledge, skills, and experience to successfully deliver the programme.
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Programmes Team |
Rule
C. Stakeholder Consultation
The documentation must detail engagement with internal and external stakeholders, including students, employers, and professional bodies. It should explain which stakeholders were involved, the methods of engagement, the outcomes, and how feedback influenced programme development.
This approach ensures that the School integrates valuable feedback from all relevant parties, enhancing the programme's relevance and effectiveness in meeting stakeholder needs and expectations.
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Programmes Team |
Rule
D. External Assessor Report
At this stage, the draft programme and module specifications, CVs, and other relevant materials must be reviewed by an external programme assessor. The assessor should be an experienced academic from another higher education institution with relevant expertise. They will assess whether the programme meets the FHEQ and OfS Sector-recognised standards. The assessor must declare no conflicts of interest and will be paid as per the School's regulations. Information on their role and responsibilities will be available on the School's website. The Academic Board will annually audit external assessors and analyse their reports for the Board of Governors.
Engaging an external expert ensures the programme meets high standards of quality, comparability, and objectivity. It helps verify that the programme aligns with regulatory descriptors and maintains coherence across all modes of study.
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Programmes Team |
Rule
External Assessors Nomination
External assessors must be nominated promptly to allow sufficient time for review. The Academic Board must approve these nominations from the programme development team based on the appointment criteria outlined in the regulations. Once approved, the team can send the draft programme and module specifications, CVs, external assessment instructions, and other materials to the external assessor. The assessor’s completed form should be submitted as part of academic approval.
Timely nomination and approval of external assessors ensure a smooth review process, allowing for thorough evaluation of the programme’s quality and adherence to standards.
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Programmes Team |
Rule
External Assessor Appointment Criteria
The School uses the following criteria for appointing external assessors and examiners from academia, industry, business, and the professions:
- Fluency in English.
- Knowledge of UK HR sector reference points for academic standards, quality assurance, and enhancement.
- Expertise in the relevant fields covered by the module or programme.
- Relevant academic qualifications or substantial professional experience at the level of the qualification.
- Standing, credibility, and broad experience in the discipline.
- Familiarity with expected student achievement standards.
- Awareness of current developments in curriculum design and delivery.
- Experience in designing and implementing assessments.
- Experience in enhancing the student learning experience.
- Compliance with any applicable criteria set by PSRBs.
These criteria ensure that external assessors and examiners have the necessary qualifications, expertise, and current knowledge to effectively evaluate and contribute to maintaining high academic standards.
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Programmes Team |
Rule
External Assessor Conflict of Interests
The School must not appoint external assessors or examiners who fall into the following categories:
- Current employees of the School or members of the Board of Governors.
- Current or former staff or students of the School, unless five years have passed since their last association and all students they taught have completed their programmes.
- Individuals with a close professional, contractual, or personal relationship with staff or students involved with the programme.
- Individuals who could significantly influence the future of students on the programme.
- More than one external examiner from the same teaching team at the same institution.
- Those involved in reciprocal arrangements with similar programmes at other institutions.
Former members of validation panels are generally not recommended as initial external examiners, as they may lack the impartiality needed. If a former panel member is nominated, a clear rationale must be provided.
External assessors and examiners must not serve as consultants on programme design or participate in review panels for the programmes they are examining. They may, however, be consulted on proposed modifications to existing modules or programmes.
If an external assessor or examiner identifies a potential conflict of interest after appointment, they must notify the Chair of the Academic Board immediately. If the conflict cannot be resolved, they should resign from their appointment.
These guidelines ensure that external assessors and examiners maintain impartiality and independence, preventing conflicts of interest and preserving the integrity of the assessment process.
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