ulster.ac.uk

Evaluation and Revalidation 2015/16

Briefing Seminar

Catherine AveryAcademic Office

7 October 2015

Programme Approval

Aims of evaluation and revalidation Curriculum Management System (CMS) Overview of revalidation process Panel membership The Meeting Documentation Issues raised by Panels (2014/15) Issues raised by students (2014/15) Key changes for 2015/16 Programme Review and Development (PRD) (Pilot 2015/16)

Purpose

EVALUATION:

accords with the University’s purpose and core strategic aims; academic structure and content appropriate; accords with the University’s scheme of qualifications; modular structure;

credit framework and general regulations for the award; standard and student workload comparable to those of other programmes

nationally; resources sufficient to meet aims and objectives; evidence of reasonable employment and progression opportunities.

REVALIDATION:

re-affirmation of standards continuing currency and relevance of curriculum to University’s Aims

Revalidation Process

CA6 Faculty Revalidation Unit Coordinator

Document prepared

Revalidation meeting CASC LTC

Faculty response

Panel membership

Chair

Dean (or nominee) (collaborative provision only)

One internal member

One student representative (revalidation only)

Two external members (subject experts)

Industry/employer representative (optional except for Fdn degrees)

PSRB representatives (joint events only)

In Attendance: Secretary (Academic Office)

Subject Partnership Manager (collaborative provision)

The Meeting

Introductions and tour of facilities specialist teaching facilities may only involve external Panel members

Private Meeting of Panel

to exchange opinions on the provision to plan the conduct of the meeting

Meeting with Faculty Senior Team

to discuss higher level strategic issues

The Meeting contd. Meeting with Students (revalidation only)

students’ opinions – what’s good and what’s not so good

Meeting with Course Team(s) to consider the provision in detail

Private Meeting of Panel to reach a decision on the provision

Meeting with Senior Faculty Team

to feedback conclusions and recommendations

Papers for the Meeting

Guidelines for panels

Agenda and programme

Contextual information e.g. benchmark standards, external reports

Course/subject documentation

Aide Memoire

Preliminary comments - CA7 (panel members)

Curriculum Management System (CMS) https://curriculum.ulster.ac.uk

System to support production and approval of curriculum documentation for internal University courses (Phase 1)

Resource for: Modules – creation and revision Programme Specification Courses/Subjects – preparation of validation documentation Approval processes – course revisions, course withdrawals,

validation documents, credit-bearing short course modules

Key Benefits

Online documentation and approval process Automatic creation of PDFs of programme specifications

and module descriptions Facility to update reading lists and teaching teams Online accessible, single repository of full module and

course information Information can be used for other curriculum-related

documents HEAR - programme-level learning outcomes KIS – teaching, learning and assessment methods Online prospectus

Documentation

Section A: Introduction

Brief summary of rationale, origins, demand, relationship with other courses

Projected intakes for next 5 years Section B: Course/Subject Provision

B1 Programme Specification(s)

B2 Commentaries:

• Recent and proposed changes (revalidation only) • Academic progression, internal coherence, choice • Structure diagram(s)• Transfer to and from course, progression opportunities• Work-based learning/placement/study abroad• Learning, teaching and assessment • Research and/or scholarship-informed curriculum and

teaching• Creativity, innovation and good practice• Standards• Relations with PSRBs• Employability• Graduate Qualities and Student Experience Principles

B3 - Regulations (standard templates on AO web-site)

B4 - Module Descriptions

Section C: Resources

C1 - Physical resources

C2 - Staff resources

Examples of Issues Raised by Panels in 2014/15

Market: distinctiveness of provision, modes, employer engagement, cohort sizes

Content and Standards: title of programme/modules to reflect more clearly aims and content, course structure, specialist pathways, internal coherence and the progressive nature of the curriculum, full-time and part-time modes, learning outcomes (final and exit awards) and mappings, work-based learning, reading lists, internationalisation, study skills, professional accreditation, articulation arrangements

Learning and Teaching: elaboration of strategy, fully online delivery, use of interactive multi-media technologies, ‘block teaching’, research and scholarship informed

Assessment and Feedback: embedding of Principles of Assessment and Feedback for Learning, assessment schedule, ‘bunching’ of assignments, group work, feedback arrangements

Support for Students; induction, academic study and writing skills, cohort identity, staff/student consultative arrangements

Resources: library resources, physical resources available at different sites, cohort sizes

Examples of Issues Raised by Students in 2014/15    Organisation and Delivery: timing of Library induction, refresher

to BBL, quality of BBL materials, block delivery, large class sizes, cohort identity, staff/student consultation, practical work, PB exemption information

Assessment and Feedback: changes to assessment, Pass/Fail, ‘bunching’, imbalance in assessment requirements, amount and quality of feedback, group work

Resources: e-books, facilities at Magee, specialist equipment, apprehension about re-location to Belfast campus

Key Changes for 2015/16

Adoption of Principles underpinning the Ulster Student Experience

Guiding Principles – Work Experience Requirement for project/dissertation in Honours degrees,

including Integrated Masters Revised minimum standard for DPP and DIAS awards

(Pass mark 40%) Pass with Commendation introduced for PG programmes Panels to receive a report from ADDL on readiness of staff

and material for fully online proposals New Digital Learning Strategy CMS – New course proposals (CA1) and online prospectus 

Proposed Programme Review and Development Process: Key Features Internal, outcentre and franchised provision School/subject based units (approx. 40) Documentation to include course handbooks Panel engagement starts 16 weeks in advance Panel composition Programme (2 - 3 days) Documentation (electronic)

PRD Pilot 2015/16

School of the Built Environment 12-15 April 2016 (Prov) 18 courses (approx) Report to Learning and Teaching Committee

(June 2016)

Academic Office Web-site: http://www.ulster.ac.uk/academicoffice

Assessment Handbook Committees (Learning and Teaching Committee/Course

Approval Sub-Committee) Course and Subject Management Documents and forms External Examiners Policies (A – Z) Programme Approval & Revision Regulations templates Regulatory Framework Staff Standards