Our Academic and Quality Frameworks

1. Our Academic and Quality Frameworks Phil Brimson Quality Manager (Validation and Review)

2. The Academic Year – from 2014 UG and PG programmes run slightly differently We have three terms UG and two Semesters PG • September to Christmas • Christmas to Easter • Easter to June • Some programmes might run over the summer, which is also a time for resits • There was a summer school in 2014, which might continue • Some UG students are in transition from our previous framework, which might mean that they are more ‘semesterised’

3. Assessment Framework • Assessment regulations govern all taught postgraduate and undergraduate programmes • Programmes are made up of modules – chunks of teaching and assessment • Each module has a level (degree of difficulty) • Each module has a credit value (one credit equals 10 student study hours) • Modules may be from a single subject area or more than one subject area or School

4. Single and Combined Honours(Undergraduate) • We operate Single subject degrees e.g. BA Sociology, although some comprise more than one subject, such as Law and Criminology • There are a number of two subject Combined Honours and Combined Studies degrees but these are running out and only have legacy students on them

5. Regulatory Framework • We have recently revised our assessment regulations for undergraduate programmes, and these have come into effect from September 2014 • Under the new framework, our progression and award assessment boards will have a greater focus on the student and their profile • Our PG regulations have remained unchanged for now, and are more ‘modular’ in their approach

6. Undergraduate Programmes - New • Level 4 = 4+ modules – multiples of 30 credits – 120 credits • Level 5 = 4+ modules – multiples of 30 credits – 120 credits • Level 6 = 4+ modules – multiples of 30 credits – 120 credits = 360 credits overall • Assessment – will be spread over the year, and include formative assessment – 15 credit modules may have an assessment after Christmas. • Summer reassessment for all modules. • Students need to have successfully completed at least 90 credits per year to progress (105 credits if 15 credit modules) – so no more than 1 module unpassed per year. • The assessment board will make the decision on student progress based on the profile.

7. Postgraduate Programmes(mainly masters degrees) Level 7 (M) = 4 modules of 30 credits + 1 module of 60 credits= 180 credits Semester A Mod 1 Mod 2 assessment assessment Semester B Mod 3 Mod 4 assessment assessment Summer Period The dissertation module (=60 credits) September reassessment of Sem A and Sem B modules October award board for Masters degrees

8. Modules • Each module comprises 1, 2 or 3 assessed components (pro rata double modules) • Components have weights (adding up to 100%) • (Component weights are recorded on DELTA student record system) • Components have marks (0-100%) • (Component marks are recorded on DELTA student record system)

9. Assessment and Reassessment - Current • Undergraduate modules • Pass mark = 40% (component threshold 30%) • Capped at 40% for further assessment • Postgraduate modules • Pass mark = 50%(component threshold 40%) • Capped at 50% for further assessment

10. Reassessment and Repeat - PG • Reassessment if not passed on assessment • all components marked <50% reassessed • all components marked ≥50% carried through • reassessment in September • module capped at 50% • achieved mark shown on transcript as well • If not passed on reassessment • repeat module (‘with attendance’) • capped at 50% • no prior marks carried through • do alternative module (option modules only) • rules for first time study apply • No further assessment or reassessment is allowed on a repeated module after reassessment

11. Reassessment and Repeat – UG • Reassessment if not passed on assessment • all components <40% reassessed (unless pass compensation can be awarded and other thresholds met) • all components ≥40% marks carried through • reassessment in summer • reassessed components capped at 40% • achieved mark shown on transcript as well • If not passed on reassessment • assessment boards can make several decisions. Guidance will be made available • repeat module (‘with attendance’) • capped • no prior marks carried through • repeat the Level of study again (this can only occur once during the lifetime of a programme)

12. Assessment Boards • Subject Area Progression Boards (one per subject area) • approves standards for all Subject Area modules • confirms module marks for modules at all levels • awards credit, including A(E)L credit, compensation and implements extenuation decisions • makes programme progression decisions for students on each programme in the subject area • Subject Area Award Boards • confers awards and classification • awards compensation (and credit) • implements Extenuation decisions

13. Classification - Current • Postgraduate Masters • Merit 60%-69%, Distinction 70%+ • Undergraduate

14. External Examiners - Role • Verify that academic standards on modules and programmes are appropriate. • Comparability with modules delivered elsewhere or by other mode within UEL. • Comparability with similar HE courses across the UK. • To assure and maintain academic standards. • Ensure that the assessment processes are sound, fairly operated and in line with our policies and regulations.

15. Extenuation (process currently being updated) • The aim is: To provide a safety net for students who experience events which are: • unforeseeable - in that the student could have no prior knowledge of the event concerned, and • unpreventable - in that the student could do nothing reasonably in heir power to prevent such an event, and • expected to have a serious impact on the performance

16. Extenuation - Continued • A central panel will consider all claims as currently happens. • Outcomes will be used by assessment boards whilst considering student profile. • Guidance will be provided to help consistency at the assessment boards.

17. Extenuation - Continued • May be claimed for exams or coursework. • Is submitted by the student on forms with independent documentary evidence. • Is judged by a UEL panel based purely on the claim and evidence. • The student's identity is anonymous. • Staff are not allowed to: • Advise students on extenuation (though they can try to ensure that the form is completed) • Support a student's case for extenuation • Advice for the student is provided via: • The Student’s Union UELSU • The extenuation website pages

18. Coursework Submission • For UG programmes, there is the possibility of submitting coursework up to 24 hours late with a deduction of 5 marks. • Coursework is submitted through School helpdesks (not to individual members of staff) / via e-submission. • For PG programmes, one minute late is ‘late’ and is marked at 0. • For work submitted late there is the possibility of extenuation.

19. Quality Assurance and Enhancement Processes • All processes are outlined in the Quality Manual, which is available online via the QAE webpages. www.uel.ac.uk/qa • Outlines how to approve programmes, make changes to programmes and modules (amongst other things), and external examining. • Manual of General Regulations is also on these pages.

20. Quality Assurance and Enhancement Processes - Continued • Always interested to get feedback from staff where they feel that there is something which could be improved – each school has a QAE Link person. • Each school has a Quality Leader, its own committees and a servicing officer. • Outcomes considered through University-wide committees.

21. Modules and Amendments • Module specification http://www.uel.ac.uk/qa/policies/forms • Module amendments • Changes not requiring any approval • reading lists • Changes requiring quality committee approval • e.g., changes to assessment, routine curriculum updating

22. Module Processes - Expectations • Module handbooks / guides • Module evaluation / e-system • Module reporting • Skills curriculum should be embedded within the modules http://www.uel.ac.uk/qa/policies/forms

23. Student Rights and Responsibilities • Student charter http://www.uel.ac.uk/studentcharter/ • Student feedback processes: • programme committees • programme reps • module evaluation (via EvaSys) • informal discussion with programme/field leader, module tutor, School Registrar

24. Questions?