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Programme and Course Approval

Programme and Course Approval. David A Watt. www.gla.ac.uk/services/senateoffice/qea/ progdesignapproval/progapproval. Background (1). QAA requires the University to ensure that all programme proposals are thoroughly scrutinised.

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Programme and Course Approval

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  1. Programme and Course Approval David A Watt www.gla.ac.uk/services/senateoffice/qea/progdesignapproval/progapproval

  2. Background (1) • QAA requires the University to ensure that all programme proposals are thoroughly scrutinised. • Senate has ultimate responsibility for all academic matters including programme and course approval. • The programme and course approval process is managed by the Academic Standards Committee (ASC) supported by the Senate Office.

  3. Background (2) • Senate has delegated responsibility as follows:

  4. PIP • PIP is a database of programmes and courses. • A course is “a self-contained unit of study on a particular topic ...”.  • A programme is “a set of compulsory and elective courses leading to a defined award ...”. • PIP contains programme specifications, course specifications, and proposal-related documents. • When a programme or course is proposed, its specification must be uploaded into PIP. • PIP records the status of each proposal as it proceeds through the process.

  5. New programmes: School (1) • Suppose that a School wishes to propose a new programme. • A working group develops the proposal and documents it: • proposal support document (rationale) • programme specification • course specifications (for any new courses).

  6. New programmes: School (2) • The School consults on the proposal: • School Learning & Teaching Committee • students • external examiners • employers • university services (e.g., CRB, LTC, RIO). • The School must address all criticisms. • If a criticism is rejected, the reasons must be documented.

  7. New programmes: School (3) • The School uploads the proposal into PIP: • proposal support document • programme specification • any course specifications • records of consultations. • For a new PGT programme, the School also submits a budget plan to the College. • A PGT costing model is currently being piloted by Finance Office.

  8. New programmes: College • The College Board of Studies (BoS) has authority to approve programme proposals on behalf of the College. • The BoS considers the proposal and budget plan. • The BoS must scrutinise all aspects of the proposal: • Does the proposal have academic merit? • Have consultations been properly conducted? • Is the budget plan sound?

  9. New programmes: PAG (1) • Academic Standards Committee (ASC) has delegated authority to approve programme proposals on behalf of Senate. • ASC has established four Programme Approval Groups (PAGs). • There is one PAG for each College. • This is composed of three senior academics from the other Colleges, assisted by a Senate Office clerk.

  10. New programmes: PAG (2) • The BoS submits to the Senate Office: • proposal support document • programme specification • relevant BoS minutes • new regulations (if required). • The PAG audits the work of the BoS: • Is all documentation in order? • Does the programme specification comply with University guidelines and the SCQF? • Have consultations been properly conducted?

  11. Suites of programmes • Suppose that a School wishes to propose a suite of programmes with similar structure. • In the proposal support document, list all the programmes and explain their relationship to one another. • Submit the proposal support document and one representative programme specification for consultations, College BoS approval, and PAG approval. • Then submit all remaining programme specifications, for approval by the BoS convener.

  12. Changed programmes (1) • Suppose that a School wishes to propose changes to an existing programme (or suite of programmes). • If the changes are minor, they can be approved by the College BoS alone. • If the changes are major, they must be approved by the College BoS and the PAG.

  13. Changed programmes (2) • Examples of changes to a PGT programme:

  14. Timetable for programme proposals

  15. Marketing • Start marketing as soon as the proposal is developed (as long as possible before launch). • Initially market proposed new programmes with the caveat “subject to Senate approval”. • Remove the caveat as soon as ASC approval is confirmed.

  16. Summary • The programme and course approval process is robust but flexible to user needs. • The fast-track cycle caters for late but genuinely urgent proposals (where authorised by the Clerk of Senate and ASC convener). • The Semester 1 cycle was established recently in response to one Faculty’s rapid PGT developments. • This session, the Semester 1 timetable has been adapted to cater for the expected upsurge in PGT proposals.

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