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Accreditation and Validation flexible and responsive systems. Helen Rowe Acting Head of Department Department of Clothing Design and Technology Manchester Metropolitan University. Definitions.
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Accreditation and Validationflexible and responsive systems Helen Rowe Acting Head of Department Department of Clothing Design and Technology Manchester Metropolitan University HLSP event at The Lowry Feb 2011
Definitions ACCREDITATION – the assigning of academic credit to a course of study. This credit needs to have a value and a level. VALIDATION – the process by which a course of study is scrutinised and ultimately approved. This is, in effect, a quality assurance process. HLSP event at The Lowry Feb 2011
Definitions Flexible and responsive ? How fast can institutions be in taking courses to validation and what variations to process can be achieved without endangering quality ? HLSP event at The Lowry Feb 2011
Typical process to validation • What is to be approved ? • Gathering of market intelligence • Submission of proposal for strategic approval • Strategic approval • At Faculty level • Consultation at University level • Including full partnership approval process if a collaborative initiative HLSP event at The Lowry Feb 2011
Academic scrutiny • Decision on type of event • Formal planning meetings • Production of documentation • Constitution of an Approvals Panel with internal and external members • Approval event – with full report • Meeting of conditions • Final sign-off – the course is validated HLSP event at The Lowry Feb 2011
Developing an Open Professional Programme (OPP) Within the Department of Clothing Design and Technology, Hollings Faculty, Manchester Metropolitan University HLSP event at The Lowry Feb 2011
Background and impetus • Long history of short courses • Strong links with industry • Commitment to staff development • Increasing value of academic credit • Higher Level Skills Pathfinder (HLSP) bid • Engagement with FE Colleges HLSP event at The Lowry Feb 2011
Challenges • Fast track validation • Small credit value units • Working with others • Documentation • OPP Specification and Draft Definitive Document • Validated units of varying subject matter, level and credit value • Approved Awards Supplement HLSP event at The Lowry Feb 2011
The Event - 17th December 2008 • Constitution of the panel and the team • Main focus of the questions • Outcome and time restriction for conditions to be met HLSP event at The Lowry Feb 2011
Conditions and Recommendations • Collaborative agreements / financial details • Special regulatory considerations to put to ADC • Some rewording of Definitive Document and Programme Spec • Process for approving named awards through FADC • Over-arching Business Plan • Formal agreements in place where delivery to take place on employer premises (eg health & safety issues) Recommendations related to induction ; academic advisor role ; learning resources ; innovative assessment etc HLSP event at The Lowry Feb 2011
Implementation and the future of the OPP • Immediate considerations following validation : • Short term enrolment of students • Appropriate access to resources • Expansion within Hollings - New units ; New titles • Roll-out across other faculties • Streamlining of the Approval process at MMU • Embedding of the OPP into the vocabulary of the university HLSP event at The Lowry Feb 2011
Thank you Helen Rowe MSc BSc (Hons) Ctext FTI FHEA Acting Head of Department- Clothing Design and Technology Hollings Faculty MMU h.rowe@mmu.ac.uk HLSP event at The Lowry Feb 2011