Evaluation and Revalidation 2013/14

1. Evaluation and Revalidation2013/14 BRIEFING SEMINAR 2 OCTOBER 2013 Catherine Avery ACADEMIC OFFICE

2. Programme Approval/Re-approval • Purpose • Revalidation Units and Cycle • Evaluation/Revalidation process • Panel composition • Panel Papers • Validation Meeting • Documentation • Issues raised by Panels (2012/13) • Issues raised by students (2012/13) • Key issues for consideration

3. Purpose • EVALUATION: • accords with the University’s purpose and core strategic aims; • academic structure and content appropriate; • accords with the University’s qualifications and credit framework; modular structure; 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 • currency of curriculum • continuing relevance to University’s Strategic Aims

4. Revalidation Units and Cycle Subject units • Groupings of cognate programmes • Reflect discipline and/or campus, level (UG/PG) • Revalidation course listing Cycle • Five year cycle • Monthly schedule of revalidation events

5. Revalidation Process CA6 Faculty Revalidation Unit Coordinator Document prepared Revalidation CASC TLC meeting Faculty response

6. Panel Composition • Chair • Dean (or nominee) (collaborative provision only) • One internal member • One student representative (revalidation only) • Two external members (subject experts) • Industry/employer representative (optional) • PSRB representatives (joint events only) In Attendance: Secretary (Academic Office) Subject Partnership Manager/Head of Partnership (collaborative provision)

7. Papers for the Meeting • Guidelines for panels • Agenda and programme • Contextual information i.e. benchmark standards, external examiner reports (revalidation only) • KIS summary data sheet (2013/14 only) (Internal events) • Course/subject documentation • Preliminary comments - CA7 (panel members) • CA4 form (completed by Subject Partnership Manager) • Central Department Reports: Library, IT, Career Development Centre

8. Validation Meeting • Introductions and tour of facilities • specialist teaching facilities • Private Panel Meeting • to plan the conduct of the meeting • to exchange views on the provision • Meeting with Senior Management Team • to discuss higher level strategic issues

9. Meeting contd. • Meeting with Students • to explore students’ views (revalidation only) • Meeting with Course Team • to discuss the provision in detail • Private Panel session • to reach a decision on approval • Meeting with Senior Management Team • to feedback conclusions and recommendations

10. Documentation http://www.ulster.ac.uk/academicoffice/download/Course%20Eval-Sub%20Reval%20Doc.doc http://www.ulster.ac.uk/academicoffice/download/AIDE%20MEMOIRE.pdf Section A: Introduction • Brief summary of rationale, origins, demand, relationship other courses in School/Faculty/subject • Projected intakes for next 5 years Section B: Course/Subject Provision • B1 Programme Specification(s) (template available) http://www.ulster.ac.uk/academicoffice/download/ProgrammeSpecification.doc

11. B2Commentaries: • Recent and proposed changes • Academic progression, internal coherence, choice • Structure diagram • Transfer to and from course, progression • Work-based learning/placement/study abroad • Learning, teaching and assessment • http://www.ulster.ac.uk/academicoffice/download/Exemplar%20Assessment%20Schedule.docx • Research/scholarship-informed curriculum and teaching • Creativity, innovation and good practice • Standards • Relations with PSRBs

12. B2 Commentaries cont. • Employability • Graduate qualities • Widening participation • Work-based learning • Personal development planning • Entrepreneurship training • Career opportunities, development and progression

13. B3 – Regulations (Award templates on AO website) • B4 - Module Descriptions (template) http://www.ulster.ac.uk/academicoffice/download/MODULE%20DESC%20TEMPLATE.DOC Section C: Resources • C1 - Physical resources • C2 - Staff resources

14. Examples of Issues Raised by Panels in 2012/13 • Recruitment and Admission: marketing, entry requirements; • Content and Standards: title of programme/modules, course structure, full-time/part-time, exit awards; graduate qualities; regulations; learning outcomes; • Learning and Teaching: fully online, engagement with BBL/new technologies, research/scholarship-informed teaching, placement; • Assessment and Feedback: Principles of Assessment and Feedback for Learning, assessment strategy, group work, formative/summative feedback; • Support for Students: induction, employment opportunities guidance; • Resources and Staff Development: library resources, outcentres, cohort size by site (partner institutions), links with employers and subject ‘peers’, identification of staff development needs.

15. Examples of Issues Raised by Students in 2012/13 • Organisation and Delivery: Academic writing/IT skills, BBL, guest speakers, placement, fully online delivery; • Assessment and Feedback: group work (too much, composition of groups, practical difficulties, assessment criteria, group and individual marks, peer assessment), nature, timing and quality of feedback; • Resources: access to BBL/fee payments, social spaces, MACs and specialist software packages and software versions;

16. KEY ISSUES FOR CONSIDERATION • Changes to new proposals from that approved by APSC e.g. title, duration, mode • Exit awards • DPP/DPP(I) (customised learning outcomes) • Graduate Qualities • Internationalisation of the curriculum • Study Skills • Principles of Assessment and Feedback for Learning • Group work policy • Course exemplar assessment schedule • Employability • Research and/or scholarship-informed teaching

17. Academic Office Website: http://www.ulster.ac.uk/academicoffice • Assessment Handbook • Committees (Teaching & Learning 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 • Teaching and Learning Strategy

18. ACADEMIC OFFICE CONTACTS Alan Faulkner ext 24566 Catherine Avery ext 24294