Developing Successful Articulation Programmes

1. Developing Successful Articulation Programmes Neil Slater International Office Northumbria University

2. International Education • 20,000 full time students on campus • Including 3,000+ international students from more than 100 countries. One third are recruited via partnerships and articulations • 4,000+ enrolled on Northumbria programmes overseas – Malaysia, Hong Kong, Singapore, Germany, Sri Lanka

3. Newcastle upon Tyne

4. International Collaborations

5. Forms of Collaboration • Franchise • Validated Delivery • Dual Awards • Distance Delivery • Articulated Advanced Entry • Student Exchange

6. Principles of Articulations • Start studies in the home country • Transfer to UK university to complete degree • course • Must have option of completing home course • Advanced entry with transfer of academic • credit • Ensure academic performance is • comparable with other students and • students enter programme at same level • of ability • Students thoroughly prepared for UK • programme

7. Principles of Articulations • UK university recognises credits (minimum 60) which form part of the overseas institution’s award • Formal arrangement required for advanced entry of large numbers of students (10+ per year) or • Entry from a non-end point qualification • Northumbria does not provide substantial input to the design or delivery of the other institution’s programme (this may be possible under Augmented Articulation)

8. Quality Assurance Requirements • Programmes must meet the regulations and requirements of both parties. • UK institutions set their own procedures to • comply with the requirements of the QAA • (Quality Assurance Agency) for collaborative • programmes • Overseas institution sets its own • Procedures to comply with its own • national/ local regulatory framework

9. Nanjing Engineering Links “2+2 in Electrical and Electronic Engineering Nanjing Institute of Technology & Nanjing Normal University, China Students study 2 years of 4 year Bachelors in Nanjing - awarded 120 credits Then join the second year of 3 year BEng (Hons) in Electrical & Electronic Engineering - 2 years of study in UK = 240 credits

10. Shanghai Nursing Link “3 + 1” Nursing Programme with Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine 3 year Nursing Diploma Direct entry to 1-year top-up programme – BSc (Hons) Nursing Science Staff development visits to Shanghai Work-shadowing visits by Shanghai lecturers

11. Zhengzhou University • “1 + 1 Masters” • Zhengzhou University, China • 1 year Postgraduate Course in Management – including language preparation (60 credits) • 1 year study on Northumbria MBA / MSc in Management (120 credits or 2/3 of full academic credit) • Masters degree awarded • Annual lecture and seminar visit by Northumbria staff

12. Initial Discussions • Institution Selection • Take into account: • Mutual Compatibility • Academic standing • Relevance to international strategy and • activities • Status of awards – eg self-validated / • national • Identify potential course match

13. Initial Discussions • Viability and Timescales • Viable Demand ? • Target numbers • - minimum number limit • maximum cap • Finances • funding of fees • funding of support / visit costs • Plan Timescales including Start Date

14. Developing a Proposal • Assessing students’ capability to perform • successfully on a UK programme when they • join with advanced entry • Have they covered prerequisites in their home • course ? • Not assessing the teaching of the • overseas institution

15. Developing a Proposal • Gathering Course Documentation • Syllabus (matching content) • Learning outcomes • Contact hours • Coursework • Examination papers • Student attainments • Portfolios / work based experience

16. Developing a Proposal • Identify any skills gaps which need to be addressed for successful UK study experience •  Study Skills - eg • IT literacy • Correct referencing • Course-specific needs, eg experience • of using specific equipment

17. Professional Body Requirements UK Professional body regulations must be strictly observed where the proposed articulation is with a programme which they accredit.

18. Next Steps • Evaluation • Evidence in proposal considered by • Departmental and University Academic • Committees  • Approval • Signing of memorandum of agreement • Admission

19. Support and Feedback • Visits to overseas institution to meet staff and • students • Pre-departure preparation for studies in the • UK • Feedback to partner institution on Student • Performance during UK studies

20. Life-Cycle

21. Challenges • Quick & Effective Communication • Designated contacts, eg • Development and approval – eg Dean • Link Tutor for ongoing liaison and support • Advance Planning and Realistic Timescales • Adjusting to Differences in Learning • Environment and Culture

22. What are the Benefits ? • For Students • Opportunity to study in both the home country and period of study in the UK • Reduced length of study in the UK • For the Universities • Reliable source of recruitment • Confidence in quality of intake • Mutual reputational benefits • Staff involvement in international • work

23. Thank you! Neil Slater International Office Northumbria University Neil.Slater@northumbria.ac.uk