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Programme approval and management

˽·¿¾ãÀÖ²¿ devolves responsibility for the validation of new programmes and the modification of existing ones. Devolved programmes are normally delivered by ˽·¿¾ãÀÖ²¿ staff on campus, in a clinical or corporate setting, or by distance learning.

The Department of Academic Quality (DAQ) maintains oversight of changes to devolved provision by monitoring and supporting programme validation and curriculum modification.

Responsibility for the approval of non-devolved (collaborative) provision is managed by Educational Partnerships (EP) for UK partners and the Global Partnerships Unit (GPU) for international partners. Partner institutions deliver or support an element of, or an entire, ˽·¿¾ãÀÖ²¿ non-devolved programme. Responsibility for the modification of non-devolved provision lies with the owning faculty or with Educational Partnerships (EP) for Validation Service provision.

For further information, please contact Sally Lloyd.

  1. Validation and revalidation

    Validation is the process through which the university establishes that a new programme is academically viable, that academic standards have been appropriately defined, and that all students are offered the best opportunity to learn. It is about assuring quality, promoting best practice, and adding value by enhancing the quality of the new programme. Revalidation, which ensures continued fitness for purpose, is only required where programmes have undergone significant change or to comply with external body requirements.

    Forms and guidance for all processes can be found in the Guidance and forms section below.

    Prior to validation taking place a new programme proposal must receive faculty and university support as outlined in the guide to validation. Completion of the programme proposal form is required to provide these committees with suitable levels of information to make a decision about the proposal. Once this approval is given, a validation event is convened by the faculty Associate Professor (Quality) or equivalent for devolved provision and by Educational Partnerships (UK) or Global Partnerships Unit (International) for non-devolved provision.

    Occasionally a new programme needs to be developed at speed to meet the needs of employers or university/faculty strategy. In such cases, the committee stage of the approval process may be superseded by the completion of a fast-track request form. Please contact your faculty Associate Dean (Academic) to discuss this in the first instance.

    Distance learning validation

    There are some additional requirements to consider when validating a programme to be delivered by distance learning, and support is available from the Distance Learning Unit. The distance learning validation guidance notes should be read alongside the guide to validation.

    Revalidation

    Revalidation is the process whereby a programme is revisited during a formal revalidation event to ensure its continued fitness for purpose. Revalidation is not necessary for most programmes as the university operates robust annual and periodic review processes. However, revalidation will take place where there is Professional Statutory or Regulatory Body (PSRB) accreditation or significant changes are being made to a programme. Please see the section on curriculum modification below for guidance on when changes will necessitate a revalidation event.

  2. Curriculum modification

    The curriculum modification process allows changes to be made to programmes and modules, with appropriate consultation, and ensures all changes are recorded. Changes may be required for a variety of reasons, including responding to feedback from students and external examiners.

    Forms and guidance for all processes can be found in the Guidance and forms section below.

    The guide to curriculum modification outlines the process and highlights when a modification is significant enough to necessitate a revalidation event (please also see our guide to validation).

    Changes are recorded on the curriculum modification form which is considered by the faculty Development and Review Committee (DARC) or a revalidation event, as appropriate.

    Queries about curriculum modification should be directed to your faculty Associate Professor (Quality) or equivalent in the first instance, or Educational Partnerships (UK) for modifications to programmes/modules delivered via the Validation Service.

  3. Programme intake suspension and closure

    A decision to suspend intake to a programme may be taken when for good reason it would not be to the advantage of applicants or the university to run the programme. Intake may be suspended for one entry point only, or indefinitely, leading to eventual programme closure.

    Where a decision has been taken to suspend intake to a programme (either for one intake or indefinitely), or to close a programme, the process outlined in the programme intake suspension and programme closure procedure should be followed, including completion of the relevant proforma.

    For further information please contact your faculty Associate Dean (Academic) in the first instance, or Sally Lloyd in the Department of Academic Quality.

 

Guidance and forms

  1. Programme validation

    Committee approval

    Programme team

    Panel and servicing officer

  2. Curriculum modification

  3. Programme intake suspension and closure