3Annual Reporting and Monitoring

3Annual Reporting and Monitoring

3.1Annual Monitoring flowchart

3.2Purposes of Annual Reporting and Monitoring

3.3Principles of Annual Reporting and Monitoring

3.4The Annual Reporting and Monitoring Process

Appendices:

  • Unit report template
  • Course report template
  • Portfolio monitoring report template
  • Faculty monitoring report template

Annual Reporting and Monitoring

For use in reporting on academic year 2012-13 onwards

3.1Annual monitoring flow-chart

Annual Reporting and Monitoring

For use in reporting on academic year 2012-13 onwards

3.2Purposes of Annual Reporting and Monitoring

The objectives of annual reporting and monitoring are:

  • To provide an evidence base for Faculties to improve the learning experience of its students (including those studying at collaborative partners), through action at department, portfolio, course and unit levels;
  • To confirm (in conjunction with External Examiner report) to the University that the quality and academic standards of provision have been maintained in accordance with all external and internal benchmarks and requirements;
  • To collect longitudinal data and information on which basis, trends and changes relevant to the longer-term quality and sustainability of provision can be assessed (including through periodic review) and actioned by Academic Board.

3.3Principles of Annual Reporting and Monitoring

1The primary purpose of unit and course reporting is to provide a basis on which unit and course coordinators, with appropriate advice and guidance from Portfolio Leaders and Academic Heads of Department can enhance the quality and operational effectiveness of provision and the learning experience.

2Portfolio and Faculty-level annual monitoring reports, along with External Examiner reports, constitute the main vehicle through which the University and its Faculties ensure that standards and quality are maintained across its course provision, other than that operated at accredited partner institutions.

3The quality assurance of collaborative provision is detailed in the University’s quality handbook section (chapter 7) on collaborative partnerships, and templates for annual reporting associated with collaborative arrangements are provided there.

4All courses (including collaborative provision other than validated provision at accredited partners) must be allocated to a Portfolio (i.e. a group of courses allied to an identifiable subject area) within an academic department, and all portfolios must be led by a named Portfolio Leader. All courses must have a named Course Coordinator.

5All collaborative provision other than validated provision offered by accredited partners must have a named University link tutor (see chapter 7 for a role description).

6Scheme reports are (in conjunction with External Examiner reports) the means whereby the University assures itself that:

  • The standards of its awards are maintained across its provision including all collaborative provision;
  • The quality of its unit-based provision is maintained and enhanced across subjects and levels;
  • Its values and strategic objectives are supported by its provision and the outcomes of that provision.
  1. The TQSC will approve, on behalf of Academic Board, any changes to this reporting and monitoring process, in advance of its operation.
  1. The remit of the Annual Monitoring Task Group of TQSC includes consideration ofFaculty monitoring reports and institution monitoring reports (see below) and recommending to TQSC that these be approved on behalf of Academic Board.

3.4The Annual Reporting Process

1Unit report

It is the responsibility of the Unit Coordinator for each unit within this process to produce a Unit Report for each operation of that unit. Validated provision within accredited partner institutions must operate an equivalent process. Unit reports are submitted to Academic Heads of Department, and are considered formally by Department Meetings. Consideration is confirmed to FacultyAcademic Boards,and any matters requiring Faculty consideration or action, and Faculty AMR reference, are identified. Unit reports are also copied to a) course coordinators of all courses to which the unit contributes, and b) for information, the FacultySub-Dean (quality). A template for unit reporting is provided as an appendix to this chapter. The deadline for submission of unit reports is in all cases three weeks after the scheduled PortfolioBoard at which first-attempt results for a particular cohort are confirmed.

2Course report

The CourseCoordinator for each course (or equivalent individual at partner institutions) is responsible for producing an annual course report for that course. Validated provision within accredited partner institutions must operate an equivalent process. Course reports are considered by Department/Division meetings and confirmation of their consideration, along with any matters requiring FAB action and/or consideration, is confirmed to FAB. Course reports are also copied to Portfolio Leaders, and considered at Portfolio Executive Committees. A template for course reporting is provided as an appendix to this chapter. Course reports will be produced following the June PortfolioBoards each year, and submitted by the end of the third week of July in that year.

3Portfolio monitoring report

Portfolio monitoring reports are produced by Portfolio Leaders for each portfolio operated within a Faculty. A template for portfolio monitoring reporting is provided as an appendix to this chapter. Portfolio monitoring reports are submitted to the FacultySub-Dean (quality) and are considered by FTQSC, with the minutes of FTQSC meetings recording for FacultyAcademic Board:

  • That the evidence provided by the reports indicates that standards and the quality of portfolio provision have been maintained;
  • Any actions required of portfolio leaders and their teams in addition to those identified in portfolio action plans submitted to the committee.

Reports must include as appendices Short-Course monitoring reports associated with the Portfolio and link tutors’ annual reports on the same basis.

Portfolio monitoring reports are also copied to all FacultyAcademic Heads of Department,and UoB staff with specified responsibility for collaborative partnerships within the portfolio, following FTQSC consideration and finalisation. Portfolio monitoring reports are produced annually, following the September examination boards, for submission to the FacultySub-Dean by the end of October in the academic year following the reporting year.

4Facultymonitoring report

The FacultySub-Dean (quality) will produce a Faculty monitoring report at undergraduate and postgraduate levels, covering all portfolios within the Faculty, including collaborative provision other than validated provision operated by accredited partners. A template for Faculty reporting is provided as an appendix to this chapter. FTQSC considers a draft of each Faculty’s monitoring report. Faculty monitoring reports are submitted by the Sub-Dean (quality) to FacultyAcademic Boards. FacultyAcademic Boards are responsible for approving the final Faculty monitoring reports to be provided to TQSC, on the basis that those reports reflect accurately and comprehensively the Faculty’s confirmed evaluation of its provision. FacultySub-Deans (quality) submit the FAB-approved Faculty monitoring reports to the Quality Directorate, along with the relevant FAB minute (draft or final), for consideration by TQSC through its annual monitoring task group. Faculty monitoring reports are produced annually, for submission to the Quality Directorate before the end of each calendar year.

5Scheme monitoring reports

The Scheme Board Chairs produce and agree annual scheme monitoring reports for submission to TQSC. The scheme monitoring reports are also copied to Faculty deans, academic heads of department and Sub-Deans (quality). They are considered by TQSC at its February/March meeting each year.

6Validated collaborative provision offered by accredited partners

Franchised provision and all provision offered by non-accredited partners is included in Faculty reporting and monitoring as detailed in this chapter. For validated provision in accredited partner institutions, unit and course reporting must be conducted by the partner institution through means equivalent to those in use at UoB and confirmed through institutional approval and review of the partner. Institution monitoring reports (equivalent to Faculty monitoring reports at UoB) will be produced annually and submitted to the Quality Directorate for consideration at TQSC. Further information is provided in the University’s Quality Handbook chapter on collaborative provision.

UNIVERSITY OF BEDFORDSHIRE

Unit report (to be produced separately for each operation of a unit)

Section A: Information

  1. Unit code and title (as on SITS)
  2. Cohort start date (month and year) and PortfolioBoard date (month and year)
  3. Unit coordinator and team
  4. Unit status: normal/under TQSC review (via Scheme Monitoring Report and/or USP reporting)

Section B: Sources of evidence (evaluation to be provided in section D)

  1. Academic quality
  2. USP results (quantitative and qualitative)
  3. Portfolio Executive Committee - matters raised (including matters raised within the academic year in which the report is submitted but not explicitly linked to a particular cohort start), with date of meeting and action noted at the meeting.
  4. Retention and performance (see definitions appended)
  5. Retention
  6. Potential progression
  7. Potential continuation
  8. Performance
  9. Academic standards
  10. Action taken within the reporting year in response to issues raised by External Examiners in reference to the previous year
  11. Action taken to develop/disseminate/extend good practice identified
  12. Unit developments
  13. Changes to UIF (approved in the academic year for subsequent year implementation), and any changes approved for in-year implementation(by TQSC)
  14. Implementation of new specified University and Facultypolicies overseen by Faculty Academic Board on behalf of Academic Board and its committees

Section C: Note of impact of changes and developments introduced following previous report(s)

Section D: Evaluation and proposed enhancements (with implementation dates)

Outline of actions proposed in response to the above

UNIVERSITY OF BEDFORDSHIRE

Course report

Section A: Information

  1. Cohort start dates within the reporting year
  2. Course coordinator and core course team (including student course representatives)
  3. Stages operated (by exception, where all approved stages are not in operation)
  4. Units delivered

Section B: Sources of evidence (evaluation to be provided in section D below)

  1. Academic quality
  2. NSS Course results, including comparison with previous 2 years)
  3. Portfolio Executive Committee - matters raised, along with date of meeting and action noted at the meeting.
  4. Independent statement from course team student member on the student experience
  5. Retention and performance based on Planning data (see definitions provided as appendix)
  6. In-year attrition (by cohort start, for each cohort operating within the year)
  7. Main diet outcomes (for each PortfolioBoard noted in section A)
  8. Academic standards
  9. Action taken within the reporting year in response to issues raised by External Examiners in reference to the previous year
  10. Action taken to develop/disseminate/extend good practice identified
  11. External engagement
  12. PSRB activity
  13. Employer engagement
  14. Course developments
  15. Changes to CIF (approved for subsequent year) and any changes approved by TQSC in-year
  16. Implementation of new specified University and Faculty policies overseen by Faculty Academic Board on behalf of Academic Board and its committees

Section C: Note of impact of changes and developments introduced following previous report(s)

Section D: Evaluation and proposed enhancements (with implementation dates)

Outline of actions proposed in response to the above

Annual Reporting and Monitoring

For use in reporting on academic year 2012-13 onwards

UNIVERSITY OF BEDFORDSHIRE

TEACHING QUALITY AND STANDARDS COMMITTEE

Portfolio Monitoring Report Form (undergraduate and postgraduate)

1. Summary of provision

a) Introductory information

Portfolio / Portfolio Leader
Faculty / Department
Academic Year

b) Courses and cohorts

List all courses considered within this report. Include full and approved title in each case

Course / Course coordinator / Delivery site / Course report received / Link tutor annual report received
1
2
Course / Cohort start dates / Coverage*
1 / a.
b.
c.
2

*Identify as

C = cohort started and completed within reporting period and is considered in full in this report

S = cohort started within the reporting period and will also be considered in next year’s report

F = cohort was reported as starting in previous report and is included as completing within this reporting period

c) New, modified and reviewed provision within the academic year under review

List all new course approvals including provision at collaborative partners (please attach as an appendix the outcomes and conditions of approval)

Course title / Approval month / Conclusions and conditions met ()

d) List all modifications to courses arising through formal periodic review or Faculty review processes, including those at collaborative partners

Course title / Approval level* / Modification (please detail)

* i.e. Faculty, University (please refer to Quality Handbook for details of procedures for major and minor changes)

2.Course and cohort viability

Using the dataset provided by the Planning Department comment on any implications and actions in respect of registered numbers and trends over time.

3. Learner retention and performance

Using the dataset provided by the Planning Department comment on aspects of student performance, including any notable differences between study modes, courses, subjects, locations of study and management arrangements (including collaborative partnership) on campus and collaborative iterations of courses, and any indications regarding equality of opportunity.

4. Graduate outcomes

a) Academic outcomes: Using the dataset provided by the Planning Department comment on student achievement by course and any necessary actions taken and/or planned for improvement

b) Employment: Using the most recent DLHE data available, comment on graduate employment outcomes

  1. Enhancement, good practice and innovation[1]

a)Curriculum

Please comment on any curriculum changes (new courses/curriculum areas within courses) operating within the reporting year that represent significant developments in curriculum range and/or the integration of research and teaching activity, employability, assessment innovation, interdisciplinary working or practice-based learning.

b)Teaching

Please comment on any developments in teaching that can be evidenced to have or are expected to have a positive impact on learner performance, experience or employability.

c)Learner experience

Please comment on any developments in the support or management of learners that can be evidenced to have or are expected to have a positive impact on learner performance, experience (e.g. changes in personal tutoring) or employability.

6. Responding to student feedback

a) On-campus provision

Please comment on formal evidence of the impact of recent changes provided by feedback.

Summarise the issues identified for action, including the expansion and development of good practice, and give details of action taken or planned.

Issue / Forum/source / Action

b) Collaborative provision

Identify and comment on available evidence that standards and the quality of the learning experience have been maintained and are equivalent to those on-campus, and that partnership working has (where relevant) operated effectively.

Summarise issues raised by and / or in connection with collaborative provision (UK and overseas) and detail of action taken or planned to address these (please attach as an appendix all link tutor reports).

Issue / Action

7. External verification and review

a) External Examiners’ reports

List key issues from External Examiners’ reports and the Portfolio’s actions in response to them. Please comment also on evidence provided in External Examiners' reports that academic standards and the quality of the learning experience have been maintained and (where relevant) enhanced)

Issue / Actions

b) External engagement

Confirm engagement/visits by Professional, Statutory or Regulatory Bodies during the year and add associated action plans within section 8 (below). Also list engagements expected in the forthcoming year. Action plans may be those provided in relation to an engagement, or a summary of issues and action taken, where no action plan was required by the PSRB.

PSRB / Course(s) covered / Action plan attached ()

8. Quality management

a) Annual Monitoring systems

Please evaluate the operation of annual monitoring systems, including confirming the following:

  • All link tutor reports and short-course reports within the Portfolio were submitted on time
  • The dates of Portfolio Executive Committees within the academic year

b)Action Planning and implementation

Please evaluate the effectiveness of action planning and monitoring across the Portfolio covered by this report, based on action plans provided.

Please identify:

  • Any Portfolio actions not completed within deadline and requiring Faculty action

9. Action plans

Attach all current action plans, in most recently updated form, and in particular the following

a) action plan for previous portfolio monitoring report, with all actions identified either as completed or transferred to the action plan arising from the current report

b) action plan arising from the current report, including any actions from previous portfolio monitoring report currently incomplete

c) action plans arising from PSRB engagement, course approval, periodic review etc., in which actions remain ongoing.

Signed by:

Portfolio Leader Date:

Authorised by:

Head of DepartmentDate:

Dean of Faculty:Date:

1

University of Bedfordshire

ACTION PLAN ARISING FROM PORTFOLIO MONITORING REPORT FOR ACADEMIC SESSION ______

PORTFOLIO:

Serial / Issue
(Outlined including approval or review recommend-ations) / Action(s) required / By whom
(main person responsible in bold) / By when / Resource needs with any costings / Success Criteria
- expected outcomes / Monitoring / Current status
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12

Signed:Sub-Dean (Quality Enhancement)

1

UNIVERSITY OF BEDFORDSHIRE

TEACHING QUALITY AND STANDARDS COMMITTEE

Notes on Portfolio monitoring reporting (undergraduate and postgraduate)

Please remove in-template guidance as you write

All data tables provided by Planning must be included as an appendix

1. Summary of provision

The academic year should be identified here, along with any cohorts (additional to a single October-start cohort) commencing within that academic year. These should be reported as far as possible within this report, with summative evaluation of their progress at a particular stage reported in a subsequent report. Short-course provision approved by the University should also be included and identified here.