AQH-I3-A2 Operations Manual Guidelines for the Full Franchise Model of Collaboration

AQH-I3-A2 Operations Manual Guidelines for the Full Franchise Model of Collaboration

Version 6.0 November 2015

* The latest Agreement Annex listing all programmes approved to be delivered through the partnership has been issued to your organisation.

NOTES TO AUTHORS: (PLEASE REMOVE THIS TEXT AND ANY OTHER SHADED TEXT REFERRING TO THE AUTHOR ONCE YOU HAVE COMPLETED THE MANUAL)

• PLEASE REPLACE ‘PARTNER NAME’ WITH ACTUAL NAME OF PARTNER THROUGHOUT DOCUMENT APART FROM WITHIN THE CORE REQUIREMENTS GRIDS

• THE MANUAL REFERS TO CENTRE LEADERS BECAUSE PREDOMINANTLY FULL FRANCHISE PROGRAMMES ARE OFFERED TO TNE PARTNERS RATHER THAN FECS – IF HOWEVER THIS IS BEING USED FOR AN FEC YOU WILL NEED TO REPLACE REFERENCES TO CENTRE LEADERS WITH FACULTY PARTNERSHIP LEADERS

• PLEASE LET QAE KNOW ABOUT ANY BROKEN LINKS

• PLEASE FILL OUT THE DETAIL UNDER THE RELEVANT HEADINGS TO AMPLIFY WHAT IS STATED IN THE AGREEMENT QUALITY ANNEXE

• PLEASE ASK QAE FOR A COPY OF THE LATEST QUALITY ANNEXE FOR THE PARTNER YOU ARE DEVELOPING THIS MANUAL FOR.

Implementation and Modification History (Faculty Author to complete):

Welcome to the University of Sunderland’s Faculty of xxxxxxxxxxx. PARTNER NAME has now been formally approved to offer programmes listed in the Agreement.

This guide aims to help you get started and lays out various roles. More help, including on-line staff development is available on the Partner Pages Website NAME+Secure

– Log-in details have previously been sent to PARTNER NAME, but if you experience any problems please contact for help.

Your support and co-operation is very much appreciated, and any feedback you can provide on the effectiveness of the Operations Manual template and/or notification of any broken links is welcome. Please contact Quality Assurance and Enhancement at the University of Sunderland via

This document should be issued to the following people:

At the University:

• Centre Leader
• Programme Leaders as appropriate
• Faculty Quality Officer
• Faculty Administration Support

At PARTNER NAME:

• Assistant Programme Leaders as appropriate
• Administration Support

CONTENTS

1.0INTRODUCTION

2.0EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY

3.0COMMUNICATION CHANNELS

4.0WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT

5.0APPOINTMENT OF STAFF

6.0INDUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT OF TEACHING STAFF

7.0PROGRAMME DESIGN AND ONGOING DEVELOPMENT

8.0IN-COUNTRY APPROVAL TO OPERATE

9.0APPROVAL OF MARKETING INFORMATION

10.0STUDENT RECRUITMENT AND ALLOCATION OF STUDENT NUMBERS

11.0STUDENT ADMISSIONS, REGISTRATION AND RECORDS

12.0STUDENT INDUCTION

13.0STUDENT SUPPORT AND REPRESENTATION

14.0STUDENT COMPLAINTS, APPEALS AND DISCIPLINARY PROCEDURES

15.0PROGRAMME DELIVERY

16.0LEARNING RESOURCES

17.0ASSESSMENT

18.0EXTERNAL EXAMINERS

19.0ISSUE OF ACADEMIC TRANSCRIPTS AND AWARD PARCHMENTS

20.0QUALITY MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS INCLUDING REVIEW

21.0PROGRAMME OR PARTNERSHIP TERMINATION

22.0GLOSSARY OF TERMS

23.0USEFUL LINKS

Appendix One: Quality Annex to the Collaborative Provision Agreement ...... 30

1.0INTRODUCTION

1.1This operations manual has been designed to promote common understandings about the respective roles and responsibilities of PARTNER NAME and Faculty of XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX staff involved in the delivery, management, quality assurance, and co-ordination of the University’s awards offered through collaborative arrangements. It is specifically tailored to accommodate University requirements relating to its Full FranchiseModel of Collaboration. Mutual understandings are essential to assure parity of the student experience, regardless of the site of delivery.The University recognises it is important to avoid jargon and a glossary of terms is available on line via: Introduction to University of Sunderland Quality Processes. A set of useful links to other information sources is also provided.

1.2This manual is based on University guidelines but is contextualised by the faculty. The core sections, drawn from the Agreement,may not be altered.The faculty and PARTNER NAME are jointly responsible for ensuring that this is issued to all staff who contribute towards programme management and delivery. It amplifies the roles that staff in each organisation are expected to fulfil as laid down in the Collaborative Provision Agreement (CPA) that governs this collaboration. It may also be useful to refer to the University’s Guidelines on the Role of Assistant Programme Leaders at Partner Institutions accessible through:

as well asthe University’s Guidelines on Roles of Centre Leader (see 1.4).

.

1.3Sections from the Quality Annex to the CPA between the University and PARTNER NAME are included as core grids throughout the Manual, beneath which the specific requirements are explained in more detail. Please refer to the Quality Annex to this Agreement – see Appendix One. These Agreements are normally reviewed every six years. Agreements with partners are drawn up to reflect the University of Sunderland’s Collaborative Processes - see:

together with the University’s’ Collaborative Models of Provision paper

( and relevant sections from the Quality Assurance Agency’s (QAA) UK Quality Code for Higher Education (e.g. Chapter B10 Managing higher education provision with others

Please refer to the University’s Academic Quality Handbook for all guidelines referred to in this manual, see:

1.4It is important that appropriate mechanisms and communication channels are in place for contacting relevant staff and to resolve issues in a timely manner. The faculty will produce a clear schedule of activities each year including the date and time of various activities including important dates. The faculty will appoint a Centre Leader as the member of staff who takes responsibility for management of the relationship for an agreed subject area and the relevant programmes. For University guidance on the role of Centre Leadersplease refer to:

2.0EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY

2.1The University values and promotes equality and diversity forits staff and students. In line with its strategic aims, it works to ensure that all members of the community treat one another with respect and dignity.
This University’s Equality and Diversity website:

aims to provide details on developments related to equality and diversity within the University, guidance for both staff and students, and resource information on good practice. The University of Sunderland operates a strict equality and diversity policy. It will therefore not tolerate discriminatory practices. Copies of the University’s position policies on this are available on the website via the above link.

3.0COMMUNICATION CHANNELS

3.1From the outset, it is important to establish and maintain effective communication channels to assure the successful operation, quality assurance and management of the provision. At the practitioner level, communications between Assistant Programme Leaders at PARTNER NAME and the Centre Leaderat the University in particular should be established from the start. Centre Leaders normally visit PARTNER NAME on a minimum of two occasions per year and write an annual report based on these which informs the annual monitoring exercise (see section 20).

3.2The current University Management Structure is accessible here.

3.3Typical Faculty Structure: University of Sunderland

3.3.1Please refer to to access up-to-date details relating to specific individuals/Departments.

A typical University Faculty includes:

• Dean
• Associate Dean (AD) – Student Experience (SE)
• Associate Dean (AD) – Resources, Research and External Engagement
• Associate Dean (AD) – Recruitment and Development (R&D), and
• Heads of Department.

The current Facultyof XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXstructure is as follows:

3.4KeyUniversity contacts according to role:

Address to which Marketing Materials, web-based entries, any other public information produced by PARTNER NAME referring to the Sunderland programmes should be sent for approval:

Faculty, Department, and programme contacts (ANNOTATE AS APPROPRIATE):

3.5PARTNER NAMEContact Information

3.5.1PARTNER NAME management structure (request from Partner)

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

3.5.2PARTNER NAME Contact Details :

4.0WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT

4.1The Quality Annex to the CPA (see Appendix One), signed between the University and PARTNER NAME at Chief Executive level,clearly describes the aspects of quality, assurance and management that PARTNER NAME and/or the University is responsible for fulfilling. The sections below explain in more detail who is responsible for what, as well as providing useful links to further sources of help.

5.0APPOINTMENT OF STAFF

5. 1The facultyis responsible for approving the appointment of staff teaching on the programmes offered under the Agreement in accordance with University criteria. Staff CVs will be approved by the faculty in advance of their commencing to teach on a Sunderland programme.

5.2PARTNER NAMEis responsible for:

• providing to the faculty, via the Centre Leader, the CVs of staff whom it proposes to engage to support delivery of the programme for approval in advance of their appointment;
• maintaining a team of a suitable number and range of staff teaching on the programme submitting details of proposed changes to the number and range of teaching staff to the faculty for approval in advance of implementation;
• reflecting on any teaching staff changes in the annual monitoring report.

5.3PARTNER NAMEshould put forward the CVs of staff proposed to teach on the agreed University programmes and modulesusing the curriculum vitae guidance below. CVs should include details of the teaching experience of tutors to date. PARTNER NAMEshould also send to the Centre Leadera Matrix for each programme to be delivered at PARTNER NAME, showing:

• the tutor name
• the modules they will deliver
• the highest qualification held by each tutor.

The faculty should then approve the Matrix and note the date that it approved each tutor CV.

PARTNER NAMEshould always ensure that an appropriate number and range of academic staff is attributed to the delivery of each programme covered by the Agreement. A maximum number of modules that an individual member of PARTNER NAME academic staff may lead will normally be agreed by the appropriate University faculty.

5.4To ensureeffective liaison and management of the University programmes, PARTNER NAMEand the facultywill each provideappropriate administrative support.

5.6Curriculum Vitae Guidance

5.6.1The University does not prescribe the format of teaching staff CVs. However, guidance is given on the minimum information which should be included in staff CVs, please see:

Guidance on Teaching Staff CVs

6.0INDUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT OF TEACHING STAFF

6.1Teaching Staff Induction

6.1.1All teaching staff appointed shouldideally undergo a process of staff induction/development. The exact issues to cover in teaching staff induction will vary but will typically include:

• Learning and teaching issues; learning outcomes etc
• Academic regulations
• Academic support for students
• Assessment/feedback on assessment
• Quality Assurance issues/annual monitoring requirements etc
• Collection of student feedback
• Plagiarism and cheating
• Complaints procedure
• Access to University on line library facilities

6.1.2Approved tutors who teach on University ‘Full Franchise’ programmes may be eligible to apply for a University of Sunderland Associate Lecturer Athens Account. This will provide access to certain University e-resources for the purpose of supporting University of Sunderland students.

6.1.3To apply for an Athens Account, tutors should print, complete, and sign the registration forms available from the University library web pages and access the following link for further information:

6.2Teaching Staff Ongoing Development

6.2.1The University will normally be responsible for inviting Partner staff to attend certain staff development activities organised by the University, e.g. collaborative conferences.Academic Development, accessible via:

organises a range of continuing professional development activities throughout the year which are available to off and on-campus staff.

6.2.2A useful roadmap providing links to relevant sources of guidance is also uploaded to the University’s Partner Pages Website. This is password accessible, the log-in details have been issued to you. faculty staff can access this area using their normal University log-in:

NAME+Secure

If you have any problems logging in please contact Academic Development at the University (please see contact details above). This area of the Partner Pages Website also includes details of recent activities, such as the outcome of periodic review so that all staff are aware of any actions that may be needed, or to share any examples of good practice that might have been highlighted.

For useful on-line staff development, as well as much other useful information, please access the HOME area of Partner Pages – again this is password accessible, please click:

NAME+Home

Here is a screenshot to give you a flavour of what is currently readily available to youNOTE TO AUTHOR – PLEASE DELETE IF NOT APPROPRIATE OR REPLACE BELOW WITH A RELEVANT EXAMPLE:

6.2.2PARTNER NAME will normally be responsible forensuring that its staff assigned to teaching on the Sunderland programmesengage in continuous professional development or scholarly activity/research to maintain the currency of their knowledge at an academic level above that which they are responsible for delivering to students. This could include in-house, external or University led activities.

6.2.3It is reallyuseful if dates of specific staff development sessions and important meetings are included in an annual plan/calendar of operations (see below).Each party should advise the other as early as possible of the proposed dates of any joint activities. The dates of important Boards should be incorporated within the annual plan of operations so that all staff are aware of these at the start of each year. The current University academic calendar is accessible via:

The following plan is a broad guide but the precise contents will vary from year to year:

6.2.4 PARTNER NAME should inform University staff in advance of ‘in-house’ meetings taking place that need input from the University.

7.0PROGRAMME DESIGN AND ONGOING DEVELOPMENT

7.1Introduction

7.1.1The AGREED University programmes (as defined by the relevant programme specifications approved by the University) is offered at approved PARTNER NAMEsites by the Full Franchise Model of Collaboration. For a full list of programmes/sites covered by this manual please refer to the Schedule of Programmes Annex to the CPAwhich has been agreedand signed between the University and PARTNER NAME.

7.1.2Programme Design and Approval

7.1.2.1Initial design of programmes and modules will follow the University’s programme development and approval processes as specified in its Academic Quality Handbook accessible via This section of the handbook incorporates all templates and forms together with a full description of the University’s taught programme approval processes. A guideline on termination of programmes themselves is also incorporated in this section. The University is responsible for preparing the programme approval documentation and for ensuring that initial proposal documentation is received by the relevant groups or committees. The structure of the programme is included in the programme specification approved by the University.

7.1.3Ongoing programme development

7.1.4Ongoing curriculum developments such as those arising out of response to Sunderland/PARTNER NAMEstaff or student feedback, external drivers or research, will be subject to the approval of the University. Details of the University’s Minor Modification guidelines are included in the Academic Quality Handbook, accessible via