University of Suffolk
[Insert proposed course title(s)]
VALIDATION DOCUMENT
[Insert Faculty or Partner College name]
[Insert Department name]
[Insert date of validation event]
Upon request this document can be providedin an alternative format
CONTENTS
1.General information
2.Introduction
3.About the course
4.Curriculum
5.Admissions and recruitment
6.Learning, teaching and assessment strategies
7.Work-based or placement learning
8.Employability
9.Resources
Physical resources
Staffing
10.External agency / employer involvement
11.Monitoring quality and standards
Management of the course
The following documents have also been submitted in preparation for validation and are available electronically in support of the discussions presented here:
A1.Course handbook
A2.Further student documentation where relevant (for example work-based learning, professional practice or study abroad handbooks)
A3.Feedback from external academics during consultation on curriculum design and development
A4.Staff CVs
A5.Framework and regulations for the relevant type of award
A6.Mapping of course and module learning outcomes for each award presented for validation (including exit awards)
A7.HEAR description(s) [one for each award presented for validation, including exit awards]
A8.Course handbook for [feeder Foundation degree or similar provision / associated progression route/ etc, where applicable]
A9.
1.Generalinformation
[Insert Course Title(s) (including all named exit awards)]
[Insert Faculty or Partner College name]
[Insert Department name]
Head of Faculty:Head of Department / HE:
Course Leader(s):
Validating body: / University of Suffolk
Professional bodies: / [Where applicable insert name of relevant professional, statutory or regulatory body (PSRB) accreditation]
Modes of attendance: / [Insert all possible modes of attendances]
Duration: / [Insert duration for each mode of attendance]
Available as: / [For degree programmes, please state if offered as single, major, minor and/or joint](delete if not applicable)
Date of validation event:
Proposed start date:
2.Introduction
[Insert an introductory paragraph outlining the proposal being putforward and highlighting its strengths, the local or national needs it seeks to meet, and theUniversity of Suffolk aspirations it seeks to address]
This document explores the rationale and plans for the proposed course’sdesign, delivery, support and resourcing. This document should be read alongside the following documentation:
- Course handbook: provides course aims and learning outcomes; detailed descriptions of the proposed course structure and curriculum (including module specifications);learning, teaching and assessment strategies;indication of post-course employability and study opportunities;and course specific resourcing. This handbook is provided in print alongside this validation document.
- University of Suffolk student handbook: generic handbook for all students providing guidance on the various course administrative and assessment processes, support services students can access, and information on the local resources that will be available to students.This is available to students and the validation panel on the University of Suffolk website through the link provided by email.
- [delete if not relevant] Work placement handbook: student-facing document explaining how students’ placements are initiated, the expectations on them whilst in placement, the support afforded them during their placements, and how their placement contributes to their assessment. This document is available to the validation panel online through the link provided by email.
As indicated on page 3, further supporting documentation has also been provided and can be accessed online through the link supplied to panel members by email.
3.About the course
4.Curriculum
5.Admissions and recruitment
6.Learning, teaching and assessment strategies
7.Work-based or placement learning
8.Employability
9.Resources
Physical resources
Staffing
10.External agency / employer involvement
11.Monitoring quality and standards
Management of the course
The course will be subject to the University of Suffolk Risk-Based Monitoring and Enhancement (RiME) processes to maintain continuous watch over provision and the key performance indicators available to inform monitoring activity.
Integral to the RiME processes is the course committee. This committee is chaired by the relevant senior manager, and its membership includes all academic staff involved with course delivery, the course administrator, elected student representatives from each year group and external stakeholders such as employers. The committee meets three times a year, receiving reports on course activity and exploring indicators such as student retention and achievement data, student survey results, the external examiner’s annual report, and graduate destination data. Through the maintenance and publication of minutes and a course action plan to students on the virtual learning environment (VLE), the results of course committee decisions are recorded and the progress and effectiveness of actions monitored.
The course level RiME processes are fed into Departmental Academic Committees /Learning Network Academic Committees to draw together common themes and enable broader actions and initiatives to address issues and disseminate good practice.
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