Plymouth University

Academic Partnerships

DUCHY COLLEGE (Stoke Climsland)

Programme Quality Handbook

BSc(Hons) Rural Business

Management (Top Up)

Academic Year 2016-2017


If you require any part of this Handbook in larger print, or an alternative format, please contact:

HE Operations

Tel: (01209 616256)

E-mail: ()

Please note:

All the information in this Handbook is correct at the time of printing.

The Cornwall College Group is proud of its teaching and research and it undertakes all reasonable steps to provide educational services in the manner set out in this Handbook and in any documents referred to within it. It does not, however, guarantee the provision of such services. Should industrial action or circumstances beyond the control of the College interfere with its ability to provide educational services, the University undertakes to use all reasonable steps to minimise the resultant disruption to those services.

Contents

1Welcome and Introduction to……..

2Programme Team

3Personal Tutor

3.1Plymouth Portal

4Programme Details

4.1Enhancement Activities

4.2Progression through the programme

4.3HE Careers Guidance – Cornwall College

4.4HE Careers Guidance – Plymouth University

5Employment Opportunities

6Teaching, Learning and Assessment

6.1Referencing Guides

7Assessment Schedules and Feedback

8Student Feedback

8.1Student Representation and Enhancement

8.2Student Perception Surveys

8.3Closing the Feedback Loop

8.4Programme Committee Meetings (PCM)

8.5Complaints

8.6Extenuating Circumstances

9Appendix

9.1Programme Specification – to be the latest version associated with the programme

1Welcome and Introduction to BSc(Hons) Rural Business Management (Top up)

Welcome to BSc (Hons) Rural Business Management (Top up) progression to Honours year. The College is delighted that you have chosen to study with us. We are sure you are going to have a great time here and will get a great deal from the programme.

This programme has been designed to equip you with the skills and knowledge base required to work in your chosen specialism or other graduate opportunities. It is also a platform from which you can undertake additional vocational and academic qualifications.

The BSc (Hons) Rural Business Management has been developed by Duchy College in response to industry demand and a requirement laid down by the University to provide a progression route for the FdSc programmes in any rural subjects or disciplines who wants to further develop skills in the business aspect of their industries. The rural subjects can be in the areas of leisure, sport and tourism, equine, agriculture, agric-food, golf and environmental management. The programme has been developed to allow the students to study a range of topics and to choose areas of study that interest them and in which they wish to specialise. This includes the opportunity to engage in an in-depth personal study of a single topic as part of the Honours Project. The programme is a ‘progression to honours year’ designed for students who have successfully completed a foundation degree in an appropriate subject prior to entry.

The BSc (Hons) Rural Business Management progression to honours year is intended to run over one academic year (with attendance required on three consecutive days per week), but will also be offered on a part time basis (where attendance is required one day per week) over usually 2 years but no more than 3 years. Timetables have been constructed as sympathetically as possible to allow the student to fulfil other commitments such as work. However it must be remembered that the programme comprises self-directed study days in addition to ‘on-site’ days. The programme offers the opportunity for currently employed practitioners and employees in other unrelated work to engage in training alongside employment. The programme is designed to ensure the development of the skills of scientific analysis, communication and critical evaluation and an understanding of rural business management in ways which enhance opportunities for employment or further postgraduate study.

The Honours Project accounts for one third of the academic programme and presents a unique opportunity to conduct a detailed examination of an area of personal interest within you own industry. You should make the most of this module as first; your project may lead to employment and second, may result in a formal publication which will be positive for future career plans.

This Programme Quality handbook contains important information including:

  • The approved programme specification
  • Module records

Note: the information in this handbook should be read in conjunction with the current edition of the College Handbook which contains student support based information on issues such as finance and studying at HE along with the University’s Student Handbook available here:

2Programme Team

Programme Manager

Dr Jurie Intachat Module Leader for Honours Project, Environmental Management & Personal Development Planning

Jurie holds a BSc in Agricultural Sciences and has a DPhil in Conservation Biology. She leads the Higher Education team in the areas of Conservation, Countryside and Rural Business for the Rural Economy sector. She worked as Senior Researcher in Entomology for 10 years at the Forest Research Institute Malaysia before moving into higher education teaching in the UK 15 years ago. She supervised Research Masters (ResM) students for Plymouth University at Duchy College and is also involved in the review of academic publications. Her research interests focus on entomology (in particular moths) in relation to environmental changes. She is a fellow of the Royal Geographical Society.

Contact details: ; Tel. 01579 372299, Rural Business School

Module Leaders and Delivery Staff

Dr Roger Clough Module Leader for Strategic Management Issues

Roger holds a BA (Hons) in Business Studies and French and has a PhD in the field of food retail change. He runs a number of modules on the BA Business Enterprise programme at Cornwall College, Camborne, and specialises in consultancy projects where students work on real life problems and opportunities for businesses. Roger has a history of starting businesses himself, and has now owned seven different businesses – including cafés, a contract catering business, a coffee shop and two Domino’s Pizza franchises. Roger has previously been a lecturer at Middlesex and Brighton Universities but moved to Cornwall in 2006 after selling the pizza business. He has three children and mainly spends any spare time he has with them.

Contact details: ; Tel. 01209 617830, Camborne

Paul WardModule Leader for Marketing, Animal Performance and Agriculture Technology

Paul holds a BSc (Hons) in Agriculture, a MSc in Tropical Health and Production and a postgraduate teaching qualification. He is currently Manager of the successful Healthy Livestock project, an innovative Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE)-funded initiative to improve the profitability of livestock farmers across the South West and several projects include animal health, nutrient management, food chain linkages and the effects and mitigation of climate change on agriculture. He edits the Rural Business School Newsletter. He has over twenty years’ experience of working in training, research and management of multi-million pound livestock projects in developing countries (Egypt, Nicaragua, Oman, Peru, Sudan) in addition to his work in the UK.

Contact details: ; Tel. 01579 372315, Rural Business School

Glenn CoulsonModule Leader for Food Manufacturing Technology

Glenn holds a degree in BSc (Hons) in Microbiology & Virology with a PGCE (with QTS).Glenn has played an active role in writing and verification of Access units and holds a job with an external exam board to mark A Level Biology examinations. Meanwhile, with 11 years’ Campden BRI accredited experience in Food Quality Control and practical food microbiology, Glenn also runs the HE laboratory and offers practical support to, principally food students, but the laboratory is available to any student who wishes to carry out analytical project work.

Contact details: ; Tel. 01579 372284, Rural Business School

Resource Staff

Hilary Scott. Learning Resources Manager (East)

Contact details: ; Tel. 01579 372318, Business Office.

Learning Support Staff

Lucy Weaver– Higher Education Senior Tutor

Contact details: Tel. 01579 372378, Stoke Climsland

Hilary Burns – Disability and Learning Support

Contact details: ; Tel. 01209 616326, Foundation Programmes, Camborne

For matters regarding disability support contact Shuna Harvey in the first instance.

Contact details: ; Tel. 01579 372320, HE Office, Parsons Building.

Administration Staff

Shuna Harvey HE Administrator

Contact details: ; Tel. 01579 372320, HE Office, Parsons Building.

Louise Simmons HE Admissions

Contact details: ; Tel. 01579 372358, Admissions, Bell Tower

HE ASSISTANT REGISTRAR:

Mathew Tonkin.

What does the HE Assistant Registrar (HEAR) do? The HEAR is your point of contact in HE Operations for all administrative paperwork to do with the programme. He can be contacted on:

Contact details: Email:;Tel: 01209 617757 or Ext 3757.

3Personal Tutor

Your personal tutor should be the first person at the College that you speak to if you are having any personal difficulties that are affecting your studies. These could be academic, financial, health-related or another type of problem. Your personal tutor is there to provide additional academic and personal support concerning issues that may affect your studies. Personal Tutors are particularly important for students in their first year, helping them to manage the transition from school or the workplace to university-style life. Personal tutors also assist with helping you to engage with important aspects of preparation for your career and or progression to further study and profiling your progress through the programme.

Your main support for academic issues relating to specific modules will be the lecturer who is teaching that module. Your tutor will be the person who; if the College is asked, will write a personal reference for you during, or on completion of your studies.

Programme staff will communicate with students in the following ways:

  • Email - staff will communicated with you via your college and/or university email. In order to maintain professionalism staff will NOT communicate with you directly using your personal email. If you do not wish to regularly check BOTH your College and Plymouth University emails you must ensure that these are forwarded to your personal email address.
  • Text messaging – Under exceptional circumstances staff may contact you via text. Please ensure that your Programme Manager has your current mobile number.
  • College/Institution intranet / virtual learning environment – For module level communications staff use the Moodle Site. Please make sure that you are enrolled onto all of your modules.
  • HE Operations Moodle Pages – this site houses a vast array of information relevant to your time at the College.
  • Plymouth University Student Portal (see section below)
  • Programme Notice-Board – Top Floor Corridor, Parsons Building
  • HE bulletins
  • Link to College/Institution campus map or details
  • Links to disability support teams

The university personal tutoring policy is available for information and guidance.

3.1Plymouth Portal

As a Plymouth student you are able to access the University’s e-resources through the Plymouth portal (the University’s internal staff and student website).

There is access to over £2 million of e-resources and e-journals in a variety of different subject ranges which can be used to support your studies. An excellent library guide has been developed to help you access these resources off campus and this also links you to subject specific resources. This link takes you to the universities library guide homepage

In addition the University has created a Student Study File available at which signposts you to a wealth of resources including UPSU (Plymouth Student Union), Study Skills Guides and using the portal.

You will automatically have a Plymouth University e-mail account accessed through myEdesk, E-mail, calendar, contacts, (OWA) structured as follows: . Your password will always be given in this format Dob.dd/mm/yyyye.g Dob.10/07/1984 . You can change your password once into the portal however please make sure it is something memorable as you will need it throughout your studies.

There are instructions located on the student study file on how to forward your University emails to your preferred email address to ensure you obtain the necessary Plymouth communications throughout your studies.

To change your password at any time - click on the ‘Change Password’ on the top right hand side of the homepage.

If you have forgotten your passwords please go to you can reset it easily. Alternatively you can go to HE Operations who will be able to reset it for you as well.

To access the portal type into your browser OR if you want to go in via the extranet type and then click on Internal Students.

Enter the username and password given to you from your programme manager or Learning Resource Staff member.

The Student Community on the Portal signposts you to many resources including:

  • E-resources, journals, databases - click on the myEdesk, Library, Media & IT (TIS)
  • University student services and learning resources
  • Link into UPSU, the University’s Student Union
  • Academic information and regulations including the University student handbook
  • How to work safely on the web

4Programme Details

4.1Enhancement Activities

An important aspect of this degree is its vocational nature. All students are encouraged to seek relevant employment or placement during their studies – that is why the actual ‘teaching’ timetable leaves you with some free time during the week. But additionally, many of the modules have vocational elements, such as practical experience, visits to and from individuals and organisations in your vocational area and simulations.

Rather than separating work related learning into a separate module the college has a policy of embedding work related activities across the programme. This means ensuring that there is a range of experiences which relate closely to employment and work, such as visits, visiting speakers, practical’s in simulated situations. This ensures that students have a very rich environment in which to develop their skills, and observe others working.

Students of Cornwall College are encouraged to develop their PDPs in a variety of ways. The tutorial system, where programme leaders act as personal tutors and see their tutees on a regular basis clearly feeds into the principles of PDP. At the end of each module, students are encouraged to review what they have learnt and how it might contribute to their employability and their personal development. And there is a similar end of term and end of year review conducted by the tutor.

4.2Progression through the programme

Students completing the BSc (Hons) Rural Business Management are eligible to apply for MSc courses in relevant disciplines at Plymouth University such as MSc Business and Management, MA Personnel and Development, MSc E-Commerce, MSc International Supply Chain Management, MSc/PgDip International Logistics, MSc Rural Development, MSc Tourism and Hospitality Management, MSc Landscape Conservation and Management, MSc/PgDip Biological Diversity and MSc/PgDip Sustainable Environmental Management.

BSc (Hons) Rural Business Management students who achieve an overall 2.1 grade, with a 2.1 in honours project module will be eligible to undertake a Research Masters (ResM) approved by Plymouth University, based at Duchy college. Another avenue is to gain a professional qualification such as a PGCE either via QLTS in the lifelong learning sector or biology at primary level.

Your Programme Manager has access to University staff and is able to communicate your questions regarding progression to programmes at Plymouth University.

If you progress to a Plymouth University honours degree programme, your final Honours Degree classification will be calculated to include marks from each of your levels of study.

10% from Level 4 – calculated from the highest achieved 80 credits. Where modules are arranged in such a way that the 80 credits of ‘highest module marks’ cannot be identified unequivocally, the average for the best 70 credits and 90 credits will be calculated and the student given the best advantage.

30% from Level 5

60% from Level 6

4.3HE Careers Guidance – Cornwall College

HE Careers and Employability – please promote to your students

  • There is a new HE Careers and Employability section on Moodle; accessible via the Learner Resources tab. This is a really useful resource which both you and your students can use. Please e-mail Heidi Channell with details of any other web resources you use and she will add them to Moodle:
  • UCAS Applications for Teacher Training open on 27th October.
  • Encourage your HE students to access HE Careers Advice by e-mailing Heidi:
  • Here is a link to the Plymouth University Careers & Employability site which includes the Events Calendar:

4.4HE Careers Guidance – Plymouth University

As a Plymouth University student you will also be able to access the Plymouth University Careers and Employability Service which can provide a wealth of guidance and support resources.

5Employment Opportunities

Whilst studying this programme you will be given the opportunity to develop further personal and employability related skills, through planned module content and also external opportunities. A range of teaching approaches are used to specifically enable you to develop and enhance your communication and team working skills. Employers and other industry professionals also input into the programme giving you further contacts.

6Teaching, Learning and Assessment

Your performance in a module will be assessed during the academic year, normally through a combination of coursework and end of year examinations. You must pass the assessments in order to be credited with that module for your award. In addition, some modules may have to be passed as pre-requisites for others taken later in your programme.

The method of assessment varies between modules and your lecturers will advise you of the method(s) to be used. This reflects the need to develop a range of different knowledge, understanding and skills. During your programme you may experience some, or all, of the following types of assessment:

Coursework essay questions

  • Coursework group reports
  • Coursework case study problems
  • Group presentations
  • Small group assessed discussions
  • Practical’s
  • Formal examinations
  • In-class tests
  • Online assessments
  • Portfolios
  • Research project

In all cases these are chosen and designed to assess your achievement of the particular learning outcomes for the module. You will be given Assessment Criteria which are used to judge the extent of your achievement.