University of Bath F/S LTQC 12/13 - ??

FACULTY/SCHOOL LEARNING, TEACHING AND QUALITY COMMITTEE

MAY 2013

QA44: PROGRAMME HANDBOOKS AND PROGRAMME SPECIFICATIONS: PROVISION OF PROGRAMME INFORMATION TO STUDENTS

  1. PURPOSE

1.1The Faculty/School Learning, Teaching and Quality Committee is invited to consider proposed changes to QA44: Programme Handbooks and Programme Specifications: provision of programme information to students following a major review of the statement during 2012/13. The new statement will come into effect from 1 August 2013.

  1. BACKGROUND

2.1In March 2012, the Quality Assurance Agency published Part C of the HE Quality Code: Information about higher education.Two papers were received by University Learning, Teaching and Quality Committee (ULTQC) in July 2012 and September 2012 highlighting how the University is engaging with Part C and made reference to a review of QA44 (Programme Handbooks and Programme Specifications) during 2012/13.

2.2ULTQC approved the approach to the University’s Quality Assurance Code of Practice development for 2012/13 on 25 September 2012 (min 311). This also highlighted the need for a major review of QA44.

2.3The review QA44 has been undertaken in line with the University’s approved Approach to Code Development.

2.4Initial consultation meetings have been held with key administrative staff (Directors of Administration, Faculty Assistant Registrars, Undergraduate and Postgraduate Managers or equivalent) within each Faculty, the School and the Learning Partnerships Office.

2.5Consultation with academic staff has been conducted via e-mail circulation to all Directors of Studies. Associate Deans were informed of the process and were invited to comment. Additional comments have also been received from the Faculty of Science Learning, Teaching and Quality Committee (FLTQC).

2.6 Consultation with approximately 120 students took place across two meetings of Academic Council (held on 8 February 2013). The Audience Response System (ARS) was used to obtain initial quantitative data from the groups, which in turn led to further open feedback from the academic reps.

2.7 Discussions regarding the requirements for Programme Handbooks were also held via e-mail with the University’s Senior Legal Advisor.

2.8The Public Information Sub-Committee also received a paper (appendix 2) onthe outcome of the review to date and provided feedback at its meeting in March 2013.

2.9Staff from both Student Disability Advice and the Equalities and Diversity Unit have been invited to feedback on proposed changes to the statement.

2.10A review of peer institutions has also been conducted, the results of which are presented in the paper considered by the Public Information Sub-Committee (appendix 2).

3.PROPOSED REVISIONS

3.1Based on the feedback received during the review, a number of revisions to QA44 are proposed for implementation from 1 August 2013 (updated version found in appendix 1):

a)To revise the statement on the institutional requirements for the content of the Programme Handbook to ensure that it also applies to those research programmes containing a taught element (section 1.1);

b)That a statement on the roles and responsibilities of the Public Information Sub-Committee is included (section 3.1 and 6.1);

c)To consolidate the roles and responsibilities of the Directors of Studies into one section (section 3.3) and to include the following additional responsibilities:

  1. Include a requirement that Directors of Studies (or equivalent) ensure that the common sections provided by the Learning and Teaching Enhancement Office (LTEO) are incorporated into Programme Handbooks;
  2. To include a requirement for Directors of Studies (or equivalent) to approve the final version of any Programme Handbook issued to students;
  3. To include a requirement for Directors of Studies (or equivalent) to review Programme Specifications on an annual basis;

d)To clarify the current requirements for paper and electronic handbooks (section 4.3);

e)To update the list of Programme Handbook contents in line with the current agreed template and include reference to new sections on International Student Advice and Student Exchange/Study Abroad (section 4.6);

f)To clarify that Programme Specifications should be published on a designated area of the Faculty/School/Learning Partnerships website;

3.2In light of feedback from the review of QA44, the follow revision to QA3: Approval of New Programmes of Study is also proposed:

a)That the text for the Programme Specification common sections (‘Details of support available to students’ and ‘Indicators of Quality and Standards’) is added to the Programme Specification template QA3 Form 2.

3.3It is also proposed that a project be undertaken to consider the option of moving to a University-wide requirement for all Programme Handbooks to be in electronic format (with alternative formats for disability/learning difficulties) for implementation in 2014/15.

4.RECOMMENDATIONS

4.1The Faculty/School Learning, Teaching and Quality Committee is therefore asked to comment on the proposals set out in section 3 (above).

Sarah Ibbitson

Learning and Teaching Enhancement Office

May 2013

Documentation attached

Appendix 1: QA44 – Updated version with track changes – with effect from 1 August 2013

Appendix 2: Update paper considered by the Public Information Sub-Committee on 25 March 2013

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