Hollings Faculty
Open Professional Programme
DEFINITIVE PROGRAMME DOCUMENT
Approved after validation event December 2008
With effect from intakes in April 2009
Document last modified March 11th 2009
Updated August 19th 2009
Updated July 13th 2011
Contents
1 PROGRAMME SPECIFICATION
2 PROGRAMME REGULATIONS
2.1 ADMISSION REGULATIONS
2.1.1 Standard Entry Requirements
2.1.2Admission with exemption
2.1.3 Registration process
2.1.4 Process of enrolment onto specific units
2.2 CURRICULUM DESIGN AND ORGANISATION
2.2.1 Curriculum Design Overview
2.2.2Relationship to Subject Benchmark Statement(s)
2.2.3Assessment Criteria for Marking Schemes
2.2.4Arrangements for anonymous marking of summative assessments
2.2.5Arrangements for the quality management of placement learning
2.2.6Academic partnership activity
2.2.7Professional, Statutory and Regulatory Bodies
2.2.8Flexible and distributed learning (including e-learning)
2.3 ASSESSMENT REGULATIONS
2.3.1Programme-specific regulations
2.4 PROGRAMME MANAGEMENT AND STUDENT SUPPORT
2.4.1 Programme Committee
2.4.2Board of Examiners
2.4.3Programme Leader
2.4.4Other Staff Responsibilities
2.4.5Student Support Strategy
2.4.6Student Evaluation
2.4.7Engagement with Employers
2.4.8 Process of approval of units and named awards
3 CURRICULUM CONTENT
4 APPENDICES
4.1 APPENDIX I:
Approved Award Supplement
4.2 APPENDIX II:
Agreements: Letters / Memoranda with Partner Institution(s)
1 PROGRAMME SPECIFICATION
Brief descriptive summaryThe Open Professional Programme provides the framework and operational procedures for the delivery of work based learning. The programme has been specifically designed to meet the demands of both employees and employers. It has been developed in response to the need for a speedy approach to accrediting small chunks of learning undertaken by individuals on industry focussed short courses and permits them to accrue credit over time. The programme provides a progression route for learners employed in fashion/clothing businesses that are not currently available to them.
In some cases it will be delivered at partner institutions - and at times in company locations both in the UK and overseas.
A wide variety of subject areas are offered to provide a pick and mix portfolio of units at different levels and of differing sizes. The portfolio of units continues to evolve and students have no difficulty in finding subjects of benefit to their personal and professional advancement. Students are able to accrue credits over a long period and may collect sufficient for a formal qualification of the University to be awarded. This helps to fulfil their personal professional advancement and supports employers’ recruitment, retention, career advancement and succession planning strategies.
Faculty Open Professional Programme
The programme structure is designed to permit flexible and timely response to external requests for CPD and workplace learning, focusing on:
-The provision of targeted learning opportunities through the approval of new or existing curricula for delivery to specified external markets
-Flexible study (in both unit size and delivery arrangements)
-The opportunity to study stand-alone units without the standard requirements for progression towards an FHEQ award, and to achieve a certificate of credit if successful
-The opportunity to build to an FHEQ award by the aggregation of sufficient units
-Student support arrangements and entitlements
by using existing University procedures and quality management, by providing a consistent institutional shell framework to support such initiatives.
The Hollings Open Professional Programme permits professional colleagues from industry to enrol for free standing units developed by academic staff within Hollings Faculty at MMU (and, if approved, at partner institutions) and to gain academic credit for them.
Academic Framework Developments
The recent development of institution-wide structures regulated by University quality procedures but with management devolved to local level restates the University’s commitment to this programme. The University Open Professional Programme provides the framework and structure to empower FADCs to approve specific titles attached to named awards or routes. This will lead to a series of awards that can be added to as and when the demand is evident.
Learning, Teaching and Assessment Strategy 2008 – 2012
The Open Professional Programme fulfils the 5 key objectives of the strategy including: Objective 3:To enhance students' employability by encouraging the development of students’ intellectual powers, creativity, independent judgement, critical self-awareness, confidence, imagination and skills that will enhance their lifelong employment opportunities.
Basic Programme Details
1 / Overarching Programme Network/Title and programme specification code(s) / Faculty Open Professional Programme2 / Final award(s)/title(s)
(including any PSRB final awards conferred as an automatic result of successful completion of the programme) / See the approved Awards Supplement to the Open Professional Programme Definitive Document
3 / Combined Honours Subject(s)offered through programme specification together with associated final award(s)
(where relevant) / Subject(s):
N/A
Final Awards:
N/A
4 / Interim exitaward(s)/title(s)
(including Combined Honours interim exit awards) / Possible Interim Awards to Honours level :
- University Certificate
- Certificate of HE
- University Diploma
- Diploma of HE
- Foundation Degree
- Postgrad Certificate
- Postgrad Diploma
5 / Mode(s) and duration / Part-Time
6 / FHEQ positionof final award(s) / *delete as appropriate
Honours (Level 6)
or
Masters (Level 7)
7 / Awarding institution
(include PSRBs which confer a joint or additional qualification on successful completion of programme) / MMU
8 / Teaching institution(s) / MMU, in the main, together with partner institutions such as:
Liverpool Community College
Wigan & Leigh College
9 / Relationship with Foundation Year / N/A
Administrative Details
10 / Home Department/ School/ Institute / This is a Faculty based programme11 / Home Faculty / Hollings
12 / UCAS code(s)
Collaborative Arrangements(where relevant)
13 / Approved Collaborative partner(s) / Liverpool Community CollegeWigan and Leigh College
14 / Description of type of collaborative provision or academic partnership / This will be an MMU validated programme with part of its provision delivered at partner institutions
Approval Status
15 / Date and outcome of most recent MMU review/ approval / December 200816 / Next Scheduled Review Date: / 2010/2011
17 / PS/1 effective date:
(ie date from which the outcome of approval or last review is effective OR the date from which amendments to the programme specification are effective) / February 2009
External References/Relationships
18 / QAA Benchmark Statement(s) / Depending on the units introduced into the Programme, several QAA Benchmarks may be referred to, including :Art & Design
Materials
General Business and Management
Agriculture, forestry, agricultural sciences, food sciences, consumer sciences
Hospitality, leisure, sport & tourism
19 / Date/outcome of last QAA engagement (or equivalent)
20 / PSRB(s) associated with final award of programme
(eg those which offer professional status/membership/license to practise as result of successful completion of the final award. / Appropriate PSRBs will be engaged with for recognition and accreditation of awards within the programme dependent on the focus of individual units and subsequent award titles.
21 / Date and outcome of last PSRB approval(s)
Programme Information
22 / University and Programme Educational AimsUniversity Educational Aims:
- To develop flexible approaches` to programme delivery and student support which reflect the needs and expectations of our students.
- To provide a learning experience and support for our learners that encourages and properly sustains a diverse learning community.
- To provide a learning environment that is free from discrimination and focussed on success for all learners.
- To enable the development of students’ skills and personal attributes that will enhance employment opportunities on graduation in all programmes.
- To establish a culture of quality enhancement and progressive innovation in learning, teaching and assessment that is anticipatory, enabling, supportive, rewarding and fully aligned with the institution’s strategic goals.
- To provide a learning experience that is informed by research, scholarship and reflective practice.
- To advance students' knowledge and understanding of studies within their area of employment.
- To stimulate enquiry into specific aspects of their employment.
- To provide coherent employer participation in their development.
- To provide a manageable and flexible learning experience which facilitates all of the above.
23 / Programme Learning Outcomes
MMU Educational Outcomes:
Successful students will be able to develop and demonstrate transferable intellectual skills, in particular their ability to:
- communicate clearly in speech, writing and other appropriate modes of expression.
- argue rationally and draw independent conclusions based on a rigorous, analytical and critical approach to data, demonstration and argument.
- apply what has been learned.
- demonstrate an awareness of the programme of study in a wider context.
A student successfully completing any part of the programme will be able to demonstrate:
- that they have advanced their knowledge and understanding of their area of employment.
- stimulated enquiry into aspects of their employment.
- that they have learned and benefited from coherent employer participation in their development.
2.Combined Honours Learning Outcomes
N/A
3.Pass Degree Learning Outcomes
N/A
24 / Interim Award Learning Outcomes
This Programme does not follow the traditional structure of academic programmes which include levels which need to be progressed through in order to achieve an interim or final award.
The purpose of the programme is to permit colleagues in industry to enrol for free-standing units and to gain academic credit for them. However, on occasion, students may wish to progress to an interim or final award, over time.
Learning outcomes for specific awards and interim awards can be seen in the Approved Awards Supplement, an example of which is appended to this Programme Document.
25 / Teaching/Learning and Assessment Strategy
Teaching and learning
Because the programme is designed in response to the need for a speedy approach to accrediting small chunks of learning undertaken by individuals on industry focussed short courses and to permit them to accrue credit over time,It will provide a progression route for learners that is not currently available to them.
It has been developed with regard to the University’s Mission Statement, the SSCs, GMSA and the NWUA. It further enhances the University's commitment to Widening Participation and Diversity and the MMU International policy. It also embraces collaborative partnerships with FE and HE Institutions.
Each unit is designed for scholars who have work based learning commensurate with the appropriate level (4, 5, 6 or 7) studies.
The units will develop their competences further through learning opportunities related to the principles and practices of their work, thus embedding HE within the workplace and employment within the HE curriculum.
It is important to recognise that the programme will be recruiting industry based learners so that teaching and assessment methods will be developed and tested so that they are appropriate for a variety of candidates whilst maintaining strict academic standards.
It is recognised that students will need to manage their own learning environment and that tutorial and pastoral support will be available from the University and from employers in order for students to successfully complete the units.
Further to this a range of teaching methods will be utilised as most appropriate for each unit. The student will relate their own work based experience to learning and assessment activities.
Contact Teaching (lectures, seminars,demonstrations, group tutorials)
Directed Learning (project work, group work, experimental learning through work based briefs)
Self Directed Learning (negotiated work based project work)
Learning from Assessment Feedback
Personal Tutoring (from academic tutors and company mentors)
Engagement with WebCT Vista will allow for blended learning opportunities and the facility for students to study flexibly and at their own pace, permitting reflection on and advancement of skills.
.
Assessment
Assessment methods are varied and carefully designed to be appropriate for each unit.
Summative assessment will be undertaken for each unit through appropriate methods such as written reports, assignments, negotiated project work, oral presentations and portfolio work. There will be opportunity for formative assessment at strategic points during the study of each unit.
It is important to ensure that the assessment method and weighting is in keeping with the unit size / credit value and enables the student to relate the teaching and learning to their own employability. Each assessment will have a focus on the academic requirements of the programme and reflect the specific needs of a named company/brand.
The programme team will be mindful, throughout the taught and work based elements of the units, of the student experience needing to be carefully considered, supported and monitored.
26 / Programme structures, levels, credits, awards and curriculum map
Including specific progression arrangements for Foundation Degrees
The programme structure includes units at levels 4,5,6 and 7 (Masters Level).
Units are 5, 10 or 20 credits in value depending on the learning needs. However the aim of the Programme is to provide small manageable chunks of learning appropriate to employer and employee needs. (For specific Awards see the Awards Supplement)
Students are able to switch on and off their enrolement and accrue credits at a pace that suits the student and the employer. Theycan study the units in any order and mix levels if appropriate.
If students accrue the relevant number of credits they may be eligible for an award for example :
University Certificate ( 60 credits at Level 4)
CertHE Professional Advancement
University Diploma ( 60 credits at Level 5)
Diploma of HE
Foundation Degree
BSc / BA(Hons)
Masters Degree
Continuing Development
Recognising the dynamic nature of businesses units will be added or withdrawn as required.
Shell units can be developed as a response to specific requirements of an individual company. MMU has a wide experience of developing such units in a short course format (without accreditation). Partner institutions also have relevant experience.
27 / Personal Development Planning
Enrolled students are encouraged to discuss their personal development plans with their academic advisor and with their company manager/mentor. Individual companies will also have a strategy for personal development planning which may be incorporated into the personal development plan.
Students are encouraged to manage their PDP and develop a short and long term plan for their own professional advancement. The pick and mix portfolio of units will support this approach as learners plan and manage their own development and progression. Employers are able to undertake retention and succession planning using the framework of this Open Professional Programme.
Each unit specification identifies the type of personal development activity available to the student through study of that unit.
28 / Placement Learning
This programme is founded upon placement learning. Placement learning is a fundamental part of the Open Professional Programme.
Building on its significant track record of employability and placement learning Manchester Metropolitan University (and partner institutions)are reinforcing their links with businesses and responding to skills needs by developing a portfolio of units accredited at levels 4, 5, 6 and 7. This programme has been developed with identified industrial partners and the qualifications will meet the needs of large, small and medium sized employers.
Placement learning will be continual and integral and, will take place through work based learning via the students’ role within a company.
For example:
A typical 5 credit unit might involve :
8 hours = pre-course preparation (work based)
24 hours = 3 day intensive course (at MMU or partner institution)
18 hours = post-course assignment research, preparation and submission (work based)
Total 50 hours
29 / Points of Reference
Internal
-University Mission and Strategic Aims
-Regulations for the Academic Awards of the University
-University Regulations for Undergraduate or Taught Postgraduate Programmes of Study
-Academic Regulations and Procedures Handbook
-Faculty Programme Approval/Review/Modification Report (date)
-University Learning and Teaching Strategy
-Staff research
-Departmental Professional/Industrial Advisory Committee
-Staff/Student Liaison Committee
External
-QAA Subject Benchmark statement
-QAA Framework for HE Qualifications
-QAA Code of Practice
-QAA Subject Review report
-PSRB visit report
-External examiner reports
2 PROGRAMME REGULATIONS
Rationale
This programme has been developed in response to the need for a speedy approach to accrediting small chunks of learning undertaken by individuals on industry focussed short courses and to permit them to accrue credit over time. Students will be able to switch on and off their registration and chose to study from a pick and mix of units and levels appropriate to their needs and capabilities. It is not compulsory to progress across or up levels or follow any set progression route. Students will gain credit on the successful completion of each unit. Units will normally be of 5, 10, or 20 credits.
Faculty Open Professional Programme
The programme structure is designed to permit flexible and timely response to external requests for CPD and workplace learning, focusing on:
- The provision of targeted learning opportunities through the approval of new or existing curricula for delivery to specified external markets
- Flexible study (in both unit size and delivery arrangements)
- The opportunity to study stand-alone units without the standard requirements for progression towards an FHEQ award, and to achieve a certificate of credit if successful
- The opportunity to build to an FHEQ award by the aggregation of sufficient units
- Student support arrangements and entitlements
by using existing University procedures and quality management, by providing a consistent institutional shell framework to support such initiatives.
The Hollings Open Professional Programme permits professional colleagues from industry to enrol for free standing units developed by academic staff within Hollings Faculty at MMU (and, if approved, at partner institutions) and to gain academic credit for them.
A wide variety of subject areas will be offered and the portfolio of units will be constantly evolving so that students will have no difficulty in finding subjects of benefit to their personal and professional advancement. Students will be able to accrue credits over a long period and, in time, it is envisaged that sufficient will be collected to enable a formal qualification of the University to be awarded.