Academic Quality Handbook

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Percival Roberts
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1 Academic Quality Handbook September 2015

2 CONTENTS Chapter Page No 1. INSTITUTIONAL CONTEXT Introduction Background Mission Statement The University's Vision The University's Values Defining Characteristics Strategic Priorities UNIVERSITY COMMITTEE STRUCTURE Senior Directorate Senior Management Team Senate Senate Standing Committees Academic Policy Committee Academic Quality and Standards Committee Central Resources Committee International Affairs and Collaborative Partnerships Committee Learning, Teaching and Enhancement Committee Research Committee Faculty Board Marketing Committee Sub-Committees of Senate's Standing Committees Welsh Affairs Committee Validation Sub-Committee External Examiner Nominations Panel Research Degrees Committee Ethics Committee Faculty Board Sub-Committees Student Affairs Committee Staff Development Committee Student Representation Sub-Committee Sustainability Committee Recognition of Prior and Experiential Learning (RPEL) Board Special Cases Committee Welsh Medium Education Marketing Sub-Committee Widening Access and Community Engagement Sub-Committee University Committee Structure THE UNIVERSITY'S FACULTIES The Faculties Faculty Management Faculty Board School Boards Staff Student Committees Monitoring, Evaluating and Reviewing Staff Student Committees Student Experience Conventions... 25

3 4. PROGRAMME APPROVAL, VALIDATION, MONITORING AND REVIEW AND AUDIT OF SCHOOLS AND PROFESSIONAL SERVICES Principles Programme Approval and Validation Programme approval Programme validation First stage Second stage Partner Institutions Professional, statutory and regulatory bodies (PSRBs) Modifications to existing programmes Modifications requiring SMT and AQSC approval Modifications which may be approved by or reported to Faculty Board Modifications to Programmes of Study at Partner Institutions Withdrawal of Modules and/or Programmes of Study Programme Monitoring and Annual Review Annual review at programme level Annual review at Faculty level Annual review of professional services Annual review by AQSC and RDC Programme Monitoring and Annual Review at Partner Institutions Major Review and Revalidation Partner Institutions Audits of Schools and Professional Services School Audits School Audit Teams The School Audit Process Complaints relating to the School Audit Process Professional Services Audits Professional Services Audit Teams The Professional Services Audit Process Complaints relating to the Professional Services Audit Process FRAMEWORK FOR FLEXIBLE AND DISTRIBUTED LEARNING PROVISION Definition Policy Statement Introduction Approval, Validation and Review of FDL Programmes Student Feedback Programme Design and Delivery Structure of Academic Year for FDL Programmes Learner Support Assessment Feedback Unfair Practice TAUGHT AWARD REGULATIONS The Modular Framework Introduction Language of Publication Definitions Programme of Study Structures Academic Levels... 56

4 6.2 General Entry Requirements Recognition of Prior Certificated Learning and Recognition/Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (RPCL and R/APEL) Honours Degree Integrated Master s Degree Certificate of Higher Education Diploma of Higher Education Foundation Degree Graduate Certificates and Graduate Diplomas Master s Degree Postgraduate Certificate Postgraduate Diploma Higher National Certificate (HNC) Higher National Diploma (HND) Professional Graduate Certificate in Education and Post Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) Primary / Secondary with QTS Post Compulsory Education and Training (PCET): Professional Certificate in Education (PCE), Professional Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) and Post Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) Foundation Programmes for International Students Pre-Master s Programmes for International Students Honours Degree Introduction Rules for Progression and Award Presentation of marks Degree Classification Regulations Criteria for a Pass Degree Converting an Ordinary Degree to an Honours Degree Procedure for awarding an Aegrotat Award Procedure for awarding a Posthumous Award Integrated Master s Degree Introduction Integrated Master s Degree Regulations Certificate of Higher Education and Diploma of Higher Education Introduction Certificate of Higher Education Regulations Diploma of Higher Education Regulations Exit qualifications of Degree Programmes of Study Foundation Degree Introduction Foundation Degree Regulations Graduate Certificate and Graduate Diploma Introduction Graduate Certificate and Graduate Diploma Regulations Master s Degree Introduction Master s Degree Regulations Part I (Taught Element): Rules for Progression and Award Part II (Dissertation): Availability of Dissertation and Retrieval of Failure Presentation of marks Postgraduate Certificate and Postgraduate Diploma Introduction Postgraduate Certificate Regulations Postgraduate Diploma Regulations Exit qualifications of Taught Master s Programmes of Study... 93

5 6.10 Higher National Certificate (HNC) and Higher National Diploma (HND) Awards Introduction Higher National Certificate Regulations Higher National Diploma Regulations Post Graduate Certificate in Education and Professional Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) Primary / Secondary with QTS PGCE Primary / Secondary with QTS Regulations Failure and Retrieval Teach First Post Graduate Certificate in Education and Professional Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) Primary / Secondary with QTS Presentation of marks Post Compulsory Education and Training (PCET): Professional Certificate in Education (PCE), Professional Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) and Post Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) PCE PCET and PGCE PCET Regulations International Foundation Programme International Foundation Programme Regulations International Pre-Master s Programme International Pre-Master s Programme Regulations Unsatisfactory Progress Unsatisfactory Student Progress on a Programme of Study Unsatisfactory Student Progress on a Module ASSESSMENT: TAUGHT PROGRAMMES Introduction Principles Responsibilities Information to be provided for students Assessment Submission Marking Language of assessment Assessment through the medium of Welsh where the medium of delivery is English Setting tasks for re-assessment Personal or professional links with students Disclosure of marks/grades Feedback and the return of work Assessment Archive External Examiners Purposes of External Examiner Role of External Examiner Nomination, Selection and Appointment of External Examiners Person specification Conflicts of interest and impartiality Duration of appointment Termination of External Examiner contract Induction and annual briefing External Examiners' Reports Content of the Report Procedures for Reporting Serious Concerns Responding to External Examiner Reports Involvement of students The External Examiner's Involvement in Examining Boards Validation and Review The Process of External Examination for Taught Awards...117

6 7.15 Examining Boards Taught Provision Examining Boards Pre-Board meetings Initial Examining Boards Progression/Award Examining Boards Mid-sessional and Re-assessment Examining Boards Appeals against decisions of Examining Boards Taught Master s Dissertations Principles Submission of Dissertations Taught Master s Dissertation Archive Supervision of Taught Master's Dissertations Responsibilities of the Dean of Faculty Responsibilities of the Head of School Responsibilities of the Programme Director Responsibilities of the Supervisor Responsibilities of the Student Dissertation Support Entitlement RESEARCH DEGREE REGULATIONS Introduction Institutional Arrangements Master by Research Degrees Covered by the Regulations Structure, Eligibility and Modes of Study Entrance Requirements RPCL and RPEL Enrolment Progress, monitoring and reports Approval of the Research Project The format and word length of the thesis Access to a thesis Date of Commencement of a Master by Research Programme Required Periods of Study Appointment of Supervisors and Advisers The Examining Board Assessments External examiners for MRes programmes of study Unfair Practice Appeals and complaints Regulations for the MPhil and PhD by Research Master of Philosophy (MPhil) by Research Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) by Research Eligibility and Modes of Study Entrance Requirements Enrolment Enrolment and collaborative research projects Transfer of Enrolment from another Institution The format and word length of the thesis Inclusion of artefacts within a thesis Inclusion of Published Papers in an MPhil or PhD by Research submission Access to a thesis Progress, Monitoring and Reports Approval Date of Commencement of Research Degree...144

7 8.31 Required Periods of Study Appointment of Supervisors and Advisers The Examining Board Examinations Transfer from MPhil/PhD by Research to PhD by Research Unfair Practice Appeals and Complaints Regulations for Professional Doctorates Structure, Eligibility and Modes of Study Entrance Requirements RPCL and RPEL Enrolment Progress, monitoring and reports Approval of Research Project Access to a thesis Format and word length of the thesis Inclusion of Published Papers in a Professional Doctorate submission Date of Commencement of Doctoral Programme Required Periods of Study Appointment of Supervisors and Advisers The Examining Board Assessments Unfair Practice Appeals and Complaints PhD by Published Works Regulations Eligibility of Students Entrance Requirements Application Date of Commencement of Research Degree Required periods of study Appointment of Supervisors and Advisers Progress, Monitoring and Reports The Submission The Examining Board Examinations Unfair Practice Appeals and Complaints Research Degrees Admissions Sub-Committee Annual Review Board and follow-up Review Boards Examiners and the Examining Board Purposes of the External Examiner Nomination, Selection and Appointment of the Examining Board Person specification for examiners Conflicts of interest and impartiality Termination of an examiner appointment Examiners Reports Content of the Report Procedures for Reporting Serious Concerns Responding to Research Degrees Examining reports Suspension of Studies Grounds for suspension Application procedure Review of decision not to approve suspension requests Timing and period of suspension Funding Issues...172

8 Implications for the immigration status of overseas students Required to Suspend Extensions to the maximum time limit for completing a research degree Grounds for extension Application procedure Review of decision not to approve extension requests Unfair Practice Academic Appeal Procedure for Postgraduate Research Degree Students Definitions Grounds for Appeal Submitting an Appeal Initial Investigation Postgraduate Research Degree Appeal Panel Outcomes of a Postgraduate Research Degree Appeal Panel Review of Appeal Outcome Status of students who have submitted appeals Completions of Procedures letter Independent Review Reporting on appeals Procedure for Postgraduate Research Student Complaints about Supervision Definitions Informal Complaints Procedure Formal Complaints Procedure Review of Complaint Outcome Completion of Procedures and Independent Review Legal proceedings Reporting on complaints PROCEDURAL FRAMEWORK FOR COLLABORATIVE PROVISION Introduction Types of partnership and modes of provision Responsibilities Processes Initial consideration, including investigation, risk assessment and due diligence Partnership approval Programme validation and approval Programme modifications, including changes to mode of provision Provision of academic and related support Monitoring Review Postgraduate research degrees Articulation links Dual awards Assessment and external examining Certification and transcripts Terminating partnerships Bribery Act PLACEMENT LEARNING; WORK-BASED LEARNING; RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING Introduction and Background Learning in the Workplace, Internship and Placement Learning Placement Protocol Complaints Procedure...213

9 Considerations Fitness to Practise Personal Behaviour Duty of Care Conducting Research Some Areas of Misconduct Fitness to Practise Panel Work-based Learning through the Professional Practice Framework Entry Requirements and Selection Procedures for the Professional Practice Framework The Role of the Programme Adviser Induction of Professional Practice Framework Students Work-based Mentoring for Professional Practice Framework Students Monitoring and Evaluation of the Professional Practice Programme Complaints Procedure Recognition of Prior Learning Procedure Background Definitions General Credit Specific Credit Role within the Modular Frameworks Transfer of Credits Procedure for the Recognition of Prior Certificated Learning Individual Responsibilities for RPL Claims Based on Certificated Learning Recognition of Prior Experiential Learning Areas of Learning Learning Outcomes Assessing Claims for Experiential Learning over 40 Credits Role of RAL Adviser Credit Claim Regulations Recognition of Prior and Experiential Learning (RPEL) Board Appeals QUALITY ENHANCEMENT Introduction Responsibilities Dean of Learning, Teaching and Enhancement Faculties and Schools/Departments Senate Learning, Teaching and Enhancement Committee Academic Quality and Standards Committee Research Degrees Committee Principles Academic standards Academic quality Enhancement Good practice Setting Priorities Strategic approach Information-gathering to support a strategic approach to setting priorities Procedure University level At Faculty level Staff/Student Fora At School/department level...237

10 Support units/professional services Peer Observation Aims Process University overview STUDENTS AND QUALITY General Principles and Expectations Student Charter University Regulations Programme of Study Handbooks Student Complaints Student Affairs - Committees Student Affairs Committee Safeguarding Forum Personal / Year Tutor System Role of the Personal / Year Tutor Code of Practice for Personal or Year Tutors Personal or Year Tutors modus operandi Support Liaison Tutors Student Services Academic Scholarships and Bursaries University Hardship Fund Committee Part-time Undergraduate Fee Waiver Scheme (HEFCW) Study Skills Support Support for Disabled Students Professional Development Plans Careers Advice and Guidance and Work Placements The Life Design Initiative Medical Services Interview Arrangements for Disabled Students Applicants to Initial Teacher Training programmes Competency standards for entry into a programme of ITET Disability Support Procedures Identification Needs Assessment Procedure Policy on Recording of Oral or Visual Presentations by disabled students Student Pregnancy, Maternity, Paternity and Adoption Leave Policy Support for students from a care background Monitoring of Quality STUDENT CASES Compensatory Measures Amanuensis Extenuating Circumstances for Taught Provision Definitions and principles Role of the Extenuating Circumstances Panel Procedure Appeals against Decisions of the Extenuating Circumstances Panel Suspension of Studies (Taught Programme) Grounds for suspension Application procedure Review of decision not to approve suspension requests...262

11 Timing and period of suspension Funding Issues Implications for the immigration status of overseas students Required to Suspend Adjustments to Time Limits for Completing a Taught Award Adjustments to the usual time limit for completing a taught award Grounds for adjustment Application procedure Adjustments to the maximum time limit for completing a taught award Review of decision not to approve adjustment requests Special Cases Committee Academic Appeal Procedure in Respect of Decisions by Examining Boards Definitions Grounds for Appeal Submitting an Appeal Initial Investigation Appeal Panel Outcomes of an Appeal Panel Review of Appeal Outcome Status of students who have submitted appeals Completion of Procedures and Independent Review Reporting on appeals Procedure for Student Complaints Definitions Informal Complaints Procedure Formal Complaints Procedure Review of Complaint Outcome Completion of Procedures and Independent Review Legal proceedings Reporting on complaints Complaints against senior members of staff Unfair Practice Procedure General Principles Identifying allegations of unfair practice Initial investigation of allegations of unfair practice Process for consideration of allegations of unfair practice The Panel of Inquiry Arrangements for the Panel of Inquiry Action to be taken following the Panel of Inquiry Appeals against Unfair Practice Decisions and/or Unfair Practice Penalties Unfair Practice Guidelines and Penalties Other Student Cases Procedures...282

Chapter 2. University Committee Structure

Chapter 2. University Committee Structure Chapter 2 University Structure 2. UNIVERSITY COMMITTEE STRUCTURE This chapter provides details of the membership and terms of reference of Senate, the University s senior academic committee, and its Standing