HARPER ADAMS UNIVERSITY Programme Specification

Transcription

1 HARPER ADAMS UNIVERSITY Programme Specification 1 Awarding Institution: Harper Adams University 2 Teaching Institution: Askham Bryan College 3 Course Accredited by: N/A 4 Final Award and Level: BSc / BSc (Hons) Top-Up 5 Interim Award(s) and Level(s): BSc 6 Award Title: Animal Management 7 UCAS Code: D300 8 QAA Benchmark Statement(s): QAA FHEQ Honours Degree Qualification Descriptor (2008) Agriculture, horticulture, forestry, food and consumer sciences (2009) Biosciences (2007) General business and management (2007) 9 Language of Study: English Animal Management Validation Event 13 th 10 Date Approved or Revised: January 2011 (September 2011 August 2017) Updated PAC 31 st August 2012 CONTEXT AND RATIONALE Lantra (2007) indicated that the Animal Care Industry is expected to show continued future growth, driven in part by the increasing awareness of animal health and welfare issues. The Honours Degree Animal Management top up programme has been designed to equip students with the knowledge and skills to enter this industry. The Lantra Skills Assessment Report for the industry (2009) indicates that: The sector has undergone great change in recent years, which has led to an increasing demand for high skilled workers ; the clear message being that workers in the animal industry need educating to a high standard to meet future change. Areas relating to health and welfare legislation, economic factors affecting the sustainability of the industry and environmental change were particularly highlighted. These areas are incorporated within this BSc (Hons) top up programme. The programme is the specified progression route for students wishing to top up to honours from their Foundation Degree award at Askham Bryan College, but students may progress to honours from other HND and Foundation Degree courses with advanced standing. Students will study a wide range of animals to develop appreciation of their anatomical structure and physiological processes as well as the inter-relationship between the animal and their environment (QAA 2007). Knowledge of business principles and management skills is also developed, allowing students work effectively at management level within a company. Students studying the course may enter a wide variety of roles in the industry, working in animal welfare, zoo management, education, conservation and health related areas. Students may also progress to higher level study. Page 1 of 13

2 GENERIC AIMS All Honours Degree awards aim to provide the following: 1. To develop in each student subject knowledge and understanding appropriate to individual interests and developing vocational needs 2. To develop each student s intellectual powers, their understanding and judgement, their ability to see relationships within what they have learned and to examine the field of study within a broader perspective 3. To develop the personal effectiveness and employability of students, in particular their ability to learn, to communicate, to work with others and to solve problems. To develop those skills of professional scholarship required for career management, lifelong learning and innovation 4. To inculcate an awareness of the wider consequences of economic activity and a determination to minimise the effects on the environment and on people 5. To provide a lively, stimulating and challenging educational experience. AWARD-SPECIFIC AIMS The BSc (Hons) Animal Management award aims to provide the following: 1. A detailed understanding of the ecological and behavioural needs of animals in managed environments. 2. An appreciation of finance, human and physical resources necessary to manage people and animals in a business setting. 3. An emphasis on the links between practical and academic skills that can be applied to authentic and novel situations in work related areas. 4. An awareness of the social, ethical and environmental issues concerned with management of animals 5. A knowledge of experimental, statistical and computing techniques to generate a realistic and imaginative research project using a range of knowledge from a chosen area 6. To develop communication and management skills and the ability to apply them to problems associated with captive or wild animal management. Page 2 of 13

3 GENERIC OUTCOMES (a) communicate clearly and concisely using an appropriate format; (b) collect, select and critically evaluate information from a range of sources; (c) manipulate and interpret complex sets of data, assess their reliability and present them in an appropriate format; (d) learn independently and display the skills of professional scholarship required for personal development, career management and lifelong learning; (e) use information technology effectively; (f) select and apply knowledge and principles to the solution of well defined problems; (g) demonstrate familiarity with, and understanding of, the important facts and principles in a broad field of study and an awareness of the provisional nature of knowledge and theory; (h) assess the ethical dimensions and wider consequences of human activities, to optimise economic, community and environmental sustainability; (i) define criteria and use them to plan, allocate and the evaluate the work of self, individuals and teams; (j) organise and administer the human and physical resources required to develop and maintain a sustainable enterprise or organisation, after further experience; (k) display the transferable skills and ability to acquire new competencies required for career progression, including the acquisition of applied workplace skills; (l) demonstrate the ability to establish effective working relationships with others, defining, sharing and delegating responsibility within a group. (m) marshal evidence, by reference where appropriate to primary sources and knowledge at the forefront of the discipline, and apply it in a balanced way in an argument; (n) select and apply appropriate scientific, economic or business principles and techniques to the diagnosis, analysis and solution of complex and unpredictable problems; On successful completion of an Honours Degree students will, in addition to the outcomes demonstrated by Ordinary Degree holders (a o) above, be able to: (o) formulate hypotheses or research questions, plan and execute research or development work, evaluate the outcomes and draw valid conclusions. Page 3 of 13

4 AWARD-SPECIFIC OUTCOMES On successful completion of the BSc (Hons) Animal Management award, students will be able to: (p) Demonstrate a detailed understanding of scientific concepts, knowledge and practical techniques which are standard features in a range of aspects of animal management; (q) Relate generic and subject specific knowledge to standard situations relating to the husbandry, behaviour and management of animals; (r) Appreciate and employ the main methods of enquiry relating to how environmental, technical, scientific and ethical issues influence past present and future developments within the animal management sector; (s) Identify, analyse and solve a range of commonly encountered problems when managing animal businesses and human resources, and where appropriate indicate solutions that apply to industrial practice; (t) Apply skills and knowledge acquired from the programme to project and research work situations related to the management of captive and wild animals; (u) Demonstrate research abilities, analysis, and practical skills related to the management of animals to enable identification and development of growth areas within this field. RELATIONSHIP WITH EXTERNAL REFERENCE POINT(S) The aims and outcomes of this Honours Degree programme reflect the level descriptors for Honours Degree Awards (2008), part of the QAA Framework for Higher Education Qualifications (FHEQ). The award is reflected in the benchmark statements for Agriculture, horticulture, forestry, food and consumer sciences (2009). The statement for General business and management (2007) is also reflected, specifically in relation to finance, management and development of people, business policy, finance, strategy and communication. In addition, the themes of sustainability and globalisation are embedded. The LANTRA Animal Care Industry Action Plan 2006 identifies a range of issues pertinent to the animal management industry, which have been considered during the development of this programme. For example an identified issue is related to a lack of work readiness amongst new recruits, and development of modules on the BSc programme has been very much with an applicable work focus in mind. Page 4 of 13

5 PROGRESSION, TRANSFER, ADVANCED STANDING AND INTERIM AWARDS Progression Transfer For a BSc Degree candidate to progress to Honours Degree they must have a minimum of 90 credits after re-assessment at Level 6. Unless otherwise indicated in the programme specification students can transfer all common module credits between programmes. Students may transfer from BSc to BSc (Hons) at the examination board prior to an award of BSc being made and continue to study a further 30 credits at level 6 (Dissertation) to achieve full honours, subject to a minimum of 55% being achieved at level 6 during the BSc award. This will be subject to approval of the examination board and will require the support of their Course Manager. Entry with Advanced Standing Interim Awards Entry with Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL)/ Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL) will be accepted in accordance with the Askham Bryan College procedure and Harper Adams University regulations. Students progressing internally will APL Animal Welfare and Legislation and Vocational Placement 2 from FdSc Level 5 on to this programme. External applicants will be able to apply for APL/APEL or study these modules in addition to the Honours Degree programme. Holders of Foundation Degree awards will typically already have 120 credits at Level 4 plus 120 credits at Level 5. Holders of a matching HND/Foundation Degree with a Merit Profile (mean mark of 55% or greater) may be admitted to an honours degree programme. Those who achieve a Pass profile (less than 55%) may be admitted to an ordinary degree programme with the ability to transfer to honours later as detailed above. Students may choose to transfer from BSc (Hons) Animal Management and Science three year programme after part two to part three of this Degree route at the discretion of the Course Manager and subject to progression requirements being met. The requirements for interim awards associated with final awards are as follows: BSc The outcomes required for this award are: a,b,c,d,e,f,g,i,j,k,l,m,n,o,q,r,s and v Students will have obtained a minimum of 90 credits at Level 6 (plus 30 credits at level 5) and normally achieved a pass in all the core modules for this award and 2 elective modules; modules being - Research Methods, Leading and Developing a Business, Applied Sustainable Practices, Recent Advances in Animal Management and two from: Applied Zoo and Wildlife Management, Animal Behaviour Management and Counselling and Aquatic Ecosystems Management. Page 5 of 13

6 COURSE STRUCTURE, LEVELS & CREDIT REQUIREMENTS FOR INTERIM & FINAL AWARDS Askham Bryan College s undergraduate programmes are based on a credit-accumulation system where 1 credit represents 10 notional hours of student study time. Modules are normally 15 credits or multiples thereof. Modules are at different levels from Level 3-6 according to their intellectual challenge. The minimum credit requirements needed to progress to interim and final awards (final awards asterisked) are listed below. The final column indicates the maximum general credit contribution that an Askham Bryan College interim award may make to a higher level award. The advanced entry programmes for holders of Foundation Degrees and HNDs to Honours Degrees is also, therefore, based on an additional minimum credit requirement of 150 credits (typically 30 I level credits and 120 H level credits). Students who have already studied and achieved a Foundation Degree in a related subject area, which included work experience modules, may be eligible to apply for APL for some or all of the 30 level I credits. The remainder of the programme would typically be studied over 1 academic year. Successful candidates qualify for conferment at the end of the year. Award Min total credits Range of Levels Max lowest level credit Min highest level credit Max general credits to advance BSc* 300 3, 4, 5, 6 (FE3, C, I, H) 30 at Level 3 (FE3) and 105 at Level 4 (C) 60 at Level 6 (H) Total at Level 6 (H) Honours Degree * 360 3, 4, 5, 6 (FE3, C, I, H) 30 at Level 3 (FE3) and 105 at Level 4 (C) 90 at Level 6 (H) n/a In addition to meeting the minimum credit requirements as specified in the table above, students must also achieve the learning outcomes associated with each award title. Page 6 of 13

7 Course Structure: BSc (Hons) Animal Management (top-up) programme FdSc Award - Top up Programme Part One Part Two Part Three Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 All at Level 4 unless indicated All at Level 5 unless indicated All at Level 6 unless indicated 2016 ENTRY COHORT UCAS Code: D300 CORE CORE CORE CORE Year 4 Academic Skills ABR Vocational Placement 1 ABR Introduction to Business ABB Anatomy and Physiology ABA Animal Behaviour ABA Animal Health ABA Animal Husbandry and Taxonomy ABA Practical Animal Husbandry ABA Personal Research Project ABR Dissertation Academic Development ABR ABR Vocational Placement 2 Vocational Placement 2 (Level 5) ABR ABR Business Management Animal Welfare and Legislation (Level 5) ABB ABA Animal Nutrition Research Methods ABA ABR Animal Welfare and Legislation Applied Sustainable Practices ABA ABG Breeding and Genetics Business Leadership and Development ABA ABB OPTIONS Recent Advances in Animal Management (students choose one) ABA Applied Animal Behaviour and Training OPTIONS ABA (students choose two) Management of Exotic Species Animal Behaviour Management and Counselling ABA ABA Wildlife Conservation ABA For BSc Honours advanced entry programmes, students will typically study 150 credits. The Honours Research Project is typically studied over one to two academic years, with an individually negotiated submission date. 210 credits to advance to BSc Honours Applied Zoo and Wildlife Management ABA Aquatic Ecosystems Management ABG Validation Date: 13 th January 2011 Date of Approval following Response to Validation Report: May 2011 Period of Approval: September 2011 August 2017 Page 7 of 13

8 Course Structure: BSc Animal Management (top-up) programme UCAS Code: D ENTRY COHORT FdSc Award Top up Programme Part One Part Two Part Three Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 All at Level 4 unless indicated All at Level 5 unless indicated All at Level 6 unless indicated CORE CORE CORE Academic Skills Personal Research Project Vocational Placement 2 (Level 5) ABR ABR ABR Vocational Placement 1 Academic Development Animal Welfare and Legislation (Level 5) ABR ABR ABA Introduction to Business Vocational Placement 2 Research Methods ABB ABR ABR Anatomy and Physiology Business Management Applied Sustainable Practices ABA ABB ABG Animal Behaviour Animal Nutrition Business Leadership and Development ABA ABA ABB Animal Health Animal Welfare and Legislation Recent Advances in Animal Management ABA ABA ABA Animal Husbandry and Taxonomy Breeding and Genetics OPTIONS ABA ABA (students choose two) Practical Animal Husbandry OPTIONS Animal Behaviour Management and Counselling ABA (students choose one) ABA Applied Animal Behaviour and Training Applied Zoo and Wildlife Management ABA ABA Management of Exotic Species Aquatic Ecosystems Management ABA ABG Wildlife Conservation ABA For BSc advanced entry programmes, students will study at least 90 credits** The module named Applied Sustainable Practices is an extended piece of student work (5,500 words) which will be carried out with tutor support in the form of workshops and guidance on a 1:1 basis. Assessment mirrors the module Ordinary Degree Review Project. 210 credits to advance to BSc Honours Validation Date: 13 th January 2011 Date of Approval following Response to Validation Report: May 2011 Period of Approval: September 2011 August 2017 Page 8 of 13

9 Course Structure for full and part time study options Dissertation Research Methods Applied Sustainable Practices Option 1 Business Leadership and Development Recent Advances in Animal Management Option 2 Animal Welfare and Legislation Voc Placement 2 Honours Degree Full time 12 months APL APL Honours Degree Part-time 24 months YR2 YR1 YR1 YR1 YR1 YR2 YR2 APL APL Ordinary Degree Full time 12 months APL APL Ordinary Degree Part time 24 months YR1 YR1 YR1 YR2 YR2 YR2 APL APL Entry to full time BSc without Vocational Placement 2 and Animal Welfare and Legislation APL (18 months) Entry to Part time BSc without Vocational Placement 2 and Animal Welfare and Legislation APL (30 months) June Dec YR2 June- Dec YR 3 YR1 YR1 YR1 YR2 YR2 YR2 Infill into FDg YR 2 Infill into FDg YR 2 Infill into FDg YR 2 Infill into FDg YR 2 Conversion from Ordinary Degree to Honours Degree 6 months June Dec either YR 2 or YR 3 NB: Course will normally be delivered over two days. Part time students will attend for one day. Page 9 of 13

10 COURSE DESIGN, LEARNING, TEACHING AND ASSESSMENT METHODS Curriculum design Because of the vocational nature of the courses offered, the Askham Bryan College curriculum is broadly based on the sequence Practice Principles Application. The early stages of each course involve study of current principles which not only provide the tools for critical analysis of existing practices but also ensure that students have an appropriate background for the Dissertation or the Applied Sustainable Practices Project if on an Ordinary Degree project. The project is considered to be a key element of the Askham Bryan College curriculum as the principles learned in the early stages of the course and the experience acquired in the project period are applied to the solution of real and complex problems in the final stages in a workplace situation. The curriculum has been designed to be relevant and stimulating to meet the needs of both students and employers in the industry. Technical Advisory groups, student focus groups and course team reports have been consulted in review and revision of the existing curriculum. Efficiency of delivery is a key HEFCE funding priority for the future and increased shared delivery of cross-programme modules is planned on this programme. Learning & teaching methods Teaching and learning methods used to deliver this curriculum are designed to provide experience, and, through reflection upon it, develop concepts which can then be explored through testing and experimentation. Methods vary according to the nature of each module s subject matter but include a wide diversity from more formal lectures to student centred activities including assignments, seminars, field trips, guest lectures and case studies. Students will be supported with their study via the college s VLE, Moodle, which will prepare them for the autonomy expected of HE students and for Continuing Professional Development studies, post-graduation. Transferable skills The programme has been developed to enable students to plan and execute research and development work. It encourages independent learning, professional and personal development, and the ability to present skills, exams and behaviour appropriate to a management career. The programme includes activities to develop core skills of communication, numeracy, IT and personal development planning as well as modules designed to develop teamwork (Business Leadership and Development) and independent learning, problem solving and research (Dissertation, Research Methods and Applied Sustainable Practices). Practical work experience during directed study time is also recommended so that students can apply information and skills to real life situations. Assessment Assessment is considered an important part of the learning process. Typically, modules are assessed by two pieces of assessment, although this may vary. The first will provide formative in-course feedback and the second provides a summative end-of module assessment; each contributing 50% to the weighted mean module work. The exact details are specified in each module descriptor. Unless otherwise specified in module descriptors the overall mark is derived from a weighted mean, with no threshold requirement in any assessment component. Formative assessment methods are diverse and include literature review-based essays, problem based assignments, oral presentations and business written reports, individual and team scenario exercises, experimental work and placement assignments. Time constrained assessment includes closed and open book assessment, with both seen and unseen questions and tasks set. Page 10 of 13

11 ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS For admission onto the Honours Degree programme, students must have achieved a minimum of a merit grade (55%) on their Foundation Degree or Higher National Diploma award. For admission onto the BSc programme, students will have successfully completed their Foundation Degree or Higher National Diploma award. In addition, places are dependant on a reference from the student s Foundation Degree/ HND Course Manager reflecting their suitability for Level 6 study and a successful interview for the course. Equivalent qualifications may be considered. Applications will be welcomed via one of the formalised pathways outlined in signed progression accords with other institutions. Page 11 of 13

12 Curriculum Map for BSc (Hons) Animal Management This map provides a design aid to help identify where the generic and award specific outcomes are being developed and assessed within the course, by specified modules. It also provides a check list for quality assurance purposes and could be used in validation, accreditation and external examining processes by making the learning outcomes transparent. In this way, it also helps students monitor their own learning, personal and professional development as the course progresses. The map shows only the main broadly defined measurable learning outcomes. O L 5 Award Outcomes C/O a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u Vocational Placement 2 C x x x x x x x x x Business Management C x x x x x x x x x x x Modules LEVEL 6 Dissertation C x x x x x x x x x x x x Research Methods C x x x x x x x x Applied Sustainable Practices C x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x Business Leadership & Development C x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x Recent Advances in Animal Management Research C x x x x x x x x x x Applied Zoo and Wildlife Management O x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x Aquatic Ecosystems Management O x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x Animal Behaviour Management and Counselling O x x x x x x x x x x x The module named Applied Sustainable Practices is an extended piece of student work (5,500 words) which will be carried out with tutor support in the form of workshops and guidance on a 1:1 basis. Assessment mirrors the module Ordinary Degree Review Project. Page 12 of 13

13 Generic Award Outcomes: (a) communicate clearly and concisely using an appropriate format; (m) marshal evidence, by reference where appropriate to primary sources and (b) collect, select and critically evaluate information from a range of sources; knowledge at the forefront of the discipline, and apply it in a balanced way in an argument; (c) (d) (e) (f) (g) (h) (i) (j) (k) (l) manipulate and interpret complex sets of data, assess their reliability and present them in an appropriate format; learn independently and display the skills of professional scholarship required for personal development, career management and lifelong learning; use information technology effectively; select and apply knowledge and principles to the solution of well defined problems; demonstrate familiarity with, and understanding of, the important facts and principles in a broad field of study and an awareness of the provisional nature of knowledge and theory; assess the ethical dimensions and wider consequences of human activities, to optimise economic, community and environmental sustainability; define criteria and use them to plan, allocate and the evaluate the work of self, individuals and teams; organise and administer the human and physical resources required to develop and maintain a sustainable enterprise or organisation, after further experience; display the transferable skills and ability to acquire new competencies required for career progression, including the acquisition of applied workplace skills; demonstrate the ability to establish effective working relationships with others, defining, sharing and delegating responsibility within a group. (n) select and apply appropriate scientific, economic or business principles and techniques to the diagnosis, analysis and solution of complex and unpredictable problems; On successful completion of an Honours Degree students will, in addition to the outcomes demonstrated by Ordinary Degree holders (a o) above, be able to: (o) Award Specific Outcomes: (p) (q) (r) (s) (t) (u) formulate hypotheses or research questions, plan and execute research or development work, evaluate the outcomes and draw valid conclusions. Demonstrate a detailed understanding of scientific concepts, knowledge and practical techniques which are standard features in a range of aspects of animal management; Relate generic and subject specific knowledge to standard situations relating to the husbandry, behaviour and management of animals; Appreciate and employ the main methods of enquiry relating to how environmental, technical, scientific and ethical issues influence past present and future developments within the animal management sector; Identify, analyse and solve a range of commonly encountered problems when managing animal and human resources, and where appropriate indicate solutions that apply to industrial practice; Apply skills and knowledge acquired from the programme to project and research work situations related to the management of captive and wild animals; Demonstrate research abilities, analysis, and practical skills related to the management of animals to enable identification and development of growth areas within this field. Page 13 of 13