Academic Quality Handbook September 2015
CONTENTS Chapter Page No 1. INSTITUTIONAL CONTEXT... 1 1.1 Introduction... 1 1.2 Background... 2 1.3 Mission Statement... 2 1.4 The University's Vision... 2 1.5 The University's Values... 3 1.6 Defining Characteristics... 3 1.7 Strategic Priorities... 3 2. UNIVERSITY COMMITTEE STRUCTURE... 5 2.1 Senior Directorate... 5 2.2 Senior Management Team... 5 2.3 Senate... 6 2.4 Senate Standing Committees... 6 2.4.1 Academic Policy Committee... 7 2.4.2 Academic Quality and Standards Committee... 7 2.4.3 Central Resources Committee... 8 2.4.4 International Affairs and Collaborative Partnerships Committee... 9 2.4.5 Learning, Teaching and Enhancement Committee... 10 2.4.6 Research Committee......11 2.4.7 Faculty Board... 11 2.4.8 Marketing Committee... 13 2.5 Sub-Committees of Senate's Standing Committees... 13 2.5.1 Welsh Affairs Committee... 14 2.5.2 Validation Sub-Committee... 14 2.5.3 External Examiner Nominations Panel... 14 2.5.4 Research Degrees Committee... 15 2.5.5 Ethics Committee... 15 2.5.6 Faculty Board Sub-Committees... 16 2.5.7 Student Affairs Committee... 16 2.5.8 Staff Development Committee... 17 2.5.9 Student Representation Sub-Committee... 17 2.5.10 Sustainability Committee... 18 2.5.11 Recognition of Prior and Experiential Learning (RPEL) Board... 19 2.5.12 Special Cases Committee... 19 2.5.13 Welsh Medium Education Marketing Sub-Committee... 19 2.5.14 Widening Access and Community Engagement Sub-Committee... 19 2.6 University Committee Structure... 21 3. THE UNIVERSITY'S FACULTIES... 22 3.1 The Faculties... 22 3.2 Faculty Management... 23 3.3 Faculty Board... 23 3.4 School Boards... 24 3.5 Staff Student Committees... 24 3.6 Monitoring, Evaluating and Reviewing Staff Student Committees... 25 3.7 Student Experience Conventions... 25
4. PROGRAMME APPROVAL, VALIDATION, MONITORING AND REVIEW AND AUDIT OF SCHOOLS AND PROFESSIONAL SERVICES... 27 4.1 Principles... 27 4.2 Programme Approval and Validation... 28 - Programme approval... 28 - Programme validation... 29 - First stage... 29 - Second stage... 31 - Partner Institutions... 32 - Professional, statutory and regulatory bodies (PSRBs)... 33 - Modifications to existing programmes... 33 - Modifications requiring SMT and AQSC approval... 33 - Modifications which may be approved by or reported to Faculty Board... 34 - Modifications to Programmes of Study at Partner Institutions... 35 - Withdrawal of Modules and/or Programmes of Study... 35 4.3 Programme Monitoring and Annual Review... 35 - Annual review at programme level... 36 - Annual review at Faculty level... 37 - Annual review of professional services... 37 - Annual review by AQSC and RDC... 38 - Programme Monitoring and Annual Review at Partner Institutions... 38 4.4 Major Review and Revalidation... 39 - Partner Institutions... 40 4.5 Audits of Schools and Professional Services... 40 - School Audits... 40 - School Audit Teams... 41 - The School Audit Process... 41 - Complaints relating to the School Audit Process... 43 - Professional Services Audits... 43 - Professional Services Audit Teams... 43 - The Professional Services Audit Process... 44 - Complaints relating to the Professional Services Audit Process... 46 5. FRAMEWORK FOR FLEXIBLE AND DISTRIBUTED LEARNING PROVISION... 47 5.1 Definition... 47 5.2 Policy Statement... 47 5.3 Introduction... 47 5.4 Approval, Validation and Review of FDL Programmes... 48 5.5 Student Feedback... 48 5.6 Programme Design and Delivery... 48 5.7 Structure of Academic Year for FDL Programmes... 48 5.8 Learner Support... 48 5.9 Assessment... 49 5.10 Feedback... 50 5.11 Unfair Practice... 50 6. TAUGHT AWARD REGULATIONS... 51 6.1 The Modular Framework... 51 6.1.1 Introduction... 51 6.1.2 Language of Publication... 51 6.1.3 Definitions... 51 6.1.4 Programme of Study Structures... 53 6.1.5 Academic Levels... 56
6.2 General Entry Requirements... 60 6.2.1 Recognition of Prior Certificated Learning and Recognition/Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (RPCL and R/APEL)... 64 6.2.2 Honours Degree... 64 6.2.3 Integrated Master s Degree... 65 6.2.4 Certificate of Higher Education... 66 6.2.5 Diploma of Higher Education... 66 6.2.6 Foundation Degree... 66 6.2.7 Graduate Certificates and Graduate Diplomas... 66 6.2.8 Master s Degree... 67 6.2.9 Postgraduate Certificate... 67 6.2.10 Postgraduate Diploma... 68 6.2.11 Higher National Certificate (HNC)... 68 6.2.12 Higher National Diploma (HND)... 69 6.2.13 Professional Graduate Certificate in Education and Post Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) Primary / Secondary with QTS... 69 6.2.14 Post Compulsory Education and Training (PCET): Professional Certificate in Education (PCE), Professional Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) and Post Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE)... 69 6.2.15 Foundation Programmes for International Students... 70 6.2.16 Pre-Master s Programmes for International Students... 70 6.3 Honours Degree... 71 6.3.1 Introduction... 71 6.3.2 Rules for Progression and Award... 71 6.3.3 Presentation of marks... 75 6.3.4 Degree Classification Regulations... 76 6.3.5 Criteria for a Pass Degree... 77 6.3.6 Converting an Ordinary Degree to an Honours Degree... 78 6.3.7 Procedure for awarding an Aegrotat Award... 79 6.3.8 Procedure for awarding a Posthumous Award... 79 6.4 Integrated Master s Degree... 80 6.4.1 Introduction... 80 6.4.2 Integrated Master s Degree Regulations... 80 6.5 Certificate of Higher Education and Diploma of Higher Education... 83 6.5.1 Introduction... 83 6.5.2 Certificate of Higher Education Regulations... 83 6.5.3 Diploma of Higher Education Regulations... 84 6.5.4 Exit qualifications of Degree Programmes of Study... 85 6.6 Foundation Degree... 85 6.6.1 Introduction... 85 6.6.2 Foundation Degree Regulations... 86 6.7 Graduate Certificate and Graduate Diploma... 86 6.7.1 Introduction... 86 6.7.2 Graduate Certificate and Graduate Diploma Regulations... 86 6.8 Master s Degree... 87 6.8.1 Introduction... 87 6.8.2 Master s Degree Regulations... 87 6.8.3 Part I (Taught Element): Rules for Progression and Award... 89 6.8.4 Part II (Dissertation): Availability of Dissertation and Retrieval of Failure... 90 6.8.5 Presentation of marks... 91 6.9 Postgraduate Certificate and Postgraduate Diploma... 91 6.9.1 Introduction... 91 6.9.2 Postgraduate Certificate Regulations... 92 6.9.3 Postgraduate Diploma Regulations... 92 6.9.4 Exit qualifications of Taught Master s Programmes of Study... 93
6.10 Higher National Certificate (HNC) and Higher National Diploma (HND) Awards... 93 6.10.1 Introduction... 93 6.10.2 Higher National Certificate Regulations... 94 6.10.3 Higher National Diploma Regulations... 94 6.11 Post Graduate Certificate in Education and Professional Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) Primary / Secondary with QTS... 95 6.11.1 PGCE Primary / Secondary with QTS Regulations... 95 6.11.2 Failure and Retrieval... 96 6.11.3 Teach First Post Graduate Certificate in Education and Professional Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) Primary / Secondary with QTS... 97 6.11.4 Presentation of marks... 97 6.12 Post Compulsory Education and Training (PCET): Professional Certificate in Education (PCE), Professional Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) and Post Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE)... 97 6.12.1 PCE PCET and PGCE PCET Regulations... 97 6.13 International Foundation Programme... 99 6.13.1 International Foundation Programme Regulations... 99 6.14 International Pre-Master s Programme... 99 6.14.1 International Pre-Master s Programme Regulations... 99 6.15 Unsatisfactory Progress... 99 6.15.1 Unsatisfactory Student Progress on a Programme of Study... 99 6.15.2 Unsatisfactory Student Progress on a Module...100 7. ASSESSMENT: TAUGHT PROGRAMMES...102 7.1 Introduction...102 7.2 Principles...102 7.3 Responsibilities...103 7.4 Information to be provided for students...105 7.5 Assessment Submission...106 7.6 Marking...106 7.7 Language of assessment...108 7.8 Assessment through the medium of Welsh where the medium of delivery is English...108 7.9 Setting tasks for re-assessment...109 7.10 Personal or professional links with students...109 7.11 Disclosure of marks/grades...109 7.12 Feedback and the return of work...110 7.13 Assessment Archive...110 7.14 External Examiners...110 7.14.1 Purposes of External Examiner...110 7.14.2 Role of External Examiner...111 7.14.3 Nomination, Selection and Appointment of External Examiners...111 7.14.4 Person specification...112 7.14.5 Conflicts of interest and impartiality...112 7.14.6 Duration of appointment...114 7.14.7 Termination of External Examiner contract...114 7.14.8 Induction and annual briefing...114 7.14.9 External Examiners' Reports...115 7.14.10 Content of the Report...115 7.14.11 Procedures for Reporting Serious Concerns...116 7.14.12 Responding to External Examiner Reports...116 7.14.13 Involvement of students...116 7.14.14 The External Examiner's Involvement in Examining Boards...117 7.14.15 Validation and Review...117 7.14.16 The Process of External Examination for Taught Awards...117
7.15 Examining Boards...120 7.15.1 Taught Provision Examining Boards...120 7.15.2 Pre-Board meetings...121 7.15.3 Initial Examining Boards...122 7.15.4 Progression/Award Examining Boards...123 7.15.5 Mid-sessional and Re-assessment Examining Boards...124 7.15.6 Appeals against decisions of Examining Boards...125 7.16 Taught Master s Dissertations...125 7.16.1 Principles...125 7.16.2 Submission of Dissertations...125 7.16.3 Taught Master s Dissertation Archive...126 7.17 Supervision of Taught Master's Dissertations...126 7.17.1 Responsibilities of the Dean of Faculty...126 7.17.2 Responsibilities of the Head of School...127 7.17.3 Responsibilities of the Programme Director...127 7.17.4 Responsibilities of the Supervisor...127 7.17.5 Responsibilities of the Student...128 7.17.6 Dissertation Support Entitlement...129 8. RESEARCH DEGREE REGULATIONS...130 8.1 Introduction...130 8.2 Institutional Arrangements...132 8.3 Master by Research Degrees Covered by the Regulations...132 8.3.1 Structure, Eligibility and Modes of Study...133 8.4 Entrance Requirements...133 8.5 RPCL and RPEL...134 8.6 Enrolment...134 8.7 Progress, monitoring and reports...134 8.8 Approval of the Research Project...135 8.9 The format and word length of the thesis...135 8.10 Access to a thesis...135 8.11 Date of Commencement of a Master by Research Programme...136 8.12 Required Periods of Study...136 8.13 Appointment of Supervisors and Advisers...136 8.14 The Examining Board...137 8.15 Assessments...138 8.16 External examiners for MRes programmes of study...139 8.17 Unfair Practice...140 8.18 Appeals and complaints...140 8.19 Regulations for the MPhil and PhD by Research...140 8.19.1 Master of Philosophy (MPhil) by Research...140 8.19.2 Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) by Research...140 8.20 Eligibility and Modes of Study...140 8.21 Entrance Requirements...141 8.22 Enrolment...141 8.22.1 Enrolment and collaborative research projects...141 8.23 Transfer of Enrolment from another Institution...141 8.24 The format and word length of the thesis...142 8.25 Inclusion of artefacts within a thesis...143 8.26 Inclusion of Published Papers in an MPhil or PhD by Research submission...143 8.27 Access to a thesis...143 8.28 Progress, Monitoring and Reports...143 8.29 Approval...144 8.30 Date of Commencement of Research Degree...144
8.31 Required Periods of Study...144 8.32 Appointment of Supervisors and Advisers...146 8.33 The Examining Board...146 8.34 Examinations...147 8.35 Transfer from MPhil/PhD by Research to PhD by Research...150 8.36 Unfair Practice...150 8.37 Appeals and Complaints...150 8.38 Regulations for Professional Doctorates...151 8.39 Structure, Eligibility and Modes of Study...151 8.40 Entrance Requirements...151 8.41 RPCL and RPEL....152 8.42 Enrolment...152 8.43 Progress, monitoring and reports...152 8.44 Approval of Research Project...153 8.45 Access to a thesis...153 8.46 Format and word length of the thesis...153 8.47 Inclusion of Published Papers in a Professional Doctorate submission...154 8.48 Date of Commencement of Doctoral Programme...154 8.49 Required Periods of Study...154 8.50 Appointment of Supervisors and Advisers...155 8.51 The Examining Board...155 8.52 Assessments...156 8.53 Unfair Practice...159 8.54 Appeals and Complaints...159 8.55 PhD by Published Works Regulations...159 8.56 Eligibility of Students...159 8.57 Entrance Requirements...159 8.58 Application...160 8.59 Date of Commencement of Research Degree...160 8.60 Required periods of study...160 8.61 Appointment of Supervisors and Advisers...161 8.62 Progress, Monitoring and Reports...161 8.63 The Submission...162 8.64 The Examining Board...162 8.65 Examinations...163 8.66 Unfair Practice...164 8.67 Appeals and Complaints...164 8.68 Research Degrees Admissions Sub-Committee...165 8.69 Annual Review Board and follow-up Review Boards...166 8.70 Examiners and the Examining Board...166 8.70.1 Purposes of the External Examiner...166 8.70.2 Nomination, Selection and Appointment of the Examining Board...167 8.70.3 Person specification for examiners...167 8.70.4 Conflicts of interest and impartiality...168 8.70.5 Termination of an examiner appointment...169 8.71 Examiners Reports...170 8.71.1 Content of the Report...170 8.71.2 Procedures for Reporting Serious Concerns...170 8.71.3 Responding to Research Degrees Examining reports...170 8.72 Suspension of Studies...171 8.72.1 Grounds for suspension...171 8.72.2 Application procedure...171 8.72.3 Review of decision not to approve suspension requests...171 8.72.4 Timing and period of suspension...172 8.72.5 Funding Issues...172
8.72.6 Implications for the immigration status of overseas students...173 8.72.7 Required to Suspend...173 8.73 Extensions to the maximum time limit for completing a research degree...173 8.73.1 Grounds for extension...173 8.73.2 Application procedure...173 8.73.3 Review of decision not to approve extension requests...174 8.74 Unfair Practice...174 8.75 Academic Appeal Procedure for Postgraduate Research Degree Students...176 8.75.1 Definitions...176 8.75.2 Grounds for Appeal...176 8.75.3 Submitting an Appeal...177 8.75.4 Initial Investigation...177 8.75.5 Postgraduate Research Degree Appeal Panel...178 8.75.6 Outcomes of a Postgraduate Research Degree Appeal Panel...178 8.75.7 Review of Appeal Outcome...180 8.75.8 Status of students who have submitted appeals...181 8.75.9 Completions of Procedures letter Independent Review...181 8.75.10 Reporting on appeals...182 8.76 Procedure for Postgraduate Research Student Complaints about Supervision...182 8.76.1 Definitions...182 8.76.2 Informal Complaints Procedure...182 8.76.3 Formal Complaints Procedure...183 8.76.4 Review of Complaint Outcome...184 8.76.5 Completion of Procedures and Independent Review...185 8.76.6 Legal proceedings...185 8.76.7 Reporting on complaints...185 9. PROCEDURAL FRAMEWORK FOR COLLABORATIVE PROVISION...186 9.1 Introduction...186 9.2 Types of partnership and modes of provision...187 9.3 Responsibilities...188 9.4 Processes...188 9.5 Initial consideration, including investigation, risk assessment and due diligence.... 189 9.6 Partnership approval...191 9.7 Programme validation and approval...194 9.8 Programme modifications, including changes to mode of provision...197 9.9 Provision of academic and related support...198 9.10 Monitoring.... 200 9.11 Review...201 9.12 Postgraduate research degrees...202 9.13 Articulation links...204 9.14 Dual awards...205 9.15 Assessment and external examining.... 206 9.16 Certification and transcripts...206 9.17 Terminating partnerships...206 9.18 Bribery Act 2010...208 10. PLACEMENT LEARNING; WORK-BASED LEARNING; RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING...209 10.1 Introduction and Background...209 10.2 Learning in the Workplace, Internship and Placement Learning...210 10.2.1 Placement Protocol...210 10.2.2 Complaints Procedure...213
10.2.3 Considerations Fitness to Practise...214 10.2.4 Personal Behaviour...214 10.2.5 Duty of Care...214 10.2.6 Conducting Research...214 10.2.7 Some Areas of Misconduct...215 10.2.8 Fitness to Practise Panel...215 10.3 Work-based Learning through the Professional Practice Framework...216 10.3.1 Entry Requirements and Selection Procedures for the Professional Practice Framework...216 10.3.2 The Role of the Programme Adviser...218 10.3.3 Induction of Professional Practice Framework Students...219 10.3.4 Work-based Mentoring for Professional Practice Framework Students...219 10.3.5 Monitoring and Evaluation of the Professional Practice Programme...220 10.3.6 Complaints Procedure...220 10.4 Recognition of Prior Learning Procedure...220 10.4.1 Background...220 10.4.2 Definitions...220 10.4.3 General Credit...221 10.4.4 Specific Credit...222 10.4.5 Role within the Modular Frameworks...222 10.4.6 Transfer of Credits...223 10.4.7 Procedure for the Recognition of Prior Certificated Learning...223 10.4.8 Individual Responsibilities for RPL Claims Based on Certificated Learning...224 10.4.9 Recognition of Prior Experiential Learning...224 10.4.10 Areas of Learning...225 10.4.11 Learning Outcomes...226 10.4.12 Assessing Claims for Experiential Learning over 40 Credits...226 10.4.13 Role of RAL Adviser...229 10.4.14 Credit Claim Regulations...229 10.4.15 Recognition of Prior and Experiential Learning (RPEL) Board...230 10.4.16 Appeals...231 11. QUALITY ENHANCEMENT...232 11.1 Introduction...232 11.2 Responsibilities...232 11.2.1 Dean of Learning, Teaching and Enhancement...232 11.2.2 Faculties and Schools/Departments...232 11.2.3 Senate...232 11.2.4 Learning, Teaching and Enhancement Committee...233 11.2.5 Academic Quality and Standards Committee...233 11.2.6 Research Degrees Committee...233 11.3 Principles...233 11.3.1 Academic standards...234 11.3.2 Academic quality...234 11.3.3 Enhancement...234 11.3.4 Good practice...235 11.4 Setting Priorities...235 11.4.1 Strategic approach...235 11.4.2 Information-gathering to support a strategic approach to setting priorities...235 11.4.3 Procedure...236 11.4.4 University level...236 11.4.5 At Faculty level...236 11.4.6 Staff/Student Fora...237 11.4.7 At School/department level...237
11.4.8 Support units/professional services...237 11.4.9 Peer Observation...237 11.4.10 Aims...237 11.4.11 Process...238 11.4.12 University overview...239 12. STUDENTS AND QUALITY...241 12.1 General Principles and Expectations...241 12.2 Student Charter...241 12.3 University Regulations...242 12.4 Programme of Study Handbooks...242 12.5 Student Complaints...242 12.6 Student Affairs - Committees...242 12.6.1 Student Affairs Committee...242 12.6.2 Safeguarding Forum...242 12.7 Personal / Year Tutor System...243 12.7.1 Role of the Personal / Year Tutor...243 12.7.2 Code of Practice for Personal or Year Tutors...243 12.7.3 Personal or Year Tutors modus operandi...243 12.7.4 Support Liaison Tutors...244 12.8 Student Services...244 12.8.1 Academic Scholarships and Bursaries...245 12.8.2 University Hardship Fund Committee...245 12.8.3 Part-time Undergraduate Fee Waiver Scheme (HEFCW)...245 12.9 Study Skills Support...246 12.9.1 Support for Disabled Students...246 12.9.2 Professional Development Plans...246 12.9.3 Careers Advice and Guidance and Work Placements...247 12.9.4 The Life Design Initiative...247 12.9.5 Medical Services...247 12.10 Interview Arrangements for Disabled Students...248 12.10.1 Applicants to Initial Teacher Training programmes...248 12.10.2 Competency standards for entry into a programme of ITET...248 12.11 Disability Support Procedures...249 12.11.1 Identification...249 12.11.2 Needs Assessment Procedure...250 12.12 Policy on Recording of Oral or Visual Presentations by disabled students...250 12.13 Student Pregnancy, Maternity, Paternity and Adoption Leave Policy...250 12.14 Support for students from a care background...251 12.15 Monitoring of Quality...251 13. STUDENT CASES...252 13.1 Compensatory Measures...252 13.1.1 Amanuensis...254 13.2 Extenuating Circumstances for Taught Provision...254 13.2.1 Definitions and principles...254 13.2.2 Role of the Extenuating Circumstances Panel...256 13.2.3 Procedure...256 13.2.4 Appeals against Decisions of the Extenuating Circumstances Panel...258 13.3 Suspension of Studies (Taught Programme)...261 13.3.1 Grounds for suspension...261 13.3.2 Application procedure...261 13.3.3 Review of decision not to approve suspension requests...262
13.3.4 Timing and period of suspension...262 13.3.5 Funding Issues...263 13.3.6 Implications for the immigration status of overseas students...263 13.3.7 Required to Suspend...263 13.4 Adjustments to Time Limits for Completing a Taught Award...263 13.4.1 Adjustments to the usual time limit for completing a taught award...263 13.4.2 Grounds for adjustment...264 13.4.3 Application procedure...264 13.4.4 Adjustments to the maximum time limit for completing a taught award...264 13.4.5 Review of decision not to approve adjustment requests...265 13.5 Special Cases Committee...265 13.6 Academic Appeal Procedure in Respect of Decisions by Examining Boards...265 13.6.1 Definitions...265 13.6.2 Grounds for Appeal...265 13.6.3 Submitting an Appeal...266 13.6.4 Initial Investigation...266 13.6.5 Appeal Panel...267 13.6.6 Outcomes of an Appeal Panel...268 13.6.7 Review of Appeal Outcome...269 13.6.8 Status of students who have submitted appeals...270 13.6.9 Completion of Procedures and Independent Review...270 13.6.10 Reporting on appeals...271 13.7 Procedure for Student Complaints...271 13.7.1 Definitions...271 13.7.2 Informal Complaints Procedure...272 13.7.3 Formal Complaints Procedure...272 13.7.4 Review of Complaint Outcome...273 13.7.5 Completion of Procedures and Independent Review...275 13.7.6 Legal proceedings...275 13.7.7 Reporting on complaints...275 13.7.8 Complaints against senior members of staff...275 13.8 Unfair Practice Procedure...275 13.8.1 General Principles...275 13.8.2 Identifying allegations of unfair practice...275 13.8.3 Initial investigation of allegations of unfair practice...276 13.8.4 Process for consideration of allegations of unfair practice...277 13.8.5 The Panel of Inquiry...277 13.8.6 Arrangements for the Panel of Inquiry...278 13.8.7 Action to be taken following the Panel of Inquiry...279 13.8.8 Appeals against Unfair Practice Decisions and/or Unfair Practice Penalties...280 13.8.9 Unfair Practice Guidelines and Penalties...282 13.9 Other Student Cases Procedures...282