HANDBOOK C

TO ACCOMPANY THE

PRINCIPLES AND REGULATIONS:

COLLABORATIVE PROVISION

2009-2010

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CONTENTS

Page

INTRODUCTION

AFORM AND SCOPE OF COLLABORATIVE ARRANGEMENTS

Categories of collaborative arrangements

Associate College Status

BPROCEDURES FOR THE DEVELOPMENT AND APPROVAL OF COLLABORATIVE ARRANGEMENTS AND PROVISION

Procedures for the approval of a new formal collaborative partnership

Procedures for the approval of delivery of collaborative programmes

Procedures for the Approval of a Student and/or Staff Exchange

Procedures for the approval of an articulation arrangement

Procedures for the University accreditation of training

Procedures for the approval of an Agent to facilitate collaborative arrangements for a University of Chester off-campus programme

Work Based and Integrative Studies Approval Panel

CCONTRACTUAL AGREEMENTS

Organisational Agreements

Programme Agreements

Exchange Agreements

Articulation Agreements

Agency Agreements

Associate College Agreements

Financial Annexes

Other forms of agreement

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DPROGRAMME MANAGEMENT AND QUALITY ASSURANCE OF COLLABORATIVE PROGRAMMES

Programme Management

Quality Assurance

Assessment

EMONITORING AND REVIEW OF PARTNERSHIP ARRANGEMENTS

Annual Partnership Reports

Periodic Review of Collaborative Partnerships

GLOSSARY

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APPENDICES

AREGISTER OF UNIVERSITY OF CHESTER’S CURRENT COLLABORATIVE PARTNERSHIPS

BTHE PRECEPTS OF SECTION 2 OF THE QAA CODE OF PRACTICE FOR THE ASSURANCE OF ACADEMIC QUALITY AND STANDARDS IN HIGHER EDUCATION: COLLABORATIVE PROVISION (SEPTEMBER 2004)

CASSOCIATE COLLEGE STATUS: CRITERIA AND PROCEDURES FOR APPROVAL

DPARTNERSHIP SUB-COMMITTEE: TERMS OF REFERENCE

EFLOW CHART FOR NEW PARTNERSHIP APPROVAL

FCOLLABORATIVE PARTNERSHIP: PROPOSAL FORM

GNOTES OF GUIDANCE FOR A NEW COLLABORATIVE PARTNERSHIP PROPOSAL

HPARTNER ANALYSIS PROCEDURES

INEW EXCHANGE PARTNERSHIP: PROPOSAL FORM

JEXCHANGE PARTNERSHIP PROPOSAL: NOTES OF GUIDANCE

KDUE DILIGENCE PROTOCOL FOR SELECTION OF AN AGENT

LEXAMPLE OF AN ORGANISATIONAL AGREEMENT

MEXAMPLE OF A PROGRAMME AGREEMENT

NEXAMPLE OF AN EXCHANGE AGREEMENT

OPROGRAMME COMMITTEE: TERMS OF REFERENCE

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PCOLLABORATIVE PROVISION PROGRAMME LEADER: ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES

QCOLLABORATIVE PROVISION LINK TUTOR: ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES

RLINK TUTOR’S FORUM: TERMS OF REFERENCE

SAPPLICATION FOR APPROVED TUTOR STATUS: PRO-FORMA

TAPPROVAL OF TEACHING STAFF FROM COLLABORATING ORGANISATIONS: NOTES OF GUIDANCE

UPROCEDURES FOR OVERSEEING THE QUALITY ASSURANCE OF NON-UNIVERSITY OF CHESTER VALIDATED HE PROGRAMMES AT PARTNER INSTITUTIONS

VTEMPLATE FOR AN ANNUALPARTNERSHIP REPORT FROM A COLLABORATIVE PARTNER

WANNUAL PARTNERSHIP REPORTS: NOTES OF GUIDANCE

XTEMPLATE FOR AN ANNUALPARTNERSHIP REPORT FROM AN ASSOCIATECOLLEGE

YANNUAL PARTNERSHIP REPORT (ASSOCIATECOLLEGE): NOTES OF GUIDANCE

ZGUIDANCE ON THE DURATION OF ORGANISATIONAL AGREEMENTS

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INTRODUCTION

  1. The quality assurance of programmes delivered in collaboration with other organisations shall be governed by Section C of the Principles and Regulations of University of Chester. The requirements laid down in this Handbook derive their force from the said Principles and Regulations of University of Chester and shall be read in association with those Principles and Regulations. Observance of these requirements by all those staff of University of Chester and its partner organisations who may be involved in collaborative partnerships in an academic or administrative capacity is obligatory.
  1. The requirements described in this Handbook are designed for the purpose of ensuring that any risks attendant upon the delegation of responsibilities to a collaborating organisation are recognised and managed, and that the quality and standards of collaborative provision are maintained. The requirements are designed to reconcile the objective of encouraging innovative practice in the pursuit of University of Chester's mission and strategic objectives with the need to ensure that University of Chester is discharging its responsibilities for the quality of its programmes and for the standard of the awards to which they lead. In addition, the requirements provide the means by which a formal partnership can be reviewed and its continuation authorised by virtue of its successful delivery and quality assurance over a given review period.
  1. There are a number of key principles which University of Chester applies to every formal collaborative partnership:
  • all are governed by formal written agreements;
  • all are approved by the central committees of both University of Chester and the partner organisation;
  • the partner organisation must satisfy University of Chester as to its ability to deliver collaborative programme(s) through an appropriate validation and/or authorisation event and ongoing monitoring procedures;
  • in all cases, University of Chester alone retains the authority to confer awards upon students; this authority is never delegated;
  • all transcripts and award certificates are issued and controlled by University of Chester.

In addition, University of Chester clearly distinguishes between:

  • the approval of the partnership with the organisation concerned; and
  • the approval of a proposed programme of study with an approved collaborative partner.

A Register of University of Chester’s Collaborative Partnerships for 2009/10 can be found at Appendix A.

  1. Those staff wishing to develop collaborative partnerships within the UK or overseas, must pay particular attention to the precepts contained within the Quality Assurance Agency'sCode of Practice for collaborative provision in Higher Education, and where appropriate, Guidelines on Flexible and Distributed Learning. The QAA Code of Practice is based on the key principle that collaborative arrangements, wherever and however organised and delivered, should widen learning opportunities without prejudice either to the standard of the award or qualification, or the quality of what is offered to the student. It identifies system-wide expectations covering matters relating to the management of academic quality and standards in collaborative programmes. Moreover, it represents the authoritative reference point for institutions in assuring the academic quality and standards of such programmes. The Code assumes that each institution has its own systems for independent verification for both its quality and standards and the effectiveness of its quality assurance systems.
  1. The Quality Assurance Agency has structured the Code into a series of precepts (see Appendix B) with accompanying outline guidance. The precepts identify those key matters, which the Quality Assurance Agency expects an institution to be able to demonstrate that it is addressing effectively through its own quality assurance mechanisms. The Quality Assurance Agency has also stated that during quality assurance reviews/audits it will consider the extent to which individual institutions are meeting the expectations of the precepts and will report on how effectively the institution is meeting these expectations and discharging its responsibilities for the academic standards and quality of their programmes. Institutions will also be expected to demonstrate that, as they review their existing collaborative relationships, they are identifying any aspects which do not offer the safeguards that the precepts seek to provide and are taking appropriate action to meet any consequent weaknesses.
  1. The areas covered by the precepts are:
  • responsibility for, and equivalence of academic standards;
  • policies, procedures and information;
  • selecting a partner organisation or agent;
  • written agreements with a partner organisation or agent;
  • assuring academic standards and the quality of programmes and awards;
  • assessment requirements;
  • external examining
  • certificates and transcripts;
  • information for students;
  • publicity and marketing.

AFORM AND SCOPE OF COLLABORATIVE ARRANGEMENTS

  1. University of Chester may voluntarily seek to enter into collaborative arrangements with other institutions and organisations for educational purposes. The structure of a collaborative arrangement will be determined, in large measure, by its purpose and the activities which it embraces. As stated in the Principles and Regulations, Section C2, collaborative ventures shall conform to one or other of the following models outlined below. Faculties, departments and programme teams of the University must seek advice from the Assistant Registrar (Collaborative Provision and Partnerships) in order to identify the type of provision envisaged and to discuss the approval process required.

Categories of collaborative arrangements

  1. The following defines the various models of collaboration that may be established with other organisations and the factors to be considered when deciding which model would be most appropriate.
  1. Formal Partnership

A ‘formal partnership’ is one where the University enters into a strategic collaboration with another organisation, which is governed by an over-arching ‘Organisational Agreement’ between the two parties, for the purposes of delivering one or more awards. This model is appropriate where there will be significant responsibility for programme management, quality assurance, delivery and assessment devolved to the collaborating organisation. The University acts as the validating and awarding body and will retain responsibility for assuring academic standards, but will hold the collaborating organisation accountable for effectively operating approved provision under the Principles and Regulations. This model is also appropriate where it is anticipated that the collaboration will involve the development of a number of programmes to be delivered indefinitely. The establishment of a formal partnership must be approved by Senate following a process of due diligence as outlined in section B of this handbook.

  1. Approved partner organisations may offer provision that has been franchised from the University. That is a programme of study originally designed by University staff for which control over direction and development is retained by the University, while delegating responsibility for the delivery and assessment of the programme to the partner organisation. Such provision may continue to be offered by the University while being delivered by one or more partner organisations at their own sites.
  1. Alternatively, a partner organisation may choose to design and develop provision itself specifically for delivery at its own sites, external to the University. Such provision will be subject to the University’s procedures for validation and periodic review. Though developed by a partner organisation, the University will retain ownership of the award and will reserve the right to offer the provision itself, subject to its own internal processes for approval, or to withdraw the provision should this be deemed appropriate.
  1. Partner organisation staff engaged in the management, delivery and assessment of a University award must be approved by the University either during the initial authorisation process, or subsequently through the relevant Faculty. Such staff will be deemed Approved Tutors. See section D of this handbook for further details of this process.
  1. Provision involving Honorary Lecturers

Where a significant level of responsibility for programme management and for summative assessment is to be retained by the University, staff from a collaborating organisation may be approved as Honorary Lecturers on an individual basis to undertake delivery and, where appropriate, formative assessment, without the need for a formal partnership to be established. Under this model a member of University staff would act as the Programme Leader for the programme, or lead tutor for the Work-Based Integrative Studies (WBIS) approved studies route, and would oversee the marking of summative assessment. Proposed Honorary Lecturers must be approved by the relevant Faculty Board of Studies. In the case of WBIS provision Honorary Lecturers should first be nominated for approval by the WBIS Approval Panel.

  1. Honorary Lecturers will be employed by the collaborating organisation and will not be paid by the University. Individuals approved as Honorary Lecturers will be required to sign an Honorary Lecturer Contract, acknowledging that in engaging with the delivery of the programme they will do so under University requirements. As such, accountability for complying with the University’s Principles and Regulations will lie with the individual, rather than corporately as is the case in a formal partnership. It may also be appropriate to draw up anAgreement with the collaborating organisation which will relate to matters such as finance, resourcing, marketing and permitting staff to meet their obligations to the University. This model may be suitable for the delivery of an individual programme in collaboration with an organisation such as an employer or training organisation, where, for valid reasons presented to the satisfaction of University Executive or the WBIS Approval Panel, a formal partnership is not deemed appropriate.
  1. Provider-Client Relationship

The University may enter into a collaboration whereby it wins a tender, or is otherwise contracted, to develop provision for a client in order to meet the training needs of the organisation’s employees. The University will appoint a Programme Leader to manage the programme and the marking of all summative assessment will be undertaken by University staff, but staff employed by the client may be involved in facilitating the delivery of the programme. Where staff employed by the client will have more extensive involvement in the delivery of the programme and formative assessment it may be appropriate to approve one or more as Honorary Lecturers. A contract must be drawn up detailing the terms of the arrangement between the University and the client.

  1. University Accreditation of Training

The University may from time to time be approached by external organisations with requests to formally accredit training programmes which are offered to their staff, or delivered by the organisation to its clients. Accreditation relates to confirmation by the University that training initiatives offered by an organisation, which do not lead to a University award, nevertheless demonstrate appropriate quality. In certain circumstances it may be appropriate for the University to ‘credit-rate’ the training initiative to reflect its equivalence to HE-level provision. Under this arrangement, individual students who have successfully completed the training may then apply for entry to a University award and claim the recognised credit through the Accredited Prior Certificated Learning (APCL) process. The Accreditation process is outlined in the Handbook Governing the Validation, Revalidation and Modification of Academic Provision. Successful completion of the Accreditation process will result in the establishment of an Accreditation Agreement between the University and the accredited organisation.

  1. Student/Staff Exchanges

In order to provide international opportunities for its students and staff, the University may establish collaborative arrangements with overseas Universities and Colleges for the purposes of exchange visits. Such arrangements are normally managed by a Faculty and are subject to approval by Senate. Details of the approval process can be found in section B of this handbook. The duration of exchange visits will be subject to negotiation between the collaborating institutions, and will be detailed along with other relevant aspects of the arrangement in an Exchange Agreement.

  1. In addition, University of Chester participates in the Socrates student exchange programme with selected European institutions and departments. Responsibility for making appropriate arrangements with partner institutions and students under this scheme rests with the European Office within the Department of Modern Languages.
  1. Articulation Agreements

The University may enter into collaborative arrangements with other institutions with degree awarding powers in order to provide opportunities for students to study for a proportion of an award at each institution. Such an arrangement will involve each institution giving recognition to the other’s provision in a specified subject area, and accepting students into the articulating award with an agreed amount of credit. For example a student may study for two years at the collaborating institution before transferring to University of Chester for a further two years of study (2+2). The student will study under the regulations of the institution at which they are based at the time, and each institution will be responsible for ensuring that participating students meet its requirements for an award. In this way students may receive awards of the two institutions (a dual award) upon successful completion of their studies. The arrangement may be one-way, e.g. students transferring from the collaborating institution to Chester only; or may be two-way, i.e. students from each institution transferring to the other. The nature of the arrangement will influence the level of due diligence required prior to approval by Senate. This will be agreed by the Curriculum Advisory Group (Executive) [CAGE] and Partnerships Sub-Committee upon submission of a proposal for such an arrangement. In such instances reference should be made to Appendix L of the Handbook Governing the Validation, Revalidation and Modification of Academic Provision which relates to the approval of provision delivered by an overseas partner.

  1. Off-Campus Delivery and Agents

Where the University seeks to deliver one of its programmes ‘off-campus’, that is where delivery and assessment are conducted by staff of the University but at a site other than one of its own campuses, the approval of this shall be subject to the standard processes for validation or site authorisation outlined in the Handbook Governing the Validation, Revalidation and Modification of Academic Provision. Though off-campus delivery may involve the use of facilities provided by another organisation, it shall not of itself be considered a formal partnership, but shall nonetheless be governed by appropriate agency and/or service agreements detailing the responsibilities and expectations of all parties involved in facilitating the arrangement. The Director of Legal Services should be consulted regarding the format and content of such agreements.

  1. An agent may be engaged to broker or facilitate ‘off-campus’ or other arrangementsand may supply administrative and/or academic services to support University of Chester. Agreements with agents will normally be concerned with the recruitment of students, administration and provision of facilities, but may also include minor roles in connection with the use of local counsellors/tutors and in providing advice to students on the conduct and progress of their studies. In such instances due diligence enquiries shall be made to ensure that a satisfactory relationship can be established with a reliable and effective organisation (see Appendix K). Such arrangements will be subject an Agency Agreement.
  1. Accreditation of University provision by External Agencies

University of Chester may also be accredited for the provision of an award or awards by external bodies such as EDEXCEL or the TDA. Bodies of this kind will not normally be providers of education but rather will be accrediting or licensing agencies. Therefore, such collaboration is governed by the process of formal external accreditation and will not normally require the drawing up of an agreement linking University of Chester to another institution or organisation. Similarly specific programmes which are accredited by Professional, Statutory or Regulatory Bodies will be subject to the accreditation process of that body in addition to the University’s own quality assurance procedures.