AQH-I3-3 Operations Manual Guidelines – Model C
Version 6.0 April 2011
Operations Manualfor programmes approved
to be offered in partnership between
the University of Sunderland (the University)
and
[PARTNER NAME] (the Partner)
in accordance with the University’s Collaborative Model C (Joint)
Version History of Template (for QAE use only):
Version / Occasion of Change / Change author / Date of modification / Modifications made1.0 / Original placed in Academic Quality Handbook / S Sutcliffe / September 2008 / Mainly references to new University structure
2.0 / Updates to University collaborative processes / C Gardner
O Palimeris / October 2009 – June 2010 / Various, to reflect the new CP processes implemented 2009
3.0 / Staff Changes / S Patience / September 2010 / Section 2.1.3 updated
4.0 / QMSC approved Roles of APLs Sept 2010 / C Gardner / October 2010 / Introduction updated
5.0 / Updates to University terminology, to provide link to current University faculty staff, and updated links to websites / C Gardner / January 2011 / Various, to reflect new University terminology. Section 2.1.3 replaced with faculty structure + link to current faculty staff details, peer observation of teaching & section 20.
6.0 / Changes to Services / S Patience / April 2011 / Change to contact list
Implementation and Modification History (for Faculty use only):
Version / Occasion of Change / Change author / Date of modification / Modifications made / Version signed off by Faculty (date & details)EXAMPLE / Issued to Partner on approval to run programme / xxxxxxxxx / 20.1.10 / Template annotated to incorporate more details of specific arrangements / FQMSC (minutes 15.02.10 refer)
1.0
Your support and co-operation will be very much appreciated, and any feedback you can provide on the effectiveness of the Operations Manual template would be gratefully received. Please contact Quality Assurance and Enhancement at the University of Sunderland.
CONTENTS
1.0 INTRODUCTION 4
2.0 MANAGEMENT OF THE PARTNERSHIP 5
3.0 DETAILS OF THE PROGRAMME & MODES OF DELIVERY 6
4.0 CONTACTS INFORMATION 6
5.0 ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 8
6.0 LEARNING AND TEACHING 9
7.0 PUBLIC INFORMATION 9
8.0 ALLOCATION OF STUDENT NUMBERS 9
9.0 RECRUITMENT AND ADMISSIONS 10
10.0 STUDENT INDUCTION 11
11.0 PROGRAMME DELIVERY 13
12.0 ASSESSMENT 16
13.0 EXTERNAL EXAMINERS 18
14.0 PROGRAMME & PARTNER REVIEW 18
15.0 STAFF DEVELOPMENT 19
16.0 LEARNING RESOURCES 19
17.0 HUMAN RESOURCES 20
18.0 STUDENT SUPPORT 20
19.0 STUDENT COMPLAINTS, APPEALS AND DISCIPLINARY
PROCEDURES 21
20.0 QUALITY ASSURANCE PROCEDURES & PROCESSES 21
21.0 EQUALITY & DIVERSITY 23
22.0 TERMINATION 23
23.0 GLOSSARY OF TERMS 24
24.0 USEFUL LINKS 27
1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 This operations manual has been designed to promote common understandings about the respective roles and responsibilities of the Partner and University staff involved in the delivery, management, quality assurance, and co-ordination of the University’s collaborative programmes. Mutual understandings are essential to assure parity of the student experience, regardless of the site of delivery.
1.2 It is designed by the University in consultation with the Partner. The University and the Partner are jointly responsible for ensuring that this is issued to all staff who contribute towards programme delivery.
1.3 It amplifies the roles that staff in each organisation are expected to fulfil as laid down in the Collaborative Provision Agreement that governs this collaboration.
It may also be useful to refer to the University’s Guidelines on the Role of Assistant Programme Leaders at Partner Institutions accessible through:
https://docushare.sunderland.ac.uk/docushare/dsweb/Get/Document-6167/AQH-I1-4a+Role+of+Assistant+Programme+Leader+at+Partner+Institutions.doc
Clauses from the Agreement are included as italicised sections throughout the Manual, beneath which the requirements are explained in more detail. The Agreement has been drawn up to reflect the University of Sunderland’s Collaborative Processes - see: https://docushare.sunderland.ac.uk/docushare/dsweb/Get/Document-5273/AQH-I1+Collaborative+approval+and+review+processes.doc
together with its Collaborative Models of Provision paper and relevant sections from the Quality Assurance Agency’s Code of Practice (e.g. Collaborative Provision & Flexible and distributed learning (including E-Learning) (published September 2004)). These Agreements are normally reviewed every six years. Please refer to the University’s Academic Quality Handbook for all guidelines referred to in this manual, see:
http://services.sunderland.ac.uk/academic-services/academic-quality-handbook/
1.4 To optimise effective communications it is important that appropriate mechanisms are in place; e.g. for contacting relevant staff and to resolve issues in a timely manner. The University will produce a clear schedule of activities each year including the date and time etc of student induction sessions, Centre Leader Visits and relevant Board/meeting dates. For University guidance on the Roles of Centre Leaders please refer to https://docushare.sunderland.ac.uk/docushare/dsweb/Get/Document-5250/AQH-I1-4+APPENDIX+4+The+Role+of+the+Centre+Leader.doc.
2.0 MANAGEMENT OF THE PARTNERSHIP
2.1 In order to ensure appropriate liaison and management of the University programmes, the Partner will provide, as a minimum, appropriate administrative support and will ensure that an appropriate number and range of academic staff is attributed to the delivery of each programme covered by the Collaborative Provision Agreement. A maximum number of modules that an individual member of Partner academic staff may lead will normally be agreed by the appropriate University Faculty.
2.1.1 Management Structure: University Of Sunderland
Please refer to:
http://services.sunderland.ac.uk/hr/hrstrategicdevelopment/induction/abouttheuniversity/universitystructure/#d.en.4569
for details of the University of Sunderland Management Structure.
2.1.2 Management Structure: The Partner [To Be Inserted]
2.1.3 Faculty Structure: University of Sunderland
Please refer to http://www.sunderland.ac.uk/faculties/ to access specific individuals/Departments
Each University Faculty includes a Dean, Associate Dean – Student Experience, Associate Dean – Resources, Research and External Engagement, Associate Dean – Recruitment and Development and Heads of Department.
Faculty / DepartmentsApplied Sciences / Department of Computing, Engineering & Technology
Department of Psychology
Department of Pharmacy, Health & Well-being
Department of Sport & Exercise Sciences
Education and Society / Department of Education
Department of Social Sciences
Department of Culture
The Faculty of Business and Law / Sunderland Business School
Department of Law
Centre for Flexible Learning
Arts, Design and Media / Department of Arts & Design
Department of Media
Figure 1: University Faculties and Departments
3.0 DETAILS OF THE PROGRAMME & MODES OF DELIVERY
3.1 The AGREED University programmes (as defined by the relevant programme specification produced and approved by the University) will be offered at approved sites by Model C. For a full list of programmes/sites covered by this manual please refer to the Collaborative Provision Agreement – Quality Assurance and Schedule of Programmes Annexes, available on request from Quality Assurance and Enhancement.
4.0 CONTACTS INFORMATION
4.1 ‘Central’ and key Faculty University of Sunderland contacts (current as at April 2011)
Atkinson, Ms Shirley - Deputy Vice Chancellor /tel: 0191 515 2460
Brown, Mr Les - Head of International Business Development and Operations (Marketing and Recruitment)
/tel: 0191 515 2283
Elliott, Mr Peter - Educational Partnerships Administrator, Recruitment and Business Partnerships /
tel: 0191 515 3892
Fidler, Professor Peter - Vice Chancellor /
tel: 0191 515 2036
Gardner, Ms Carol - Senior Quality Assurance & Enhancement Officer, Officer to Higher Education in Further Education Practitioner’s Group and central contact for Foundation Degree Forward /
tel: 0191 515 2065
Greene, Ms Carole - Educational Partnerships Administrator, Recruitment and Business Partnerships /
tel: 0191 515 2806
Griffin, Ms Lesley – Assistant Director (Marketing and Recruitment) /
tel:0191 515 2667
Mennell, Professor Julie
Deputy Vice Chancellor /
Tel: 0191 515 2031
Ollerenshaw, Ms Beatrice – Director of Academic Services /
tel: 0191 515 2060
Patience, Ms Sue – Collaborative Provision Manager /
tel: 0191 515 2063
Pritchard, Mr Oliver – Assistant Director (Student & Learning Support) /
tel: 0191 515 2903
Robertson, Ms Susie – Senior Quality Assurance & Enhancement Officer and Officer for Collaborative Practitioner’s Group /
tel: 0191 515 2069
Rowan, Mr Iain – Assistant Director of Academic Services /
tel: 0191 515 2433
Walters, Ms Andrea – Director of Human Resources /
tel: 0191 515 3427
4.2 Faculty, Department, And Programme University Of Sunderland Contacts:
[WILL NEED EXPANDING IF PARTNER HAS RELATIONSHIPS WITH MORE THAN ONE FACULTY AND ALSO IN RESPECT OF EACH PROGRAMME COVERED BY THE MANUAL]
Dean of Faculty / xxxxxxxxxxxxFaculty Associate Dean (Student Experience) / xxxxxxxxxxxx
Faculty Quality Management Sub-Committee Chair / xxxxxxxxxxxx
Centre Leader / xxxxxxxxxxxx
HE in FE Group nominee# / xxxxxxxxxxxx
Programme Assessment Board Chair / xxxxxxxxxxxx
Programme Board of Studies Chair / xxxxxxxxxxxx
Module Assessment Board Chair / xxxxxxxxxxxx
Module Board of Studies Chair / xxxxxxxxxxxx
Programme Leader / xxxxxxxxxxxx
Administrative staff? / xxxxxxxxxxxx
General Enquiry Telephone number for the Faculty / xxxxxxxxxxxx
4.3 Partner Contacts
HE in FE Group nominee## HE and FE Practitioner’s Group nominees (of the HE in FE Group) have agreed to act as a central channel of communication for their College/Faculty; e.g. to facilitate submission by the University (via the Faculty Quality Officer) of external examiner’s reports to relevant College staff via this named nominee.
5.0 ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
5.1 The University has responsibility for:
§ The Award
§ Quality assurance of the programmes and the quality of the student experience
§ The provision of the University Centre Leader and Programme and Module Leaders at the University
§ The quality assurance of the partnership
§ The approval of Partner teaching staff
§ Supporting staff development of Partner teaching staff
§ The approval of public information including marketing materials
§ Programme admission decisions and the registration of students to the University’s student records system (SITS)
§ The issuing of offer letters to students
§ Information services support (providing any agreed access to the University’s Library services)
§ The appointment external examiners
§ The organisation, management and operation of Assessment and Studies Boards
§ Amendment and discontinuation of programmes with agreed notice
§ Provision of transcripts of results and final award parchments
5.2 The Partner has responsibility for:
§ Adhering to University policy and procedures
§ The appointment of the Associate Programme Leader and other staff attributed to teaching on the provision (in accordance with University criteria and approval), and related administrative staff
§ Provision of staff/tutor induction and development at each Partner site of delivery
§ The co-ordination of student applications
§ Student records management
§ The marketing of the programme for local recruitment
§ The submission of reports to the University and other, timely, information on registered students as may be required
§ The submission of public information including marketing materials to the University for approval following any in-house Partner approval
5.3 The Partner and the University have responsibility for:
§ Programme planning, design and review (including proposing modifications to modules/programme and curriculum development for University approval)
§ Day-to-day management and coordination of operation of the provision across the approved site(s) of delivery
§ Information services support, e.g. ensuring agreed levels of library facilities at each site of delivery together with any other agreed specialist resources
§ Student Induction for University Programmes.
§ Student academic and pastoral support.
§ The co-ordination of staff and student feedback from each Partner site of delivery.
6.0 LEARNING AND TEACHING
6.1 Learning and teaching of the programme will be as described in the student handbook and programme and module guides.
7.0 PUBLIC INFORMATION
7.1 General
The University reserves the right to publicise its collaborative programmes in its own publicity materials and in other publicity materials agreed with its partners.
7.2 Marketing and Promotion
7.2.1 The University will be responsible for: receiving and approving the accuracy of publicity materials prior to their implementation and regularly monitoring these and other information issued to registered or prospective students in respect of the collaborative provision.
7.2.2 The Partner will be responsible for:
a) submitting to the University, publicity materials in respect of the collaborative provision, for approval prior to their implementation;
b) publicising locally the availability of the programme(s) and the recruitment and admission arrangements.
7.3 Approval of Promotional and Marketing Materials – Process overview
§ Partner Assistant Programme Leader seeks in-house approval of the proposed materials as appropriate.
§ Partner submits proposed materials to the University, via the Centre Leader, for approval, prior to implementation.
§ Centre Leader confirms University approval of materials to the Partner.
§ University Centre leader reviews materials, including web-based ones, in accordance with the University’s Collaborative Processes, drawing inaccuracies to Partner staff in the first instance and taking any remedial actions.
8.0 ALLOCATION OF STUDENT NUMBERS
8.1 The number of student places per annum will be agreed with the University in accordance with the Financial Annex to the Collaborative Provision Agreement.
9.0 RECRUITMENT AND ADMISSIONS
9.1 General
The University will be responsible for:
a) liaison between the Partner and the University regarding the offering of conditional (and, subsequently, unconditional) places on the programme(s);
b) issuing conditional and unconditional place offers, including admissions Terms and Conditions, (and, where appropriate, to specify the IELTS (International English Language Testing System) score requirements) to student applicants in accordance with University programme regulations;
c) approving/declining non-standard entry applications in accordance with the Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL) procedures of the University.
The Partner will be responsible for:
a) forwarding completed student application forms to the University prior to the programme start date;
b) communicating with the University regarding University approval of non-standard entry applications.
· All non-standard applications will be considered by the University. Students may not be admitted if these have not been approved by the University.
9.2 Entry Criteria
The normal entry criteria for admission to the agreed University programmes are detailed in the relevant University programme specifications and University of Sunderland academic regulations accessible through: https://docushare.sunderland.ac.uk/docushare/dsweb/View/Collection-2781.
Any articulation routes will also need to be approved by the relevant University Faculty Quality Management Sub-Committee (FQMSC).