University of Bradford
School of Lifelong Education and Development
Programme Specification for Foundation Degree in Community Regeneration and Development at Northern College
Awarding and teaching institution: University of Bradford
Final Award: Foundation Degree Arts (FdA)
Programme title: Community Regeneration and Development Duration: Normally 3 years part time
UCAS code:
Subject benchmark statement: not applicable
Programme accredited by: not applicable
Date produced: July 2008
Introduction
This course provision is validated by the University of Bradford and is delivered at Northern College. As a student enrolled on this award at Northern College you will also therefore have full student membership of the University of Bradford.
Aims of course
The Foundation Degree (FD) in Community Regeneration and Development aims to develop support workers, whether you work in the public, private or voluntary sector, with a range of appropriate academic knowledge and work related skills to enable you to meet the challenges required in community renewal programmes.
The programme aims to provide you with:
· the high level skills and educational under pinning required for the community development work force
· the ability to research, analyse, report on and to manage information
· an understanding of the diverse context of community development
· an understanding and an ability to manage the financial environment
· the ability to establish, maintain, evaluate and improve community projects
· the skills required in developing individuals and teams
· key skills including employability skills
· a flexible programme delivered in a supportive manner for the your benefit.
With reference to Teaching and Learning the programme aims to:
· provide a supportive, structured environment in which you are encouraged to develop lifelong learning skills develop subject knowledge and understanding and provide education in work-related skills to enable you to pursue further programmes of study or improve employability and opportunities for personal and professional development;
· facilitate the development of key and wider transferable skills to other academic and non-academic contexts
Course Summary
Community regeneration and development is about building active and sustainable communities based on social justice and mutual respect. It is about understanding, engaging with and perhaps altering power structures to increase participation and remove the barriers that prevent people from participating meaningfully in social affairs and decision-making processes that affect their lives. The principle values of community regeneration and development practice are social equity, co-operation, participation and active learning. Community Development Exchange, formerly the Standing Conference for Community Development, uses the following working definition of community development:
Community development is about building active and sustainable communities based on social justice and mutual respect.
It is about changing power structures to remove the barriers that prevent people from participating in the issues that affect their lives.
The FDA’s educational philosophy endorses this approach aiming throughout to integrate academic knowledge and understanding with practical experience through processes of reflection in and on action, critical evaluation and personal development.
Community Regeneration and Development is a growing area in which local, regional and national government, working in partnership with the voluntary and private sectors, is concentrating a lot of effort and investment. Successful community regeneration and development involves understanding the nature of communities and the context in which they exist. It also highlights the need for development projects and strategies which accept the importance of social and economic justice, mutual respect and diversity. Creating sustainable communities in a sustainable world may be the biggest challenge ahead of us.
A key feature of the course is its relationship to local and sub-regional developments in regeneration policy and practice. It has been designed in consultation with a number of people professionally engaged in community regeneration in both rural and urban areas. The course is relevant to those who wish to develop new skills and understanding or enhance existing ones. The work-based options will enable you to gain accreditation for your current voluntary or paid activities in the field.
Programme Outcomes
On successful completion of the programme of study you will be able to demonstrate the following:
- Knowledge and understanding
· Demonstrate your understanding of the principles and values of Community Regeneration and Development programmes including policy issues by evaluating examples of current practice of community development work in the UK with reference to the social, political, cultural and economic context
· Identify and assess the structures and processes that lead to multiple deprivations in individuals and communities and their resultant inability to participate in normal society.
- Discipline skills
· Distinguish between and evaluate the strategies used to develop regeneration programmes in order to make an active contribution to community development, social change and social justice.
- Personal transferable skills
· Apply critical thinking and problem solving skills.
· Work independently and in teams
· Manage your own time.
· Evaluate and manage your career development.
· Use appropriate methods for the retrieval of information from a variety of sources.
· Evaluate information from a variety of sources.
The Curriculum
Themes will be addressed throughout the programme: equal opportunities, intercultural learning, sustainable development, reflective practice and critical praxis.
Units of study are normally a mixture of 10 and 20 academic credits, however the final work placement unit is a unit of 40 academic credits. You will study units amounting to 240 credits (120 in Stage 1 and 120 in Stage 2).
Stage 1
Stage 1 is studied both at the College and your place of work (or placement if you are not in relevant employment). The minimum numbers of hours for work based learning at Stage 1 is 70 in the placement. Personal and Professional Development which is core to the programme will be studied in Semester 1, Stage 1. The intention of placing this unit at the forefront of the programme is to aid the diagnosis of current skill levels in areas of lifelong learning and personal development.
Unit code / Unit title / type / credit / level / semLEDF100D / Personal and Professional Development 1 / Core / 20 / 1 / 1
LEDF102D / Community Development Principles and Processes / Core / 20 / 1 / 1 or 2
LED6511D / Causes of Social Exclusion / Core / 20 / 1 / 1 or 2
LEDF101D / Learning from Experience in the Workplace / Core / 20 / 1 / 1 or 2
LED6509D / Project Management in a Community Context / Option / 20 / 1 / 1 or 2
LEDF103D / New Developments in Regeneration / Option / 20 / 1 / 1 or 2
LED1074D / Principles of Sustainable Development. / Option / 20 / 1 / 1 or 2
LED6510D / Understanding Urban Change / Option / 20 / 1 / 1 or 2
LED1098D / Guided Independent Study* / Option / 20 / 1 / 1 or 2
* Guided Independent Study modules are approved to this programme of study but are negotiated with the Course Leader to enable the overall learning outcomes of the programme to be met. These modules are not timetabled and will only be offered if a student is unable to choose a timetabled option.
Stage 2
Again there is study both at the College and your place of work. The minimum numbers of hours for work based learning at Stage 2 is 140 in the placement.
Unit code / Unit title / type / credit / level / semLEDF202D / Personal and Professional Development 2 / Core / 20 / 2 / 1 or 2
LEDF210D / Drugs, Crime and Communities / Core / 20 / 2 / 1 or 2
LED6502D / Capacity Building with Communities / Core / 20 / 2 / 1 or 2
LEDF203Q / Competence in the Workplace / Core / 40 / 2 / 1 or 2
LEDF204D / Community Research Methods / Option / 20 / 2 / 1 or 2
LED6507D / Theory and Practice of Multi Agency Partnerships / Option / 20 / 2 / 1 or 2
LED6504D / Funding Sources and Applications / Option / 20 / 2 / 1 or 2
LED6506D / Religions within Communities: theory and practice / Option / 20 / 2 / 1 or 2
LED2033D / Information Networks in Community Regeneration / Option / 20 / 2 / 1 or 2
LED2026D / Guided Independent Study* / Option / 20 / 2 / 1 or 2
* Guided Independent Study modules are approved to this programme of study but are negotiated with the Course Leader to enable the overall learning outcomes of the programme to be met. These modules are not timetabled and will only be offered if a student is unable to choose a timetabled option.
Units of study are normally a mixture of 10 and 20 academic credits, however the final work placement unit is 40 academic credits. You will study units amounting to 240 credits (120 in Stage 1 and 120 in Stage 2).
Assessment Regulations and Progression
The full assessment regulations for the awards of the University are detailed and complex and are maintained on the University web-site. What follows here is a condensed version;
To pass and proceed from Stage 1 to Stage 2, and also to be eligible for the award of the Foundation Degree you must achieve at least 40% in 100 credits, and 35% in the other 20 credits.
When you successfully complete the Foundation Degree (i.e. 240 credits) you will be awarded the Foundation Degree A (FDA) Degree. Should you achieve an overall average of at least 70.0% you will be eligible for the award of the degree with distinction. The learning outcomes for these awards are consistent with those of the Framework for Higher Education Qualifications in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Details of the progression regulations can be found at http://www.brad.ac.uk/admin/acsec/QA_Hbk/Undergrad_Regs_.html#progression_between_stages
Admission Requirements
The Foundation Degree has been designed to promote access for students who can demonstrate their ability to benefit from the programme and who may not have traditional entry qualifications Students are accepted by fulfilling Northern College general entry requirements. It is envisaged that there will be substantial interest from individuals already employed across a range of public services/agencies engaged community development and that many of these will seek entry on the basis of prior experiential learning.
Applicants wishing to study part time will be able to access the course:
1. Via the Associate Student Scheme. Associate Students become eligible to join the award bearing course upon successful completion of at least 20 Level 1 credits from the programme. To qualify for an award Associate Students must state their intention before commencing their final Level 1 module of study or
2. By direct application. This will be through a written application and interview with the Course Leader and/or Guidance Officer.
APL/APEL
Those already possessing relevant advanced qualifications, e.g. Certificate of Higher Education, accredited individual modules of study or relevant experiential learning may apply for exemption from up to 50% of the balance of the award in accordance with University regulations.
The full text of the University importation of credit regulations is on the Web at
http://www.brad.ac.uk/admin/acsec/QA_Hbk/import_credit.html
Learning, Teaching and Assessment (LTA)
The LTA strategy takes into consideration the learning outcomes, progression through the levels of study, the nature of the subject and the need for you to take greater responsibility for your own learning as you progress through the course.
Each module will enable you to develop a full range of skills appropriate to subject area or mode of learning, which taken holistically will enhance your capability to function as a self-directed learner. Much of your learning will be in the form of guided study where you will make use of the full range of learning materials and resources, including electronic ones.
Detailed and clear documentation will support teaching and learning. Participation in informal discussion and seminars will be key features. Several modules include field trips, for example to particular geographical areas, or site visits.
Assessment is a crucial component of student learning - necessary to monitor your progress, motivate learning, provide feedback and grades. Assessment methods will reflect the diversity of provision and directly assess desired learning outcomes. There will be the opportunity for you to undertake assignments requiring the exercise of initiative in their definition, design and execution, such as project work or the dissertation.
Quality Management
The School of Lifelong Education and Development is committed to maintaining and improving the quality of its courses. To this end, a number of rigorous quality assurance procedures are in place. These include periodic course review, annual course monitoring, moderation of assessed work and scrutiny by an External Examiner. Your views will be sought as we ask you to evaluate each module with reference to teaching quality, learning environment, support and resources, using the standard University evaluation feedback questionnaire. Your views form a very important part of our quality assurance process and you can also make these known via the Staff-Student Liaison Committee meetings, which are held at Northern College. The minutes from these meetings are received by the School of Lifelong Education and Development’s School Academic Committee, the School Board and the Senate.
The Assessment Committee and Examinations Board for this award will be held at the University and the Course Team and module tutors will attend.
Student Support and Guidance
The Course Leader for the Foundation Degree in Community Regeneration and Development in the School of Lifelong Education and Development will have responsibility for liaison with the College over academic and pastoral matters relating to the course and the students on it. This may mean, for example, advising on the University procedures on the request of extensions to coursework, the submission of mitigating circumstances where this need arises, and academic advice relating to University regulations or progression opportunities. In addition, as students of the University of Bradford, you will have access to the full range of Student Services available across the University including, for example, the Library, the Student Information Service and the Counselling Service. Relevant University and School documentation will provide further support for you. For further information please view the student support web links at the University of Bradford