Learning and Teaching Committee

Curriculum Sub-Committee

Subject: Approval of Recommendations from the last meeting

Origin: Unconfirmed Minutes of Learning and Teaching Committee on 5 June 2003

1. LUSAD, MA in Art and Design (Studio Practice) – new programme proposals

The Committee received a minute of the Sub-Committee’s discussion in which a number of shortfalls in the original submission had been identified, together with revised documentation from LUSAD attempting to address the issues. CSC had initially requested a resubmission in the autumn, but LUSAD was very anxious to resolve matters in time for a 2003 programme start.

The Committee was satisfied with the way in which many of the points raised by CSC had been addressed, but there remained some issues outstanding, such as the linking of methods of assessment with the intended learning outcomes in the programme specification and the stipulation of relative weightings for different assessment components in the module specifications. It was apparent from the paperwork and from the AD(T)’s discussions with the staff concerned that LUSAD staff felt the programme could not be presented in a manner that would fit into the University’s standard templates in every respect, whereas their approach reflected nationally accepted practice in art and design.

Although Mario Minichiello from LUSAD was ready to be called into the meeting to answer queries, it was felt that it would not be possible to resolve matters quickly in committee. After further discussion it was therefore agreed that the Chair of CSC and the AD(T) of SSH should meet with staff of LUSAD to clarify the outstanding issues and finalise the documentation to their satisfaction. It was suggested that they might seek further inputs if necessary from Design and Technology and from the Quality Enhancement Unit.

The Committee was nevertheless supportive of the proposals in principle and it was RESOLVED to RECOMMEND the proposed programme to Senate for introduction in 2003/04, subject to the outstanding issues being resolved in the manner indicated above to the satisfaction of the PVC(T) as Chair of LTC.

It was suggested that new programme proposals should be accompanied by a module by module summary (on a single side of A4) of the assessment requirements, which would show up any inconsistencies between modules in terms of the assessment tasks required and the student effort associated with them. It was agreed that there should be a limit on the time allowed to elapse between obtaining strategic approval for a programme proposal and the submission of the operational detail. These matters were referred to CSC for further consideration.

2. Markfield Institute of Higher Education – new programme proposals for validation

The Committee was reminded that Senate had already agreed to the validation of the MA in Islamic Studies at MIHE with effect from September 2003; the Validation Panel at the time had encouraged MIHE to consider the possibility of introducing further degree pathways and the current proposals had come forward in response. In accordance with established validation procedures, the proposals had been routed through the University’s standard approval mechanisms (i.e. CSC) rather than a new validation panel being established to consider them. CSC had identified a number of points in the proposals which required further attention.

Revised documentation had been submitted by MIHE which the AD(T) was able to assure the Committee satisfactorily addressed the issues relating to the programme specification and the module specifications. There remained the issue of ‘the active and willing engagement of a University department in a cognate subject area’, which under revised criteria approved by Senate earlier in the session, was to be a ‘normal prerequisite for every programme validation’. The Committee noted the existing presumption that Economics would be the appropriate department to supply this link, the department having had a long-standing academic link with MIHE and the Islamic Foundation, and Professor Presley having been identified as the main institutional contact for the collaboration by the Validation Panel. It was queried however whether Economics could provide support across the range of all three degree programmes now proposed, and the question was also raised whether it would be appropriate to seek written confirmation from the HOD of the department’s commitment to the link. The Committee felt that much of the advice and guidance that would be sought from the University department would be concerned with quality and standards issues in general, to establish shared understandings in these matters, as well as with specific subject-related matters, and since the same body of academic staff was involved in the delivery of all three degree pathways proposed at MIHE, it should be feasible for the one department to provide the link into the University for all three. If necessary, subject expertise should be bought in from outside and the cost charged against the validation income. The Working Group on Validation Policy and Procedures had yet to issue guidance on the sort of involvement that would be expected of a University department providing support for a validated programme in another institution and, whilst it was important to identify an appropriate departmental link, it was felt it would be premature to ask the department literally to ‘sign up’ before the guidance was available.

In conclusion, it was RESOLVED to RECOMMEND the proposals to Senate for implementation with effect from September 2003, on the understanding that the departmental link for MIHE would be provided by the Department of Economics, bolstered if necessary by external expertise.

3. Curriculum Sub-Committee (Section B)

The AD(T) of Science reported on developments since CSC in relation to items from the Science Faculty. His report included the following:

(i) The Department of Mathematical Sciences had agreed that the word ‘Dynamics’ should be changed to ‘Processes’ in the titles of its proposed new MSc programmes.

(ii) Further discussions had taken place with MMath students and there had been a positive response to revised proposals.

(iii) The Department of Physics had agreed to revise the title of its proposed MSc programme to ‘Research Studies (in Physics)’.

It was RESOLVED, on the advice of CSC and in the light of the report received from the AD(T) of Science, to RECOMMEND to Senate new programme proposals and other strategic programme changes, on the understanding that other outstanding matters indicated in the CSC report had been satisfactorily addressed.

Author – Jennie Elliott

Date – October 2003

Learning and Teaching Committee

Curriculum Sub-Committee

Subject: Approval of Recommendations from the last meeting

Origin: Unconfirmed Minutes of Senate on 25 June 2003

1. Programme Proposals

On the recommendation of Learning and Teaching Committee, on the advice of Curriculum Sub-Committee, it was RESOLVED to recommend to Council as appropriate:

(i) New Programmes for introduction in the 2002/03 session:

MSc Water and Waste Engineering – Distance Learning version

MSc Water and Environmental Management – Distance Learning version

(ii) New Programmes for introduction in the 2003/04 session:

MA Art and Design (Studio Practice)

MSc Mathematical Processes in Finance*

MSc Mathematical Processes in Biology*

MSc Mathematical Processes in the Environment*

MSc Back Care Management

MSc Human Geography Research

MSc Urban Environmental Engineering

MSc Sport and Exercise Nutrition

MSc Research Studies (in Physics)

(iii) New Programmes for introduction in the 2004/05 session:

MSc Environmental Dynamics: Monitoring, Evaluation and Management

(iv) Major programme changes from the 2003/04 session:

MMath Mathematics

MSc Industrial Mathematical Modelling

(v) Title Change from 2003/04 entry:

BSc Sociology with a Minor Subject to BSc Sociology

(vi) Discontinuation of the following programme (last intake shown in brackets):

MBA Business Administration (Peterborough version) (September 2002)

(*Revised titles approved by Senate at the meeting)

2. Markfield Institute of Higher Education: New Programme Proposals for Validation

On the recommendation of Learning and Teaching Committee, it was RESOLVED to approve new programme proposals for validation.

Author – Jennie Elliott

Date – October 2003