Procedure and
timetable for revision and approval of module specifications and programme
regulations on an annual basis
1) Annual
renewal of module specifications, programme specifications and programme
regulations
In accordance
with paragraph G.1 of the revised Validation Procedures, institutions offering
validated programmes leading to Loughborough University awards are required to
reconsider all module specifications and programme regulations and submit any changes
for approval, on an annual basis, as required for internal University
programmes. Additionally, Colleges are asked to provide a programme
specification for each validated programme, in accordance with QAA guidelines.
2) Procedure and deadline
The documentation
relating to this procedure should be submitted to the Associate Dean (Teaching)
of the Faculty responsible for the modules and programmes concerned. The AD(T)
must receive this no later than 30 May 2003 in respect of all programmes and modules
to be offered in 2003/04. The documentation needs to include:
l
a complete
annotated listing of modules on offer in 2003/04
l
a set of
module specifications for new modules and for modules with amendments requiring
approval (see below)
l
a programme
specification for each programme on offer
l
a complete
set of programme regulations revised as appropriate
Details of the
documentation required are given in sections 3 to 5 below.
Even if there are
no changes requiring approval, the listing of modules, the programme
specification(s) and a set of programme regulations should be submitted by the
due date.
3) Listing of
modules
A listing must be
provided of all modules to be offered, giving the code and title of each
module. On this list, each module should then be annotated with a label,
indicating its status. The following labels are recommended. Other letter codes
may be used; but, whatever form of annotation is adopted (even if it is as set
out here), a key to the meaning of these labels should be provided along with
the annotated list of modules.
OK - no
change from the present academic year
M - minor
change not requiring approval
V - module
already approved at a validation visit
C - change
submitted for approval
N - new
module submitted for approval
The following are
minor changes not requiring approval, and are covered by label M:
l
minor
modification to module title
l
correction
of typographical errors
l
changes to
key words
l
changes to
indicative reading
l
change to
contents, where the change represents less than one-third of the content of the
module
l
change of
internal examiner, provided the new examiner has been approved as a University
examiner
l
change of
external examiner
A module
specification involving changes to any of the following fields requires approval
and should be labelled C:
l
module title
(if changed significantly)
l
modular
weight
l
exam
weighting
l
semester
taught
l
aims
l
objectives/intended
learning outcomes
l
change to
more than one-third of the contents of the module
l
method of
learning, teaching and assessment
l
a new
internal examiner, not so far approved as a University examiner - in this case
an appropriate short CV should be attached
4) Submission of
module specifications
Specifications
for modules labelled OK, M or V need not be submitted: these are automatically
approved for the following year. Revised specifications for modules labelled C
or N must be attached to the listing.
Module
specifications with changes needing approval (C label) should have the new text
highlighted, in order to show the extent of the changes, and a commentary
explaining these changes should be added where appropriate. Similarly, new
module specifications (N label) must be accompanied by a commentary, explaining
why these are to be introduced. A single commentary sheet may cover a batch of
modules where sensible (for example if a new subject strand is to be introduced
into a programme).
5) Submission of
programme specifications and programme regulations
A programme
specification for each programme to be offered must be provided. A copy of the
programme regulations for each programme to be offered should also be included.
Again, any changes to these programme regulations other than those approved at
a validation visit should be highlighted, and an explanatory commentary provided.
John Costello
2 April 2003