Learning and Teaching Committee
Subject: Report of Curriculum Sub-Committee – New Programme
Proposals/Strategic Changes/Other Matters requiring approval
Origin Unconfirmed Minutes of the Meeting
on 13 October 2005
Curriculum Sub-Committee at its meeting on 13 October 2005 recommended to Learning and Teaching Committee and Senate where appropriate that approval be given to the following proposals. Details are available from the Secretary.
1. Terms of Reference (Annex A)
The Sub-Committee considered the Terms of
Reference of Curriculum Sub-Committee.
It was AGREED to recommend to Learning and Teaching Committee that para
2 of the Terms of Reference be amended to include reference to Programme
Specifications.
2. MSc Criminal Justice Research: New Programme Proposals
.1 The Sub-Committee considered proposals
from Social Sciences for a new full-time/part-time programme with immediate
effect. It was noted that the programme
had been developed from an existing programme to provide a greater proportion
of research training in order to attract ESRC recognition. It was commented that should the University
choose to adopt the MRes award and, depending on the criteria established, the
Department might wish to submit the programme at a later stage for a change of
award from MSc to MRes.
.2 It was AGREED to recommend the
proposals to Learning and Teaching Committee subject to the following matters
being resolved to the satisfaction of the AD(T) prior to the meeting of
Learning and Teaching Committee:
(a) Programme
Regulations
(i) Consideration of a better balance of
module weightings between semesters.
(ii) Consideration of the requirements
expected for the award of PGDip/PGCert, which should be included in the
Programme Regulations.
(The
awards of PGDip/PGCert were considered by the Sub-Committee under Minute
05/46.5 to be inappropriate for an MRes programme.)
(b) Programme
Specifications
(i) Criteria for admission to the
programme: ‘though other applicants would be given due
consideration’ was superfluous with the inclusion of
‘typical’ in the first clause and should be removed.
(The
Sub-Committee has suggested under Minute 05/46.5 that entry to an MRes
programme should require a degree.)
(ii) The key/transferable skills listed
should be more specific and measurable.
(c) Module Specifications
(i) SSP098 Dissertation: Consideration of a
requirement to produce a journal paper, in appropriate form for a specific
journal, as an assessment element of the module.
(The
Sub-Committee has suggested under Minute 05/46.5 the requirement for a journal
paper as an element of the MRes award)
(d) Assessment Matrix
(i) Completion of the % Individual
Assessment column.
(ii) Explanation of how presentation skills
would be assessed.
3. MSc Construction Project Management (work-based DL):
New Programme Proposals
.1 The Sub-Committee considered proposals
from Civil and Building Engineering for a new part-time programme with effect
from January 2006. The proposer,
Professor Andrew Price, outlined the proposed programme, which was
collaborative with Heriot Watt University (HWU) and would receive Collaborative
Training Account (CTA) funding to support its development. He informed members that the HWU modules were
already well developed and the one LU module that would run in year 1 already
existed and would need only minor modification.
The LU material for year 2 was yet to be developed. The Sub-Committee was advised that Robert
Bowyer, PDQ Team Manager, had alerted the proposer to a number of issues
relating to the collaborative arrangement which required clarification and/or
resolution, and that Operations Sub-Committee had yet to consider the
proposals. It was also advised that the
Engineering Directorate and a member of the Engineering Faculty Board had
expressed concerns about the academic standard of the work-based learning
proposed, particularly in view of the lack of detail about how academic rigour
could be guaranteed. The Sub-Committee
explored how the meeting of ILOs through work-based learning would be ensured. It was critical that the employer was aware
of the ILOs to be addressed.
.2 It was AGREED to recommend the
proposals for year 1 only at this stage to Learning and Teaching Committee
subject to the following matters being resolved to the satisfaction of the
AD(T) prior to the meeting of Learning and Teaching Committee:
(a) Approval
by Operations Sub-Committee of the strategic proposals.
(b) Resolution of the issues raised by
Robert Bowyer on the collaborative arrangement.
(c) Proposal
Form
(i) Item 9: The research staff intended to
mark some assignments, who would at some stage require prior training, should
be approached.
(d) Programme
Regulations
(i)
(ii) To refer to the new Regulation XXI
rather than GRMPA.
(e) Programme
Specification
(i) ILOs to be listed, followed by the
methods of teaching, learning and assessment that would address them. Some presented under knowledge and
understanding might be better listed under skills.
(ii)
(iii)
(f) Module
Specifications
(i) CVP034: reference to EngD programmes to
be removed.
(g) Assessment
Matrix
(i) Assessment of WBL19PS to be clarified.
(h) Collaborative
Statement
(i) Item 5: Replace reference to
‘Recommending marking bands’ with ‘
.3 It was AGREED that the proposals be
brought back to the next meeting of CSC on
12 January 2006, via the AD(T), to enable the Sub-Committee to receive any
revised paperwork and to consider the revised modules to be offered in Year 2
of the programme. The Module
Specifications, which should be CIS versions, should take account of the
following:
·
the requirement for more detail in the MTLA field of
how the work-based learning would operate, and on the distinction between DL
and work-based DL modules (Discussion with the
·
the requirement for greater information on assessment,
including guidance on the length of the report.
This might impact on the Assessment Matrix
·
a worked example to be provided in relation to the
proposal within the Collaborative Proposal QA Statement for units within a
module to facilitate CPD
The proposer was advised to
seek advice from someone in the education sector experienced in the assessment
of work-based DL.
4. MSc Sustainable Infrastructure Services Management:
New Programme Proposals
.1 The
Sub-Committee considered proposals from WEDC for a full-time/part-time
programme with effect from October 2006.
It was noted that the issue of programme title raised by the
(a) Proposal Form
(i) Item
14: Clarification of whether the links identified as likely to yield students
had been approached.
(b) Programme Regulations
(i) Explanation
of module ‘EEE’ and provision of a module specification.
(c) Programme Specification
(i)
(ii) Link
methods of teaching, learning and assessment to ILOs.
(iii) An
assurance that programme ILOs can be met irrespective of mode of study.
(d) Module Specifications
(i) CUP206:
Size of assignments to be expressed as a word count rather than number of
pages.
5. MSc Programmes in Occupational Health:
New Programme Proposals
.1 The Sub-Committee considered proposals
from Human Sciences for the following full-time/part time programmes with
effect from October 2006:
MSc/PGDip
Occupational Health for Safety Professionals
MSc/PGDip
Evidence-based Practice in Occupational Health
MSc/PGDip
Occupational Health Management
MSc/PGDip
Psychology of Work and Health
The
Proposer, Professor Cheryl Haslam, and Head of Department, Professor Roger
Haslam, attended for this item. It was
commented that there was a clear overlap in the titles proposed with programmes
currently offered by CHaRM. The proposer
assured the Sub-Committee that CHaRM was content with the proposed titles. The new provision, which was from the health
perspective, would complement CHaRM’s provision, which was more from the
safety perspective. It was noted that
the four proposed titles were differentiated by one taught module and the content
of the project. In regard to the Librarian’s
comments, it was reported that the Department could meet any additional Library
requirements for the programme within its existing allowance.
.2 It was
AGREED to recommend the proposals to Learning and Teaching Committee subject to
the following matters being resolved to the satisfaction of the AD(T) prior to
the meeting of Learning and Teaching Committee:
(a)
Programme
Regulations
(i) To
refer to the new Regulation XXI, which had superseded GRMPA/ARMPA and PGDip
which had superseded LPD.
(ii) The award titles to be included in para
1 rather than para 2.
(b) Programme
Specification
(i) Specific
aims of individual programmes to be listed.
(ii) Teaching,
Learning and Assessment Strategies to be more specific.
(iii)
(c) Module
Specification
(i) Specificity
of the project topic in relation to programme title to be made clear in the
project module. Alternatively, separate
project modules to be created for each programme title.
(ii) The
need to ensure that all ILOs were assessed e.g team skills.
(iii) The
provision of module specifications for the four revised existing modules,
together with copies of the existing modules with the changes annotated.
(iv) HUP701
to include the 5,000 word report identified in the Assessment Matrix.
(v)
Deletion of
‘normally’ from MTLA fields.
(Secretary’s note: The proposed programme title
‘Occupational Health Management’ has subsequently been withdrawn by
the Department)
6. MRes Human Biology /MRes Ergonomics/ MRes Psychology:
New Programme Proposals
.1 The Sub-Committee considered proposals
from Human Sciences for new full-time/part-time programmes with effect from
October 2006. The Head of Department, Professor
Roger Haslam, attended for this item.
The Sub-Committee was advised that the University did not currently
award the MRes degree but that discussions underway were likely to lead to a
recommendation to Learning and Teaching Committee and Senate in November for
the University to adopt the award.
Possible criteria for the award had been discussed but a clear
recommendation had not yet come forward.
The Sub-Committee therefore considered that it would not be able at this
time to make a recommendation to Learning and Teaching Committee for the new
MRes programmes but would be able to forward the proposals as MScs in Human
Biology Research/ Psychology Research/ Ergonomics Research. Should the programmes meet the criteria for
the MRes award when these had been determined, the award and any necessary
title change could be approved by Chair’s action.
.2 In response to a query Professor Haslam
informed the Sub-Committee that the intention to create some of the HUP modules
from existing advanced-level UG modules was only for those modules for which
there was no existing PG provision. In
these cases there would be shared teaching with undergraduates but a different
assessment regime for the postgraduates to ensure deeper study. One example of such a module had been
provided (04HUC309), but all the proposed new HUP modules would require
approval before the programme could be recommended further.
.3 It was AGREED to recommend the
proposals to Learning and Teaching Committee subject to the following matters
being resolved to the satisfaction of the AD(T) prior to the meeting of
Learning and Teaching Committee:
(a) Programme Regulations
(i) Programme titles and awards to appear
in para 1.
(ii) Adjust the balance of modules in
Semesters 1 and 2 to allow options to be taken in Semester 2. The distribution of the short project module
between Semester 1 and 2 could achieve this.
(iii) Identify more clearly the compulsory and
optional modules in each semester.
(iv) Reflection on the balance of module
choice to students and the equity of this between the programmes in view of the
likelihood that students might have studied some modules at undergraduate level
and the need to avoid duplication of study.
(v) In order to avoid duplication of study
at UG and PG level, make clearer in para 2.4 that module choice should be
approved by the Programme Director.
(vi) Reflection on the appropriateness of the
Qualitative Design and Analysis module being compulsory for Psychology and
Ergonomics but not Human Biology.
(b) Programme Specification
(i) To amend in relation to para a (v)
above.
(ii) To include programme title.
(iii) To list ILOs.
(iv) To delete superfluous text in para 2.
(c) Module Specifications
(i) HUP version of HUC309: Attendance
cannot be compulsory. The introduction
of an assessment element to the workshop could encourage attendance and help
ensure the assessment of all the ILOs which one essay was unlikely to
achieve. This would affect the
Assessment Matrix.
(ii) Provision of specifications for all the
proposed new converted HUP modules, together with annotated versions of the
relevant UG modules.
(iii) Dissertation Project Module: Specificity
of the project topic in relation to programme title to be made clear in the
project module. Alternatively, separate
project modules to be created for each programme title. The Research Supervisor should not be the
Internal Examiner. The prerequisite
module field would be better left blank.
(iv) Experimental Design and Basic
Epidemiological Principles for Human Sciences Research: Items of coursework and
their weightings to be stipulated.
(v) Gender Topics: Exam weighting should be
0%. To consider the replacement of the
attendance requirement with a form of assessment. ILOs to be extended. Two Internal Examiners only to be included.
(vi) Human Growth and Development: Total
student effort should be 150 hours. The
second sentence under Aims to be deleted.
(d) Mapping of the programme ILOs onto the
joint Research Councils’ skills training requirements for research
students and the detailed skills requirements of the relevant individual
Research Councils.
.4 The Sub-Committee recognised that the
requirements in para 3 above were considerable and might prove difficult to
achieve before the next meeting of Learning and Teaching Committee. It was
AGREED that the Head of Department would liaise with the AD(T) on progress and
if necessary the proposals would miss the impending meeting of Learning and
Teaching Committee and revised proposals would come to Curriculum Sub-Committee
on 12 January 2006.
.5 The Sub-Committee noted that Ordinance
IV did not currently allow for the award of MRes, and noted the Minute of the
Programme Development and Quality Team thereon.
In discussion of the above proposals and other proposals on the agenda
the Sub-Committee wished to forward the following comments to the body that
would make recommendations on the criteria for the University’s award of
the MRes:
(a) That the MRes should be clearly
distinguishable from an MA/MSc with a large project module, by the inclusion of
a significant research skills element.
(b) That the PGDip and PGCert awards did not
sit comfortably within an MRes programme and should not therefore be available
as alternative or exit wards. The lack
of exit awards should not be considered to be a problem if the MRes was viewed
as akin to an MPhil award.
(c) An undergraduate degree should be a
requirement of admission to an MRes programme and no special case route to
admission should therefore be available.
(d) The dissertation module should include
as part of its assessment the requirement to produce a paper written for a
specific and appropriate journal, following the specified rules of that
publication.
(e) That the provision of intra/inter
Faculty research skills modules should be considered as part of the
(f) That
advice be sought from the Department of Social Sciences which had particular
knowledge of ESRC’s approach to research training.
7. PG Diploma in Management (NG Bailey):
New Programme Proposals
Further to Minute 05/28 of the meeting on 5 May 2005, it was AGREED to
ratify the action of the Chair in recommending to the Chair of Learning and
Teaching Committee proposals from the
(The Secretary’s email
of 20 September 2005 referred)
8. Changes to Programme Titles
.1 It was AGREED to ratify the action of
the Chair in recommending to the Chair of Learning and Teaching Committee the
following programme title change (effective date shown in brackets):
MSc Construction
Innovation and Management to
MSc Engineering Innovation and Management (October 2005 entry)
.2 It was AGREED to recommend to Learning
and Teaching Committee the following change in programme title (effective date
shown in brackets):
BSc Sports Science
and Mathematics to BSc Mathematics
and Sports Science (October 2007 entry)
(Note:
This proposal was coupled with a proposal to transfer responsibility for the
programme from the
9. Discontinuation of Programmes
It was AGREED to recommend to Learning and Teaching Committee
discontinuation of the following programmes (proposed date of last intake shown
in brackets):
BSc Sports Science and
Social Science (October 2006)
BA English and Sports
Science (October 2006)
MSc Packaging Technology
(January 2005)
10. BA/BSc
Industrial Design and Technology to BA Industrial Design and Technology
Following the approval by Senate in June 2005 of a new BSc in Product
Design and Technology from October 2006, to approve a change in the award for
the existing Industrial Design and Technology programme from BA/BSc to BA with
effect from October 2006.
Author – Jennie Elliott
Date – October 2005
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