Learning and Teaching Committee

Subject: Report of Curriculum Sub-Committee – New Programme Proposals/ Strategic Changes/Other Matters requiring Senate approval

Origin Unconfirmed Minutes of the Meeting on 19 October 2006

Curriculum Sub-Committee at its meeting on 19 October 2006 recommended to Learning and Teaching Committee and Senate that approval be given to the following proposals. Details are available from the Secretary.

1. PGCert Mathematics Support for Students with Dyslexia and Dyscalculia in HE/FE: New Programme Proposals

The Sub-Committee considered proposals from ELSU and the School of Mathematics for a part-time programme with effect from April 2007. It was noted that the programme would be run by ELSU but students would be registered in the School of Mathematics. Members were supportive of the proposals and assured that such a programme was not under consideration at any other institution. 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:

.1 Amendments to the documentation as annotated by the AD(T).

Programme Regulations

.2 Identification of DL modules.

Programme Specification

.3 ILOs from modules to be combined to provide higher level programme ILOs.

Module Specifications

.4 (a) Module Specifications to be input on the CIS system, together with DL flag as appropriate. Module titles might require shortening to meet the 70-character restriction on CIS.

(b) Only one Internal Examiner to be included in Module Specifications.

(d) MAP703: deletion of duplicate reference to seminars.

Consultation

.5 Professional Development to be consulted concerning the DL provision.

2. BEng/MEng Electronic and Electrical Engineering (Control and Power/Digital Communications/ Microelectronics)/
MEng Electronic and Electrical Engineering (Renewable Energy)/ MEng Systems Engineering (Aeronautical/ Control and Power/ Human Factors/Renewable Energy):
New Programme Proposals

.1 The Sub-Committee considered proposals from Electronic and Electrical Engineering, with DIS option, for introduction in 2006-07 for existing and new students. The proposals represented a restructuring of existing undergraduate programmes, intended to raise the profile of the Department’s portfolio on the UCAS database and arrest a decline in applications. Proposals for the discontinuation of some existing programme titles could be expected in due course. It was commented that the UCAS system, whereby potential students searched on programme titles, was driving the proliferation of programme titles in institutions, and if the UCAS system allowed for searchable key words such pressure might be reduced. It was AGREED that these comments be forwarded to Student Recruitment and Admissions for discussion with UCAS.

.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 ADT prior to the meeting of Learning and Teaching Committee:

Programme Regulations

(a) MEng Systems Engineering (Aeronautical): Resolution of the non-compliance of para 2.6.1 with the requirement in paras 2.3.2 and 2.4.2 that optional choice be restricted to a modular weight of 20 at Part B and C levels in Parts C and D respectively.

(b) MEng/BEng Electronic & Electrical Engineering: Resolution of the anomaly that BEng students required an average mark of 60% in Part B in order to transfer to Part C of the MEng programme, whereas MEng students required an average mark of 55% to progress from Part B to Part C on the MEng programme.

(d) Reference to capping of numbers on modules should be deleted, as students aiming for a programme title should not be prevented from doing so by a cap on numbers for a required module. The Sub-Committee required assurance that the matters raised by Aeronautical and Automotive Engineering had been satisfactorily resolved, and a clear statement that students registering on the MEng Systems Engineering (Aeronautical) programme would be able to undertake Parts C and D of the programme.

Programme Specifications

(e) Section 4 on Programme structure and requirements, levels, modules, credits and awards, in each of the Programme Specifications, was too regulatory. Diagramatic presentation of the information was suggested as an alternative format (example available from the Secretary). However, as proposals were likely to come forward from Learning and Teaching Committee that would include further guidance on the presentation of this section, the proposers might wish to defer revision of the section until this became available.

3. Changes to Programme Titles/Awards

It was AGREED to ratify the action of the Chair in recommending to the Chair of Learning and Teaching Committee the following programme title changes (effective date shown in brackets):

MSc Physical Education to
MSc Physical Education and Sport Pedagogy (September 2007 entry)

MSc/PGDip/PGCert Social Research (Social Science) to

MRes Social Sciences Research

PGDip/PGCert Advanced Studies in Social Sciences Research (September 2006 entry)

PGCert Management (Sports Industries Federation) to

PGCert Management (Federation of Sports and Play Associates) (September 2006 entry)

4. Major Changes to Programmes

It was AGREED to ratify the action of the Chair in recommending to the Chair of Learning and Teaching Committee changes to the following programmes (effective date shown in brackets):

MA Art & Design (Studio Practice) (possibility of project module being undertaken in Loughborough or Singapore, from October 2006)

BA Fine Art (introduction of DIntS from 2007-08)

5. Discontinuation of Programmes

.1 It was AGREED to ratify the action of the Chair in recommending to the Chair of Learning and Teaching Committee discontinuation of the following programmes (proposed date of last intake shown in brackets):

PGDip Integrated Research Studies (IPTME) (no recruitment)

MSc/PGDip/PGCert Security Management (Singapore) (2001/02)

Author – Jennie Elliott

Date – October 2006