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 14 October 2004

Curriculum Sub-Committee at its meeting on 14 October 2004 recommended to Learning and Teaching Committee and Senate that approval be given to the following proposals. Details are available from the Secretary.

1. MSc International Relations/MSc Transatlantic Relations:
New Programme Proposals

.1 The Sub-Committee considered proposals from PIRES for two full-time/part-time MSc programmes from Autumn 2005 entry. It was noted that added to three existing MSc programmes in the Department this would make a suite of five programmes in the International Relations area. Members were supportive of the proposals in principle, but expressed confusion about the optional modules mentioned in Programme Regulations when all modules appeared to be compulsory, and about the clarity of coursework requirements and assessment. There was no clear evidence that assessment across
the programmes would demonstrate the skills and other attributes identified in the Programme Specifications. It was reported to the Sub-Committee that the coursework for the 30-credit modules to be taken in Semester 2 would be different in nature and broader and deeper than the coursework in the 20-credit modules in Semester 1, which had not been made clear in the Assessment Matrix provided.

.2 The Sub-Committee discussed the general need for a matrix that would map ILOs and their assessment against modules. It was noted that discussion was underway in a sub-group of the Programme Development and Quality Team as to how this might best be achieved. It was considered that in future proposers should provide only one cover sheet for new modules, where appropriate.

.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) and PVC(T) (as Acting Chair of CSC on this occasion) prior to the meeting of Learning and Teaching Committee:

(i) Programme Regulations

                        - Removal of reference to optional modules
            - Removal of detail which could be found in GRMPA/ARMPA                e.g.references to distinctions in paras 1.3.1 and 1.3.2
            - Removal of reference to dissertation length and deadline, which         should instead be included in Module Specifications

(ii)        Programme Specifications

- Clarify coursework assessment

(iii) Module Specifications

- Clarify coursework assessment and the greater complexity of assessment in the 30-credit modules

(iv) Assessment Matrix

- Provide a revised matrix for all the programmes' modules, clarifying the differences in coursework assessment

.4 When the programmes were up and running the Department was advised to
consider pulling together the five programmes in the International Relations
suite within one set of Programme Regulations and one Programme Specification, identifying clearly the pathways to, and the ILOs for, the five award titles. The Sub-Committee considered this to be a sensible and pragmatic approach where a suite of programmes included common modules, and would advise Departments of this in the future.

2. Professional Certificate/Diplomas: Revised awards to Postgraduate Certificates/Diplomas

It was AGREED to ratify the action of the Chair in recommending to the Chair of Learning and Teaching Committee the following award changes from Autumn 2004 entry:

Prof Cert in Management (SIF) to PG Cert

Prof Cert in Management (BPIF) to PG Cert

MSc/Prof Cert/Prof Dip in Management (Professional) – Thomas Cook to

MSc/PGCert/PGDip

MSc/Prof Cert/Prof Dip in Management (Professional) to MSc/PGCert/PGDip

MSc/Prof Cert/Prof Dip in Management (Professional) (FKI) to MSc/PGCert/PGDip

MSc/Prof Cert/Prof Dip in Management (Professional) (HEA) to MSc/PGCert/PGDip

3. MSc in Industrial Sales and Marketing: Change of Title to Industrial Sales and Strategic Marketing

It was AGREED to ratify the action of the Chair in recommending to the Chair of Learning and Teaching Committee the change of title, with effect from the 2004 student entry.

4. 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 programme (proposed date of last intake shown in brackets):

BA History of Art and Design (October 2003)

.2 It was AGREED to recommend to Learning and Teaching Committee discontinuation of the following programmes:

BEng Chemical Engineering with Bioprocessing (October 1999)
Diploma in Technology for Development (DL) (July 2004)

Author – Jennie Elliott

Date – October 2004