Senate

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

Origin: Unconfirmed Minutes of the Meeting on 16 October 2009

Curriculum Sub-Committee at its meeting on 16 October 2009 recommended to Learning and Teaching Committee and Senate that approval be given to the following proposals. Details are available from the Secretary.

1. MA Art and the Public Sphere: New Programme Proposals

.1 The Sub-Committee considered proposals from LUSAD for a new full-time/part-time programme with effect from October 2010. It had been queried whether there might be an over-reliance on links with Radar, the University’s contemporary arts programme, for realising projects in the public realm. Members were assured that there were other contacts which could serve as partners in this.

.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) Possibility of PGCert/Dip awards should be stated

(ii) Part-time and full-time options should be stated

(iii) Requirement for 180 credits for the MA award should be stated if intended

(iv) Para 3.1: to be removed as unnecessary

(v) Paras 3.4 and 3.5 to be revised to avoid repetition

(b) Programme Specification

(i) Para 3.1: The third and fourth ILOs were subject specific skills

(i) Question marks appearing in module specifications should be converted back to bullet points. (This general problem should be reported to IT Services – Action by Secretary)

(ii) Methods of feedback should be transferred from MTLA field to MoF field

(iii) SAP013: Assessment items required re-numbering

(iv) SAP010: The contact hours appeared to be incorrect

.3 It was commented that the programme to some extent was concerned with sustainability. It was AGREED that, in order to supplement the recently compiled list of programmes having elements of sustainability, the Secretary should keep a record of any such new programmes coming forward to the Sub-Committee.

.4 Attention was drawn to the comments of the Librarian and the importance of these generally, particularly in view of the issue of the availability of Library material highlighted in the National Student Survey. It was noted, however, that the consultation form would not pick up whether or not departmental staff were ordering sufficient copies of material.

2. MRes Art, Design and Performance by Practice: New Programme Proposals

The Sub-Committee considered proposals from LUSAD for a full-time version of a new programme with effect from October 2010, and part-time version with effect from October 2011.

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) Possibility of PGCert/Dip awards should be stated. Their titles would be ‘Advanced Studies in Art, Design and Performance’

(ii) Full-time and (later) part-time options should be stated

(iii) Requirement for 180 credits for the MA award should be stated if intended

(iv) Para 3.1: to be removed as unnecessary

(v) Paras 3.4 and 3.5 to be revised to avoid repetition

(b) Programme Specification

(i) Para 2: Should include link to University’s MRes guidelines (once available on-line – Action by Secretary)

(ii) Para 2: ‘Provision of equal opportunities’ not required as this was a University high-level statement

(iii) Para 3.1: References to competencies and capabilities might require transfer to para 3.2 (JMT to be consulted and programme specification guidelines to be revised accordingly if necessary – Action by Secretary)

(iv) Para 9: Should be link to generic information site only

(i) Question marks appearing in module specifications should be converted back to bullet points. (This general problem should be reported to IT Services – Action by Secretary)

(ii) Methods of feedback should be transferred from MTLA field to MoF field

(d) Consultation Forms

(i) Confimation was required that the HoD of Design & Technology was content with the operational proposals

3. BSc, DPS/DIntS Mathematics with Mathematics Education: New Programme Proposals

.1 The Sub-Committee considered proposals from the School of Mathematics for a new full-time programme with effect from October 2010. It was noted that the proposals had been signed off by the Departmental Learning & Teaching Co-ordinator rather than the HoD.

.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) Assurance that the HoD was aware of the proposal

(b) Clarification that the programme was distinct i.e. that it would not be possible for a student on another programme within the School to undertake all the same modules as a student who would graduate with the proposed new title

(i) Para 1.3: ‘DIS’ should read ‘DIntS’

(ii) Some qualification on choice from the University’s module catalogue would be advisable (e.g. approval by the Programme Director)

(d) Programme Specification

(i) ‘DIS’ should read ‘DIntS’

(ii) Para 2: References to APR, staff/student committees and specialisms of School staff to be removed

(e) Module Specifications

(i) MAB130: The contents appeared to be a list of lectures. If so, this was inadvisable as it might need updating each year

(ii) MAB230/MAC330: compulsory modules did not need to be listed as pre-/co-requisites

(f) Curriculum Map

(i) T1 was too general and should be made more specific

(ii) The assessment of K6 by just one module should be reconsidered, to ensure that this ILO could be met by a student failing that module

(iii) The limited assessment of cognitive skills in Part A should be reflected upon

(iv) The 3 hour examination for MAC130 appeared excessive for a 10-credit module. However, the module specification indicated this module to be by coursework only. Clarification was required.

(g) Consultation forms

(i) The 3 external responses were very supportive of the proposal but none addressed the questions required to be asked of external reviewers. Confirmation was needed that the reviewers had been provided with the required material on which to comment

(ii) Consultation forms from the Library and IT Services were awaited

4. MSc Efficient Fossil Energy Technologies (Curriculum-based component of the EngD): New Programme Proposals

(a) The Sub-Committee considered proposals from Materials for a new programme as an exit award to the new EngD in Efficient Fossil Energy Technologies, with effect from October 2009. Professor Thomson attended for this item. It was noted that the EngD had been approved by Senate in July 2009, subject to formal approval of the taught elements. The programme was in collaboration with Nottingham and Birmingham Universities and the Sub-Committee understood that outstanding matters arising from the Collaborative Proposal QA statement and draft Memorandum of Agreement with the other two institutions were being handled by Robert Bowyer and Brigette Vale and would be resolved before the MoA was signed.

(b) 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:

(i) Para 1.4: Wording should identify that exemption would be exceptional

(ii) Para 1.6: Eligibility of awards in accordance with Regulation XXI was in conflict with the requirements stated in the EngD Handbook and needed to be resolved

(iii) Para 1.7: To be deleted as unnecessary

(iv) Para 2.3: Penultimate sentence to be deleted as unnecessary. Final sentence to refer to modules

(v) Paras 3.1&3.2: To refer to Loughborough modules only

(d) Programme Specification

(i) Para 1: Aims should be more specific (see new Programme Specification guidelines)

(ii) Para 2: To be revised in accordance with Programme Specification guidelines

(iii) Para 3: TLA strategies should map onto ILOs, which should be more aspirational for a PG Master’s programme. It would be expected that research methods and critical thinking would be covered.

(iv) Para 4: This should include a link to the curriculum–based component regulations (when available on-line)

(v) Paras 8 & 9: To include links to generic information

(e) Module Specifications

(i) Annotated comments from the ADT to be addressed

(ii) References linking credits to assessment to be removed

(iii) MPP801: Requirement for at least 50 literature references in literature review (of 5000 to 10000 words) to be reflected upon. Reference to ‘project work’ in last sentence of MTLA field to be removed.

(iv) MPP802: Wide range of 10000 to 20000 words for report to be reflected upon

(v) MPP163: Weightings and/or length of the two assignments to be reflected upon. Subject-specific practical skills would be expected e.g. developing practice-based skills.

(f) Consultation forms

Forms from the Library, Careers Centre, IT Services, and Facilities Management were awaited

(Secretary’s Note: This programme has subsequently been approved by Chair’s action on behalf of Learning and Teaching Committee, Senate and Council.)

5. PGCert in Management for Engineers (ECITB): New Programme Proposals

It was AGREED to ratify the action of the Chair in recommending to the Chair of Learning and Teaching Committee proposals from the Business School for a new part-time programme with effect from September 2009. It was brought to members’ attention, however, that a lack of consultation with engineering departments had been noted by the Chair and raised as a matter of concern by the Engineering Directorate. Particular concern had been expressed by Civil and Building Engineering which had felt the proposed programme to be a potential competitor to its MSc in Construction Project Management. Members were made aware of an apology for the lack of consultation that had been made to the AD(T) of SSH by the Acting Director of the Business School’s Professional and Management Development Centre, which had been due to the need for speedy approval of the programme during the summer. It was AGREED that the PVC(T) would ask the Acting Dean of Engineering to discuss the matter with the Acting Director of the Business School before Learning and Teaching Committee on 5 November, to determine any serious grounds for concern and to attempt to resolve these. If any serious concerns remained these would need to be raised at Learning and Teaching Committee.

6. Professional Graduate Certificate in Education: Exit Award for MSc Education with QTS

It was AGREED to ratify the action of the Chair in recommending to the Chair of Learning and Teaching Committee the Professional Graduate Certificate in Education as an additional exit award for the MSc in Education with QTS.
(Ordinance XXXIII has been revised to accommodate the new award).

7. Changes to Programme Titles

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

BSc Information Technology and Mathematics to

BSc Applied Computing and Mathematics (Oct 2007 intake)

MSc Coaching to MSc Sport Coaching (Oct 2009 intake)

MSc Mathematical Processes in Finance to MSc Mathematical Finance (Oct 2010 intake)

8. Discontinuation of Programmes

It was AGREED to recommend to Learning and Teaching Committee the discontinuation of the following programmes (last intake shown in brackets):

MSc Industrial Sales and Strategic Marketing (October 2004)

MDes Product Design in Business (October 2008)

(MA/MSc routes continue)

MEng Electrical and Renewable Energy Systems Engineering (October 2009)

MEng Electronics and Software Engineering (October 2009)

BEng/MEng Electronic and Electrical Engineering (Control and Power/ Digital Communications/Microelectronics) (October 2009)

MEng Electronic and Electrical Engineering (Renewable Energy) (October 2009)

MEng Systems Engineering (Aeronautical/ Control and Power/Human Factors/Renewable Energy) (October 2009)

BSc Publishing with E-Business (October 2009)

Author – Jennie Elliott

Date – November 2009