Senate
Subject: New Programme Proposals/Strategic Changes/Other Matters
requiring Senate approval
Origin Unconfirmed
Minutes of the Meeting of Curriculum
Sub-Committee on 13 January 2005
At its meeting on 10 February 2005 Learning and Teaching Committee recommended to Senate that approval be given to the following proposals. Details are available from the Secretary.
1. MSc
Transport Policy and Business Management:
New Programme Proposals
.1 The
Sub-Committee considered proposals from Civil and Building
Engineering for a new full/part-time programme with effect from October 2005
entry. It was noted that this broader-based transport programme was intended to
replace the existing MSc in Airport Planning and Management
which it was intended would be discontinued since the staff situation meant
that a heavy reliance on bought-in teaching would be required to maintain
it. The Sub-Committee was informed that Operations Sub-Committee had
considered the strategic proposal for the programme and had requested a more
detailed justification for the programme, including sources of funding and
evidence that demand would not decline. Any recommendations from Curriculum
Sub-Committee would therefore be subject to subsequent strategic approval of
the proposals by Operations Sub-Committee. Members commented on the token
gesture to obtain external support for the programme and the extra weight on
Transport Studies staff equivalent to 20 credits each, which it had to be
assumed was being taken into account by the Department in its workload model.
It was also commented that 80 credits for a Research Project module was a high
weighting, though it was acknowledged that this was not unique. The proposal for five 20-credit modules with
an 80-credit project did mean, however, that it would not be possible for
modules worth 120 credits to be selected in order for a student to obtain a
postgraduate Diploma.
.2 It was agreed to recommend the proposals
to Learning and Teaching
Committee, subject to their strategic approval by Operations Sub-Committee
and to the following matters being resolved to the satisfaction of the AD(T)
and Chair of Curriculum Sub-Committee prior to the meeting of Learning and
Teaching Committee:
(i) Further
evidence of external support to be provided, to include
-
comments
from the External Examiner on the content of the programme and its suitability
at the Master's level, and the likely attractiveness of the
programme to students
-
a
comment on the general market situation, what was offered by other
institutions and who the major competitors were, and on the stability of
competitor programmes
-
feedback
from industry on the demand for such Master's graduates and
whether the programme had been appropriately pitched
(ii) Programme
Regulations
Consideration of the need for the project to be
weighted so highly and of
the possibility of splitting off some credit to a preparation module that
would in effect make registration on modules worth 120 credits to achieve a
PGDip possible. Alternatively the Department should include a clause in the
regulations stating that students wishing to study for a PGDip could select
a suitable module as an alternative to the project with the agreement of the
Programme Tutor.
(iii) Programme
Specification
-
ILOs
required expansion. The ILO under Subject Knowledge and Understanding should be
placed elsewhere, which left no ILO under that heading
-
Assessment
strategies were simply repeated under the different skills and
needed to be reviewed (later proposals on the agenda could provide exemplars)
-
The
statement about the absence of a specific benchmark statement should
be less negatively worded
-
English
language requirements needed to be updated
-
The
generic section required updating in line with the template provided
in the Template Shop on the Academic Registry website
(iv) Module
Specifications
- CVP086 should read '300 hours' of
student effort
- There was a need to reflect on the
narrow use of assessment types and
whether these represented the best
combinations in every case in order to
demonstrate achievement of Intended
Learning Outcomes
(v) Completed consultation forms were required from LUBS,
Library, Careers
Service, Computing Services (if any implications) and Media Services (if any
implications).
.3 Revised paperwork would need to be received by the AD(T) by
28 January in
order for a recommendation to reach the next meeting of Learning and
Teaching Committee. Operations Sub-Committee should be considering a revised
strategic proposal on 24 January, subject to the necessary paperwork being
submitted.
(Secretary’s Note: The proposals have subsequently been approved by Operations Sub-Committee subject to no extra staff beyond vacancies already agreed)
2. Master of Economics/MEcon Money Banking
& Finance/
MEcon Banking & Financial Markets: New Programme Proposals
.1 With the proposer Dr Lawrence Leger in
attendance, the Sub-Committee considered proposals from Economics for three
full-time programmes with effect from October 2005 entry. It was noted that the MEcon was not
currently awarded by the University and an amendment to Ordinance IV would be
required should a decision be made to make such an award available. The programmes were intended for graduates
who had not already specialised in Economics.
Implications for the Department’s existing MSc programmes, which would
remain distinct, being intended for Economics graduates, were included as a
subsequent item on the Sub-Committee’s agenda.
.2 Members expressed concern at some of
the statements in the proposals, which suggested that the proposed programmes
were at a lesser level than the existing MSc programmes and were not at the
postgraduate level in accordance with the Framework for HE Qualifications. Dr Leger explained that he had presented the
proposals in an honest and open way and the award of a title other than MSc was
proposed to distinguish these conversion programes in the market place. Three other institutions were known to offer
the MEcon, one of which was moving away from this to MA/MSc and another of which
offered the MEcon in effect as an extension to an undergraduate programme.
.3 Discussion ensued as to whether the
proposed programmes were at the PG level.
It was concluded that, subject to the removal of the possibility of any
shared teaching with undergraduates, the programmes were at the appropriate
level for a Master’s award, and must not be a lesser qualification than the
existing MScs but a different qualification in terms of scientific
content. The Sub-Committee therefore
considered that the more appropriate award for the new programmes would be
MA. Dr Leger responded that whilst he
felt that the MA might be an appropriate award for the Money Banking &
Finance and Banking and Financial Markets programmes, it would not be
appropriate for the Economics programme.
The Department might choose to withdraw that programme, but it was
commented that a programme in ‘Economics and …’ might be an alternative
approach in that case. Should the
programmes ultimately be approved as MA programmes, the current Diploma in
Economics would continue as a stand-alone programme.
.4 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 Chair of Curriculum
Sub-Committee prior to the meeting of Learning and Teaching Committee:
(i) The proposals should be
revised as MA proposals, making clear their
postgraduate nature
(ii) Programme
Regulations/Specifications
-
The
Department should consider combining the Regulations for the
programmes, and the Specifications, clearly identifying the pathways to, and
the ILOs for, the different titles
-
Detail
in the Regulations already included in GRMPA/ARMPA should be removed
-
In
the section on criteria for admission in the Programme Specification, a
summary of the criteria should be included and the contact name deleted
-
The
generic section in the Programme Specification required updating in
line with the template provided in the Template Shop on the Academic Registry
website
(iii) Module
Specifications
-
The
statement on SENDA compliance required completion in each case
-
Should
the Economics programme not be pursued, any modules required only
for that programme should be removed
-
Those
15-credit modules derived from 20-credit modules needed to be
reviewed in terms of the need to extend ILOs and Content, to be commensurate
with the 50% increase in student workload
-
CVP303:
''Of the 450 hours ... series' to be deleted in the MTLA field
Availability field to read
'5'
Text in pre-requisite modules field
to be deleted
- Modules
needed to be reviewed to ensure that coursework was specified and
that each item of assessment was
weighted
- ECP100:
The possibility of providing reading material in advance of the
exam to avoid the need for a 4-hour
exam should be considered
- In accordance with the ILOs, the
assessment of a presentation should be
included as an element of assessment
within the programmes
(iv)
External
comment on the proposals, which had been made, was to be provided.
(Secretary’s
Note: Revised proposals have subsequently been approved by the AD(T) and Chair
of Curriculum Sub-Committee for MAs in Banking and Financial Markets and in
Money Banking and Finance.)
3. MSc
Economics & Finance/Financial Economics/ International Finance &
Economics/ Monetary Economics/ Banking & Finance/
International Banking: Programme Changes
The Sub-Committee considered programme changes with effect from October 2005 entry, which were consequent upon the proposals considered in item 2 above. Subject to the approval of those proposals, the Sub-Committee agreed to recommend the proposed changes to Learning and Teaching Committee subject to the following matters being resolved to the satisfaction of the AD(T) and Chair of Curriculum Sub-Committee prior to the meeting of Learning and Teaching Committee:
(i)
The
proposals should be revised in line with the discussion under item 2,
particularly in regard to para 5 of the proposal form and the reference to
'levels'
(ii)
Programme Regulations
- Reference to the availability of distinction for the PGCert should be
included
- Detail in the Regulations already included in GRMPA/ARMPA should be removed
- Inclusion of the lists of
optional modules in the Regulations was advisable
4. MSc
International Financial and Political Development:
New Programme Proposals
.1 With the proposer for the programme Dr Lawrence Leger in
attendance, the
Sub-Committee considered proposals from Economics,
Geography and PIRES for a
collaborative new full-time programme with effect from October 2005 entry.
The Sub-Committee was informed that should the proposals for a Graduate School
move ahead, the programme would be owned by the Graduate School. Members were concerned that a fall-back
position should be determined to ensure that a designated Department was responsible for the
programme should this prove necessary.
The title of the progamme was as yet provisional;
the title as presented reflected advice from the International Office.
.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) and Chair of Curriculum Sub-Committee prior to the meeting of Learning and Teaching Committee:
(i) The identification of a Department to take responsibility for
the programme as a fall-back position
(ii)
A
final decision on the title of the programme
(iii)
Programme
Regulations
-
Detail
in the Regulations already included in GRMPA/ARMPA should be removed
-
Dates
included to be revised from 2005 to 2006
(iv)
Programme
Specification
- The generic section required updating in line with the template
provided in the Template Shop on the Academic Registry website
(v)
Module Specifications
-
Modules
needed to be reviewed to ensure that coursework was specified and
that each item of assessment was weighted
-
Some
revision of semesters was necessary
-
ECP100:The
possibility of providing reading material in advance of the exam to avoid the
need for a 4-hour exam should be considered
-
In
accordance with the ILOs, the assessment of a presentation should be
included as an element of assessment within the programmes
(Secretary’s
Note: Revised proposals have subsequently been approved by the AD(T) and Chair
of Curriculum Sub-Committee for an MSc in International Financial and Political
Relations.)
5. BSc in Transport
Management and Planning: Change of Title to Transport and Business Management
It was AGREED to recommend to Learning and Teaching Committee the change of title, with effect from October 2005 entry.
6. Discontinuation of
Programmes
It was AGREED to recommend to Learning and Teaching Committee the discontinuation of the following programmes (proposed date of last intake shown in brackets):
BA English and the History of Art and Design (October 2004)
MSc Airport Planning and Management (October 2004)
Diploma in Technology for Development (September 2003)
Author – Jennie Elliott
Date – January 2005
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