Learning and Teaching Committee
Curriculum Sub-Committee
Minutes of the Meeting of the
Sub-Committee held on Thursday 8 May 2008
Membership: Professor
Simon Austin (Chair), Professor Morag Bell, Dr Paul Byrne,
Professor John Dickens, Sophie Driscoll, Professor Roy Faulkner, Dr Martin
Harrison, Dr Jane Horner, Phil Sawdon, Jan Tennant
In attendance: Dr Jennie Elliott, Alison Smith (for minutes 15 & 16), John Whittaker (for minutes 15 & 16)
08/12 Minutes
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The minutes of the meeting held on 17 January
2008 were confirmed.
08/13 Matters Arising from the Minutes
.1 It
was noted that all recommendations to Learning and Teaching Committee, and
subsequently to Senate where appropriate, had been approved. The relevant minute
of Senate was noted.
.2 Minute
08/03.3 BSc Sport and Exercise Science (Gymnastics): New Programme Proposals
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The
revised Curriculum Map and Assessment Matrix were noted.
.3 Minute
08/04.1 BSc,DIS/DIntS Physics with Cosmology: New Programme Proposals
The PVC(T) reported on discussions with the
International Office and the Student Recruitment Team on the possibility of
marketing support from the International Office for new programmes, as
appropriate. The International Office was being expanded and the Director would
be discussing with Faculties how the Office could best support academics
departments.
.4 Minute
08/05.3 MA/MSc 2D and 3D Visualisation: New Programme Proposals
It was noted that the production of improved
guidance on Intended Learning Outcomes was to be explored by the Quality
Enhancement section of Professional Development.
.5 Minute
08/07 Workload of Departmental Administrators
It
was noted that the Programme Specification template had been revised
accordingly.
.6 Minute
08/10 LUSI Module Specification for 2008/09
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Examples
of module specifications for 2008/09 were noted.
08/14 MSc Information Management and Business
Technology:
New Programme Proposals
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.1 The Sub-Committee considered proposals
from Information Science for a new full-time/part-time programme with effect
from October 2008. The strong external support for the programme was noted,
together with the robust responses of the proposers to external comments.
However, there was concern that the terminology used for the Aims and ILOs of
the programme did not reflect those for a programme at Masters level. The
proposers would be advised to look at the descriptor for a qualification at
‘M’ level within the QAA Framework for Higher Education Qualifications.
The Sub-Committee noted the timetabling issue for block-taught modules
highlighted by the Director of Media Services.
.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:
(a)
Programme Regulations
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
(b)
Programme Specification
(i)
Aims and ILOs to be revised in accordance with the
FHEQ descriptors for an M level qualification
(ii)
TLA strategies to be revised so that they were not simply
a list of delivery methods but provided an explanation of how TL&A
delivered on ILOs
(iii)
(iv)
(c)
Module Specifications
(i)
ISP483 has an assessed oral presentation but this was
not reflected in the transferable skills ILOs
(ii)
Some modules lacked Responsible Examiners
(iii)
The Method of Feedback field should be completed for
each module
(d)
Curriculum Map
(i)
To be revised to align with revised ILOs
(ii)
T1 was not a transferable skill and needed to be more
precise
ACTION: MCH, JEME
.3 The Sub-Committee agreed that
departments should be reminded of the importance of producing Programme
Specifications to the necessary standard and that better guidance to
departments was necessary to achieve this. It was AGREED that the Secretary,
together with the Chair and with Jan Tennant, would pull together exemplar
Programme Specifications for a UG and a PG programme, with reference to FHEQ
and with italicised notes of guidance. ADTs would be asked to approve these
before they were introduced for use in new programme proposals in the Autumn,
and might wish to discuss these within their Faculties, perhaps with
Departmental Learning and Teaching Co-ordinators.
ACTION: JEME, SAA,
JMT, ADTs
.4 The PVC(T) alerted the Sub-Committee to
the need in future for contact time on a programme to be specified at student
induction. In order for this to be achieved this information would need to be
incorporated in module specifications.
08/15 MSc Medical Management: New Programme Proposals
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.1 The
Sub-Committee considered proposals from the
.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:
(a)
Programme Regulations
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
Information that was already presented in Regulation
XXI to be deleted
(b)
Programme Specification
(i)
The Aims were not in the language expected for a
Master’s programme. The proposers
would be directed to the descriptor for a qualification at ‘M’
level within the QAA Framework for Higher Education Qualifications.
(ii)
The ILOs appeared to have been aggregated from those
of the modules within the programme and should be re-presented at a higher
level
(iii)
TLA strategies should be revised to convey how methods
would achieve outcomes. Relevant material was already included at the start of
the ILO section.
(iv)
The structure of section 4 should comply with that in
the new programme specification template
(c) Module
Specifications
(i)
The Method of Feedback field should be completed for
each module
(ii)
Contact time should be broken down wherever possible.
(iii)
BSP666: The MTLA section was otherwise well presented,
but it should make clearer at which stage in proceedings the minimum of 3
meetings between Supervisor and student took effect. The transferable skills
appeared weak for a Master’s module.
(d) Curriculum Map
This would need
revising to align with the revised ILOs
ACTION: PLB, JEME
08/16 PGCert Management and Leadership (The Sports and Play Construction Association)
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The Sub-Committee considered proposals from the
Business School for a new part-time programme with effect from January 2009
entry. 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:
.1 Programme Regulations
(a)
Titles of modules listed should align with module
specifications
(b)
Paras 1.4 and 2.2 were unnecessary
.2 Programme Specification
(a)
Consideration should be given to the appropriateness
to a PG programme of the language used in the Aims
(b)
37 ILOs seemed excessive for a PGCert and the
proposers should consider making these more generic. This was also likely
improve the appearance of the Curriculum Map which currently suggested
over-assessment.
(c)
The structure of section 4 should comply with that in
the new programme specification template
.3 Module Specifications
(a)
Details on coursework submission dates would be better
placed in the Programme Handbook rather than module specifications
(b)
BSP814: as the ‘Planning’ section of the
module was not assessed, this should not appear in the ILOs
(c)
BSP829: as the group work would be assessed
individually, the proposers should consider how the transferable skill of
working in teams would be taken into account in assessment
.4 Curriculum Map
To be revised in line with any
changes made to ILOs
.5 Assessment Matrix
Assessment showed
only as written reports across all modules. Types of assessment and thereby the
Assessment Matrix should align with ILOs.
08/17 MSc Globalization, Space and Sport: New Programme Proposals
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.1 The
Sub-Committee considered proposals from Geography, in collaboration with SSES,
for a new full-time programme with effect from October 2009. The proposal was
subject to strategic approval. Strong external support was presented for this
innovative proposal, which the Sub-Committee considered to be well thought
through and well integrated. It was suggested that the proposers should exploit
the international links demonstrated to provide an international dimension to
the programme, perhaps by video links. The Aims and TLA strategies within the
Programme Specification were considered to be exemplars for a Master’s
programme. The Curriculum Map was also considered an exemplar suggesting good
design. The Sub-Committee wished to enquire of the proposers whether the
Curriculum Map was used to inform the design of the programme or whether it was
produced afterwards. It was queried whether ‘Space’ was relevant in
the programme title when it was not covered in programme aims and ILOs, but
acknowledged that it gave representation to the Human Geography element of the
programme.
.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:
(a)
Programme Regulations
(i)
(ii)
(b)
Programme Specification
(i) The content of section 2 was missing and
section 3 was disordered. The structure of sections 4 and 7 should comply with
those in the new programme specification template
(ii) The programme could be the
responsibility of one department only. Geography should be listed in the
introduction to the specification.
(c)
Module Specifications
(i)
The Method of Feedback field should be completed for
each module
(ii)
GYP001: The four assessments should be weighted.
Clarification was needed on the reference to Parts A and B in the MTLA field
(d)
Assessment Matrix
This demonstrated a
reasonable spread of assessment, but an explanation was requested of how oral
presentation skills would be assessed in GYP001.
(e)
External Support
A response was
requested on the external comment that a review of library resources for the
programme would be advisable
08/18 Changes to Postgraduate Programmes in English and Drama
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.1 The
following package of postgraduate programme changes was considered:
Changes to Programme
Regulations/Titles with effect from September 2008 entry:
MA Performance and Multi-Media Texts (to be
renamed MA Performance and Multi-Media)
MA Texts in Performance (to be
renamed MA Drama)
MA Creative Writing
MA English
Programme discontinuations (last
intake shown in brackets):
MA Early-Modern Writing 1560-1780 (October 2007) (to be incorporated into MA
English)
MA Modern and Contemporary Writing (October 2007) (to be incorporated into MA
English)
.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:
(a)
Assurance that modules EAP050 – 061 presented
were the only new modules resulting from the programme changes
(b)
In each case the ILOs listed in the Programme
Specification did not coincide with those in the Curriculum Map. This needed to
be resolved. It was not necessary to list optional modules in the Curriculum
Map if all ILOs were met by compulsory modules.
(c)
The Method of Feedback field should be completed for
EAP053.
ACTION: PLB, JEME
08/19 BSc Financial Mathematics: Major Programme Changes
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It was AGREED to recommend to Learning and
Teaching Committee major programme changes with effect from October 2008. Current Part B students would be unaffected
by the changes.
08/20 MSc Mathematical Processes in Finance: Major Programme Changes
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It was AGREED to recommend to Learning and
Teaching Committee major programme changes with effect from October 2008 entry,
subject to the completion of the Method of Feedback field within the new module
specifications.
ACTION:
MCH, JEME
08/21 Changes to Programme Titles/Awards
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.1 It
was AGREED to ratify the action of the Chair in recommending to the Chair of
Learning and Teaching Committee the following changes (effective date shown in
brackets):
MSc/PGDip/PGCert Criminal Justice
Research to
MRes Criminal Justice Research, PGDip/PGCert
Advanced Studies in Criminal Justice Research (October 2008 entry)
MEng Innovative Manufacturing
Technology to
MEng Innovative Manufacturing
Engineering (with immediate effect)
.2 It
was AGREED to ratify the action of the Chair in recommending to the Chair of
Learning and Teaching Committee the following further change:
MSc/PGDip/PGCert Management: Higher
Education Administration to
MSc/PGDip/PGCert Management and Leadership:
Higher Education Administration (with
immediate effect, previous approval
for September 2007 entrants onwards to be extended to existing students)
08/22 Major Changes to Programme Regulations
It was AGREED to approve the following
procedure for the approval of major changes to Programme Regulations for the
period to October 2008. Proposals should
receive Curriculum Sub-Committee consideration by post at the discretion of the
Chair. Where concerns were raised a
second circulation would summarise these and invite a formal decision. The Chair would be empowered to determine
whether the replies constituted a consensus.
It was noted that Senate had approved a four-year PhD programme in the field of Regenerative Medicine. The programme involved extended research training and the completion of specialist training modules which would not lead to a University award.
08/24 Annual Update of Module Specifications and Programme Regulations/Specifications
Noted:
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.1 The memorandum circulated to
departments on 25 February 2008 (without Annexes).
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.2 The
proposal forms for Module Specification and Programme Regulation/Specification
changes for 2008/09.
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.3 Validated
Programmes: The procedure and timetable for revision and approval of Module
Specifications and Programme Regulations/Specifications for 2008/09.
08/25 Dates of Future Meetings
Thursday 22 May 2008 (am) (if required)
2008/09 (provisional)
Friday 17 October 2008 (am)
Thursday 15 January 2009 (am)
Thursday 7 May 2009 (am)
(Date for if necessary
meeting in late May 2009 to be determined)
Author – Jennie Elliott
Date – May 2008
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