Learning and Teaching Committee

 

Curriculum Sub-Committee

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Minutes of the Thirty-Second Meeting of the Sub-Committee held on Thursday
13 January 2005

 

Membership:  Professor S A Austin (Chair), Professor M Bell, Dr C Christie (ab), Dr J L Horner, Mr J Roberts, Dr D R Worrall

 

By invitation: Dr P L Byrne, Mr J G Dickens, Dr M C Harrison, Dr L A Leger (for Minutes 05/4, 05/5 and 05/6)

 

In attendance:  Dr J E M Elliott

 

Apologies for Absence were received from Dr Christie.

 

 

05/1   Minutes

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It was AGREED to confirm and sign the minutes of the thirty-first meeting held on

14 October 2004.

 

05/2   Matters Arising from the Minutes

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.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 04/41.6 – Re Minute 04/21.3 and Module Loading

The Secretary reported on the discussion on Module Loading by the Departmental Administrators’ Group.  Departmental Administrators had been adamant that they did ordinarily consult with each other on these matters.  They were not comfortable with any proposal to limit the numbers permitted to register on a module, as this would need to be maintained, but did feel that some realistic decoding of the availability code might help in pointing students to the modules that they could or could not select.  The Sub-Committee decided to take no further action at this stage, but would reconsider the matter should this be raised again within another programme proposal.  It was AGREED to request that the Departmental Administrators’ Group be asked to inform the Sub-Committee should any future difficulties arise in this regard.

 

ACTION:          JEME

 

.3         Minute 04/42 – MSc International Relations/MSc Transatlantic Relations:
New Programme Proposals

 

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In regard to the comments on new programme proposals generally, the Sub-Committee noted the revised form for new programme proposals taking these into account.

 

05/3   MSc Transport Policy and Business Management:
New Programme Proposals

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.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.

 

ACTION: JGD, SAA, JEME

 

05/4   Master of Economics/MEcon Money Banking & Finance/
MEcon Banking & Financial Markets: New Programme Proposals

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.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.

ACTION: PLB, SAA, JEME

 

05/5   MSc Economics & Finance/Financial Economics/ International Finance & Economics/ Monetary Economics/ Banking & Finance/
International Banking: Programme Changes

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The Sub-Committee considered programme changes with effect from October 2005 entry, which were consequent upon the proposals considered in Minute 05/4 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 Minute 05/4, 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

 

ACTION: PLB, SAA, JEME

 

05/6   MSc International Financial and Political Development:
New Programme Proposals

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.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

ACTION: PLB, SAA, JEME

 

05/7   BSc in Transport Management and Planning: Change of Title to Transport and Business Management

         

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It was AGREED to recommend to Learning and Teaching Committee the change of title, with effect from October 2005 entry.

 

ACTION:          JEME

 

05/8   Discontinuation of Programmes

 

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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)

 

ACTION:          JEME

 

05/9   MSc Modules in the Department of Economics

 

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Further to Minute 04/06 of the Committee’s 29th meeting on 15 January 2004, the Sub-Committee received a report on the operation of the new Research Practice Seminar modules as an alternative to the dissertation.

 

05/10 Dates of Future Meetings in 2004/2005

 

Thursday 5 May 2005 (am)

Wednesday 25 May 2005 (am) (if required)

 

Author: Jennie Elliott

Date: January 2005

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