Learning and Teaching Committee

Curriculum Sub-Committee

Subject: MSc Construction Project Management (Work- based DL)

Origin: Unconfirmed Minutes of Learning and Teaching Committee on 10 November 2005

It was noted that Operations Sub-Committee had approved the proposal in principle, but had agreed that concerns raised by CSC over the programme’s academic rigour and the quality assurance of the work-based learning element must be satisfactorily resolved before the programme could be finally approved. The AD(T) Engineering had indicated that the proposers had addressed all the issues raised by CSC, although there were still outstanding issues to be resolved on the Memorandum of Agreement with Heriot-Watt which impacted directly on quality assurance arrangements. It was noted that, exceptionally, CSC was recommending the proposals for Year 1 only at this stage, and had asked for further details of Year 2 modules to be submitted to its next meeting: Loughborough was contributing only one 10-credit module in Year 1.

Taking account of the above, and the lack of information about the work-based/distance learning mode in which it was proposed to deliver the programme, the Committee felt that the quality of the programme and the standard of the award could not be satisfactorily assured at this stage and it DECLINED to RECOMMEND the proposals to Senate pending the submission of further information to and consideration by CSC.

It was understood that the proposers wished to launch the programme in January 2006. The position on recruitment was unclear. One possibility might be that Heriot-Watt launch the programme, while work continued on the development of the Loughborough modules with a view to the programme becoming a collaborative venture in due course. It would need to be made clear to any students however that Loughborough’s participation had not been finalised.

Author – Robert Bowyer

Date – November 2005