The programme management system methodology locates the responsibility for the ongoing review of programmes and enhancement of the student learning experience with the academic staff delivering the programme, ie the course team. Course/subject committees consider all quality indicators and maintain oversight of the delivery of the programme.
Existing committee structures within the Faculty and University permit the flow of issues and good practice from course/subject committees to the appropriate decision-making point. Annual monitoring activity is embedded within course/subject committee activity and the records of course/subject committee meetings across the year provide Faculty management and the University with information on the operation of course monitoring.
The process does not remove responsibility from the Faculty and University for the oversight of quality monitoring. However, the focus of this activity is intended to ensure the operation and effectiveness of course/subject committee activity and the effectiveness of debate and communication through the committee structures. The University is also responsible for considering practice across Faculties.
The Process
Objectives
The process aims to enable course/subject teams to review the performance of courses/subjects with a view to:
- ensuring that courses/subjects are fit for purpose;
- monitoring student progression and achievement;
- coordinating delivery of the programme ensuring that it is both student-focused and client-centred;
- identifying, implementing and reviewing enhancements to the student learning experience;
- responding to issues in a timely fashion;
- sharing good practice.
The activity at each level is summarised below.
(a) Course Level responsibilities
Course/subject committees are responsible for ongoing review of the performance of programmes in the light of evidence available to them at course and module level. Statistics to inform review by course/subject teams are provided centrally. Course/subject committee meetings should consider all available information including statistical data, external examiner reports, PSRB and employer engagement, student feedback and NSS results.
A checklist detailing the topics which must be considered by course/subject committees through the course of the year is available. This checklist also provides guidance notes on areas which might be considered under these topics as and when appropriate. A brief record of the Course Committee meeting should be kept which details key points, notes any good practice identified, updates on progress on actions since the last meeting and includes and details actions agreed at the meeting. A full minute of the meeting is not required (except where this is a requirement of PSRB monitoring).
In addition to these regular meetings through the year, a review meeting should be held once per year. This will normally be held in November but timing may be adjusted to suit PSRB requirements, where applicable. This will consider a range of issues across the year and provide information for Heads of School on the health of the course prior to Faculty and University monitoring. An agenda of items to consider at this meeting is also available.
(b) Faculty-level Oversight and Responsibilities
All Faculties should have a committee with responsibility for the Faculty-level oversight of the programme management system and this should be clearly stated in its terms of reference. In addition, these should include the identification and dissemination of good practice. Faculties should ensure that Course/Subject Committee meetings are held, are well attended and effective and that communication channels for issues/communication of good practice are in place. Faculties must not impose additional audit/review activity to ensure that effort can be effectively focused on the monitoring activity described here.
Faculties are expected, through their normal processes and existing committee structure to undertake strategic reviews of data (eg NSS, retention, DLHE etc) as and when provided. In addition, Faculties will be expected, again through existing processes/ structures, to review the dataset considered under the Learning and Teaching strategy monitoring exercise in its totality prior to meeting with the University Senior Review Group (see below). The purpose of this review is to evaluate the success of actions taken throughout the year; take a holistic approach to the dataset; and to prepare to inform the meeting with the University Senior Review Group.
(c) University-level Oversight and Responsibilities
University oversight if conducted through the Continuous Assurance of Quality Enhancement (CAQE) process.