What constitutes a major or a minor modification to programme?
In forming this conclusion the College and University will take into account the extent of the changes, the impact of these on the programme as a whole and the risk involved in making such changes. In this way updating the learning outcomes on a single module can be seen as a minor change, however withdrawing previously advertised modules can be seen to be a major change.
Further guidance on this topic, which was approved by University Programme Approval Review Committee in June 09, can be found at Modification to Programme Guidance
Who is my Curriculum Development Unit College contact?
Each College has a specified contact in the Curriculum Development Unit who will be able to assist you further. Details are available on the Contact CDU page.
Who are the key contacts within my college?
For key contacts within each college, please see ‘Key college contacts and dates’ at Contact CDU
When is the next PARC meeting?
The Programme Approval and Review Committee meets four times per year and is chaired by Deputy Pro-Vice-Chancellor Professor Jeff Bale. You can assess details about upcoming PARC meetings and associated deadlines for paperwork in the PARC section of the website.
When are college committees held?
For dates of upcoming college committees, please see ‘Key college contacts and dates’ at Contact CDU
How do I set up a new programme?
This is in essence a two-stage approval process, however there are a number of colleagues who need to be involved and detailed information which needs to be gained. The process is a robust one which aims to ensure the University can make appropriate decisions about its portfolio of programmes. Information which will be needed includes fit with School and College strategy; financial viability; whether a long-term market exists; allocation of resource for running of the programme; and detailed quality assurance checks of the content and level of the programme.
Further details, including a process map, a generic action plan and blank forms can be found on the New Programme Proposal section.
What happens once proposal forms are submitted?
Once programme and module forms have been submitted to the Curriculum Development Unit, an officer will review them to ensure all necessary information has been included and the proposal has been subject to the appropriate consideration and approval. If all information has been provided and all requirements met, the proposal will be actioned on Banner. A confirmation email will be sent once everything has been completed. The length of time this takes may vary significantly depending on the complexity of the proposal.
How do I set up a new module?
Proposals for a new module should be developed and considered at School level and require approval from the College Learning and Teaching Committee. Additional information is available from the New Module Proposal page.
New module proposals which form part of a new programme will be submitted to the Programme Approval Review Committee with the new programme proposal documentation.
Can a programme be temporarily withdrawn/put on hold?
There are a number of available options when wishing to withdraw a programme. A programme can be temporarily put on hold or suspended for a specified length of time. This would be treated as a major modification to programme and require consideration and approval at College Level. Modification to Programme
Programmes may also be withdrawn for recruitment and admissions only or fully withdrawn once all students have completed the programme. Each of these actions has potentially significant consequences and require approval at College level. Additional information is available on the Withdrawal of Programmes page.
What is credit?
The Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) has developed a mini site to provide an introduction to credit in Higher Education. The site gives information on such things as what credit is, when it should be awarded, how it is accumulated, and how it might be transferred within and between institutions. Academic credit in higher education
What do I do if part of a proposed programme or module is outside Regulations?
If an element of a programme or module is outside Regulations it is necessary to have an exemption from Regulations. This must be obtained before the programme or module can be approved. Applications for exemptions from Regulations will be considered by the Academic Policy and Regulations Committee, who will only grant an exemption if it is felt there is a good case and that no viable alternative procedure within Regulations exists. Your College Contact will advise you on whether an exemption request is necessary and will help you draw up a request for exemption. Regulations
Who can help with questions about fees?
The Resource Planning team in the Planning Office has responsibility for tuition fees and annual student numbers forecasts. They provide a range of documents and information to help Schools set appropriate fees for the programmes they run. Additional information is available from the Planning Office website.
Who are the QAA?
The Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education was established in 1997 to provide independent assessment of how higher education institutions in the UK maintain their academic standards and quality. QAA reviews and reports on how well individual institutions meet their responsibilities for academic standards and quality, and encourages continuous improvement in the management of the quality of higher education.
A range of information and support is available for the QAA, such as the framework for Higher Education qualifications and subject benchmark statements. QAA
For general enquiries about curriculum development please email curriculumdevelopment@contacts.bham.ac.uk
