International Collaborative Academic Provision - University Policy Statement

1. Introduction, Definitions and Applicability

1.1 This policy statement deals with collaborative arrangements between the University and other international institutions and organisations (referred to as "collaborating organisations") involving the provision of programmes of study (both taught and research) and the granting of awards or qualifications or academic credit towards a University award.

1.2 It excludes European Union Exchange Programmes and the University's Transatlantic Exchange Programme with Universities in the USA and Canada. Exchange programmes with Universities in the EU are managed by the ERASMUS Office, Admissions and Student Recruitment, and individual programmes are approved by the relevant school and college Board. For exchanges with the USA and Canada, the Transatlantic Exchange Committee selects students and negotiates individual curricula for them with approval from the relevant school and/or college at the University of Dundee.

1.3 For ease of reference this statement sets out a number of principles which apply to the following types of international collaborative arrangements:

articulation arrangements

validation

franchising

dual and joint awards

preliminary agreements and memoranda of understanding

other types of collaboration.

These adhere to the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education Code of Practice for the Assurance of Academic Quality and Standards, Section 2 Collaborative Provision and Flexible and Distributed Learning (Including e-learning), published in 2004 (available: http://www.qaa.ac.uk/academicinfrastructure/codeOfPractice/default.asp).

2. General Principles

2.1 The University will undertake collaboration, which is congruent with its mission and compatible with its particular strengths in teaching and research to the benefit of its students, itself and its partners. Proposals for collaborative arrangements will include a statement of the rationale for the proposal.

2.2 The University will only consider developing collaborative arrangements with organisations of good reputation and standing and will pay particular attention to the national and legal context governing higher education in the relevant overseas countries.

2.3 The University will, before establishing any collaborative arrangement, familiarise itself, through appropriate investigations, with the proposed collaborating organisation and the background to the proposed collaborative activities. Appropriate records of such investigations will be maintained for reference and audit purposes.

2.4 Proposals for collaborative agreements must be endorsed by the relevant dean(s), head(s) of learning and teaching and/or college VP(s) (as appropriate) prior to scrutiny by the Academic Affairs Directorate who will make a recommendation to the Principal's Office.

2.5 Proposals for collaborative agreements associated with academic awards will be subject to the approval of the relevant school and college boards and Senate, prior to signature by the Principal or delegated nominee.

2.6 Collaborative arrangements will be defined in formal, written agreements which will conform to specific criteria defined by the University. Only the Principal or his nominee will sign agreements on behalf of the University.

2.7 The financial arrangements associated with proposed collaborative activities will be clearly defined, and must be approved by the relevant dean(s), head(s) of learning and teaching and/or college VP(s) and the University Secretary (as appropriate), advised by the Director of Finance.

2.8 Financial transactions associated with collaborative activities will be accurately recorded by the appropriate school to satisfy internal and external audit requirements.

2.9 A Link Co-ordinator will be designated by the relevant dean(s), head(s) of learning and teaching and/or college VP(s) (as appropriate) for each collaborative agreement. This person will be the primary contact point for communication and management of the collaborative activities.

2.10 The office of the Vice-Principal (Educational Development) will maintain a register of all collaborative agreements on behalf of the University. This should include a note of the Link Coordinator for each arrangement.

2.11 Collaborative agreements and articulation arrangements will be formally reviewed by colleges and schools at intervals to be determined by the Academic Quality Sub-Committee.

2.12 The University will seek to identify and promote best practice in collaborative activities and will aim to comply with all relevant parts of the QAA Code of Practice.

3. Articulation Arrangements

3.1 An articulation arrangement is a particular form of formal credit-rating and transfer agreement between two institutions, one of which agrees to recognise and grant specific credit and advanced standing to applicants from a named programme of study pursued in the other.

3.2 Proposals for articulation arrangements with advanced standing will involve a formal credit-rating process, which will allocate specific credit to attainment in the collaborating organisation in the context of the equivalent programme at the University. This process aims to ensure that students admitted to the University will:

be appropriately prepared to commence studies;

have achieved learning outcomes which are broadly equivalent to those of the University modules for which credit is granted.

3.3 When an articulation arrangement includes provision for entry with advanced standing, the formal agreement will specify the extent of advanced standing in terms of specific credits to be granted to students on entry to the University.

3.4 Proposals for articulation arrangements will make clear the status of students admitted under the articulation arrangement regarding any professional/statutory regulatory body (PSRB) accreditation or exemption associated with the programme(s).

3.5 Proposals for articulation arrangements will include identification of any specific bridging, academic and pastoral support requirements over and above that normally available.

3.6 Students admitted under articulation arrangements will be required to have achieved the University's normal English language entrance requirements.

3.7 A report on the progress and experience of each cohort of students admitted under each articulation arrangement will be made by the Link Coordinator (referred to in paragraph 2.10 above) through the normal annual monitoring process.

3.8 An upper limit may be applied to the initial intake of students under any new articulation arrangement, to permit confirmation of the appropriateness of the articulation linkage.

4. Validation

4.1 Validation is the process by which an awarding institution judges that a programme developed and taught by another institution or organisation is of an appropriate quality and standard to lead to its award. A validated programme will normally be in a subject which the awarding institution itself offers. The awarding institution will determine the extent to which it exercises direct control over the quality assurance aspects of the programme's management.

4.2 In considering proposals for validation of external programmes (i.e. named awards by collaborating organisations) the University will take particular account of whether or not a similar programme is offered within the University, and if so, the implications of the proposed validation for existing internal provision.

4.3 The University will only validate external provision which is equivalent to the University's own provision in terms of both standards of award and quality of provision (teaching, learning and student experience).

4.4 The processes associated with the validation of external provision will be broadly similar to those applicable to academic activities within the University e.g. module and programme approval, review, monitoring, external examining etc.

4.5 The process of validation will be managed by the relevant University school in accordance with its normal academic procedures which include reporting to Senate.

4.6 The University will only consider validation of external provision that is cognate with existing academic provision and capability within the University.

4.7 The University will only consider validation and external credit rating of provision that is wholly taught and assessed in the English language, unless expressly agreed by the Academic Secretary and Director of Quality Assurance, following independent expert advice.

4.8 The University will impose charges for undertaking validation of external provision which reflect the University's full costs.

4.9 The Link Co-ordinator's annual report (see 3.7) should include reference to any changes that are planned or have occurred in the external provision and the ways in which these may impact on validation for the Dundee award. In cases where teaching does not occur wholly in English (see4.7), the Link Co-ordinator should ensure that relevant information is translated.

5. Franchising

5.1 Franchising is the process by which an awarding institution agrees to authorise the provision of the whole or part of one or more of its own approved programmes, by a partner organisation. In doing so, the awarding institution retains overall responsibility for the programme's content, delivery, assessment and quality assurance arrangements.

5.2 The intention to enter into a franchising agreement should be discussed in the first instance with the Academic Secretary and Director of Quality Assurance and will only be considered in exceptional circumstances. The detailed procedures to be applied will be determined on an individual basis.

5.3 Proposals for franchising will require preliminary approval by the Principal prior to any detailed investigation and/or negotiation with collaborating organisations.

5.4 Arrangements for franchises will comply with the University's general principles applicable to all collaborative academic provision (see Section 2).

5.5 Programmes provided externally will be subject to comparable procedures for the monitoring of academic standards and quality as programmes offered in the University including the arrangements for external examining.

5.6 Programmes provided externally which lead to an award which can also be undertaken in the University will follow the same curriculum and be subject to the same monitoring procedures in both locations to ensure comparability of standards and quality.

6. Dual Awards and Joint Awards

6.1 A joint award describe collaborative arrangements under which two or more awarding institutions together provide programmes leading to a single award made jointly by both, or all, participants. A dual award refers to a collaborative programme in which a candidate may obtain a qualification from one or other participating institution but not from both or all.

6.2 Proposals for dual or joint award with international institutions or organisations should be discussed in the first instance with the Academic Secretary and Director of Quality Assurance and will only be considered in exceptional circumstances where there is demonstrable benefit to the University. Any such proposals will require preliminary approval by the Principal or his designate prior to any detailed investigation or negotiation with collaborating organisations.

6.3 Arrangements for dual or joint awards will comply with the general principles applicable to international collaborative provision (see Section 2 above) and will be subject to procedures analogous to those applicable to similar UK-based collaborations.

7. Preliminary Agreements (or Memoranda of Understanding)

7.1 A preliminary agreement (or memorandum of understanding) may be used to express an intention to co-operate with another organisation with a view to considering the potential for a future collaboration associated with academic provision.

7.2 Preliminary agreements (or memoranda of understanding) will be time-limited, normally for a maximum period of three years.

7.3 A template for preliminary agreements is available from the Director of Quality Assurance from whom advice is available on establishing specific agreements.

8. Other Types of Collaboration

8.1 Other types of collaborative academic provision may be appropriate in specific circumstances e.g. collaborations associated with a specific research degree programme. Inquiries and proposals should be referred initially to the Director of Quality Assurance who will provide advice on procedures and forms of agreement.

Status and version: policy - approved LTC 28Apr04 (SASC 22Mar04); revised to reflect University reorganisation (ASQC 16Oct06); further revised LTC 12Nov07.