“By creating we think, by living we learn” Patrick Geddes
1.1 This policy statement deals with collaborative arrangements between the University and other UK-based 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 Dundee award.
1.2 It excludes individual arrangements for admission with advanced standing dealt with by College and/or School Admissions Tutors under AP(E)L procedures.
1.3 For ease of reference this statement sets out a number of principles which apply to the following types of collaborative arrangements:
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).
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 normally include a statement of the rationale for the proposal.
2.2 The University will only consider developing collaborative arrangements with educational institutions and organisations of good reputation and standing.
2.3 The University will, before establishing any collaborative arrangement, where necessary, 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), Heads of Learning & Teaching and college VPs prior to scrutiny by the Academic Affairs Directorate which 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 Office of the Vice-Principal (Educational Development) will maintain a register of all collaborative agreements on behalf of the University.
2.8 Any financial arrangements associated with proposed collaborative activities will be clearly defined, and must be approved by the relevant dean(s), college VP(s) and the University Secretary, advised by the Director of Finance. Any subsequent financial transactions associated with collaborative activities will be accurately recorded to satisfy internal and external audit requirements.
2.9 A Link Co-ordinator will be designated by the relevant dean(s) for each collaborative agreement. This person will be the primary contact point for communication and management of the collaborative activities.
2.10 Collaborative arrangements will be monitored and formally reviewed periodically.
2.11 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.
3.1 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 A more detailed policy on articulation with Scottish Colleges of Further Education along with standard templates for articulation agreements and articulation pathways forms an appendix to this policy statement.
3.3 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:
3.4 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.
3.5 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).
3.6 Proposals for articulation arrangements will include identification of any specific bridging, academic and pastoral support requirements over and above that normally available.
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 2.9 above) through the normal annual monitoring process.
3.8 Articulation arrangements will be formally reviewed at intervals to be determined by the Academic Quality Sub-Committee.
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 impose charges for undertaking validation of external provision which reflect the University's full costs.
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 Franchising agreements will only be considered in exceptional circumstances and 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.
6.1 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 will only be considered in exceptional circumstances where there is demonstrable benefit to the University and any such proposals will require preliminary approval by the Principal 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 collaborative provision (see Section 2 above).
6.4 The University's approach will depend on the demonstrated capability of the proposed collaborating organisation(s) to maintain and assure standards and quality of academic provision that are acceptable to the University and adhere to established good practice within the UK, including specifically QAA's 'academic infrastructure' (i.e. the qualifications frameworks, subject benchmark statements and the Code of Practice for the Assurance of Academic Quality and Standards in Higher Education).
6.5 A Programme Board will be established for each dual or joint award programme. This will include staff representatives from each collaborating organisation along with an external examiner. The membership, remit and modus operandi of such Boards shall be acceptable to the relevant Dean(s).
6.6 To promote efficiency, the University may be prepared to allow the academic quality policies and procedures of a collaborating organisation with regard to approval, monitoring periodic review and external examining, that are equivalent to the University's, to be used in place of the University's subject to:
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.
8.1 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 LTC28Apr04 (SASC 22Mar04); revised to reflect University reorganisation (ASQC 16Oct06); minor changes 18 Jnauray 2008 to be submitted to AQSC on 29 April 2008.
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