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Programme Review - Overview

Programme review is a periodic appraisal of the continuing validity and relevance of teaching leading to specified cognate qualifications. It applies to all the University's taught provision. Within a cognate area, it is expected that all credit-bearing provision is covered by programme review, including postgraduate awards, CPD, collaborative and overseas provision , supervision of research students and online and distance learning provision.

This developmental process aims to promote the improvement of taught programmes by assisting staff to:

• evaluate the effectiveness and appropriateness of each programme over the recent past
• reflect on how the programme(s) could be improved for the future
• plan and implement changes.

A subsidiary aim is to promote the identification of good practice that could be relevant to other programmes in the University.

It is intended that programme review be carried out in a spirit of open, collegiate discussion, with the aim of enhancing future provision, rather than as an audit of performance.

A Programme Evaluation Summary and a Programme Development Plan are created as part of the process. These are expected to take into account and inform the School Learning and Teaching Development Plan and the University and College learning and teaching strategies.

The programme review process involves structured and documented reflection by the school(s) delivering a taught programme or group of cognate programme(s), which includes:

• evaluating data on student recruitment, retention, progression and achievement
• reconsidering the validity of the programme and module specifications in the light of current research, practice and technological advances (especially learning outcomes and assessment methods)
• monitoring how well learning outcomes have been attained by students
• taking account of cumulative changes affecting the design and operation of the programme; including the availability of staff and resources
• responding to themes in external examiners' reports and views expressed in student feedback including those reported external surveys such as the National Student Survey (NSS)
• reviewing topics arising in annual quality assurance reports from the programme(s) and constituent modules
• taking into account QAA subject benchmarks and PSB requirements (where relevant).
• examining employer expectations, where relevant, and employment opportunities.

The Programme Review Board examines submitted documents, supporting material and other information and meets with the following groups to discuss their views and experiences:

1. school executive staff and administrators
2. academic staff and administrators
3. students and graduates.

Review boards involve 'externality' in the shape of members from other institutions and from other University of Dundee colleges and schools, student representatives and student services staff, who should all act as 'critical friends' for the purpose of the review. The Review Board then agrees on a formal report including recommendations and/or conditions in relation to approval of the programme.

Programme review reports are followed up at School and College Boards and by Academic Quality Sub-Committee (AQSC) of Learning and Teaching Committee. An annual report on the University's programme reviews (including accreditation reviews by PSBs) is submitted to the Scottish Funding Council and considered by AQSC in relation to significant development issues and good practice that has been identified.

The following detailed information is available from this website:

• Programme Review - Overview (these pages)
• Programme review - Outline of Process
• Programme Review - Guidenotes and Forms
• Evaluation, Consultation and Planning within Programme Review
• Documentation submitted to Programme Review Boards
• Conduct of Programme Review Boards
• Programme Review in the context of the accreditation of programmes by Professional or Statutory Bodies
• Accreditation of Programmes by Professional or Statutory Bodies
• Considerations of Good Practice in Learning and Teaching
• University Policy on Modules and Semesters and Guidenote on Credit Rating and Modularisation

Archive material:

• Repository of Annual Statements to the Scottish Funding Council
• Repository of Past Programme Reviews and responses
• Repository of Past PSB reports and responses
• Timetable of Future PRs and PSB visits

Note that special arrangements may apply in the case of jointly taught provision - see Policy on the Quality Assurance for Joint Degrees and Jointly Taught Programmes and Modules

Programme review normally results in some changes to provision, in which case the procedures outlined here should be observed. In some cases, a programme review will take place in a context where the School is proposing far-reaching changes to a programme. This situation is discussed under the heading Programme Approval in the Context of Programme Review in the QAF section Programme Review: Outline of Process.

These documents constitute University of Dundee policy in the relevant areas. Any exceptions to these standing regulations should be agreed in advance with the Director of Quality Assurance, reporting to the Academic Secretary.