Quality Handbook
Quality management
The quality handbook describes the University's strategic approach to quality management, setting out its key features.
The handbook:
- sets out the procedures within the quality system for planning, quality assurance and enhancement of taught and research degree provision, quality audit and enhancement, collaborative provision
- provides the additional information required to support the above procedures, including necessary appendices and proformae.
Sections of the quality handbook
Section A: introduction details the purpose of the handbook which includes the quality statement, standards statement and quality and standards framework for taught provision.
Section B: portfolio development planning handbook provides guidance and proformae in relation to the Portfolio Development Policy Committee (PDPC). It includes processes and procedures for approval, in principal, of new award titles, approval of University Certificate award titles, guidance for UK further education college partners, change of award titles, suspension/closure of awards and partnerships.
Section C1: approval & review of programmes handbook provides guidance and proformae in relation to Academic Quality & Standards Policy Committee (AQSPC) processes and procedures. For example procedures for the formal approval of a new programme, guidance on the design of a new programme/periodic review, procedures for changes between scheduled review, approval and review of University Certificate awards, approval and review of modules, professional statutory and regulatory bodies [PSRBs] and flowcharts for approval and review.
Section C2: external examiner framework provides guidance and proforma in relation to the quality monitoring and enhancement sub-committee procedures for the approval and monitoring of external examiners.
Section C3: external examiner handbook provides guidance, procedures and proforma in relating to external examining duties | Section C3: External Examiner Handbook Appendices – includes report templates and claim forms.
Section C4: threshold quality standards details processes in relation to student support systems, placement learning, student representation, informing students, student evaluation, use of the virtual learning environment [VLE], development of pogress files, student induction and communication with students.
Section C5: learning, teaching and assessment provides an overview of the University’s learning, teaching and assessment strategy [LTAS] 2009-2012, which is available on the Department for Learning Development SharePoint site.
Section C6: annual monitoring details the annual monitoring process and includes proformae for module leader reports, subject level reports, programme reports, School Academic Standards Committee [SASC] reports, the quality monitoring and enhancement sub-committee report and overview reports for collaborative provision. There is also guidance relating to reports provided by service units, the URDC and on student performance data.
Section D1: credit accumulation and modular scheme details the CAMS framework and recognition of achievement.
Section D2: framework for assessment, award and progression details the appropriate award regulations (Undergraduate, Foundation Degree, Higher National Awards, Master's, Professional Doctorate) and the awards schedule of the University.
Section D3: accreditation of prior learning details APL including definitions, 'aAdmissions' decisions, maximum credit allowances, policies and procedures, notes of guidance and portfolio proformae.
Section D4: committees details the key academic board sub-committees and their terms of reference.
Section E1: general requirements for the management of collaborative provision details the guiding principles for collaborative provision and provides some brief notes on the approval process.
Section E2: UK educational partnerships with public sector colleges handbook provides guidance and processes specifically in relation to collaborative provision involving UK educational partnerships with public sector colleges.
Section E3: international collaborative provision handbook provides guidance and processes for international collaborative provision.
Section E3, Appendix M: Operations Manual for International Partners
Section E4: employer partnerships collaborative provision handbook provides guidance and processes for employer partnership collaborative provision.
Section F: assurance and enhancement of research degrees details processes for research degrees. The University documents framework and regulations for the award of higher degrees by research. The code of practice for research degrees operates in parallel to this document and should be referred to for further details about all processes and procedures outlined in the handbook. Further information can be found on the Graduate Research School SharePoint site.
Section G: quality audit and review details the quality audit and review process, the quality workshop/conference and learning and teaching conference.
Section H: school quality handbook outlines the purpose of the school quality manual and an overview of content areas.
Section I: assessment and feedback policy outlines the procedures related to this policy including the assessment internal moderation pack and assessment report templates.
