Quality Handbook
AQH-I10 External Programme Advisors – Roles
and Responsibilities
Version 3.0 June 2010
Introduction
Faculties operating collaborative provision in an area cognate to their own expertise
but, with some aspects which diverge from their specialist skills, have the option to
appoint an External Programme Advisor to act as a critical friend. This is in addition
to the appointment of an external examiner and in no way impacts upon that role.
Appointment
External Programme Advisors must have experience in Further Education (FE)
and/or Higher Education (HE) of teaching on, or managing, programmes at the same
level as, or a higher level than, that for which they are being appointed, or have
relevant industrial and/or professional experience. The detailed requirements are
given below. External Programme Advisors are nominated by the Faculty, usually in
consultation with the collaborating college, but are formally appointed by Quality
Management Sub Committee (QMSC).
Role
The role of the External Programme Advisor is developmental, rather than
monitoring. They should be consulted about any aspects of development, particularly
to ensure that the aspect(s) of the programme in which their expertise resides
remains current. This may include the development of new modules, review of
programme learning outcomes or consideration of work-based learning activities.
The External Programme Advisor will not be primarily responsible for managing
academic standards which are the responsibility of the assessment board and the
external examiner. S/he should, however, understand the implications of the
proposed programme developments for such standards. Where his/her expertise is
primarily professional rather than academic the programme leader at Sunderland will
be responsible, in discussion with the External Programme Advisor, for ensuring the
synergy of these aspects of any developments under discussion
The Faculty will agree with the External Programme Advisor how the role will operate
and this may vary with the needs of the programme at any given time. However it
must include at least one face-to-face review meeting per year including the Advisor
and representatives of the Faculty and the partner college. A written report arising
from this meeting must be presented by the programme leader to the Programme
Board of Studies. The External Programme Advisor may be requested to attend
meetings of the Programme Board of Studies or of periodic review panels but will not
be asked to attend a Board of Assessment.
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The Faculty’s Programme Leader is responsible for inducting the External
Programme Advisor into his/her role and for liaison with him/her.
The appointment of External Programme Advisors will be managed as follows:
i.
External Programme Advisors are nominated by the Faculty, but are
formally approved by Quality Management Sub Committee (QMSC).
ii.
External Programme Advisors are appointed for a maximum of three
years. Subject to further approval, the period of tenure may be extended
by up to a further three years.
iii.
External Advisors should have appropriate levels of academic and/or
professional expertise and experience in relation to the relevant subject
area. This will include:
a.
experience in Further Education (FE) and/or Higher Education (HE),
of teaching or managing a programme(s) at the same level as or a
higher level than the one under consideration
AND/OR
b. relevant industrial/professional experience.
iv.
External Programme Advisors will be appointed to a specific Programme
Board of Studies.
v.
External Advisors should have appropriate levels of academic and/or
professional expertise and experience in relation to the relevant subject
area.
vi.
Reciprocal appointments with schools/departments of other institutions
will not be approved.
vii.
Consecutive appointments of External Advisors from the same institution
will not normally be allowed. A case must be made to Quality
Management Sub Committee (QMSC) for such an exceptional
appointment.
viii.
External Programme Advisors should have no more than two other similar
substantial commitments (as external examiners for example).
ix.
External Programme Advisors may not have been within the last three
years a member of staff or a student at the University of Sunderland or
the relevant college; nor should they have any close personal or
professional link with the College or University. They may however have
been an external advisor on a programme or partner approval or review
panel or an external examiner.
x.
The Faculty will pay the External Programme Advisor an agreed fee plus
expenses. This will be included in the business plan for the programme.
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Version History
Version
Occasion of Change
Change author
1.0
Original placed in
Academic Quality
Handbook
Implementation of the
University’s new
collaborative processes
for September 2009
Revised to take account
of demise of Validation
Unit and avoid confusion
with externals in collab
approval / review
B Ollerenshaw
2.0
3.0
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Modifications made
S Sutcliffe
Date of
modification
September 2008
M Young
September 2009
Updated document number
Document amended due to the
Validation ceasing in September 2009
June 2010