Nottingham Trent University Quality Handbook Supplement
Requirements for a Multi-School Collaborative Framework
QHS SB
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Requirements for a Multi-School
Collaborative Framework
Document
1. Introduction
1.1
A Collaborative Framework document needs to be prepared jointly by all the
Schools working with the Centre, for the approval, review and operation of the
collaboration. It should represent a shared understanding by the Schools and the
Centre of the mechanisms through which the collaboration will operate. The
collaborative framework document should demonstrate that:
a.
the Schools have proposed appropriate systems to manage the quality and
standards of the collaborative provision, within the context of University policy;
b.
the respective roles and responsibilities within the collaborative arrangement
are clear, appropriate and understood by both the Schools and the Centre.
This should include clear lines of reporting and feedback mechanisms;
c.
the minimum requirements for communication between the Schools and the
Centre are agreed and the purpose for that communication is clear within the
context of managing the quality and standard of the collaborative provision.
1.2
Detailed below are the requirements for the Collaborative Framework Document,
giving an indication of what each section should include. The framework should set
out the principles for operation, and the responsibilities of each partner. Schools
are welcome to include any additional information in support of the proposed
collaboration.
1.3
Please note that where course approval is being considered at the same time as
the collaborative arrangement, this document will replace the quality management
section of the course Contextual Document.
1.4
There will be different requirements for different types of collaborations. Where
requirements are only applicable to a certain type of collaboration, for example
franchise, this is indicated in the template below. Definitions of the different types
of collaborations can be found in Quality Handbook Supplement (QHS) SB1. The
framework should be proportionate to the type of collaboration.
1.5
The approved Collaborative Framework Document should be utilised by the Schools
and the Centre to inform the day to day operation of the collaboration. As such, it
should be regularly reviewed by all the Schools to ensure it remains current and in
order.
1.6
When this document is being used as part of a periodic collaborative review, the
previous Collaborative Framework Document should be updated by the School to
include changes at School and Centre level.
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1.7
The Centre will be preparing Centre Document at the same time as the Schools
jointly prepare the Collaborative Framework Document. It is important that all
partners in the collaboration share and iterate on these documents.
1.8
The main body of the Framework will set out the principles of operation for all the
Schools. Where there are different requirements for a specific School or course,
these should be set out in an appendix to the Framework.
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Requirements for a Multi-School Collaborative Framework
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2. Collaborative Framework Document
Details of the collaboration
NTU Schools:
Please list all the Schools to which the Framework applies
Collaborative
Partner:
Course(s):
Please list all the courses to which the Framework applies and indicate which course belongs to which School
Dual Degree
awards:
Course Title Awarded by
NTU:
Course Title Awarded by the
Partner:
Please list the course title awarded by the Centre
Interim awards:
Please indicate any interim awards available to NTU and partner students
Type of
collaboration:
Please select from the list below:

Franchise

Joint Delivery

Consortium

Joint Degree

Dual Degree
See Quality Handbook Supplement SB1 for details of the different types of collaborations
Delivery Model:
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Specify how many of the credits are to be delivered by NTU and the partner respectively, and the total number of
credits and the duration of the course(s) in total
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Section One: Collaborative Health
A. Strategy and context for the collaboration
Nottingham Trent University
a. The rationale for collaboration and why a multi-school framework is
appropriate for this proposal specifically
b. Whether there is a lead School in the partnership
c. Why the University wishes to work with the Centre
Partner (insert partner name)
a. The partner’s rationale for the collaboration
b. Why the partner wishes to work with Nottingham Trent
University (NTU), and in particular across the range of courses
identified
c. How the proposal fits with the partner’s strategy
d. How the proposal fits with University Strategy, and individual School
strategies (where applicable)
d. Benefits of the collaboration for the partner
e. Benefits of the collaboration for the University, Schools, staff and
students
B. Operation of the collaboration
Nottingham Trent University
Partner (insert partner name)
Course Co-ordinator
Course Co-ordinator (or equivalent role)
Applicable to all categories:
Applicable to all categories:
a. Name of the current or proposed course co-ordinators and whether
there will be one co-ordinator for each course or for each School.
The Schools should indicate whether there will be a lead course coordinator
a. Names of the current or proposed course co-ordinators (or
equivalent role) at the Centre, and whether there are different
co-ordinators for different courses
b. Arrangements for communication between course co-ordinators in
different Schools to ensure consistency of approach
c. Number and nature of any proposed visits to the partner in each
academic year, and whether all course co-ordinators will visit every
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b. Number and nature of any visits by the Partner to NTU in each
academic year
c. Arrangements for receipt and consideration of the NTU course
co-ordinator reports, where applicable
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year, and whether the visits will take place at the same time
d. Arrangements for production and consideration of the course coordinator reports, and principles for sharing reports between
Schools where required
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d. Principles and arrangements for communication with the
Nottingham Trent University course co-ordinators
e. Principles and arrangements for communication with the partner
Module Leaders
Module Leaders (or equivalent role)
a. Principles and arrangements for communication between module
leaders and the partner, where applicable
a. Principles and arrangements for communication between
module leaders (or equivalent) and NTU, where applicable
C. Operation of the courses (note this section may be replaced by course specific appendices)
Nottingham Trent University
Partner (insert partner name)
Course variations
Course variations
Applicable to all categories:
Applicable to all categories:
a. Details of, and rationale for, any variation to existing NTU courses,
including local contextualisation, if appropriate
a. Details of, and rationale for, any variation to existing NTU
courses (or partner courses, in the case of joint and dual
degrees), including local contextualisation, if appropriate
b. Mechanisms for communication of changes to NTU courses to the
Partners
Applicable to joint and dual degrees only:
c. Mechanisms for ensuring the continued coherence and quality
enhancement of courses
Applicable to joint and dual degrees only:
b. Mechanism for communication of changes to a partner
course(s) to NTU
c. Mechanisms for ensuring continued course coherence and
quality enhancement
Admissions
Admissions
Applicable to franchise and joint delivery only:
Applicable to franchise and joint delivery only:
a. Any responsibility of the partner for operation of the admissions
a. Any responsibility of the partner for operation of the
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admissions process
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Where the partners have responsibility for admissions:
Applicable to joint and dual degrees, and consortium only:
a. Any variation to the approved NTU entry requirements to suit the
local context
a. Clarification of which admissions criteria will apply, and any
joint admissions criteria
b. Mechanisms for approving changes to entry requirements, and
communication of changes to NTU entry requirements to the
partner
b. Location of decisions about admissions (partner and/or NTU)
c. Mechanisms for approving non-standard admissions
d. Requirements for informing NTU about admissions decisions,
where appropriate
d. Arrangements for monitoring admissions at the partner, including
ensuring NTU admissions requirements are complied with
c. Mechanisms for joint decisions about admissions
e. Mechanisms for informing NTU about changes to admissions
criteria which impact upon the NTU award
e. Arrangements for Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL) or
Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL)
Applicable to joint and dual degrees, and consortium only:
a. Clarification of which admissions criteria will apply, and any joint
admissions criteria
b. Location of decisions about admissions (NTU and/or partner)
c. Mechanisms for any joint decisions about admissions
d. Mechanisms for informing the partner about admissions decisions,
and for sharing between Schools where appropriate
e. Mechanisms for informing the partner about changes to admissions
criteria which impact upon the partner’s award
f. Mechanisms for agreeing changes to the admissions criteria, where
applicable
Enrolment and registration
Enrolment and registration
Applicable to all categories:
Applicable to all categories:
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a. Which partner is responsible for enrolment and registration of
students
a. Which partner is responsible for enrolment and registration of
students
b. Mechanisms for ensuring consistency of approach across all the
Schools
b. Arrangements for enrolment and registration, where applicable
c. Arrangements for enrolment and registration, where applicable
Progression and transition
Progression and transition
Applicable to joint and dual degrees, and consortium only:
Applicable to joint and dual degrees, and consortium only:
a. The point at which students transfer to the partner
a. The point at which students transfer to NTU, and whether they
have options about which School/course they can transfer to
b. Arrangements for transfer to the partner, where applicable
c. Support for transition to the partner, where applicable
d. Any requirements for progression, for example, having passed all
NTU modules.
b. Arrangements for transfer to NTU
c. Support for transition to NTU
d. Any requirements for progression, for example, having passed
all modules at the partner
Section Two: Maintenance of Academic Standards
A. Governance
Nottingham Trent University
Partner (insert partner name)
Applicable to all categories:
Applicable to all categories:
a. Responsibility for oversight of the collaboration in the Schools, for
example, through the School Academic Standards and Quality
Committee (SASQC) or other School specific committees
a. Governance arrangements, for oversight of the collaboration
b. Any joint School governance arrangements
b. Arrangements for consideration of course co-ordinator and
external examiner reports
c. Any joint governance arrangements
c. Mechanisms for sharing information between SASQCs where
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d. Arrangements for consideration of course co-ordinator and
external examiner reports
e. Any joint governance arrangements with the partner
Applicable to all categories:
Applicable to franchise and joint delivery only:
a. Role of the NTU course committee, if applicable
a. Composition of the course committee (or equivalent)
b. Any joint-School course committees
b. Function of the course committee (or equivalent)
c. Relationship to the NTU course committees, where applicable
Applicable to consortium and joint and dual degrees only:
a. Arrangements for joint course committees, if required
B. Annual Monitoring
Nottingham Trent University
Partner (insert partner name)
Applicable to consortium only:
Applicable to franchise and joint delivery only:
a. Mechanisms for monitoring and reporting on an annual basis, and
for sharing information across Schools
a. Responsibility in relation to annual monitoring of the course(s)
b. Arrangements for monitoring comparability of standards across all
the partners
Applicable to franchise and joint delivery only:
b. Mechanisms for contributing to annual monitoring, where
applicable
Applicable to joint and dual degrees, and consortium only:
a.
Responsibility for joint annual monitoring of the course(s)
a. Mechanisms for monitoring and reporting on an annual basis, and
for sharing information across Schools
b.
Mechanisms for contributing to joint annual monitoring, where
applicable
b. Arrangements for monitoring comparability of standards, at the
different institutions, and across Schools
c.
Arrangements for monitoring comparability of standards at the
different institutions, and across Schools
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Applicable to joint and dual degrees only:
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a. Arrangements for joint annual monitoring of the provision, where
applicable
b. Arrangements for joint-School monitoring processes, where
applicable
c. Arrangements for monitoring comparability of standards at the
two institutions, and across Schools
C. Teaching and learning
Nottingham Trent University
Applicable to all categories:
Partner (insert partner name)
Applicable to all categories:
a. Responsibility for delivery of the course, or part of the course (if
any)
a. Responsibility for delivery of the course, or part of the course (if
any)
b. Language of delivery (if NTU is delivering)
b. Language of delivery (if the partner is delivering)
c. Mechanisms for provision of course materials to the partner,
where applicable
Applicable to franchise, consortium and joint delivery only:
d. Teaching and learning materials to be provided to the Partner, if
any
e. Use of NTU Online Workspace (NOW), where applicable
f. Access to NTU electronic library
a. Arrangements for the development of appropriate teaching
materials (where these are not provided by NTU)
b. Use of NOW, where applicable
Applicable to joint and dual degrees only:
a. Arrangements for any joint or shared delivery
D. Assessment strategies, practices and processes
Nottingham Trent University
Applicable to all categories:
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Partner (insert partner name)
Applicable to all categories:
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a. Responsibility for assessment (if any)
a. Responsibility for assessment (if any)
b. Language of assessment (if undertaken by NTU)
b. Language of assessment (if undertaken by the Partner)
c. Arrangements for moderation of assessment, where this is being
undertaken by NTU
c. Arrangements for moderation of assessment, where this is being
undertaken by the partner
d. Arrangements for moderation, where the language of assessment
is not English
Applicable to franchise, consortium and joint delivery only:
e. Mechanisms for providing assessment details to the partner,
where applicable
f. Mechanisms for approving details of assessment, where this is
different to the NTU assessment, if applicable
g. Mechanisms for consideration of notification of exceptional
circumstances and academic irregularities, where this is being
undertaken by NTU. To include details of where NTU processes
apply or otherwise
a. Evidence of understanding of NTU assessment principles and
policies, including grade based assessment
b. Any planned staff development in relation to assessment
c. Timing of assessment
d. Mechanisms for agreeing details of assessment where this is
different to the NTU assessment (for example in the case of
contextualisation of assessment)
e. Mechanisms for consideration of notification of exceptional
circumstances
f. Mechanisms for management of academic irregularities
Applicable to joint and dual degrees only:
a. Details of the consideration of notification of exceptional
circumstances and academic irregularities for assessment
undertaken by the partner
E. External Examining
Nottingham Trent University
Partner (insert partner name)
Applicable to all categories:
Applicable to all categories:
a. Arrangements for external examining of the provision, including
whether an existing external will examine the provision at the
a. Mechanisms for the operation of the external examining
arrangements, including facilitation of a site visit, or provision of
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partner, or whether a new external will be appointed
b. Mechanisms for operation of the external examining
arrangements, including potential visits to the partner to scrutinise
assessed work
c. Arrangements for nomination, appointment and induction of
external examiners, including any joint arrangements, or jointSchool arrangements
d. Arrangements for external examiner reporting, including whether
a separate report on the collaboration is required, and for sharing
reports with the partner and between Schools
samples of work to NTU.
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b. Arrangements for consideration of the external examiner report
c. Processes for quality enhancement as a result of external
examiner feedback
Applicable to joint and dual degrees only:
a. Facilitation of joint external examining arrangements
b. Arrangements for quality management where normal external
examiner processes are not being used
e. Mechanisms for responding to the external examiner report
f. Mechanisms for publication of the external examiner report, where
applicable
Applicable to joint and dual degrees:
a. Outline of which elements of the provision the external examiner
will cover (note anything contributing to an NTU award should be
externally examined)
F. Student achievement
Nottingham Trent University
Partner (insert partner name)
Boards of Examiners
Boards of Examiners
Applicable to all categories:
Applicable to all categories:
a. Arrangements for Boards of Examiners (where these are held at
NTU)
a. Arrangements for Boards of Examiners (where these are held at
the partner)
b. Principles of attendance by Schools at the partner Boards of
Examiners, if applicable
b. Principles of attendance at the NTU Boards of Examiners, if
applicable
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c. Responsibility for production of Boards of Examiners’ materials,
including results spreadsheets, if applicable
c. Responsibility for production of Boards of Examiners’ materials,
including results spreadsheets, if applicable
d. Mechanisms for the provision of student grades to the partner,
where appropriate
d. Mechanisms for the provision of student grades and/or degree
results to NTU, where appropriate
e. Arrangements for the production of degree certificates, including
notification to Academic Office
e. Arrangements for the production of degree certificates (joint
degrees only)
f. Arrangements for the production of transcripts and/or diploma
supplements
f. Arrangements for the production of transcripts and/or diploma
supplements (joint degrees only)
g. Details of the common assessment regulations to be used for the
award, where NTU regulations are being used in full a reference to
the appropriate regulations is sufficient
g. Details of the common assessment regulations to be used for
the award, where NTU regulations are being used in full a
reference to the appropriate regulations is sufficient
h. Principles of sharing information between Schools, where
applicable
Award ceremonies
Award ceremonies
Applicable to all categories:
Applicable to all categories:
a. Arrangements for award ceremonies, where students are able to
attend the NTU award ceremony
a. Arrangements for award ceremonies where these are arranged
by the partner, including whether NTU students on joint and
dual degrees have the right to attend the partner’s ceremony
b. Principles of attendance of NTU staff at award ceremonies held by
the partner, including whether members of all Schools will be
present or whether attendance will be on a rotational basis
b. Principles of attendance of partner staff at NTU award
ceremonies, where applicable
Analysis of student achievement
Analysis of student achievement
Applicable to all categories:
Applicable to all categories:
a. Responsibility for statistical analysis of student achievement,
including comparison of achievement of NTU and partner students,
where applicable
a. Responsibility for statistical analysis of student achievement
b. Mechanisms for using the results of analysis to enhance the
provision
b. Mechanisms for using the results of analysis to enhance the
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c. Mechanisms for cross-School analysis, where appropriate
G. Academic appeals and complaints
Nottingham Trent University
Partner (insert partner name)
Applicable to all categories:
Applicable to all categories:
a. Arrangements for the management of student academic appeals
and complaints, including whether these are managed by NTU or
the partner for the whole or parts of courses
a. Arrangements for the management of student academic appeals
and complaints, including whether these are managed by NTU or
the partner for the whole or parts of courses
b. Details of the right of appeal to NTU and the Office of the
Independent Adjudicator (see QH Section 10B)
Section Three: Quality of student learning opportunities
A. Student Support
Nottingham Trent University
Partner (insert partner name)
Applicable to all categories:
Applicable to all categories:
a. Arrangements for student induction, where this is undertaken by
NTU, and whether any cross-School induction events might be
appropriate
a. Arrangements for student induction, where this is undertaken by
the partner
b. Details of whether student support is undertaken by NTU or the
partner
c. Details of any language support available to students
d. Details of any cross-School support
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b. Arrangements for academic support
c. Arrangements for pastoral support
d. Arrangements for careers advice and guidance
e. Details of any language support available to students
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B. Resources
Nottingham Trent University
Applicable to all categories:
a. Arrangements for student access to NTU resources, if applicable,
and details of how students will be informed of these
arrangements
b. Mechanisms for ensuring learning and teaching resources are
appropriate and updated as necessary; (e.g. as a result of staff
changes at the Partner)
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Partner (insert partner name)
Note: Details of the physical resources available to students at the
partner are set out in the Centre document
Applicable to franchise and joint delivery only:
a. Arrangements for ensuring appropriate staff are in place to
deliver and assess the course(s)
C. Staff development
Nottingham Trent University
Partner (insert partner name)
Applicable to all categories:
Applicable to all categories:
a. Details of any development to be provided by NTU, for both
University and partner staff, to support the operation and
management of the collaboration
a. Details of any development to be provided by the partner, for
both NTU and partner staff, to support the operation and
management of the collaboration
b. Details of any cross-School, or shared development activity
b. Staff induction processes
c. Arrangements for any ongoing staff development to be provided
by the University
a. Arrangements for ongoing staff development
b. Mechanisms for peer review
c. Development of research, scholarship and professional practice
D. Student engagement
Nottingham Trent University
Applicable to all categories:
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Partner (insert partner name)
Applicable to all categories:
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a. Arrangements for obtaining and responding to feedback from
students and whether this is to be undertaken by NTU, or the
partner, or both
b. Arrangements for utilising student feedback to enhance the
provision
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a. Arrangements for obtaining and responding to feedback from
students, where this is undertaken by the partner
b. Mechanisms for student representation
c. Arrangements for utilising student feedback to enhance the
provision
c. Arrangements for sharing feedback from students with the partner
and across Schools
Section Four: Provision of information and contractual arrangements
A. Marketing and promotion
Nottingham Trent University
Partner (insert partner name)
Applicable to all categories:
Applicable to all categories:
a. Responsibility for the production of marketing and promotional
materials for the collaboration, if any
a. Responsibility for the production of marketing and promotional
materials for the collaboration, if any
b. Arrangements for the use of the NTU logo by the partner
b. Arrangements for the provision of marketing and promotional
materials for NTU for approval
c. Arrangements for approval of marketing and promotional
materials produced by the partner
d. Arrangements for monitoring of marketing and promotional
materials produced by the partner, including web pages
c. Arrangements for the use of the partner logo by NTU, if
applicable
B. Information for students
Nottingham Trent University
Partner (insert partner name)
Applicable to all categories:
Applicable to all categories:
a. Arrangements for the production of student handbooks, if these
a. Arrangements for the production of student handbooks, if these
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are produced by NTU or jointly with the partner
b. Arrangements for providing students with information about the
following:
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are produced by the Partner or jointly with NTU
b. Arrangements for providing students with information about the
following:

The institution making the award

The institution making the award

Registration information

Registration information

Right of appeal to NTU

Right of appeal to NTU

Rights of access to NTU resources

Rights of access to NTU resources

The relationship of the student to NTU

The relationship of the student to NTU
C. Communication of changes
Nottingham Trent University
Partner (insert partner name)
Applicable to all categories:
Applicable to all categories:
a. Arrangements for informing the partner about changes to NTU
policies and processes
a. Arrangements for informing NTU about changes to partner
policies and processes
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