PROGRAMME SPECIFICATION
PROGRAMME SPECIFICATION
Programme title:
Records & Archives Management (International)
Final award (BSc, MA etc):
MA, PG Diploma, PG Certificate
(where stopping off points exist they should be
detailed here and defined later in the document)
UCAS code:
N/A
(where applicable)
Cohort(s) to which this programme
specification is applicable:
Awarding institution/body:
2002-3 [from 2012-13 no new students have been admitted to this
programme but it will continue to run until all modular students have
completed]
University College London
Teaching institution:
University College London
Faculty:
Arts & Humanities
Parent Department:
Department of Information Studies
(e.g. from 2008 intake onwards)
(the department responsible for the administration of
the programme)
Departmental web page address:
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/dis
(if applicable)
Method of study:
Full-time/Part-time/Other
Criteria for admission to the
programme:
Length of the programme:
(please note any periods spent away from UCL, such
as study abroad or placements in industry)
Full-time
Modular/flexible
In addition to standard UCL entrance requirements:
Normally a year (or more) of paid or voluntary employment in an
archive or records service, or related work. Applicants without a first
degree may be accepted for the Postgraduate Diploma or Certificate
if they have substantial professional experience and seniority.
MA
Full-time: one calendar year (12 months)
Modular: min. two years, max. five years
PG Diploma
Full-time: one academic year (9 months)
Modular: min. two years, max. five years
Level on Framework for Higher
Education Qualifications (FHEQ)
(see Guidance notes)
Relevant subject benchmark statement
(SBS)
(see Guidance notes)
PG Certificate
Full-time: one term/ semester
Modular: up to two academic years
Masters Level (Level 7)
N/A
Brief outline of the structure of the
programme
and
its
assessment
methods:
Please see:
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/dis/taught/pg/arm/rami
(see guidance notes)
Board of Examiners:
Name of Board of Examiners:
Archives & Records Management/Records & Archives
Management (International)
Professional body accreditation
(if applicable):
Archives & Records Association
Date of next scheduled
accreditation visit: N/A
EDUCATIONAL AIMS OF THE PROGRAMME:
The purpose of the programme is to provide a foundation education for international students who are already
practising, or seeking to practise as, records managers or archivists in their home countries.
The programme is structured around the principle of the records continuum: students will learn about key processes
of records and archives management that occur at all stages of the life-cycle, including their organization, storage
and preservation, reading and interpretation, and making them accessible to users. Digital, paper and other format
records will be discussed as appropriate throughout the programme. There is a strong emphasis on practice as
well as theory and full use is made of the many archival repositories in the London area to assist student learning,
as well as the students' own pre-course work experience in their home countries.
PROGRAMME OUTCOMES:
The programme provides opportunities for students to develop and demonstrate knowledge and understanding,
qualities, skills and other attributes in the following areas:
A: Knowledge and understanding
Knowledge and understanding of:
Teaching/learning methods and strategies:
principles of archives and records
management including theories of
provenance and original order, the
records continuum and life-cycle;
Teaching and learning methods include lectures,
seminars, student presentations and group work, visits
to record offices, practical placement(s), lectures and
demonstrations from visiting speakers, private reading
and research, essay and report writing and practical
computer work.
the professional context of international
archives, including the structure and role
of relevant international professional
bodies; the formulation of national
legislation and government policy on
records, the structure and organization of
the records of supranational bodies;
international initiatives in records and
archives management;
a range of formats of records and
archives, including paper, digital and
audio-visual.
the intellectual control of records and
archives, including their organization,
identification, interpretation, description,
and retrieval;
the physical control of records and
archives, including their storage and
preservation, presentation and
accessibility to users;
management and ICT skills appropriate to
the records and archives professions in a
range of different contexts.
Assessment:
Assessment methods include essay and report writing,
written accounts of practical placements, oral
presentation arising from visits and field work, practical
computer work, one synoptic examination, and a 12,00015,000 word dissertation.
B: Skills and other attributes
Intellectual (thinking) skills: able to:
Teaching/learning methods and strategies:
1. research, analyze and represent the
relationships between records and
their creating bodies
Lectures, seminars, class room discussion and private
reading enable students to develop a basic intellectual
framework;
2. interpret, analyze and represent the
content and structure of records
meaningfully and accurately
visits, field work and practical placements provide
opportunity for reflection and evaluation in order to
encourage a more thorough understanding
3. make informed choices between
different professional approaches and
methodologies
4. critically evaluate the role of ICT in a
range of professional contexts
5. critically evaluate (and inform) the
role of government or donor body
policy in a range of professional
contexts.
Assessment:
Reports and essays, commentaries on practical
placements, a synoptic examination and the dissertation
should all demonstrate these intellectual skills.
C: Skills and other attributes
Practical skills (able to):
Teaching/learning methods and strategies:
1. organize, arrange and describe
records and archives using a range of
media;
2. make appropriate decisions relating
to the selection, destruction, retention
and preservation of records;
3. undertake effective advocacy for
records and archives management;
4. assess and meet user needs;
5. carry out research using the library
and Internet;
6. manage time, projects and team work
effectively.
field trips and placements involve practical work;
lectures and seminars, particularly from practising
professionals, emphasize case studies as the basis for
discussion and problem solving;
a foundation course introduces students to some study
and self-management skills;
individual coursework projects require library-based
research;
coursework deadlines throughout the year require time
management.
Assessment:
Practical work is formally assessed through essays,
reports and presentations;
other practical skills (time management, accuracy,
research abilities) are assessed through coursework
submitted throughout the programme.
D: Skills and other attributes
Transferable skills (able to): able to:
Teaching/learning methods and strategies:
1. communicate effectively in writing
and orally
2. work independently and as part of a
team
3. make effective and appropriate use of
ICT
4. learn in familiar and unfamiliar
contexts
work flexibly and adapt to change
1. through class presentations and essays and reports
to be completed throughout the year; some students
may also benefit from courses offered by UCL's
Language Centre;
2. through the practical placement and coursework to
be completed individually throughout the year; some
field work and visits involve team work;
3. through demonstrations and presentations by
visiting speakers as well as practical classes
involving different software packages; students may
also benefit from extra IT tuition provided through
EISD;
4. through the range of learning situations, from
individual study and research, to field work and
practical placements;
5. as above.
Assessment:
The skills are assessed in the following ways:
essays, reports, and presentations based on individual
and team project work;
use of ICT software such as archival packages and
PowerPoint;
commentaries and presentations based on practical
placements, field trips, etc.
The following reference points were used in designing the programme:
 the Framework for Higher Education Qualifications:
(http://www.qaa.ac.uk/en/Publications/Documents/Framework-Higher-Education-Qualifications-08.pdf);
 the relevant Subject Benchmark Statements:
(http://www.qaa.ac.uk/assuring-standards-and-quality/the-quality-code/subject-benchmark-statements);
 the programme specifications for UCL degree programmes in relevant subjects (where applicable);
 UCL teaching and learning policies;
 staff research.
Please note: This specification provides a concise summary of the main features of the programme and the
learning outcomes that a typical student might reasonably be expected to achieve and demonstrate if he/she takes
full advantage of the learning opportunities that are provided. More detailed information on the learning outcomes,
content and teaching, learning and assessment methods of each course unit/module can be found in the
departmental course handbook. The accuracy of the information contained in this document is reviewed annually
by UCL and may be checked by the Quality Assurance Agency.
Programme Organiser(s)
Dr Andrew Flinn
Name(s):
Date of Production:
2002
Date of Review:
May 2014
Date approved by Head of
Department:
December 2014
Date approved by Chair of
Departmental Teaching
Committee:
Date approved by Faculty
Teaching Committee
December 2014
December 2014