Strategic Approval Form (SAF)
Strategic Planning, Resources and Development Committee
(A SubCommittee of the Vice-Chancellor’s Group (VCG)).
PROJECT PROPOSAL (Please complete in line with the Notes of Guidance for Submitting New Project Proposals
to SPRDC. Available from the Standards and Enhancement Office (SEO) at http://www.bolton.ac.uk/Quality)
Items which relate to Off Campus proposals only are identified with *
Title of Proposal
Vice Chancellor’s Group Sponsor
This form has been compiled by
*Name of Partner Institution(s)
(where relevant)
*Name and Jurisdiction of Legal
Entity for Contract
*Confirmation of Solvency
*Jurisdiction of Delivery
1
Background to Proposal
[circa 500 words]
2
Project Summary
Which programmes are to be
considered and what is the level
of the qualification? (Please
reference Part A of the QAA UKQC
Framework for Higher Education
Qualifications)
Location/site(s) of delivery
Type of arrangement (if applicable) Please use QAA Joint Awards Definition:
Franchise
Validation
Articulation
Progression
Jointly Delivered Programme
- Joint Qualification
- Double / Multiple Qualification
- Dual Qualification
- Concurrent Qualification
3
Business Case (See Guidance Notes for information on what narrative should cover )
Strategic Issues
Each criterion to be allocated a score between 1 – 10
1 = not meeting the criterion at all, 7 = significant match 10=Exceptionally strong fit with criterion
Criterion
Proposers’ Committee
Comments
Score
Use
A
Fit with University’s Strategic Aims &
Objectives 2014-20
I
Enhanced Brand
Ii
Sustainable student number growth
Iii
Distinctive Curriculum Offer
iv
Improved Retention
*B
Fit with University’s Off campus
Strategic Aims & Objectives as stated
in the 2014-20 Strategic Plan (off
campus proposals only)
*
Aim 1 - “To provide a significant
income stream while strengthening the
university’s global reputation”
Aim 2 -“To offer HE opportunities to
diverse learner communities within the
UK and globally”
Aim 3 - “To build a network of
progression partnerships for whom the
university is the preferred HE provider.”
Supports “ strategic concentration”
agenda (by partner or region)
*
*
*
*
Supports “blended approach”
(i.e. cost effective model of technology
with franchise)
*
Supports the development of “UoB
global knowledge network”
(i.e. to share knowledge, courses, and
research)
Improve the Involves effective and
efficient use of resources (including
staff)
Secures income streams that
supplement UG FT SLC/HEFCE revenue
Has the potential to leverage or
develop further proposals
C
D
E
Evidence of market research and market intelligence (circa 500 words)
Minimum numbers for viability
What are the (potential) opportunity costs?
*If partner is an existing partner, please indicate whether there are any outstanding payments owed
to the University from prior or current activity; a) Total income to UOB from the partner institution in
the most recent year b) Any bad debt amount i.e. outstanding for more than 100 calendar days and c)
what action is being taken to regularise the situation?
*Is the Partner generally in good standing with the University? That is are there any unresolved
issues regarding adhering to quality assurance requirements, contractual issues, student issues or
other matters?
*4a
OFF CAMPUS PROPOSAL
Financial Feasibility for Collaboration with (insert partner(s) name)
Programme
Total Numbers
Entry
2014
S1
S2
2015
S1
S2
2016
S1
S2
2017
S1
2018
S2
S1
S2
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Total Costs
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Potential Surplus
Cumulative Surplus
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Total Fee Income (£) @ £?k
Total Fee Income to Bolton
(based on ?%)
Franchise costs £? Per student
Other costs
[These figures should be completed in collaboration with the University Finance Department. Please contact Financial Services for further details.]
Please see spreadsheet for this section at L:\Public\University Documents\Standards and Enhancement Office\2014-15 STANDARD TEMPLATES/ SPRDC
interactive financial spreadsheet On Campus
*4B
ON CAMPUS PROPOSAL
Financial Feasibility for Collaboration with (insert partner(s) name)
Programme
Total Numbers
Entry
2015
S1
S2
2016
S1
S2
2017
S1
S2
2018
S1
2019
S2
S1
S2
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Total Costs
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Potential Surplus
Cumulative Surplus
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Total Fee Income (£) @ £?k
Staffing costs
Other costs
[These figures should be completed in collaboration with the University Finance Department. Please contact Financial Services for further details.]
Please see spreadsheet for this section at L:\Public\University Documents\Standards and Enhancement Office\2014-15 STANDARD TEMPLATES/ SPRDC
interactive financial spreadsheet On Campus
6 Preliminary consideration of core quality assurance matters within the context of UK Quality
Code for Higher Education (UKQC)
What risks and controls have been identified in relation to academic standards, quality and
information?
Principal Risks
Principal Controls
Setting and maintaining academic
standards (QAA UKQC Part A)
- Comparability of standards
with UK higher education
- Subject benchmarking
- Professional body
recognition
Assuring and enhancing academic
quality (UKQC Parts B1-11)
Information about provision (UKQC
Part C)
*7. Jurisdiction and local recognition of UoB programme(s) and award(s)
Principal Risks
Principal Controls
What are the requirements for
approval of the proposed
programme and UoB award
under the jurisdiction within
which the partner organisation
is located?
Within the jurisdiction what is
the current approval status of
the proposed programme and
UoB award?
Within the jurisdiction what is
the proposed approval status
of the proposed programme
and UoB award?
8 Student engagement in development of the proposal (NB Involvement of students in developing
the proposal prior to consideration by a Validation Panel is mandatory.)
In what ways have current, prospective or
past students been involved in the proposal
to this point?
In what ways will current, prospective or past
students be involved in the proposal from this
point?
9
Risk Assessment
Criteria to be given a score between 1 and 10 with comments to indicate the reason for each score
1 = very high risk and 4=low risk 10 = high risk
Criteria
Proposers’
Score
For Committee Use
Financial / Economic (eg
inflation / currency / money
transfer)
Reputational (eg engagements
with other partners)
Operational (eg travel
restrictions)
Legal / Jurisdiction (eg contract
management and enforcement)
Socio-Political (eg elections)
Quality Assurance (Eg local
recognition/regulatory issues)
Other (please specify)
*10 Contract Negotiations
Name of UoB lead negotiator on Contract
Summarise discussions which have taken place
with the University Contracts and Compliance
Officer
Status of Current Contract Negotiations
Proposed date for completion of Draft Contract
11 Relationship between On Campus and Off
Campus Provision
For Off campus proposals
Briefly summarise the discussions with the AGL for
the academic area involved.
If this is a proposal to franchise please state the on
campus programme being franchised in whole or
part.
If this is not a franchise, does UoB currently offer a
similar programme? If so please name
programme(s)
Comments
If UoB does not offer this or similar programmes on
campus what expertise does the University have to
ensure that academic standards and quality can be
adequately monitored and supported?
What are the implications if any for on campus
resources (including staff).
For On Campus Proposals
Briefly summarise the discussions with the Off
Campus Division.
Which off campus programmes, if any, might serve
currently or prospectively as feeders to the
proposed programme?
12
Next steps and timeline
Proposed Date of meeting with students to discuss development:
Proposed meeting of Programmes Committee for approval to proceed
to validation:
*Proposed Date of completing Final Draft of Contract with Partner:
Proposed Date of Planning Meeting:
Proposed Date of Validation Event:
Proposed Date for enrolment of first cohort for each proposed
programme (by which date the Chair must have signed off on validation
conditions:
Signature of the Executive Dean (or representative) for the On and Off-Campus Divisions indicating
that the submission has been approved to go to SPRDC for further consideration: Signed proposals
should be submitted by email to the Secretary to the SPRDC, at least 5 working days prior to the
relevant SPRDC meeting.
____________________________________________________
Date: _______________________________________
FOR USE BY SECRETARY TO THE SPRDC
This proposal has been consider by SPRDC at its meeting of _____________
Outcome
Indicate Principal Reason(s) for
outcome rejection or significant
conditions (see minutes for
further details).
Rejected
Decision Deferred pending consideration of key
points raised at the SPRDC meeting with the
proposal to be resubmitted at a future meeting,
Conditionally Approved for consideration by
Programmes Committee subject to specific
conditions being met and approved by the
SPRDC Chair or nominee
Approved for consideration by Programmes
Committee
(Subject to Institutional and/or Site Appraisal Report (for collaborative partnerships);
student minimum number guarantee per programme and Partner and University of
Bolton negotiated and agreed Total Fee Income to UOB per FTE, per programme)
Signed __________________________________ Date _______________
For use by Secretary to SPRDC
Copies to:
Date:
New SPRDC Submission Form – Revised Version 1
P McGhee, January 2015
PLEASE DO NOT DELETE THIS BLANK PAGE