THE SENATE
PATHWAY APPROVAL REPORT
(Core and/or Franchised Provision)
An Confirmed report of the event held on 6th May 2009 to consider
the approval of the following pathways:
BSc (Hons) Psychological Studies
BSc Psychological Studies
Dip HE Psychological Studies
Cert HE Psychological Studies
Faculty of Science and Technology
Delivery of Pathways at Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge
Campus
Quality Assurance Division
SECTION A – OUTCOME SUMMARY
1.
INTRODUCTION
1.1
The purpose of the event was to consider the approval and/or franchise of the BSc (Hons) /
BSc / Dip HE / Cert HE Psychological Studies framework award.
.
1.2
The pathways will be located in the Department of Psychology in the Faculty of Science
and Technology. This new Psychology pathway has been designed as a degree
programme for students who are unable to continue on Psychology pathways, because of
failure in compulsory modules. Currently students transfer to the framework award BSc
(Hons) Life Sciences, but this new pathway would allow them to transfer to a named
Psychology award. It is a non-accredited degree and contains no compulsory modules
1.
CONCLUSIONS
2.1
The Panel recommends to the Senate the approval and/or franchise of the following
pathway/pathways:




BSc (Hons)Psychological Studies
BSc Psychological Studies
Dip HE Psychological Studies
Cert HE Psychological Studies
Approval, once confirmed, will be for an indefinite period, subject to Anglia Ruskin’s
continuing quality assurance procedures. Delivery will be by full or part time study.
2.2
The Panel recommends to the Senate the approval of one new and 23 amended modules
for delivery. The full title of the new module is provided in section D of this report.
2.3
Conditions
Approval is subject to the following conditions which were set by the Panel. A copy of the
response must be lodged with the Executive Officer by the date(s) detailed below:
2.5.1
2.4
Details of Condition
Deadline
Response to
be considered
by
The Proposal Team shall address the issues
detailed in the technical report and submit
electronic final versions of the Pathway
Specification Forms (PSFs) and any new and/or
revised Module Definition Forms (MDFs);
3rd June 2009
Executive
Officer and
Chair
Recommendations
The following recommendations for quality enhancement were made by the Panel. A copy
of the responses to the recommendations listed below must be lodged with the Executive
Officer. The Faculty Board for the Faculty of Science and Technology will consider the
responses at its meeting of 5th October 2009:
Details of Recommendation
Quality Assurance Division
2
Deadline
Draft/Unconfirmed/Confirmed
2.6.1
2.5
To provide a monitoring system to ensure appropriate supervision
is available to students in their final dissertation
7th September
2009
Issues Referred to the Senate (or appropriate standing committee)
The Panel did not identify any institution-wide issues as requiring the attention of the
Senate or appropriate standing committee.
SECTION B – DETAIL OF DISCUSSION AND PANEL CONCLUSIONS
3
RATIONALE
3.1
Within the Psychology Department there are three single honours psychology degrees
which are accredited by the British Psychological Society. BSc (Hons) Psychology, BSc
(Hons) Health Psychology and BSc (Hons) Sports Psychology. This new Psychological
Studies pathway is designed as a degree programme for students who are unable to
continue of the Psychology pathways, because of failure in compulsory modules. Currently
students transfer to the framework award BSc Hons Life Sciences, but this new pathway
will allow them to transfer to a named psychology award
4
CURRICULUM DESIGN, CONTENT AND DELIVERY
4.1
In terms of the design of the curriculum the Panel was interested to learn why the current
Life Sciences framework award was no longer considered suitable. The team explained
that the inadequacy of the current title acted as a barrier to employment.
4.2
The team explained to the panel the method of transfer on to the current framework award
and confirmed the process would remain the same. For transfer onto the new
pathway
4.3
The panel queried the QAA statement within the documentation and the team confirmed
this would be updated to the current version.
5
ASSESSMENT STRATEGY
.
5.1
The Panel was satisfied with the information provided within the proposal documentation
relating to the assessment strategy for the pathway and as such did not raise any issues
with the team on this
6
STAFFING, LEARNING RESOURCES AND STUDENT SUPPORT
6.1
The panel enquired whether the team felt they had adequate resources for the provision of
this pathway. The team confirmed adequate laboratory provision and that given the low
student numbers anticipated for this pathway (3 – 5) there would be no additional pressure
on resources
Quality Assurance Division
3
Draft/Unconfirmed/Confirmed
10.1
6.2
The panel was concerned as to how much support students would be given in connection
with their final dissertation. A discussion between the panel and the team confirmed
support is currently in place but the pathway leader would keep this under review and
additional support would be available if required
7
QUALITY ASSURANCE AND ENHANCEMENT
7.1
The Panel was satisfied with the information provided within the proposal documentation
relating to quality assurance and enhancement and as such did not raise any issues with
the team on this area.
8
DOCUMENTATION
8.1
It was noted that the Technical Report contained a number of minor amendments to the
MDFs and PSF that were required as a standard condition of approval. The Proposal Team
agreed to amend the documentation accordingly, prior to submitting final definitive
versions.
9
MISCELLANEOUS
9.1
The panel enquired whether any discussions had taken place with collaborative partners.
The team confirmed that none has at present but this has been built in as part of the
approval process because of the joint faculty venture some modules may be delivered
overseas
10
CONFIRMATION OF STANDARDS OF AWARDS
The Panel confirmed that the proposed BSc (Hons) / BSc / Dip HE / Cert HE
Psychological Studies framework pathways satisfied the University’s Academic
Regulations with regard to the definitions and academic standards of Anglia Ruskin
awards and, hence, the QAA’s Framework for Higher Education Qualifications.
DRAFT
UNCONFIRMED
CONFIRMED
FILE REF
OFFICE FILE REF
Quality Assurance Division
4
18th May 2009
1st June 2009
30th June 2009
Draft/Unconfirmed/Confirmed
SECTION C – DETAILS OF PANEL MEMBERSHIP AND PROPOSAL TEAM
Chair
Internal Panel Members:
John Fairhurst
Associate Dean (Student Experience) and Head of Anglia Law
School.
Faculty of Arts Law and Social Sciences
Patricia Brown,
Programme Leader, Acute Care Department (CPD)
Faculty of Health and Social Care.
Miguel Mera
Principal Lecturer Popular Music
Faculty of Arts Law and Social Sciences
External Panel Members:
Gareth Williams
Senior Lecturer Psychology
Nottingham Trent University
Executive Officer:
Vicky McCormick
Faculty Quality Assurance Officer
Faculty of Arts Law and Social Sciences
Technical Officer:
Alex Toole
Academic Regulations Officer
Members of Proposal Team:
Rachel Cook
Principal Lecturer in Health Psychology
Faculty of Science and Technology
John Lambie
Senior Lecturer Psychology
Faculty of Science and Technology
Matt Bristow
Senior Lecturer Psychology
Faculty of Science and Technology
Quality Assurance Division
5
Draft/Unconfirmed/Confirmed
SECTION D – OUTCOME DATA
Programme
Department
Faculty
Collaborative Partner
New/amended Awards
Approved (nb intended awards
Psychological Studies
Psychology
Faculty of Science and Technology
N/A
Title(s) of Named Pathway(s)
Attendance mode
and duration
only, not intermediate awards)
BSc (Hons)
Psychological Studies
3 Years full time
/part time taught
delivery
3 Years full time
/part time taught
delivery
BSc
Psychological Studies
Dip HE
Psychological Studies
3 Years full time
/part time taught
delivery
Cert HE
Psychological Studies
3 Years full time
/part time taught
delivery
Validating body (if not Anglia Ruskin University)
Professional body accreditation
Proposal Team Leader
Month and Year of the first intake
Standard intake points
Maximum and minimum student numbers
Date of first Conferment of Award(s)
Any additional/specialised wording to appear on
transcript and/or award certificate
Date of next scheduled Periodic Review
Awards and Titles to be deleted (with month/year of last
regular conferment)
N/A
N/A
Rachel Cooke
September 2009
240
N/A
September 2009
N/A
As per Departmental Schedule
N/A
NEW MODULES APPROVED
Psychology Dissertation
Quality Assurance Division
6
Draft/Unconfirmed/Confirmed
FOR FRANCHISE APPROVALS ONLY: LIST OF MODULE TUTORS AND MODULE CODES & TITLES
(FOR INCLUSION IN THE REGISTER OF TEACHING STAFF)
Not Applicable
Quality Assurance Division
7
Draft/Unconfirmed/Confirmed