THE SENATE
PATHWAY APPROVAL REPORT
(Core and/or Franchised Provision)
A Confirmed report of the event held on 27th May 2009 to consider
the approval of the following pathways:
HNC Computer Science
BSc (Hons) Computer Gaming and Animation Technology
Faculty of Science and Technology
Delivery of Pathways at Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge
and
Delivery of HNC Computer Science at University Centre Kings Lynn
and Huntingdonshire Regional College.
Delivery of BSc(Hons) Computer Gaming and Animation Technology
at Limkokwing Borneo and Limkokwing Malaysia.
Quality Assurance Division
SECTION A – OUTCOME SUMMARY
1.
INTRODUCTION
1.1
The purpose of the event was to consider the re-approval of the HNC Computer Science
pathway, and BSc(Hons) Computer Gaming and Animation Technology (CGAT) pathway.
The re-approval of the HNC Computer Science pathway has been brought about by
changes to modules which are shared across other Computer Science pathways within the
department. The re- approval of the BSc(Hons) Computer Gaming and Animation
Technology (CGAT) pathway has been brought about by changes to existing modules
within the pathway, the introduction of three new modules and changes to shared modules
across other pathways within the department.
1.2
The pathways will be located in the Department of Computing and Technology in the
Faculty of Science and Technology.
1.
CONCLUSIONS
2.1
The Panel recommends to the Senate the approval and/or franchise of the following
pathways:


HNC Computer Science;
BSc (Hons) Computer Gaming and Animation Technology (CGAT);
Approval, once confirmed, will be for an indefinite period, subject to Anglia Ruskin’s
continuing quality assurance procedures.
The HNC in Computer Science will be delivered by part time attendance. The BSc (Hons)
Computer Gaming and Animation Technology (CGAT) will be delivered by full and part
time attendance.
2.2
The Panel recommends to the Senate the approval of three new modules for delivery. The
full titles of all new modules are 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:
Details of Condition
Deadline
Response to
be considered
by
2.5.1
The team shall revise the PSF’s and the MDF’s
in accordance with the Technical report and
resubmit electronically.
12th June
2009
Chair and
executive
officer
2.5.2
The team shall provide an updated student
handbook specifically designed for the BSc
ensuring the new regulations are reflected
appropriate and containing information about
widening participation and access.
12th June
2009
Chair and
executive
officer
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2.5.3
2.4
The team shall provide a commentary to
demonstrate clearly the articulation between the
BSc CGAT pathway and the QAA benchmark
statements.
12th June
2009
Chair and
executive
officer
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:
2.6.1
2.6.2
2.6.3
2.6.4
2.5
Details of Recommendation
The panel recommends the team establishes more contact with
Gaming Companies and strengthens links with industry to build
into the curriculum.
The panel recommends the team work towards seeking
accreditation from the appropriate professional body ( British
computer Society/Skill set)
The panel recommends the team clearly specify the software in
use on the MDF’s and provide a commentary on how this will be
updated and maintained.
The panel recommends the team provide a commentary which
articulates the Computer Gaming and Animation Technology
pathway to market needs and how this provides guidance for
students considering their future careers.
Deadline
7th September
2009
7th September
2009
7th September
2009
7th September
2009
Issues Referred to the Senate (or appropriate standing committee)
The Panel identified no institution-wide issues as requiring the attention of the Senate or
any standing committee of the Senate:
Quality Assurance Division
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Draft/Unconfirmed/Confirmed
SECTION B – DETAIL OF DISCUSSION AND PANEL CONCLUSIONS
3
RATIONALE
3.1
HNC Computer science forms part of a number of subsets of the BSc (Hons) Computer
Science pathway and is delivered part time at core Anglia and partner colleges. The
pathways has been running in various forms since the early 1980’s and continues to recruit
well from local industry within North Cambridgeshire, and from RAF bases within the
region. The re-approval of the pathway has been brought about by changes to modules
which are shared across other Computer Science pathways within the department
3.2
The BSc (Hons) Computer Gaming and Animation Technology (CGAT) has been running
since 2006. A student cohort of 22 was recruited for 2008/09 and expected student
numbers for 2009/10 are 25 – 30. The course provides a broad range of skills enabling
students to develop within the computer gaming field as well as other industries, such as
education or media, where interactive digital content is required
3.3
Some modules within the CGAT pathway are shared with BSc (Hons) Computer Science,
and the re- approval of the BSc (Hons) Computer Gaming and Animation Technology
(CGAT) pathway has been brought about by changes to existing modules within the
pathway, the introduction of three new modules and changes to shared modules across
other pathways within the department.
3.4
The CGAT pathway fits well in the offerings from the Computing and Technology
department as the technical and programming knowledge from the computer science
pathway compliments expertise in digital effects in audio and visual media from other
pathways. This enables students to mix with students from other pathways and have a
greater range of shared options.
4
CURRICULUM DESIGN, CONTENT AND DELIVERY
4.1
The Panel was interested to learn of the rationale for offering a combination of computer
gaming and programming within the BSc Computer Gaming and Animation pathway. The
Team explained that programming is embedded in the pathway and combining this with the
artistic element allows students to understand the programming requirements for gaming
and animation.
4.2
In terms of the design of the curriculum the Panel was interested to learn of the types of
employment available to graduates. The Team gave a detailed explanation of how the
course operates over the three levels and explained that employability varied as the exit
route depends on the specialist choices students make at level 3.
4.3
The Panel enquired how Personal Development Planning fitted into the curriculum and the
Team explained a high level of support was offered through the Personal Tutoring System.
4.4
The Team made reference to the Employer Advisory group within their proposal
documentation and the Panel asked for more detail on the make up and purpose of this
board. The Pathway leader was able to confirm he chaired the board which represents
approximately 20 local business including the British Computer Society, Microsoft Network
and Kodak. The Pathway leader confirmed the purpose of the board is to ensure the
curriculum design is addressing employer needs.
4.5
External Panel Members discussed their concerns relating to software provision and in
particular 3D Max 2008. A discussion was held relating to the types of software used on
the course and the Team was able to reassure the Panel that software is up to date.
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4.6
The Panel was impressed with the elements within the Professional Issues module in
particular the professional and ethical issues and inquired whether these were embedded
elsewhere within the course. The Team confirmed these were embedded in level 1
modules, group working and within Personal Development Planning ( PDP)
4.7
External panel members suggested the Team reconsider the title of the module
“Introduction to Electronic Content Origination” as they felt the name does not adequately
reflect the content.
5
ASSESSMENT STRATEGY
5.1
The Panel noted that the CGAT pathway is also delivered at Limkokwing University in
Borneo and enquired how the Team ensures consistency of delivery and parity of learning
opportunities for students overseas. The Team explained that that there were already
mechanisms in place to ensure a consistent approach to delivery and gave a brief outline
of the process which involves sample scripts being sent to the module leader at Core
Anglia where second marking takes place prior to being checked by the external examiner
and signed off by the Department Assessment Panel( DAP). The Panel was satisfied with
the explanation.
5.2
The Panel welcomed the variety of assessment elements and discussed with the Team
how the assessment structure reflects Industry expectations.
6
STAFFING, LEARNING RESOURCES AND STUDENT SUPPORT
6.1
Panel members enquired how much Gaming expertise from the Industry was available to
students. The Team explained they have regular guest speakers and confirmed some part
time lecturers have industry experience. Industry experience would be a prerequisite for
the forthcoming appointment of a new member of.
6.2
The Panel was interested to learn of the Department’s use of “Moodle” and enquired how
long it would take to have the system up and running if the WebCT Virtual Learning
Environment were to fail. The Team provided a demonstration which confirmed to the panel
the system could be used immediately if required.
7
QUALITY ASSURANCE AND ENHANCEMENT
7.1
The panel expressed concern in relation to the omission of any reference to the QAA
benchmark statements within the CGAT proposal documentation. The Team explained
they had taken a “light touch” approach as the pathway is already running and the learning
outcomes set out in the original approval documentation have not changed. As the original
documentation was not available the Panel was unable to comment and requested that as
a condition of approval the Team provide a commentary to demonstrate clearly the
articulation between the BSc CGAT pathway and the QAA benchmark statements.
8
NATIONAL, PROFESSIONAL AND STATUTORY BODY REQUIREMENTS
8.1
The Panel advised the team to consider seeking accreditation from the appropriate
professional body (BCS/Skillset) as the Panel felt this would enhance the course and
provide clarity of purpose for the students.
Quality Assurance Division
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Draft/Unconfirmed/Confirmed
9
DOCUMENTATION
9.1
The Panel had highlighted some minor issues with regard to the Student Handbook. In
general, the Panel felt that the handbooks needed to more accurately reflect the Anglia
Ruskin document ‘Guidance on the Contents of a Student Handbook’ with particular
reference to the new regulations and information about widening participation and access
and that the Team should ensure that any revisions to the content of the curriculum were
replicated in the handbooks. The Panel therefore determined that the submission of final
versions of the handbooks be a condition of approval. The Team agreed to revise the
handbooks in line with the comments of the Panel contained in the checklist of issues and
the University guidance.
9.2
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.
10
CONFIRMATION OF STANDARDS OF AWARDS
10.1
The Panel confirmed that the proposed HNC Computer Science and BSc(Hons)
Computer Gaming and Animation Technology pathways satisfy 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
UNCINFIRMED
CONFIRMED
FILE REF
OFFICE FILE REF
Quality Assurance Division
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11th June 2009
24th June 2009
30th June 2009
Draft/Unconfirmed/Confirmed
SECTION C – DETAILS OF PANEL MEMBERSHIP AND PROPOSAL TEAM
Internal Panel Members:
Christine Roostan (Chair)
Lead Midwife for Education
Faculty of Health and Social Care
Sue Kerr
Programme Leader/Deputy Head, Mental Health & Learning
Disabilities
Faculty of Health and Social Care
External Panel Members:
Mr. Nigel Newbutt
Senior Lecturer in Animation and Multimedia
University of Greenwich
Andreas Oikonomou
Lecturer in Computer Games
University of Derby
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:
Ian Oxford
Principal Lecturer Computer Science; Deputy Head Computing and
Technology
Faculty of Science & Technology
Mike Hobbs
Senior Lecturer Computing
Faculty of Science & Technology
Marie Gordon
Senior Lecturer Computing
Faculty of Science & Technology
Quality Assurance Division
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Draft/Unconfirmed/Confirmed
SECTION D – OUTCOME DATA
Programme
Department
Faculty
Collaborative Partner
Computer Science
Deartment of Computing and Technology
Faculty of Science & Technology
Delivery of HNC Computer Science University Centre Kings
Lynn and Huntingdonshire Regional College. Delivery of
BSc(Hons) Computer Gaming and Animation Technology at
Limkokwing Borneo and Limkokwing Malaysia.
New/amended Awards
Approved (nb intended awards
Title(s) of Named Pathway(s)
Attendance mode
and duration
HNC
Computer Science
2 year part time
BSc(Hons)
Computer Gaming and Animation technology
3 year full and part
time
only, not intermediate awards)
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
Ian Oxford HNC Computer Science, Mike
Hobbs BSc (Hons) Computer Gaming and
Animation
September 2009
HNC Computer Science 80 Points
BSc (Hons) Computer Gaming and Animation
Technology 150 Points
15 Minimum No Maximum
July 2010
N/A
As per departmental schedule
N/A
NEW MODULES APPROVED
EJ115033S Introduction to Programming
EJ115034S Software Development
EJ215***S Object Oriented C++
Quality Assurance Division
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Draft/Unconfirmed/Confirmed
FOR FRANCHISE APPROVALS ONLY: LIST OF MODULE TUTORS AND MODULE CODES & TITLES
(FOR INCLUSION IN THE REGISTER OF TEACHING STAFF)
Name of Teaching Staff
Module Code & Title
NB Copies of CVs of Module Leaders at partner institutions to be provided to Sharon Simpson with a copy
of the full report
Quality Assurance Division
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Draft/Unconfirmed/Confirmed