Nottingham Trent University
Collaborative Business Evaluation - VS
VALIDATION SERVICE BUSINESS PLANNING PROCESS
TYPE OF PROPOSAL:
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NEW VALIDATED CENTRE
The business case form is initiated by the Collaborative Partnerships Office (CPO).
This proposal is for a new validated centre and it will always be considered in conjunction
with a separate form for each course proposal.
Contact: Julie Page, CPO, julie.page@ntu.ac.uk or telephone extension 88181 or Chris
Cox, CPO, christopher.j.cox@ntu.ac.uk or telephone extension 88196.
FULL BUSINESS CASE
Please use this form: when your outline proposal has received support from School
Executive (if proceeding under the streamlined process) and CMT and you have been
asked to undertake a fuller investigation
As the prospective partner is not asked for any further information at this stage CPO will
provide you with this form at the same time as the Outline form
School action: Please attach the earlier, outline, proposal to this form, to save the need
to repeat information. This form is set out as a continuation of the Outline Form.
G. About the proposal – please contact CPO to enquire if they have had any
changes notified to them by the Centre
Centre Name
G1
Has anything in the outline proposal changed since it was completed?
☐ Yes ☐ No If yes, please give details:
H.
Financial appraisal and due diligence – to be completed by the College
Finance and Planning Manager
H1
Further Education Colleges only. FECs are subject to a standard financial
schedule and the fees are set and reviewed on an annual basis by CPO.
For new FECs a copy of the charges will be attached. For FEC proposals
questions H3 to H6 do not apply.
H2
For new centres due diligence is required at Centre level. The due
diligence document should be attached to this business case.
Due diligence is attached
Outsourced Due Diligence is required 1
Financial evaluation report is attached
Financial risk assessment (PARAT) is attached
H3
Specific considerations
a.
Income structure
☐ Yes ☐ No
☐ Yes ☐ Not required
☐ Yes ☐ No
☐ Yes ☐ No
Is in the evaluation?
☐ Yes ☐ No
1
Where outsourced due diligence is required, the full business case (with associated external due diligence
costs) should be considered by CMT and given “in principal” sign off, before an external agency is employed.
CMT will then consider the findings of the outsourced due diligence separately.
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Nottingham Trent University
b.
Collaborative Business Evaluation - VS
Cost structure:
(i)
☐ Yes ☐ No
Initial set up
(ii) Annual verification (number of annual visits)
(iii) Review costs
(iv) Other professional fees
c.
Academic and support staff time
☐ Yes ☐ No
H4
What is the current status of the negotiations with the Centre regarding
the Financial Schedule?
H5
Has the standard Financial Schedule for Validation Service been used – if
not please state why?
H6
What are the legal and tax implications of trading in this Country?
H7
Additional comments (if needed)
College Finance and Planning Manager action: having completed section F above,
please forward this form and attachments to the Administrator to the Dean for the
School Executive Agenda
Streamlined sign-off: if this business case was approved at outline stage to go
forward using the streamlined business sign-off process, please provide the Dean with
the signed form and attachments and proceed directly to Gate 4 - College Management
Team.
Gate
3
School Executive appraisal
I1
Purpose: Based on the full business evaluation, should this proposal be approved
for academic approval?
Prompts for consideration:
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Does the proposal still fit with the School’s collaborative strategic plan?
Does the proposal still fit with the NTU Collaborative Strategy, and for
overseas proposals, the College Internationalisation Plan and NTU
Internationalisation Strategy?
For overseas proposals, can the School confirm the host country is
considered financially stable, ethically sound and safe for traveling staff at
this time? (It is recognised that this could change post validation).
Is the supporting evidence complete and convincing?
Has the Centre evidenced a market? Please refer to Business Evaluation
forms for each course proposal.
Can the School resource this development, i.e. provide a verifier(s)?
Can this additional work be covered by an existing verifier or are new ones
required?
Can the verifier(s) be available to visit at the time of the Exam Board (is it a
busy time at NTU)?
Will cover be required while the verifier(s) is visiting the centre, for the
required period of time?
Can the School confirm that the verifier(s) can commit time to other related
verifying duties, in addition to the visit. For example, report writing, reading
CSQRs, commenting on EE nominations, attending VSSC when necessary,
CBE-A2 (Sept 2014)
Nottingham Trent University
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Collaborative Business Evaluation - VS
attending the Verifier Annual Meeting and the biennial Collaborative Partners
Conference.
Can the School confirm all financial negotiations have taken place and
agreed by both parties?
Can the School confirm due diligence has taken place and is satisfactory?
How does the School prioritise this proposal, relative to other developments?
Does the timescale for development look feasible?
I2
Comments
I3
Decision (please select one)
I4
☐ Reject
☐ Approve proposal to go forward to College Management Team
☐ No decision possible: rework required - please give details of missing
information
Date of meeting
I5
Signed (Chair)
Administrator action: Please ensure the above box is completed and signed and that
the decision is recorded in the minutes. Please provide the Dean with a copy of the
form and advise stakeholders of the decision.
Stakeholder
Information they need
How to advise
Dean
Record of decision
Minutes
Action needed
Original signed form
Record of decision
Minutes - please email
CPO
CPOcollaborativesignoff@ntu.ac.uk
Dean action: If the proposal is approved, please forward the business case to CMT and
request an agenda item for you to present the proposal.
Gate
4
College Management Team appraisal
J1
Purpose: To evaluate whether, and when, this proposal can be made operational.
Assumption: That the School has appropriately assessed the case.
Prompts for consideration:
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J2
Does the proposal continue to fit with College and University objectives?
Are any new implications for College or University apparent?
Can the College support the development timescales?
Are College resources needed in order to progress? Can these be supported?
Does this proposal warrant priority, in relation to other course proposals?
Comments
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Nottingham Trent University
J3
Collaborative Business Evaluation - VS
Decision (please select one)
☐ Reject
☐ Approve proposal to go forward to the University Internationalisation
Committee (for overseas centres only)
☐ Approve proposal to go forward to the University Executive Team (for UK
centres only)
J4
Date of meeting
J5
Signed (Chair)
Administrator action: Please ensure the above box is completed and signed and that
the decision is recorded in the minutes. Please provide the Head of College with a copy
of the form and advise stakeholders of the decision.
Stakeholder
Information they need
How to advise
Head of College
Record of decision
Minutes
Action needed
Original signed form
Dean
Record of decision
Minutes
College Finance and Planning
Manager
Record of decision
Minutes
CPO
Record of decision
Minutes - please email
CPOcollaborativesignoff@ntu.ac.uk
Head of College action:
Overseas proposals: If the proposal is approved, please forward the business case to the
University Internationalisation Committee (UIC) and request an agenda item to present
the proposal.
UK proposals: If the proposal is approved, please forward the business case to the
University Executive Team (UET).
Gate
5
University Internationalisation Committee appraisal. OVERSEAS proposals only.
K1
Purpose: To evaluate whether, and when, this proposal can be made operational.
Assumption: That the College has appropriately assessed the case.
Prompts for consideration:

Does the proposal fit with the University’s internationalisation strategy?
K2
Comments
K3
Decision (please select one)
☐ Reject – proposal should still be submitted to the University Executive
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Nottingham Trent University
Collaborative Business Evaluation - VS
Team
☐ Recommend proposal be submitted to the University Executive Team
K4
Date of meeting
K5
Signed (Chair)
Administrator action: Please record the decision on this form and in the minutes.
Please provide the Head of College with the minutes and a signed copy of the form
(including SEG and CMT), and advise stakeholders of the decision.
Stakeholder
Information they need
How to advise
Chair of UIC
Record of decision
Minutes
Head of College
Record of decision
Minutes
Action needed
Original signed form
Dean
Record of decision
Minutes
College Finance and Planning
Manager
Record of decision
Minutes
CPO
Record of decision
Minutes - please email
CPOcollaborativesignoff@ntu.ac.uk
Head of College action: If the proposal is recommended for approval, please forward
the business case to UET and request an agenda item for you to present the proposal.
You will be asked to present a summary of discussions following full consideration of the
proposal at SEG, CMT and UIC. Overseas proposals are presented to UET with UIC
recommendations both positive and negative.
Gate
6
University Executive Team appraisal
L1
Purpose: To evaluate whether, and when, this proposal can be made operational.
Assumption: That the School and College have fully considered and appropriately
assessed the case and UIC (where appropriate) have assessed the case.
Prompts for consideration:
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Does the proposal fit with College and University objectives?
Can the College support the development timescales?
Are College resources are needed in order to progress? Can these be
supported?
L2
Comments
L3
Decision (please select one)
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CBE-A2 (Sept 2014)
Nottingham Trent University
Collaborative Business Evaluation - VS
☐ Reject
☐ Approve to proceed: begin academic approval
L4
Date of meeting
L5
Signed (Chair)
Administrator action: Please ensure UET has signed the form to confirm the decision
and record in the minutes. Please advise the stakeholders and provide CPO with the
signed form
Stakeholder
Information they need
How to advise
Record of decision
Minutes
Record of decision
Extract of minutes and completed
form signed at all stages.
UET
UIC (overseas only)
Head of College - CMT
Dean - School Executive
College Finance and Planning Manager
Legal Services (Tracy Landon)
CPO
Advise the validated
centre of the outcome.
Advise CADQ to
commence academic
approval.
CADQ
Record of decision
Instruction to commence
academic approval.
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Please email
CPOcollaborativesignoff@ntu.ac.uk
and send hard copies to CPO,
Dryden 202
Minutes – please email
NTUbusinesscasesignoff@ntu.ac.uk
CBE-A2 (Sept 2014)