Buckinghamshire New University
VALIDATION FORM 06:
EXTERNAL APPROVAL (ACADEMIC)
SECTION A: NOMINATION DETAILS
Note: This section should be completed by the Lead Academic Sponsor or by AQD.
Validation Proposal
Enter the full title of the validation proposal for which
approval is being sought.
Lead Academic Sponsor
Enter the name of the Lead Academic Sponsor.
Lead Academic Contact Details
Please provide a contact email address for the Lead
Academic for any correspondence from the External.
External Approver Details
Title
Please enter the title of the External Academic.
Last Name
Please enter the last name of the External Academic.
First Name(s)
Please enter the full name of the External Academic.
Current Role
Please enter details of the External Academic’s current role.
Place of Work
Enter their Place of Work.
Address
Please enter the postal address.
Town/City, County, Postcode
Please enter the town/city, County and Postcode.
Telephone Number
Please enter your home or mobile telephone number.
Email Address
Enter a current contact email address. This is the address to
which document will be sent in electronic format.
Guidance Notes
The contribution from external experts (academic/professional) is extremely important in terms of
assisting with the validation process through making comparisons with similar provision at other
institutions and ensuring that students are appropriately prepared for future career development. The
University operates an iterative process of external review, whereby externals are consulted
throughout the period of curriculum development and feedback is incorporated into the documentation
as it develops.
External academics are asked to report on:
 Academic Standards – comparability with similar provision elsewhere in the UK HE sector;
 Programme coherence and depth of provision – evidence of student progression and level of
challenge;
 Teaching delivery – suitability of assessment;
 Human and physical resources – including validity of employee expertise;
 Faculty specific questions;
 Any other comments on any aspect of the documentation or validation process.
External reviewers who complete and return a completed external approval pro-forma will be entitled
to claim an honorarium payment. This payment will be made directly by the faculty as per the
standard payroll procedures using the form provided.
Programme Name
Faculty Name
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Validation: External Approval (Academic)
Buckinghamshire New University
SECTION B: EXTERNAL REVIEW
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This section should be completed by the External. Please type the form.
Externals are asked to review the documents presented and provide detailed comments in the
areas below. Where possible, please indicate reference to the documentation.
Once completed please print and sign the form and return it to the Approval & Review Team in
the University Academic Quality Directorate at the address indicated at the end of the form.
Academic Standards
Please check one box per question by double-clicking in the boxes provided.
Does the course meet the required standard for an award of the level
indicated in the Framework for Higher Education Qualifications (FHEQ)?
Yes
No
Does the proposal meet the relevant subject benchmark standards and/or
requirements?
Yes
No
For awards where PSRB accreditation is being sought, are the relevant PSRB
requirements addressed in the documentation?
Yes
No
Please provide detailed comment on your judgement above. Where a programme does not meet the
standards expected, please detail the changes required.
Programme Coherence
Does the course as presented constitute a coherent and balanced programme
of study?
Yes
No
Do the Programme Learning Outcomes map to the stated Educational Aims?
Yes
No
Is academic progression between and within levels evident and appropriate?
Yes
No
Are the stated credit sizes for modules consistent and appropriate?
(Note: 1 credit = 10 notional learning hours)
Yes
No
Does the programme provide a suitable level of challenge?
Yes
No
Please provide detailed comment on your judgement above. Where a programme does not meet the
standards expected, please detail the changes required.
Programme Name
Faculty Name
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Validation: External Approval (Academic)
Buckinghamshire New University
Teaching Delivery
Are the proposed Teaching and Learning and Assessment Strategies suitable
for the attainment of the Programme Learning Outcomes
Yes
No
Is the weighting between different types of assessment on the programme
(e.g. coursework, examination) suitable and appropriate?
Yes
No
Are the assessment regimes (e.g. duration/format of examination/word length)
for modules appropriate to the nature of the course?
Yes
No
Are the core resources identified for modules (key texts, journals, websites)
acceptable and sufficiently up to date?
Yes
No
Please provide detailed comment on your judgement above. Where a programme does not meet the
standards expected, please detail the changes required.
Human and Physical Resources
Are the staff team suitably qualified and experienced to deliver the programme
successfully at the level of qualification specified
Yes
No
Are the staff numbers adequate to ensure that the course is appropriately
supported?
Yes
No
Is there evidence of adequate technical, administrative and other support
staff?
Yes
No
Are the physical resources available (course accommodation, general and
specialist equipment, library, IT) sufficient to ensure successful delivery of the
programme?
Yes
No
Please provide detailed comment on your judgement above. Where a programme does not meet the
standards expected, please detail the changes required.
Programme Name
Faculty Name
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Validation: External Approval (Academic)
Buckinghamshire New University
Faculty Specific Questions
Where the Curriculum Development Team has requested additional guidance please enter that
information here.
Previous, current or ongoing contact with the Curriculum Development Team
Please indicate any previous, current or ongoing contact with the Curriculum Development Team.
Any other comments
Please add any additional comments you would like to make on this Validation Proposal here. Please
also feel free to make any comments on how Bucks New University could improve its Validation
Process.
Confidence Statement
I am confident that the proposal as presented is of an appropriate
standard and content and is suitable for delivery to students
Signed:
Yes
No
Date:
Please return to: The lead academic sponsor via the contact details listed at the top of this document and the
Senior Registrar, Approval & Review Team, via validation@bucks.ac.uk
Programme Name
Faculty Name
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Validation: External Approval (Academic)
Buckinghamshire New University
SECTION C: FACULTY RESPONSE
FOR FACULTY USE ONLY
The Lead Academic Sponsor should detail below how and where the comments made by the External
above have been incorporated into the documentation (if applicable).
Please detail your response to any issues raised in the report. Please make it clear for readers which
comments you are addressing.
Lead Academic Sponsor Signature:
Date:
© 2015 Buckinghamshire New University
Programme Name
Faculty Name
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Validation: External Approval (Academic)