UNCONFIRMED
HUGSC/3/11
Faculty of Humanities
Teaching and Learning Undergraduate Programme Approvals Sub-Committee
Minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday 23 May 2012, from 3 – 5pm, Ken Kitchen, John Owens
Building
Present:
Dr Chris Davies (AD, TL&S); Dr Sharon Clarke (MBS); Dr James Garratt (SAHC); Nicola
Lord (QAE Administrator); Lisa McAleese (Senior Taught Programmes Administrator);
Emma Rose (Senior QAE Administrator); Emma Sanders (Secretary); Dr Diane Slaouti
(Education); Dr. Graham Smith (Law); Dr Fiona Smyth (SED).
By Invitation:
Dr. Maura Duffy
Prof. Martin Evans
Mrs. Sophie Garside
Dr. Ian McGuire
Prof. Miguel Martinez Lucio
Apologies:
Professor Yoram Gorlizki (SoSS); Dr. Barbara Lebrun (SLLC); Dr Alyssa Phillips
(Combined Studies), Mr Nick Pringle (Humanities Student Representative).
1.
ref: Item No. 5.1
ref: Item No. 5.2
ref: Item No. 6.1
ref. Item No. 6.2
ref. Item No. 6.3
Minutes of the last Meeting of 15 February 2012 [HUGSC/2/11]
APPROVED.
2.
Matters Arising from the Minutes
2.1
(p4) Lisa McAleese had discussed how to introduce text messages as means of communication
with the student body at the meeting of the Teaching and Learning Administrators Network on 8
March 2012.
2.2
(p7) Arising from minute 6.4 – BA (Hons) Language, Literacy and Communication
The HEAR statement for this programme should be amended as a result of the change to
programme title and structure. Action: Diane Slaouti and Nicola Lord
2.3
(p9) Arising from minute 12 – A.O.B
TLO had still to confirm what evidence of student consultation should be required as part of the
programme approval/amendment process. Action: Emma Rose and Emma Sanders
NPP1 Programme Approvals “in principle”
3.
None received.
NPP2 Programme Approvals “in full”
4.
5.1
BSc (Intercalated) Global Health (SAHC) [HUGSC/3/11/5.1]
Maura Duffy (HCRI) spoke to the proposal:
Questions from the committee:
i)
The Programme Regulations in the Programme Specification (pp6-8) proposed a longer
programme period than usual – from Sept to the following Sept, to allow sufficient time for
introductory units in Global Health, plus research training and completion of the 30cr Dissertation
in 2 Semesters. Essentially, the students would follow a PGT cohort in terms of September
submission for December graduation.
Secretary’s Note:
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Carol Rowlinson, T&L Manager in Life Sciences, confirmed that the BSc (Intercalated) Anatomy does not
set a precedent by having a longer programme period: students complete a 40 credit project, commenced
in Semester 1 and submitted at the end of Semester 1 in early May, for standard Summer graduation.
Kenny Borland, Intercalated Programmes Manager in Manchester Medical School, confirmed that it is not
possible to be registered for 2 degrees at the same time, and all students on undergraduate intercalated
programmes graduate in July.
Dr Iain Brassington advised that the old BSc (Intercalated) Health Care Ethics and Law included a 20cr
dissertation of 10,000 words, submitted towards the end of May, which students wrote at the same time as
their Semester 2 essays. As this was quite challenging, the module “Ethical Decision-making”, which ran
over both semesters, required students in Semester 2 to give presentations based on their work-inprogress, at a rate of 1 or 2 a week. Everyone had 2 goes.
ii)
The word length of the 30cr Dissertation was inconsistent in the documentation, e.g. the
Dissertation course unit outline proposed 6,000-7,500 words. Faculty Guidance on UG
Dissertations was for 8-10,000 words for a 20cr dissertation or 10-12k for a 40cr dissertation. It
was agreed that 9-11,000 words should be appropriate for a 30cr Dissertation. Action Emma
Sanders (having confirmed with James Garratt and Maura Duffy).
The Programme Regulations in the Programme Specification (p8) should be revised to talk in
terms of numbers of credits rather than numbers of units.
The UoM new UG Regulations would allow special compensation on this programme, which will be
classified based on the weighted average of the 120 L6 units. (It was confirmed that all units on
the programme would be at Level 6).
p12 of the Programme Specification stated, “Generally each course comprises 8 lectures of 2
hours followed by a 1 hour seminar each week. This makes up 24 hours for each course unit.” It
was queried whether this was adequate, as SAHC had ruled that there should be a minimum of
30hrs contact at Level 6. It was confirmed that additional contact in the form of academic staff-led
planning seminars for workshops and presentations, the presentation and workshop sessions,
weekly office drop-in hours, scheduled meetings with academic staff (e.g. for advice on essay
plans or essay feedback) and individual tutorial sessions, and would total more than 30 hours per
unit.
iii)
iv)
v)
APPROVED subject to getting guidance on appropriate regulations from MHS and FLS.
Action: Emma Sanders to submit revised paperwork for approval, with email from James Garratt
confirming changes. Then make any necessary changes to Campus Solutions and notify relevant
parties.
5.2
MGeog (SED) [HUGSC/3/11/5.2]
Fiona Smyth and Martin Evans (Geography) spoke to the proposal:
Questions from the committee:
i)
The MGeog proposes that students must maintain an average mark of 60% each year, or transfer
to the BA or BSc because in line with the MHist and other Integrated Masters programmes.
ii) The proposal requires 60cr of new units, including 1 x 30cr bespoke unit, to be run by the
Programme Director as a “core”, Personal Tutor group.
iii) Appendix 1, the Handbook extract (p1, para 4, last sentence) is confusingly worded and should be
re-written. It means to explain that students can take 2 x units at a higher level with bespoke Mlevel assessment.
iv) The University Policy on Personalised Learning states that a student should normally keep the
same Academic Advisor through the programme. The MGeog proposes that students should be
assigned a new Academic Advisor in Level 4. It was confirmed that the Academic Advisor would
be the Programme Director and course tutor for the generic skills unit, so the intention was to
generate the feeling of a close knit Masters cohort.
APPROVED
Action: Nicola Lord to make any necessary amendments to Campus Solutions and notify relevant parties.
5.
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Programme Amendments
2
5.1
i. BA (Hons) Modern Middle Eastern History and Arabic (4 years) (SLLC)
Proposal to add Hebrew, Persian and Turkish as languages that may be studied with the existing
ME History curriculum, to create BA Hons Modern Middle Eastern History and a Middle Eastern
Language (with consequent Withdrawal of BA (Hons) Modern Middle Eastern History and Arabic).
ii. BA (Hons) Middle Eastern Studies (3 years) (SLLC)
Addition of a 4-year pathway in “Middle Eastern Studies and a Middle Eastern Language”, which
may involve Arabic, Hebrew, Persian, Turkish
Sophie Garside (MES) spoke to the proposals:
Reported:
All the course units required for the proposed “and a language” awards already exist. The new
language pathways would be “and” (rather than “with”) programmes due to incorporating a year
abroad.
It was noted that this model already existed in the form of the BA MMEH and Arabic.
The proposals were the result of research done by MES into what our competitors in the area of
Middle Eastern Studies are doing, in the context of the national increase in UG tuition fees from
2012. MES at Manchester wants a market share of what competitors are offering, and also wants
to offer programmes that are unique in the UK (e.g. combinations with Turkish).
Questions from the committee:
i)
ii)
iii)
iv)
v)
vi)
It was confirmed that the UG portfolio revision brought to committee a couple of years ago by MES
had reduced the number of units with <10 students considerably. The only units which still have
<10 students are language units.
The proposed UCAS profiles for these programmes say they are for absolute beginners. It was
queried why SLLC offered both Beginners and pre-intermediate units in Hebrew, Turkish and
Persian? They were for students from the wider university who may have some basic familiarity
with the language and wanted to build on it. Efficiencies were being made by the merging of LEAP
provision in Hebrew, Turkish and Persian with the mainstream language courses in MES from Sept
2012.
SLLC have a lot of programmes that recruit at lower than AAB, so form part of our quota under
Student Number Controls. MMEH will recruit at: AAA-BBB (MMEH). MES and ME Languages will
recruit at AAB-BBC.
It was noted that projected numbers are very low, but it is numbers on units that are a concern. All
units are running anyway.
In 2010 MES’ proposal was to consolidate the UG curriculum so that the programmes shared a
common core, to increase efficiencies and strengthen cohort identity and thereby improve student
satisfaction. The proposal will very likely return to the spreading of the MES cohort across a wide
range of small programmes, which risks damaging student satisfaction as measured by the NSS.
SLLC’s view was that all programmes shared the same, strong core, and that an increase in
student choice was a good thing.
It was confirmed that Year Abroad arrangements for Arabic, Persian, Turkish and Hebrew were
already in place for other programmes. Should the situation in the ME become unstable, MES had
years of experience of offering alternative study programmes in Manchester, if necessary. The
Study Abroad Unit – in liaison with MES - deal with students who are actually overseas when
there’s an emergency, e.g. they had done so during last year’s revolution in Egypt.
iii. BA Middle Eastern Languages (4 years) (SLLC)
Amendment to programme structure so that Turkish and Persian may not be taken in combination.
This was in consequence of the loss of lecturing staff in Persian and Turkish, meaning that
“content” units were no longer available for Persian or Turkish. Languages units remain. The only
remaining effect is a 10cr imbalance in combinations with Arabic.
Noted:
Intakes would be monitored by the usual Programme Healthchecks.
NSS results would be monitored in the usual way.
APPROVED
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Action: Emma Sanders to make necessary changes to Campus Solutions and notify relevant parties.
5.2
BA (Hons) English Literature (SAHC) [HUGSC/3/11/6.2]
Dr. Ian McGuire spoke to the proposal:
Reported:
The proposal was to create a new award BA (Hons) English Literature with Creative Writing, based
on existing units within the BA (Hons) English Literature, and requiring the creation of 1 new core
unit in Creative Writing at Level 1.
Questions from the Committee:
i)
ii)
iii)
iv)
v)
The pathway was expected to admit c. 12 – 15 students a year, although demand would be high. It
was expected to be a feeder programme for the MA Creative Writing.
Although programme intakes would be kept modest, the course units would still be open as options
to students on the BA English Literature (on a competitive basis, as at present). Seminars had to
be kept relatively small due to the workshop method of instruction, but larger numbers (around 40)
were accommodated through repeat teaching.
Entry grades were AAA-AAB.
It was suggested that a part-time route could be popular.
The new pathway required the creation of 1 x new core unit at Level 1 – “Introduction to
Creative Writing”. This would make the programme distinct from the BA (Hons) English
Literature.
APPROVED.
Action: Emma Sanders to liaise with Ian McGuire and Fiona Fraser about setting up a HEAR statement
for this new award, make any necessary amendments to Campus Solutions and notify relevant
parties.
5.3
BSc (Hons) Management; BSc Management (Accounting and Finance); BSc Management (Human
Resources); BSc Management International Business Economics); BSc Management
(International Studies); BSc Management (Marketing); BSc Management (Innovation, Sustainability
and Entrepreneurship; BSc (Hons) International Management; BSc (Hons) International
Management with American Business Studies (MBS) [HUGSC/3/11/6.3]
Prof. Miguel Martinez Lucio was in attendance to speak to HUGSC on behalf of PMO (People Management
and Organisations) Division in MBS about the proposal, which concerned the restructuring of Level 1:
One consequence of the proposed restructure of Level 1 was the removal of the 10 credit “Law in a
Management Context” Level 1, in favour of a new unit based on case studies.
PMO were unhappy about the manner of the Law unit’s removal, which they felt raised issues about
leadership and the management culture in MBS.
In sum:
 The QAA Subject Benchmark statement for General Business and Management (2007) says the
UG curriculum should include the legal context
 There had been inadequate debate between the 2 models put forward for the revised curriculum
(and a 3rd model proposed by PMO had not been considered at all)
 PMO felt that the academic rationale for the change was lacking – and had perceived a narrative
behind Model 1 that law had no place in a Business and Management degree
 Bought-in staff had been delivering “Law in a Management Context” for some time. The timescale
of the change had been too short, which had caused line management difficulties, which fell on
PMO to sort out.
 Brochure design and content for the programmes had not been discussed
Dr. Sharon Clarke was invited to respond:
In sum:
 The process of revising L1 had begun back in November 2010 with a small working group, which
was widened in March 2011 to include all UG Programme Directors
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

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MBS wanted to move from the current position where there are a limited number of options to a
fully-compulsory level 1. After level 1 the programme(s) are very flexible, allowing students to
pursue a variety of pathways, so a strong first year was desirable.
Discussions had been held to ensure appropriate balance and consistency in the UG curricula
Feedback from students had been incorporated into the proposed new curriculum by means of
focus groups. Students wanted case studies to be introduced to support skills development,
employability and personalisation
All relevant UG Programme Committees had been sent the proposals. Model 1 had received
support from all bar PMO, who objected to the removal of the 10cr core 1st Year “Law in a
Management Context”
No competitors offer law units at Level 1, and as Law was agreed to be the “least core” of the
subjects on offer at L1, it was agreed it should be offered as a 10cr option at L2. (Other divisions
have followed the model of making L1 units an option at L2).
Thus all existing law teaching will remain available to students, just not as part of the compulsory
core.
Most committee members clearly voted for Model 1, so there was no need to vote on Model 2.
Model 3, from PMO, was not in line with the majority view or with student feedback.
PMO were very well-represented at the UG committee, which was postponed to allow for more
extended discussion.
There was no issue with quality of the “Law in a Management Context” unit, or student satisfaction
with the course, and there was no threat to law provision more broadly.
There is no QAA requirement for Law to be delivered at Level 1.
As noted in the Programme Amendment Form, the 2012 brochures had been published with the
caveat that the first year was under review and subject to change.
Prof. Miguel Martinez Lucio left the meeting.
Secretary’s Note
The QAA Subject Benchmark statement for General Business and Management (2007) states that,
“Graduates should be able to demonstrate relevant knowledge and understanding of organisations,
the external environment in which they operate and how they are managed (see below). There is
likely to be an emphasis upon understanding and responding to change and the consideration of
the future of organisations and the external environment in which they operate…. 3.5 External
environment - encompasses a wide range of factors, including economic, environmental, ethical,
legal, political, sociological and technological, together with their effects at local, national and
international levels upon the strategy, behaviour, management and sustainability of organisations.”
(p4).
NB: Subject Benchmark statements “provide general guidance for articulating the learning outcomes
associated with the programme but are not a specification of a detailed curriculum in the subject”, (piii).
Questions from the committee:
vi)
It was queried whether one of the case studies could be based on Law in a Management
Context?
It was queried whether a fully-compulsory Level 1 was permitted, given the idea that all
programmes should have space in the curriculum for University College units to ensure a
broad curriculum cf: Purposes of a Manchester Education.
vii)
Secretary’s Note
All programmes are expected to benchmark themselves against the Manchester Matrix - The
Purposes of a Manchester Undergraduate Education. However, there was currently no
requirement for programmes to reserve space in their UG curricula for University College courses.
APPROVED
Action: Emma Rose to make any necessary changes to Campus Solutions and notify relevant parties.
5.4
BA Contextual Theology (also known as “Faith in Living”) (Partnership for Theological Education,
validated by SAHC) [HUGSC/3/11/6.4]
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Reported:
The proposal was to incorporate the revised BA Contextual Theology back into the existing
validation agreement between PTE and SAHC, following a period when the programme
transferred validation to the University of Chester (whilst validation of PGT provision by SAHC
continued).
Agreed: For completion of the PTE validation, SAHC should supply a “contextual statement” to include:
-
Strategic benefits to AHC/ALC and to PTE
For any staff teaching on the programme, not teaching on the MA, CVs need to be provided for AHC to
approve
Assurance of adequate resources
Financial implications
Nomination of external examiner
Arrangements for transfer
APPROVED.
Action: Emma Sanders to obtain outstanding information from SAHC’s Validation Office, make any
necessary changes to Campus Solutions and notify relevant parties.
6.
Programme Suspensions
None.
7.
Programme Withdrawals
7.1
BA (Hons) Modern Middle Eastern History and Arabic (4 years) (SLLC) [HUGSC/3/11/8.1]*
NB: Withdrawal sought only if approval is given to extend the range of languages to include
Hebrew, Persian and Turkish, as per Item 6.1, above.
APPROVED.
Action: Emma Sanders to make any necessary changes to Campus Solutions and notify relevant parties.
8.
UG Programme Healthchecks 11/12 [HUGSC/3/11/9]*
Received for information: comments made by Schools in response to UG Programme Healthchecks 11/12
Noted: MBS’ actual intakes were lower than those shown on the spreadsheet.
Action: Emma Sanders to update the spreadsheet with intake figures from MBS.
9.
Chair’s Action
Received for information: a list of Programme Approvals, Amendments, Suspensions and Withdrawals
approved by Chair’s Action since 15th February 2012.
10.
External examiner appointments
Received for information: a list of external examiner appointments made since 15th February 2012.
11.
Any other business
Dispensation / Variation from University Regulations
Some dispensations / variations have been approved but not clear whether this is within Faculty’s power.
Lisa McAleese is seeking clarification from TLSO on whether dispensation / variation from the regulations
is only permitted when required by PSRBs. Action: Lisa McAleese
12.
Date of next meeting
t.b.c
ECS
07.06.12
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