3 Programme validation, review and modifications 3.1 Flowchart Assurance Committee APAC Approved proposal Assurance Committee AQS submits validation report overview Validation / Review Review AQS submits validation report overview AQS AQS Review report APAC Approved proposal Validation / review report 3.2 The difference between a validation and review event 3.2.1 Definitions Validation/Validation event: the process by which the University ensures that any programme is academically sound and may be offered to students Approval: The outcome of a validation event may result in the granting of approval to the programme. This enables the programme to be offered, subject to meeting any conditions set. Review/Review event: the process by which an approved programme, or group of programmes, is considered for re-validation A successful review results in the revalidation of a programme or programmes for a further period, subject to meeting any conditions set. The only time an event will be classed as a validation is when it is considering a completely new programme which has not been developed from anything currently existing and with no history. All other events will be classified as reviews, with the appropriate documentation, ie QMRs etc and the inclusion of students Distance education: programmes or parts of programmes explicitly designed to provide for students who are geographically removed from the university or partner institutions. Students studying on distance education programmes may be resident in the UK or overseas. The programme will be regarded as distance education where more than 50% of the teaching is not delivered face to face. 3.2.2 Definitions: Collaborative programmes Joint programme – a University programme, or part thereof, leading to a qualification of the University, designed, delivered and assessed jointly with a Partner Institution (or Institutions) and quality assured by the University. http://www.mdx.ac.uk/about-us/policies/academic-quality/handbook/ updated 11Sep15 2015/16 Collaborative research programme - A University programme, leading to a qualification of the University jointly designed & delivered by the University and a partner. Taught components are assessed by the University and partner; research components are assessed by the University. Quality assured by the University. Franchised programme – a University programme, or part thereof, leading to a qualification of the University, designed, assessed and quality assured by the University but delivered at and by a Partner Institution. Validated programme – a programme of study, developed, assessed and delivered by a Partner Institution, awarded by and ultimately quality assured by the University 3.3 Programme Validation and Review 3.3.1 Timing, location and expenses No validation event for a programme due to start in September or January should occur after the preceding May or October respectively, unless by approval of the Chair of APAC. This applies to all variants of validation procedure at both programme and module level as detailed later in this chapter. Normally, the validation or review event must be located at the University campus in which the programme will be delivered and for collaborative programmes at the partner institution. This is to allow viewing of the facilities/resources pertaining to the programme and to provide assurance that the programme meets its specification. However, for collaborative programmes the School may apply via APAC to hold the validation at the University or, exceptionally, by video conference. There are charges to Collaborative Partners for validation and review events of joint, franchised and validated programmes. Further information can be obtained by contacting the AQS team or Academic Partnerships. 3.3.2 Procedure 3.3.2.1 Preparation meeting for a validation or review Any formal Validation or Review should be preceded by a School preparation meeting to discuss: the proposal the timetable for preparation the Panel draft documentation (including Programme Specification - Appendix 3f) practical arrangements for the event. Guidance on designing a curriculum is available in Guidance 3viii, and a template for programme handbooks in Appendices 3i-3l. The meeting is: Chaired by the relevant Deputy Dean (or nominee). Held far enough in advance of the formal event to allow for necessary correction and circulation of documents. Attended by the key programme team members, the Officer, and any important contributors to the programme development, whether internal or external to the University. http://www.mdx.ac.uk/about-us/policies/academic-quality/handbook/ updated 11Sep15 2015/16 If the event involves members too distant to attend, a telephone or other link can be used to receive their input during the meeting. The checklist of officer duties (see Guidance 3i) and the list of documentation (see Guidance 3xxix) should be used as a prompt. Discussion should include the draft agenda (Appendix 3n or 3o may be useful), timetable and practical arrangements. Notes of the working meeting are not presented as part of the formal paperwork for the event. 3.3.2.2 People involved in a validation or review event The Validation of Review Panel usually comprises the following members (see Guidance 3iii for information on the roles and responsibilities of each member, and guidance 3xxviii for specific information for Distance Education validations): Officer (In the case of an enhanced validated partner event, the Officer may be a member of staff of the partner institution) Chair and a University representative Please note that: - Both should normally be a senior member of staff familiar with University procedures. - Either the Chair or the University Representative must have experience of working actively with students in a learning, teaching and assessment capacity. - Both the Chair and the University Representative can be from the same School as each other although every effort should be made to use a Chair and a University Representative from different Schools - The Chair should not be from the same School as the programme which is being validated. - The University Representative can be from the same School as the programme which is being validated although he/she must be from a different department. Professional statutory and/or regulatory body representative(s) Co-Chair as appropriate One/two External Assessors using the criteria in Guidance 3v: Student representative See Guidance 3i for a table of panel compositions according to the type of validation or review In addition the following attend the Validation or Review event for meetings with the panel: senior School staff - the Dean of School and/or the relevant Deputy Dean (and other(s), such as the Head of Department, as relevant). If the proposal is heavily cross-curricular, senior staff from the other schools are also involved http://www.mdx.ac.uk/about-us/policies/academic-quality/handbook/ updated 11Sep15 2015/16 programme team – the team usually includes: the Programme Director, Programme Leader and members of team and the Liaison Manager from Library and Student Services. If relevant: key technicians, administrators, English Language Learning Support and Centre for Academic Practice Enhancement staff, careers manager and external institutions/businesses or other University staff for review events, the panel will also meet with students, who should represent a cross-section of the current cohorts including overseas campuses and where possible, graduates of the programme and for collaborative events senior staff and the Principal (or representative) of the institution (as appropriate). programme Team, including the University and Institution Link Tutors. NB For Enhanced Validated Partners, all validation and review events will be Chaired by the University and the panel will be set up according to University processes. The event will be managed and administered by the partner, or with substantial administrative input from the partner. 3.3.2.3 Documentation For a detailed explanation of each document’s contents and who has responsibility, see Guidance 3xxix 3.3.2.4 Distribution of documentation Documentation should be submitted to the Officer three weeks in advance of the event. Papers are sent out two weeks before the event is to be held. The relevant Deputy Dean or Chair may postpone the event if there is a serious delay in the papers being distributed or if, upon receipt of the papers, they deem the documentation to be unacceptable for the event to proceed. A full set of papers is produced for the: panel programme leader for circulation to the programme team (as appropriate) The agenda is sent, for information, to the: School Quality Enhancement Manager (Validation and Review), AQS Admissions Technical Development Manager Director of Academic Partnerships (collaborative events only) Regional Office, where applicable (overseas collaborative programmes only) 3.3.2.5 The validation or review event A validation event may cover one or more programmes in cognate areas and review events are normally arranged by cognate groups of programmes where possible. It is important to ensure an appropriate balance between the size of the provision to be scrutinised and the length of the validation or review in order that the panel may have sufficient time to consider all aspects in detail. http://www.mdx.ac.uk/about-us/policies/academic-quality/handbook/ updated 11Sep15 2015/16 A suggested agenda is available in Appendix 3n or 3o. The following is a list of meetings which are likely to occur, but is not an agenda: private Panel meeting tour of facilities (if appropriate) meeting with students and graduates (for reviews) meeting with Senior School staff and programme teams further private Panel meeting Middlesex programmes which are not taught/assessed in English must follow the conditions listed in Guidance 5iii. 3.3.2.6 MU Overseas campuses Where reviews include provision delivered on a Middlesex University overseas campus, the review documentation will include the relevant campus handbook, resource statements and staff CVs relating to the programme(s) offered at the campus(es). A representative from each campus offering the programme(s) will be invited to attend the review event for meetings with the panel. A video/tele conference will take place with students and where necessary also with programme staff. 3.3.2.7 Franchised programme reviews For franchised programmes reviews will be held as follows: All franchise partners and overseas campuses will take part in the periodic Review of the in-house programme and the event will include a resource statement, staff CVs, representation and feedback from all partners to which the programme is franchised, together with feedback from their students. As well as being part of the periodic in-house review, franchise partners will also be reviewed on their own six yearly cycle. This review will consider, as far as practical, all franchised programmes at the partner institution, irrespective of the University lead School. 3.3.2.8 Location The Validation or Review will normally be held at the University for in-house programmes, and also for franchise and joint programmes. If the Review is conducted at the University, the Link Tutor and key staff from the partner institution attend the event and there must be satisfactory arrangements for assessment of student opinion of the programme. The review of a validated collaborative programme would normally be held at the partner. Where a programme is running on more than one site, the review can be held at the main partner site, but key programme and teaching staff from all sites must attend the review event. Documentation will include resource statements from each of the sites offering the programme. Arrangements should be made for students from all sites to contribute to the event. Where multi-site provision with a partner is complex, a resource visit may be required, as determined by AQS on a case-by-case basis. This will be undertaken by a senior member of School staff or a panel member, together with an external assessor. http://www.mdx.ac.uk/about-us/policies/academic-quality/handbook/ updated 11Sep15 2015/16 3.3.2.9 Franchised programmes and extended approval The suggested agenda templates, Appendices 3n and 3o, detail consideration for all collaborative programmes but it is necessary to note that a University programme normally operates successfully at the University for at least two years before being considered for franchising. Therefore at a franchised validation it is not possible to make changes to the content of the programme which may be running elsewhere in the UK or overseas. The event would focus much more on administrative, resourcing and learning experience matters and should not contain conditions in relation to the academic content of the programme. If APAC extends approval for higher levels of a qualification, parts of which have already been approved, a Validation could still be required (e.g. to franchise the 2nd year of a degree programme). The Panel should ensure that approval decisions are informed by full consideration of academic standards and the quality of the learning opportunities. The report records issues under these areas. 3.3.2.10 Conditions, recommendations and length of approval Once a new programme is validated, it is normally incorporated within the six-year School review cycle, and is subject to the University monitoring and audit. However, a panel can request a shorter period of time before review – the reasons for this should be clearly recorded in the validation report. The panel can set the programme team conditions and recommendations as the outcome of the validation or review event. We define these as follows: Condition: an important matter which the Panel believes would currently, or could potentially, put quality and/or standards at risk and which requires urgent corrective action or requires preventative corrective action (possibly through a longer term condition) or is a university requirement. Recommendation: a matter which the Panel believes has the potential, if addressed, to enhance quality and/or further secure standards. The possible outcomes of the event are as follows: a. Unconditional approval (without conditions, though perhaps with recommendations). b. Approval subject to the meeting of conditions; c. Approval subject to the meeting of conditions but for less than the standard 6 years; d. Rejected and referred back for further work. Recommendations can be for (a) to (c) above, but do not have to be met in order for the programme to run although they do have to be considered and addressed. Following notification of a successful validation or review event, Appendix 3u, should be completed by the services with responsibility. 3.3.2.11 Memorandum of Cooperation for Collaborative programmes Before a collaborative programme can be offered and students enrolled, the Memorandum of Cooperation must be signed, with the Partnership Agreement already having been completed and signed. This applies after both a validation event for a new programme and a review event for a revalidated programme. Once the conditions have been met and the Chair has signed Part A of Confirmation of a http://www.mdx.ac.uk/about-us/policies/academic-quality/handbook/ updated 11Sep15 2015/16 Validation or Review (form 3e), the Officer will obtain a signature from the Director of Academic Partnerships, who will sign part B to declare that all necessary parts of the MoC have been completed and signed by both Middlesex University and the partner institution. The MoC, including its Administrative and Operational Annexe, is the contractual document governing the operation and management of the programme. No programme will be allowed to commence without a signed MoC and fully signed Confirmation of a Validation or Review form. In the case of a revalidation, no students can be recruited to the revalidated programme until the MoC and Confirmation of a Validation or Review form has been signed. Once both parts A and B of the Confirmation Form have been signed the Officer can then circulate to those listed at the end of the Form. AQS retain a copy for University oversight. 3.3.2.12 Validation of a resubmitted proposal The Programme Leader acts on the action list from the referred back validation or review event. The revised, resubmitted papers include a covering document which lists in detail the action taken by the team to strengthen the resubmitted proposal, including any consultancy or staff development undertaken. The Panel for a resubmitted event should normally have one original External Assessor and one new External Assessor and either the Chair or the University Representative from the original event. 3.3.2.13 Non recruitment Validation approval will lapse if a programme does not recruit for two years in succession unless an extension is approved by APAC. A list of programmes which have been suspended for two years will be presented to the last School committee and APAC meeting of each academic year to confirm whether they should be withdrawn. APAC will also agree the suspension of programmes for specific entry points, based on application numbers 3.3.2.14 Validation of programmes to run at new sites of approved institutions Programme validation will be combined with site approval, involving the same team (see section 5, 5.3.4.1). The overall purpose of validation remains as outlined in 3.13.4 and to ensure that arrangements at the new sites are sufficient for the successful delivery of the programme(s), including ensuring that adequate programme-specific resources are available to support the proposal; A student handbook, CVs of staff responsible for delivery of teaching and a resource statement should be available to the panel. The panel will ensure that arrangements for managing multi-site delivery are appropriate to ensure comparability of the student experience and maintain quality and standards across all sites at which programmes are delivered. 3.3.2.15 Validation of programmes to run at approved sites of enhanced validated partners with multi-site operations http://www.mdx.ac.uk/about-us/policies/academic-quality/handbook/ updated 11Sep15 2015/16 For institutions with enhanced validated status operating on multiple sites, the following process will apply for the approval of a programme to run at an approved site, where a programme in a cognate subject area is already offered at the site: a. Consideration and approval of the programme proposal through the relevant School-based Committee. b. Consideration and approval of the programme proposal from APAC. c. Where required by APAC, a site visit will be undertaken by a member of schoolbased staff to establish the appropriateness of the resources for delivery of the programme. d. Documentation - Programme handbook (or programme specification and Module Narratives), resource statement and staff CVs will be presented to an external assessor and School subject expert for their consideration and approval, and the outcome noted at the relevant School Committee. Where a site visit has taken place, a report on this will be provided to the external assessor as part of the documentation. AQS is then notified of the outcome. e. Appendix 3e should be signed by the Chair of the School Committee and this, together with a brief report should be sent to AQS. Where a programme in a new subject area is to be offered, the above procedure will apply, but a site visit will be undertaken member of school-based staff. 3.4 Validation or review by school committee This procedure is designed for those occasions when a proposal is either small or straightforward and may be validated by School Committee. Such occasion would be approved by APAC. Examples of such proposals include: A new programme created mainly from existing University modules, or A change in programme status (e.g. introducing an additional or changed mode of study). The overall purpose of validation/review remains as outlined in 3.3 and the documentation required is the same. The Committee meeting should include an appropriate External Assessor (may be via correspondence) and a copy of the minutes and an Appendix 3e should be circulated as normal. 3.5 3.5.1 Validation of programmes to be run at overseas campuses Purpose 3.5.1.1 The procedure is designed for approving or validating programmes to run at already approved overseas campuses. 3.5.1.2 The overall purpose of validation is to ensure that arrangements at the overseas campus are sufficient for the successful delivery of the programme ad that adequate programme-specific resources are available.; 3.5.2 Scope and procedures 3.5.2.1 The procedure to be followed in each case is proportionate to the potential risk involved in programme set up, delivery and management The procedure applies to programmes to be run at all MU overseas campuses. Procedures are as follows based on four scenarios. Scenario A http://www.mdx.ac.uk/about-us/policies/academic-quality/handbook/ updated 11Sep15 2015/16 The proposed programme runs at the London campus, and there are already programmes at the same level in the same or a cognate subject area running at the overseas campus wanting to deliver the proposed programme; a. Consideration and approval of the programme proposal through the relevant School- based Committee (such as APC). b. Consideration and approval of the programme proposal from APAC. c. Resource requirements are provided by the London programme team to the overseas campus. d. Confirmation is received from the Campus Director (or nominee), who confirms that the resources, including staffing, can be provided and staff CVs are provided where available. e. The confirmation is noted via the relevant School Committee, and AQS is then notified by means of an Appendix 3e. f. Approval lasts until the date for review of the programme as validated on the London campus Scenario B The proposed programme runs at the London campus, but represents a greater level of risk for delivery at the overseas campus. The types of risk in this category could include – (i) there are not currently any programmes running in a cognate subject area at the overseas campus in question (ii) the programme is at a level not currently being delivered in a cognate subject area at that campus;(iii) the programme requires the use of highly specialist resources or equipment which the campus does not already have; (iv) any other risk as identified by APAC. a. Consideration and approval of the programme proposal through the relevant School-based Committee. b. Consideration and approval of the programme proposal from APAC. c. Where the risk concerns resources or if agreed by APAC, a campus visit needs to be undertaken by member of school-based staff to establish the appropriateness of the resources for delivery of the programme. This may be via videoconference (see below). d. A validation will be undertaken by the School committee. A brief Overview, Programme handbook, resource statement and staff CVs will be provided to an external assessor for their consideration and approval, and the outcome noted at the relevant School Committee. Where a campus visit has taken place, a report on this also needs to be provided to the external assessor for approval. The School committee may choose to undertake the event via videoconference, with the external assessor present. AQS is then notified of the outcome. e. Appendix 3e should be signed by the Chair of the School Committee and this, together with a brief report should be sent to AQS. f. Approval lasts until the date for review of the programme as validated on the London campus. Scenario C The proposed programme is new, and will be validated for delivery at both London and one or more overseas campuses; a. Consideration and approval of the programme proposal through the relevant School Committee and then APAC. b. Validation of the programme through the standard procedures with the following additions: (i) the event should normally take place at the London campus; (ii) an overseas campus resource statement. local programme handbook and staff CVs http://www.mdx.ac.uk/about-us/policies/academic-quality/handbook/ updated 11Sep15 2015/16 to be provided in the briefing pack for the validation event; (iii) overseas campus involvement in validation by video conferencing or in person, where appropriate c. The approval period is agreed at validation Scenario D The proposed programme is new, and will be validated for delivery at an overseas campus only. It will not be possible to undertake Scenario D validations until APAC has determined that the campus is fully operational.. a. Consideration and approval of the programme proposal through the relevant School Committee and then APAC. b. Validation of the programme through the standard procedures with the following additions: (i) the event should normally take place at the overseas campus. c. The period of approval is agreed at validation. 3.5.3 Duration of approval For scenarios A and B, approval lasts until the date for review of the programme as validated on the London campus. For Scenarios C and D, the period of approval would be agreed at validation. The standard period of approval is 6 years, though a shorter period could be approved. 3.6 Validation and Review by Video Conferencing 3.6.1.1 In order to decide whether a collaborative review can be carried out by video conferencing, a risk assessment will need to be completed and a decision made by the Academic Quality Service and the School concerned. The criteria for a decision to approve a video conferencing event would include consideration of: External examiner reports Institutional monitoring reports Institutional re-approval reports Progression and achievement data Annual/Quality monitoring reports all of which must demonstrate a low risk, for example, there should be Timely responses to external examiner reports that demonstrate effective management of recommendations. Timely submission of the Annual Monitoring Report that demonstrates engagement with the process, enhancement of provision and good progression and achievement A low risk outcome from institutional monitoring A low risk outcome from institutional re-approval. 3.6.1.2 Agreement for a collaborative validation to be carried out by video conferencing may be exceptionally allowed when the validation is for a programme http://www.mdx.ac.uk/about-us/policies/academic-quality/handbook/ updated 11Sep15 2015/16 at an existing partner where a cognate programme, validated by Middlesex University, is already running and where such an event has been deemed low-risk in accordance with the criteria as set out for review above. As in the case of review, the School concerned and the Academic Quality Service will consider the appropriateness of each request for a validation by video conferencing. 3.6.1.3 In the event that approval is given to hold a validation or review by means of video conferencing, it will be necessary for the link tutor or nominee approved by the Chair, one external assessor, and at least one of the Chair, the University Representative and the Officer to attend the overseas location in order to be assured that all necessary resources are in place and to meet with a representative selection of students. 3.6.1.4 Should there be more than one site of a partner which will need to be involved in an event, it will not be possible to hold a three way video conference to undertake the event. Both sites will need to be visited by representatives of the panel, to be determined by the Chair, including at least one External Assessor. 3.7 3.7.1 Changes to programmes and programme titles Flowchart Notification to relevant parts of the University APAC Approved Proposal School Committee Title Approved Approved Proposal Proposal not approved or Subject to conditions Validation 3.7.2 Purpose The purpose of this procedure is to ensure that all changes to academic provision validated by the University take account of internal and external requirements and that appropriate consultation and notification takes place in the development and approval of these changes. In addition this procedure should guard against incremental changes to programmes, where the resulting changes are so significant that they warrant a full Review. 3.7.3 Major changes Major changes to programmes are those which substantially change the character of the programme. The following changes require School and then APAC approval, followed by a Validation/Review event: Changes in collaborative programme status (e.g. from franchised to validated). Change in mode of delivery of a programme other than to PT/FT mode, for example adding a distance education version of the programme or delivery of the programme in another language A change to the programme learning outcomes A change of more than 1/3 of the core/compulsory credits of a programme,(or the optional modules of a programme where the programme learning outcomes are http://www.mdx.ac.uk/about-us/policies/academic-quality/handbook/ updated 11Sep15 2015/16 affected), during the period of Validation involving changes to the structure (the addition of deletion of modules) or to existing modules involving changes to learning outcomes. The following will contribute to such a change:. Any replacement of a core module or of an optional module where the programme learning outcomes are affected Any addition, removal or allocation to a different level of a core module; Any change in the credit weighting of a core module; Any change to the learning outcomes of a core module (with or without a change in the title of a module); Any change to the curriculum content of a core module other than routine updating (with or without a change in the title of a module); Any change in the mode of delivery of a module (e.g. from face to face to distance learning mode) Records should be maintained to log changes that take place during the period of validation of a programme, to identify when the changes have affected 1/3 of the credits of the programme. 3.7.4 Planning The following should be consulted or notified as appropriate: Relevant Deputy Dean (if using their School’s module(s)). University/Institution Link Tutor for collaborative partner students via Board of Study (wherever possible other channels should be exploited, e.g. web communication) External Examiners 3.7.5 Reporting and notification The following should be notified as appropriate: Relevant Deputy Dean University/Institution Link Tutors Learning Resource Managers DE team in CAPE (if distance education elements included) the timetabling team Student Records (studentrecords@mdx.ac.uk) Assessment Officers (assessmentofficers@mdx.ac.uk) Students Departmental and Programme Administration Managers 3.7.6 Minor changes The School Committee alone can approve minor changes but in collaborative partnerships must ensure agreement of the University Link Tutor prior to consideration of the changeAPAC must receive notification if there is any change to the programme title. 3.8 New modules, changes to modules and module deletion 3.8.1 Flowchart http://www.mdx.ac.uk/about-us/policies/academic-quality/handbook/ updated 11Sep15 2015/16 Relevant parts of the University Proposal School Committee Approved Quality Monitoring Report 3.8.2 Purpose The purpose of this procedure is to ensure that all changes to academic provision take account of internal and external requirements and that appropriate consultation and notification takes place in the development and approval of these changes. 3.8.3 Responsibility Unlike changes to programmes, the School is entirely responsible for approving changes to modules, new modules, and module deletions at School Committee. This includes joint and franchised modules. . Validated programmes are required to follow an equivalent process as set out below which must include consultation with the University Link Tutors for major changes. 3.8.4 Major changes Major changes are those which substantially alter the aims and learning outcomes of a module and/or substantially affect the achievement of learning outcomes of programmes or pathways for which the module is a constituent part. A major change to the contents of a module or its title will require the creation of a new module code. Detailed instructions are available on the Curriculum MISIS web pages (http://www.intra.mdx.ac.uk/tools-resources/misis/helpfuldocuments/curriculum/index.aspx ) 3.8.5 New module The validation of a single module, either in-house or for a collaborative partner, is undertaken by the School Committee according to the principles set out in this procedure. The External Examiner is required to have agreed the module narrative for both in-house and collaborative new modules Where the module is for a collaborative partner, there should also be consultation with the Link Tutors. 3.8.6 Planning, notification and forms The people who should be consulted and notified for major changes involving module provision, are listed on the module change form, Appendix 3h. 3.8.7 Operational or administrative changes to modules Certain operational or administrative module changes, while not considered major, require appropriate consultation with, and notification to, other parts of the University. Examples of changes are: deleting a module run, changing pre-requisites and changing a module name or number. The relevant Deputy Dean is responsible for ensuring that staff/students are consulted and notified. 3.8.8 Minor changes The decision as to whether a change to a module or its title is major or minor is subject to the approval of the relevant Deputy Dean in conjunction with the following criteria which are deemed minor: Recoding of a module retaining the same content. Changes of a drafting nature. http://www.mdx.ac.uk/about-us/policies/academic-quality/handbook/ updated 11Sep15 2015/16 Those required to keep academic content current. Those enhancements of the module teaching, learning and assessment strategies, or other assessment arrangements that are intended to improve the quality of the student learning experience. Changes will be deemed minor provided that the changes will not substantially alter the character of the module, and that the module strategies and arrangements continue to accord with the teaching, learning and assessment strategies of programmes of which the module in question is a constituent part. Such amendments will allow for changes in emphasis on particular teaching or assessment methods, a move from outmoded or ineffective methods, or the introduction of new (to the module) approaches. Comments from the External Examiner on the changes made should also be invited and considered. http://www.mdx.ac.uk/about-us/policies/academic-quality/handbook/ updated 11Sep15 2015/16