THE SENATE
PATHWAY APPROVAL REPORT
(Core and Franchised Provision)
A confirmed report of the event held on 1st June 2009 to consider the
approval of the following pathway:
FdSc Applied Animal Behaviour (delivery at CoWA, Milton Campus
and Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge Campus)
And the review of:
BSc (Hons) Animal Welfare (delivery at Anglia Ruskin University)
Faculty of Science and Technology
Quality Assurance Division
SECTION A – OUTCOME SUMMARY
1.
INTRODUCTION
1.1
The purpose of the event was to consider the approval of the FdSc Applied Animal
Behaviour and the review of BSc (Hons) Animal Welfare.
1.2
The pathways will be located in the Animal and Environmental Biology Programme area
within the Department of Life Sciences in the Faculty of Science and Technology.
1.3
The FdSc Applied Animal Behaviour pathway is to be delivered at the Milton Campus of
the College of West Anglia and also at the Cambridge Campus of Anglia Ruskin University.
1.4
The BSc (Hons) Animal Welfare has been delivered at the Cambridge Campus for a
number of years and is now being reviewed in response to academic and professional
developments in the field.
1.5
The progression route for the FdSc Applied Animal Behaviour pathway is the BSc (Hons)
Animal Welfare pathway.
2.
CONCLUSIONS
2.1
The Panel recommends to the Senate the approval of the following pathways:


FdSc Applied Animal Behaviour (CoWA and Anglia Ruskin University) (2 years full
time taught delivery, part time possible by negotiation. Minumum student cohort 12,
maximum 20.)
BSc (Hons) Animal Welfare (Anglia Ruskin University) (3 years full time taught
delivery, part time possible by negotiation)
Approval, once confirmed, will be for an indefinite period, subject to Anglia Ruskin’s
continuing quality assurance procedures.
2.2
The Panel recommends to the Senate the approval of 6 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:
FdSc Applied Animal Behaviour
Details of Condition
Deadline
Response to be
considered by
2.3.1
The Team shall submit electronic versions of all
MDFs and PSFs in accordance with the
technical report.
12th June
2009
Chair, Technical
Officer, Executive
Officer
2.3.2
The Team shall submit an amended Student
Handbook made more specific to the FdSc
Applied Animal Behaviour cohort.
12th June
2009
Chair, Executive
Officer
2.3.3
The Team shall amend the entry requirements
section of the PSF to state that students must
12th June
2009
Chair, Technical
Officer, Executive
Quality Assurance Division
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have GCSE Maths (or equivalent) and at least
one Science.
Officer
BSc (Hons) Animal Welfare
2.3.4
2.4
Details of Condition
Deadline
Response to be
considered by
The Team shall submit electronic versions of all
MDFs and PSFs in accordance with the
technical report.
12th June
2009
Chair, Technical
Officer, 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:
FdSc Applied Animal Behaviour
Details of Recommendation
Deadline
2.4.1
The Team should ensure that a mentor is appointed to support
the new member of staff who will be delivering modules at CoWA.
7th September
2009
2.4.2
The Team should ensure that a senior member of staff acts as
pathway leader for the pathway at CoWA.
7th September
2009
BSc (Hons) Animal Welfare
2.4.3
2.5
Details of Recommendation
Deadline
The Team should ensure that a CCAB (Certified Clinical Animal
Behaviourist) is available to deliver the clinical aspects of the
Animal Behaviour Counselling module. Box 6d of the MDF should
also reflect this.
7th September
2009
Issues Referred to the Senate (or appropriate standing committee)
The Panel did not identify any institution-wide issues as requiring the attention of the
Senate or the appropriate standing committee of the Senate
Quality Assurance Division
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SECTION B – DETAIL OF DISCUSSION AND PANEL CONCLUSIONS
3
RATIONALE
3.1
The BSc (Hons) Animal Welfare pathway had been revised in response to academic and
professional developments in the field. In particular, the course had been adjusted to meet
the required learning objectives set within the new accreditation scheme offered by the
Association of the Study of Animal Behaviour (ASAB) for Probationary Certification as a
Clinical Animal Behaviourist (CCAB), which meet not only the needs of professionals in this
domain but are more widely applicable to a variety of animal-orientated and broader
graduate careers.
3.2
The FdSc Applied Animal Behaviour pathway had been designed to deliver an academic
qualification designed to prepare graduates for employment in the animal industry
3.3
Although a stand alone qualification the modules in the Foundation Degree in Applied
Animal Behaviour will allow students to progress onto the BSc (Hons) Animal Welfare
pathway.
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CURRICULUM DESIGN, CONTENT AND DELIVERY
4.1
Discussions took place about where ‘Ethics’ was included within the BSc (Hons) Animal
Welfare pathway. The Team explained that the topic was covered and developed
throughout the pathway in various modules, building over the three years. Examples were
given and the Panel were satisfied with the response.
4.2
The Panel enquired what Physiology material was included within the BSc (Hons) Animal
Welfare pathway. The Team confirmed that this subject area was covered by the Animal
Form and Function module in year one and the Module Biological Bases of Behaviour in
the second year. The Panel commented that there appeared to be an overlap of content as
detailed in the Module Description section of the MDFs. The Team explained that some
repetition was necessary as the level one module provided a basis which the level 2
module then built on.
4.3
The Panel commented that on paper the first year of the Foundation degree appeared
somewhat dry and that there was a fear that students might withdraw at the end of the first
semester. The Team explained that the MDFs had been written in a generic way that that
this was not the case. Students would be encouraged and engaged from the start. It was
also noted that student cohorts from the FdSc and the BSc(Hons) would be taught jointly
for the lectures on some modules to encourage discussions and group work. Separate
seminars would then follow with more pathway specific topics being discussed.
5
ASSESSMENT STRATEGY
5.1
The Panel was satisfied with the information provided within the documentation relating to
the assessment strategy and therefore no further queries were raised with the Team at the
meeting.
6
STAFFING, LEARNING RESOURCES AND STUDENT SUPPORT
6.1
Discussions took place regarding the staffing for the FdSc Applied Animal Behaviour
pathway. It was noted that Marian Bond was listed as the ‘acting’ Module Leader for
several modules and that some modules did not have a name against them yet. The Team
confirmed that the job description for a new post had been drawn up and that the
Quality Assurance Division
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advertisement would be out shortly. However, it was noted that Marian would be able to act
as Module Leader should the post not be filled in time. The Panel asked that a mentor is
appointed to support the new member of staff who will be delivering modules at CoWA and
that a senior member of staff acts as pathway leader for the pathway at CoWA.
6.2
The Panel requested that the Team ensure a CCAB (Certified Clinical Animal Behaviourist)
is available to deliver the clinical aspects of the Animal Behaviour Counselling module and
noted that Box 6d of the MDF should also reflect this.
6.3
The panel raised a concern over the number of hours dedicated to HE and FE at the
College. The Team explained the current system in place at the College. The Panel felt that
the time allocation for the teaching of HE modules was not ideal but noted that the College
had been delivering HE since 1993 on this, or a similar, model and that although not ideal it
worked.
6.3
The Panel enquired about the personal tutorial system that would be in place for students
at the College. The Team confirmed that all students would be allocated a personal tutor at
the beginning of the first year and that as all PDP work was carried out through the
personal tutorial system, meetings would take place every week during the first semester.
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QUALITY ASSURANCE AND ENHANCEMENT
7.1
The Panel was satisfied with the information provided within the documentation relating to
Quality Assurance and Enhancement and therefore no further queries were raised with the
Team at the meeting.
8
NATIONAL, PROFESSIONAL AND STATUTORY BODY REQUIREMENTS
8.1
The Panel enquired whether enough time and funding was available to become accredited
by ASAB in time for the September delivery. The Team confirmed that money had been
allocated in the budget to cover this and that work had already begun on the
documentation required.
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DOCUMENTATION
9.1
The Panel noted that the relevant IELTS requirements had not been included within the
PSFs and asked that these be added to the final versions. The Team was also asked to
ensure that the Foundation Degree PSF stated in the entry requirements section that
students must have GCSE Maths (or equivalent) and at least one Science.
9.2
The Panel requested that the Team revise and submit an amended Student Handbook
made more specific to the FdSc Applied Animal Behaviour cohort
10
CONFIRMATION OF STANDARDS OF AWARDS
10.1
The Panel confirmed that the proposed FdSc Applied Animal Behaviour and the BSc
(Hons) Animal Welfare pathways satisfied 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
UNCONFIRMED
CONFIRMED
Quality Assurance Division
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20th August 2009
9th September 2009
16th September 2009
SECTION C – DETAILS OF PANEL MEMBERSHIP AND PROPOSAL TEAM
Internal Panel Members:
Shaun Le Boutillier
Director of Studies
Arts, Law and Social Sciences
Sarah Fitt
Deputy Director of Studies
Arts, Law and Social Sciences
External Panel Members:
Emma Creighton
Senior Lecturer in Animal Behaviour and Welfare
University of Chester
Donald Broom
Professor of Animal Welfare
University of Cambridge
Executive Officer:
Ellen Langford
Faculty Quality Assurance Officer (Science and Technology)
Academic Office
Technical Officer:
Alex Toole
Curriculum Regulations Officer
Academic Office
Members of Proposal Team:
Marian Bond
Part-time lecturer in the Department of Life Sciences and
Landbased HE Curriculum Development Officer for ARU and the
College of West Anglia
Mark Kennedy
Senior Lecturer in Animal Welfare
Faculty of Science and Technology
Anglia Ruskin University
Iain Brodie
Associate Dean
Faculty of Science and Technology
Anglia Ruskin University
Julian Doberski
Principal Lecturer
Faculty of Science and Technology
Anglia Ruskin University
Mike Cole
Head of Department, Life Sciences
Faculty of Science and Technology
Anglia Ruskin University
Charlie Nevison
Senior Lecturer
Faculty of Science and Technology
Anglia Ruskin University
Quality Assurance Division
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Toby Carter
Principal Lecturer
Faculty of Science and Technology
Anglia Ruskin University
Bill Collinson
College of West Anglia
Alan Renwick
College of West Anglia
Alison Santos
College of West Anglia
Lisa Prescott
College of West Anglia
John Butcher
College of West Anglia
Quality Assurance Division
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SECTION D – OUTCOME DATA
Programme
Department
Faculty
Collaborative Partner
New/amended Awards
Approved
Animal and Environmental Biology
Life Sciences
Faculty of Science and Technology
College of West Anglia
Title(s) of Named Pathway(s)
BSc (Hons)
Animal Welfare
2 years full time
taught delivery –
P/T by negotiation
FdSc
Applied Animal Behaviour
3 years full time
taught delivery –
P/T by negotiation
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)
Attendance mode
and duration
n/a
n/a
Marian Bond
September 2009
September
Minimum 12, maximum 20 for the FdSc
July 2011 (FdSc), July 2012 (BSc (Hons) )
n/a
tbc
n/a
NEW MODULES APPROVED
Work Based Learning 1 – Companion Animal Handling, Husbandry and Welfare
Understanding the Work Sector – Issues in Animal Industry
Biology and Behaviour
Work Based Learning 2 – Business and Event Management
Animal Therapy and Rehabilitation
Animal Behaviour Counselling
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
(Secretary’s note – delivery will not commence until September 2010 – names to be provides prior to
delivery. 16/9/09)
Quality Assurance Division
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