ACADEMIC QUALITY and STANDARDS COMMITTEE
Minutes of the first meeting of the Academic Quality and Standards Committee in the 2014-15 academic
session, held on Wednesday 24th September 2014 in Blake 028, Medway Campus
Present:
Apologies
AQSC/14/1.1
S. Jarvis (Chair)
S. Naylor (Officer)
W. Cealey Harrison
C. Ierotheou
Z. Pettit
J. Cullinane
M. de Dominici
V. Habgood
D. Page
R. Blackburn
S. Woodhead
S. Greer
S. Walker
D. Glennon
Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic Development)
QA Manager Academic Quality Unit
Head of Academic Quality Unit
Faculty Representative, Architecture, Computing and Humanities
Faculty Representative, Architecture, Computing and Humanities
Faculty Representative, Business
Faculty Representative, Business
Faculty Representative, Education and Health
Faculty Representative, Education and Health
Faculty Representative, Engineering and Science
Faculty Representative, Engineering and Science
Head of Educational Development Unit
Head of Examinations and Standards Office
Terms of reference and Membership
The current terms of reference of the committee and its future membership
were reviewed.
AQSC welcomed Professor Sarah Greer as a co-opted member in her capacity as
DPVC with responsibility for reviewing the Academic Regulations in 2014-15.
The committee also noted Dr. Costantinos Ierotheou has joined the committee
as nominated member for Faculty of Architecture, Computing and Humanities
in succession to Ms. Corine Delage. His initial term of office would run from
Sept 2014 for two years.
The Chair noted that when the committee was formed it was recognised that
Faculty appointments would need to be staggered in order to achieve
continuity as well as bring in new blood and that some Faculty members would
need to members for more than two years. It was agreed that the committee
move to a position whereby some members would be succeeded and others
remain for an additional year. It was agreed that Directors of Learning and
Teaching should all appointed ex officio.
In reviewing the first year operation of the Committee consideration was given
to the possibility of forming a sub-committee to focus on partnerships matters
or to ensure that agendas considered specific items in relation to partnerships
at key times of the academic session. It was agreed that AQSC would address
partnership strategic issues through the adoption of themed agendas at
appropriate points of the academic session. Operational and daily
management issues will remain in the remit of individual faculties and the
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Partnership Division. It was further agreed not to extend the formal AQSC
membership to include partner college or University partnership
representatives but to invite relevant staff to the committee for specific key
items, such as Faculty Directors of Partnership and International Affairs and
possible representatives from partners. It was agreed that the Committee
would benefit from formal appointment of the International Partnerships
Manager; also ex officio.
Proposed specific items for future reference will include:
January 2015:
Partnership Progression and Achievement 2013-14
Annual monitoring of collaborative networks
February 2015: Overseas Partner Annual Institutional Review Reports (AIRs)
Partnership Division overview of the Partner College Network AIRs
March 2015:
QAA report on TNE in the Caribbean
QAA Review in Partner Colleges (2014-15)
North West Kent College (September 2014)
Action
Paper on proposed revised membership and terms of reference - the latter to include
more detailed reference to the partnerships - to be drafted and presented to AQSC
(October 2014) for agreement and thence to Academic Council for endorsement.
(November 2014)
AQSC/14/1.2
Items from the Chair
AQSC Chair
and Officer
a) Recent internal audit outcomes made recommendations that AQSC
agendas should take a greater focus on teaching and learning issues. The
chair had responded that many items on academic standards and quality
enhancement overlap with learning and teaching, but that going forward
the agenda would attempt to draw out the Learning and Teaching matters.
b) That a small QAA team had visited the University last week to discuss the
University’s partnership with the School of Business and Computing
Studies in Trinidad in preparation for a review of UK Transnational
Education in the region. The visit had been successful and highlighted
areas that the University should further consider with respect to its
current practice. The TNE visit to Trinidad will take place in November
2014 and the QAA formal report due in March 2015. The Chair thanked all
University participants for their time and professionalism during the half
day visit.
AQSC/14/1.3
Minutes of the AQSC meeting of 25th June 2014
The minutes for the AQSC of 25th June 2014 were agreed as an accurate record
of the meeting subject to minor amendment to 8.4 Indicator 10 to make clear
that the University has adopted the principle of inclusive assessment practice
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and that any actions would be for the further development of existing practice.
The discussion over policy changes to reasonable adjustments brought to focus
a wider issue of AQSC involvement in the development of student facing
policies which impact on Faculty operation and learning, teaching and academic
standards. AQSC members strongly requested that changes to policies
managed by OSA, prior to submission to Academic Council, be also presented to
AQSC so that any quality and standards issues arising can be discussed via
Faculty representatives.
Action
Discuss the flow of all future policy papers with the Head of Office of Student Affairs
AQSC/14/1.4
Actions Arising from the meeting of 25th June 2014
DVC (AD)
AQSC received an update on the actions as follows:
13/8.3
(13/6.4 refers) All Faculties, (DLTs, HoDs, DES and
PVCs) to be reminded formally of the requirements to
ensure 100% completion and communication with
students over the allocation of personal tutors for
2014-14. AQSC noted that this is now moving to the
remit of USEC.
13/8.3
Remove Section 9 of the current QAH.
13/8.4
(13/7.6 refers) Develop a revised and restructured
formal training process for Panel members and Chairs
over 2014-15 in conjunction with Human Resources
13/8.5
Provide AQSC in 2014-15 with a full report on the
University position in respect of sustainability
13/8.5
13/8.5
Ongoing
Completed
AQU have a
meeting with
Human
Resources on
2nd October to
discussion the
formalisation of
training session
across the
University in
2014-15
Ongoing
Report
expected
December 2014
Ongoing
Develop a staff development programme [Annual
Monitoring Report Writing]
As per 8.3
Ongoing
The Office of Student Affairs, Examinations and
Standards provide a briefing paper that details HE
sector practices, identifies effective practices and
provides a guidance paper for all staff on the essential
principles that ought to be employed for the secure
management of assessments
Ongoing and
requested for
December 2014
meeting from
OSA
Ongoing
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13/8.5
13/8.5
13/8.5
13/8.5
Confirm details of RPL claims for Oshwal College in
2013-14.
Completed
Completed
Supply full details of all RTPL awarded in 2013 by the
FEH to the AQSC Officer
B10 Audit University partnership for scale and
governance mechanisms in the areas of Work
Placement, Internships, Study Abroad
Faculties have
supplied large
volume of
information:
summary
details to be
prepared for
October 2014
AQSC
B10 Develop policy relating to due diligence checks on
partnership activities such as placements
B10 Consider inviting University secretary to
membership of PSP to strengthen process of due
diligence for new partners and for partners under
quinquennial PSP review
As per above
B10 Supply details of credit rating activities to the AQU
for addition to the collaborative register
AQSC/14/1.5
Confirmed - last
set of students
who claimed
RPL for
Graduate
Diploma in MIS.
(IMIS)
supported by
work
experience. The
IMIS route now
no longer
available.
Completed
Ongoing
Completed
Completed
Higher education review
AQSC noted that the draft SED is near completion and will be presented to a
specially formed Vice-Chancellor’s group on 8th October 2014.
AQSC/14/1.6
External Examiner appointments
AQSC received and endorsed a summary listing of the current University wide
appointments for external examiners. AQSC noted that 59 external examiners
were due to complete their term of office in Dec 2014, of whom 33 may be
granted an extension of one year to December 2015. Faculty representative
were asked to ensure that Departments have a complete set of external
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examiners and all nominations must be complete for the third meeting of the
AQSC in December 2014. The Chair requested that consideration of
extensions should take into account the level and extent to which an
examiner had completed their role across the period of tenure and not be an
automatic choice. AQSC noted that of 269 active examiners 165 (61%) hold a
doctorate award or equivalent and that a sizable number of external
examiners without a PhD were examiners with a focus on professional
practice.
AQSC/14/1.7
Credit rating Activities 2014-15
AQSC received and noted the University credit rating activities for 2014-15.
All, at this time, are located in the Faculty of Education and Health and subject
to rigorous oversight on application for the partner. AQSC understood that a
small number of agreements are extant in the Partnership Division, from
whom information should be solicited.
Action
Request information on Partnership Division Credit rating Activities and build
revisions into the University’ Collaborative register
AQSC/14/1.8
Professional Body reports
ASQC
Officer
Completed
a) NMC Accreditation of Registered Midwife – 36 month programme;
Registered specialist community public health nursing – health visiting
AQSC received and noted the success of annual accreditation report by the
NMC for registered midwife and Registered specialist community public
health nursing programmes. The Faculty was congratulated on receiving a
report that showed it had met all NMC requirements against key risks
b) GOC renewal of recognition Osteopathy programmes
AQSC also received and noted the General Osteopathic Council recognition of
University awards in Osteopathy of May 2014. The committee noted a
number of conditions due by 30th September and requested that the Faculty’s
formal response be submitted to the next meeting for noting.
Action
Formal response from the Faculty of Engineering and Science to the GOC renewal
report for Osteopathy programmes to be submitted to AQSC
AQSC/14/1.9
Approvals and review Group minutes
DLT FES
AQSC received minutes from the last two meetings of the ARG. It noted a
number of recommendations and requested that for future reference the
Group makes its recommendations to the committee rather than direct to
Faculties.
With respect to the recommendations made in May 2014 AQSC noted :
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Minute 7a (i) and (ii) refer. Quality Managers and Quality Officers are
requested to ensure that full lists of documents seen by panels and full roles
descriptors for all event participants are provided in all reports.
Minute 7b(i) refers. AQSC noted that the current QAH templates contain a
revised approach to the consideration of statistics aimed at encouraging
analysis and action rather than formal overview and submission of basic data.
Minute 7 b(ii) refers. AQSC noted that the full discussion of private panel
meetings should not form a formal part of event minutes. It was agreed that
the areas private panel meetings highlight as meriting discussion should
always preface the report body, normally in list format.
Minute 7b (iii) refers. AQSC agreed to the Head of AQU signing out event
outcomes should the DVC(AD) be the Chair of an event.
AQSC/14/1.10
Faculty Academic Quality and Standards Minutes
A set of minutes for Faculty AQSC’s were received from each Faculty, draft in
the case of FEH. No institutional issues were raised.
AQSC/14/11
AOB
Publication of Link Tutor Reports to Partner College Students
AQSC noted the request from North West Kent College as to whether Link
Tutor reports could be made formally available to students. AQSC agreed that
LT reports are an internal management document and should not be made
available as a matter of course. If the enquiry was based upon the need to
ensure feedback loops to students are closed the both partner and link tutor
should use programme committee for this purpose and subsequent link tutor
visits.
Action
Feedback AQSC consideration to the Partnership Division
AQSC
Officer
Completed
1/10/14
Annual Course Monitoring
In response to a query on policy from the AQU, AQSC confirmed that
University policy remains that ALL courses, irrespective of student numbers
registered, should have a completed AMR at the end of each academic
session. However, it is expected that the detail and focus of an AMR can be
tailored to the status of the course – whether it is to remain live, is phasing
out, is for assessment only. The aim is that the AMR should be proportionate
to the status of the course.
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University Assessment and Feedback Policy
In response to a Student Union request regarding the development of Faculty
and University-wide operation plans for the implementation of the UAFP
AQSC noted that a Faculty Operational Plan was required for 2014-15 and
subsequent years will see a University wide plan. The SU requested copies of
the Faculty plans and AQSC agreed that each should be received at the
October meeting.
The S.U.U.G representative also alert AQSC to the fact that a new policy on
Fitness to Study Regulations are being discussed and could possibly be going
to a meeting of Academic Council in the not too distant future. AQSC
reiterated its belief that any such policy developments that might impact on
academic matters should be discussed by FAQSCs and AQSC prior to any
submission to Council. The Chair agreed to discuss flow of policy changes
through committee with the Director of OSA.
Action
Faculties to provide the AQSC Officer with Faculty Operation Plans for the University
Assessment and feedback Policy.
Faculty DLT
Officer: Stephen Naylor
Tel:
8159
Email: ns01@gre.ac.uk
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