ADEC/09/02 - Academic Planning Unit - University of Ulster

UNIVERSITY OF ULSTER
ACADEMIC DEVELOPMENT AND ENHANCEMENT COMMITTEE
6 January 2009
Paper No: ADEC/09/02
Agenda Item 4b
REPORT FROM THE FACULTY HEADS OF COLLABORATIVE COURSES FORUM
(4/12/08)
Present: Mrs J Alleyne, Mrs M T Boyle, Dr M Chapman, Ms R Fee,
Ms C Guyer (Chair), Dr D Kirby, Mrs M Paris.
1. MATTERS ARISING
Collaborative Register
Members were informed that the Academic Office will be taking over
responsibility for maintaining the collaborative register. Mr A Faulkner is
meeting with Dr Hanna later this month to arrange the handover.
Meeting with fdf
Members met with the Regional Manager of fdf on 3 October 2008 where they
heard a presentation on the role of fdf and their plans for the future.
Members noted that fdf were interested in promoting employer-led Foundation
degrees although there has been some toning down of this by HEFCE given
the current credit crunch.
2. CHAIR’S COMMUNICATION
Information Dissemination Event
Members were reminded of an information dissemination event being
organised by the Quality Management and Audit Unit for senior managers in
partner institutions on 26 February 2009. A programme for the event will be
forwarded early in the New Year.
Appeals from Associate Students on the Grounds of Procedural Irregularities
The Chair informed members that the Examination Office had enquired about
the potential for appeals from students in partner institutions on the grounds of
procedural irregularities. Under the new University – College partnership
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arrangements for Associate Students, students having exhausted the partner
institutions’ own academic appeals process, will have a final right of appeal to
Ulster on the grounds of procedural irregularity.
Members agreed that to date they had received very few enquiries from
students regarding academic appeals and they did not envisage this changing
significantly with the introduction of Associate Student status.
Review of the Guide to Collaboration in the Provision of Programmes of Study
Members were advised that a Working Group has been set up to review the
Guide to Collaboration in the Provision of Programmes of Study. The Forum
is represented on the Working Group by Ms R Fee.
3. MONITORING OF PUBLICITY MATERIAL
Members were provided with an update on two meetings with the Director of
Student Marketing and the Marketing Group. The Marketing Group were
provided with information on the current models of collaboration, the scope of
the links, number of students enrolled and progression rates. They were
particularly interested in the new status of associate student and the rights and
obligations of such students. The main driver for the Marketing Group is to
improve progression from our collaborative partners to Ulster.
The feedback from members on the publicity material submitted to them by
course directors in partner institutions was that while a small number of
inaccuracies had been identified there were no serious misrepresentations
apparent. Indeed the nature and extent of the relationship with Ulster was low
key.
It was agreed that: i) the Chair write to Professor Durkin
supporting the proposal to offer
workshops to marketing staff in partner
institutions focusing on the use of
terminology and greater promotion of the
relationship with Ulster;
ii) Faculty Heads continue to monitor
publicity material on an on-going basis.
4. FACULTY STRATEGIES FOR COLLABORATIVE ACTIVITY
The Chair suggested that as it had been some considerable time since Faculty
strategies for collaborative activity had been looked at it was perhaps an
appropriate time to reflect on existing strategies and consider how best they
might be re-negotiated in light of changes in the internal and external
environment in which collaborative activity operates.
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The revised Faculty strategies could then feed into the overarching University
Strategy for Collaborative Activity. Members also noted that the International
Strategy for Collaborative Activity was currently being reviewed.
It was suggested that the PVC (Teaching and Learning) may wish to meet with
senior managers in Faculties to discuss and review Faculty and University
objectives for collaborative activity.
It was agreed that: i) Faculties review their strategy for
collaborative activity with drafts to be
considered at the March meeting of the
Forum;
ii) the Chair write to the Head of the
International office regarding input into the
institutional development of the
International Strategy for Collaborative
Activity.
5. STAFF DEVELOPMENT EVENT FOR COURSE DIRECTORS
Members reflected on the recent staff development event for course directors
in partner institutions and the feedback they had received on the event.
Overall the feedback had been very positive with delegates commenting
favourably on the venue for the event and the varied programme. The
balance between speakers from Ulster, partner institutions and external
organisations was appropriate. The event demonstrated the good relationship
between Ulster and its collaborative partners.
6. ELECTION OF NEW NEW VICE-CHAIR OF FORUM
Members were asked to e-mail the Chair with expressions of interest in taking
up the post of Vice-Chair of the Forum by 12 December 2008.
Hugh Deighan
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