09 February 2005 - Heriot-Watt University

3. DEVELOPMENT OF UNIVERSITY’S QUALITY ASSURANCE FRAMEWORK
3.1 Academic Standards
Noted that Professor B Austin, Convener of the Working Group on Academic Standards was not
present at the meeting. Agreed that he should be invited to report on progress at the next meeting.
3.2 Assessment
Noted that School Directors of Learning and Teaching had been invited to comment on the draft
Handbook on Assessment before proceeding further with its development. It was noted that no
responses had been received from Directors and it was agreed that the Deputy Registrar should
write once more to invite comment by 28 February.
(SS)
3.3 Flexible, Distance and Distributed Learning
Considered the University’s draft Code of Practice for Flexible and Distributed Learning
(including e-learning) which had been prepared by a Working Group comprising Professor P
John, Professor J Ford and Mrs K Patterson. Noted that the Code of Practice had been prepared in
response to the QAA’s Code of Practice on Collaborative Provision and Flexible and
Distance Learning and represented the precepts of the Code.
The Committee was invited to provide clarification on a number of aspects of the Code of
Practice as follows:
i) Assessment
With regard to courses offered both on-campus and off-campus students, noted that the
Committee had previously agreed that such courses need not be identical but should be equal in
terms of academic standards (SCM/05/63.7). Agreed that this would also apply to assessment
methods.
ii) External Examiners
With regard to the appointment of External Examiners, agreed that to ensure consistency, where
External Examiners were appointed for on-campus courses, they should be required to undertake
the same functions for off-campus courses. Where student numbers were large it was agreed that
other arrangements for Examiners should be considered, including the appointment of separate
Examiners for off-campus courses, with one particular Examiner having an overarching
responsibility for courses offered both on and off-campus.
iii) Transcripts
With regard to the production of transcripts for off-campus students, noted that the QAA’s Code
of Practice referred to above indicated that either the transcript or the award certificate of an
individual student should include details of the principal language of instruction where this is not
English. Agreed that in line with the QAA’s Code of Practice, transcripts should in future include
information on the language of instruction and assessment. Agreed that the Senate Council should
be advised on this matter as a change in University policy.
Agreed that the draft Handbook should be circulated to Schools for comment.
(KAP)
4. REPORT ON INTERNAL REVIEW OF MATHEMATICS AND ACTUARIAL MATHEMATICS
AND STATISTICS
4.1 Considered the full Report on the Internal Review of the subjects of Mathematics and Actuarial
Mathematics and Statistics which are offered by the School of Mathematical and Computer
Sciences. Also considered in detail the Executive Summary of the Review Findings and was
content with the Panel’s findings and the School’s response. With regard to the School’s informal
processes and the School’s response, agreed that the proposed formal review procedures and
processes suggested by School should be undertaken for the first time by 31 December 2005
(Section 1 referred to in the Summary). Agreed that SS should invite the School to accept the
change in date to 31 December.
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