UNIVERSITY OF WOLVERHAMPTON. UNIVERSITY QUALITY COMMITTEE (Reference 1169)

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1 UNIVERSITY OF WOLVERHAMPTON UNIVERSITY QUALITY COMMITTEE (Reference 1169) Notes of the meeting of the Academic Approval Sub-committee Meeting held on Thursday 16 November at 9.30 a.m. in the Council Room, Wolverhampton Campus Membership: Professor G Hurd (Chair) Ms I Bartram Ms A Cooper Ms M Heaney Professor N Malcolm Mr S Dean (Secretary) Apologies: Mr R Ingram, Mr H Woolf 1. Schedule of Academic Approval Records, 1999/2000 Received: Schedule of academic approval records 1999/2000. Noted: Correspondence between the Business and Law Standing Panel and the Head of Academic Standards has removed the need for the production of an academic approval record in respect of the proposed Executive MBA proposal from WBS. As no new awards or modules were required the standing panel viewed the proposal as another iteration of the existing MBA programme that will be delivered in a block delivery mode to a specific cohort of students. The standing panel agreed that the programme could be marketed as MBA (Executive Programme) but that no validation activity was required. Successful students will, as with other students, be awarded the MBA. 1

2 University Of Wolverhampton Internal Memorandum From: To: cc. Subject: Jenny Newlyn Officer, Business and Law Standing Panel Geoff Hurd - Chair, UQC Scott Dean - Secretary, UQC Kathryn Southworth - Chair, Business and Law Standing Panel Bryony Conway - Dean of WBS Les Worrall Associate Dean, WBS Bob Stone - WBS Jackie Noble School Information officer, WBS Chris Raven SQC Officer MBA (Executive Programme) Date: 15 August 2000 Please find attached copies of the minutes relating to the discussions held by the Business and Law Standing Panel about the Executive MBA proposal from WBS. You will see that over time and through discussion with WBS, that there are no new awards or modules to validate. Therefore the Standing Panel hopes you will accept these extracts from the minutes as an account of the process undertaken in relation to this proposal, and will not require the production of an AAR. Finally it should also be noted that the introduction of this new mode of delivery falls within the review of the MBA during , and will therefore be subject to the Standing Panel s scrutiny. Jenny Newlyn Officer, Business and Law Standing Panel 2

3 University of Wolverhampton University Quality Committee Notes of the Business and Law Standing Panel Meeting, held at the Wolverhampton Science Park on 5 July Present: Kathryn Southworth (Chair) Jenny Newlyn (Officer) William Mott Gill Sower Sharon Hasluck Seth Crofts Martin Cartwright Apologies: Oliver Pritchard Paul Buszard 1. Apologies Apologies were received from Paul Buszard, to whom everyone sent their best wishes for a speedy recovery following his recent accident, and from Oliver Pritchard, who was on paternity leave. 4. WBS Proposals for iii. 956 Executive MBA UQC report on the ongoing monitoring of the FT MBA was received. SP reminded that this proposal fell within the PT portfolio. Noted the following clarification received from the Associate Dean, WBS, in respect of the proposed Executive MBA Programme No changes to the existing off-site delivery programme of modules required, as all modules will be delivered as currently validated, with no changes to assessment or learning outcomes. Noted the title for marketing purposes only, will be MBA (Executive Programme). All students successfully completing this programme will be conferred with the already validated award title in line with the other modes of MBA provision in the School, i.e. Masters in Business Administration. Noted the course will require a separate course code, as the fee pattern for this mode will be different, and the cohort will need a distinctive administrative device. Noted that AP(E)L will be re-activated for this mode of delivery. The process was reviewed during the course of the MBA review carried out by the Standing Panel in Note that the assessment board will carry out the normal procedures in respect of assuring the AP(E)L process is conducted correctly and to the appropriate standard. The SP welcomed the response from the School, which clarified that technically there are no validation issues relating to what is being proposed, but are pleased that they have been involved in this discussion. The SP is therefore happy to see this mode of delivery introduced, as they share UQC s re-assurance that there have been positive improvements in the MBA programme during , as has been demonstrated via the reports to UQC. 3

4 University of Wolverhampton University Quality Committee Notes of the Business and Law Standing Panel Meeting, held at the Wolverhampton Science Park on 12 May Present: Kathryn Southworth (Chair) Jenny Newlyn (Officer) Paul Buszard William Mott Gill Sower Oliver Pritchard Sharon Hasluck Seth Crofts Martin Cartwright In attendance from WBS for the item on Financial Studies: Julie Lydon, Mark Price and Clive Grainger 1. Apologies None 5. WBS Proposals for iii. 956 Executive MBA The SP received the following documents: The reports on the MBA produced for WBS SQC and UQC, which had been produced to monitor the MBA during the academic year The Proposal Plan and ADP note granting planning approval. It was also noted, that following the meeting between the SP Chair, Officer and WBS on 4 May 2000, that the SP would identify documentation requirements needed to validate the Executive MBA proposal during this meeting. It was also noted that the SP Chair agreed to consider this proposal at an additional SP meeting, to be held on 5 July In discussing documentation requirements the SP found it difficult, as it was unsure exactly what was being proposed, i.e. was it a new award or the current PT MBA award, with the same title, same modules, same learning outcomes and same assessment. Or did the proposal just entail the validation of a different mode of delivery, i.e. intensive / block release and the re-introduction of APA? The SP felt until this was clarified, it could not decide on documentation requirements. Officer to clarify with Les Worrall and then confirm documentation requirements with SP Chair and Deputy. Action: Officer to clarify the exact nature of the development and agree documentation requirements with SP Chair and Deputy. Note discussion between Officer and Les Worrall took place on 18 May 2000, see attached notes for overview and outcomes. 4

5 Notes of a discussion held between SP Officer and Les Worrall, WBS on 18/5/00 re: Executive MBA. Noted the Executive MBA is a re-cloaking of the PT MBA, the executive part intends to describe the means of delivery rather than the content of the award, i.e. block mode, weekends and residential. Noted owing to the different mode of delivery, the Executive MBA would have a different pricing structure. Noted the use of the word Executive represented a marketing device rather than a change in award, all students following this programme will be awarded the same award title as those following the PT MBA. Noted the programme will be made up of the same modules, with the same learning outcomes as the PT MBA, however some of the assessment may be changed to give it the proper experiential focus required by the client group following this route. Noted the desire of WBS (Les Worrall and Bob Stone) to meet with SP members looking at this development as soon possible, to make the process as painless as possible. Following this discussion the following actions / documentation requirements were agreed as with the SP Chair and Deputy The SP will only act on this proposal, if the PT MBA is reported to be in good standing, following the WBS SQC Report to UQC 8 June Officer to liaise with UQC regarding the outcomes. In preparation for and assuming that the outcome from UQC is positive, the proposal team needs to do the following: Clarify the title of this new award. SP believes that if the award is exactly the same as the PT MBA, then the award title should be no different. If Executive is being used purely as a marketing device to reflect the different mode of delivery, then it should be used as a descriptor of the MBA and not used in the award title. For example, the marketing materials could describe it as MBA, Executive route, or MBA, (route) for Executives. In no way should the students following this programme, be given the impression that they will graduate with an Executive MBA. What will appear on their Masters certificate, will be the same as that appearing on the PT MBA student certificates. Course Codes Note that even though the award titles for this and the PT MBA will be the same, a distinct (and new) course code will be needed, so that the different pricing structures and delivery mode can be clearly recorded, returned, invoiced etc. Assessment Audit In order for the SP to comprehend the nature of the difference in assessment of the modules on the PT versus intensive delivery mode, WBS needs to review the assessment of all the modules currently constituting the PT MBA. The SP would like to see a matrix or presentation of evidence, which lists all of the PT MBA modules, their learning outcomes, their current assessment regimes, and where and how and to what extent WBS intends to change these to reflect the experiential nature of the proposed intensive route. The SP will then evaluate the extent of these changes in relation to the learning outcomes, in order to identify whether new modules need to be devised and / or codes allocated. It should be noted that this is the crucial stage in defining how the SP process will then proceed, therefore the School is asked to carry out this exercise by 9 June 2000 and forward the outcomes to the SP Officer. As soon as this audit is complete, the SP members identified to work on this proposal, (Kathryn Southworth, Seth Crofts and Martin Cartwright) will meet with the WBS team to work out what, if any further action is required in respect of the validation. 5

6 University of Wolverhampton University Quality Committee Notes of the Business and Law Standing Panel Meeting, held at the Wolverhampton Science Park on 10 April Present: Kathryn Southworth (Chair) Jenny Newlyn (Officer) Paul Buszard William Mott Gill Sower Oliver Pritchard Sharon Hasluck 2. Apologies Seth Crofts, Martin Cartwright. 3. Minutes from meeting held on 10 March The minutes were received as an accurate record of the meeting held on 10 March 2000, with the following amendments (italicised text) 3.iv Executive MBA SP received the Proposal Plan, approved at the AD Panel on 8 March 2000, ADP minute to follow. Noted the critical nature of this development, given the decline in student numbers. The development would run alongside the existing MBA, but would be targeted at Executives, who would attend in a block release mode, involving weekend study. Note that the APA element would be re-introduced into this version. SP noted that there were potential problems in validating this quickly, given the extended review process enforced on the MBA programmes, because of the acute quality problems revealed during last year s review. The problems relating to the FT MBA and DMS were: Research Staffing profile Performance of students Recruitment profile Mapping of students entry qualifications against performance English language competence Ongoing development of assessment criteria Noted that some of these issues may not be so relevant to the PT MBA. 4. Matters Arising 3.vi Executive MBA Noted that Les Worrall from WBS to meet with KS and SC to discuss in general quality issues re: PG work and what action is underway in the School to deal with the issues identified. Noted the apparent confusion about which of the MBA modes was subject to the UQC / SQC monitoring. Chair and Deputy to be provided with all WBS / SQC and UQC minutes and papers relating to the MBA since September Action: Officer to locate WBS / SQC and UQC papers and Minutes relating to the MBA since September 1999, and forward these for review to Chair and Deputy. 6

7 University of Wolverhampton University Quality Committee Notes of the Business and Law Standing Panel Meeting, held at the Wolverhampton Science Park on 10 March Present: Kathryn Southworth (Chair) Jenny Newlyn (Officer) Paul Buszard William Mott Gill Sower Oliver Pritchard Sharon Hasluck Martin Cartwright Seth Crofts (PM only) In attendance from WBS for OLBABA: Jeremy Eatough, Ian McEwen, Liz Fleetham 1. Apologies Seth Crofts gave apologies for the morning session meeting, owing to attendance at Nursing / ITT SP for SNM provision being considered. 3. WBS Proposals for iv. Executive MBA SP received the Proposal Plan, approved at the AD Panel on 8 March 2000, ADP minute to follow. Noted the critical nature of this development, given the decline in student numbers. The development would run alongside the existing MBA, but would be targeted at Executives, who would attend in a block release mode, involving weekend study. Note that the APA element would be re-introduced into this version. SP noted that there were potential problems in validating this quickly, given the extended review process enforced on the MBA programmes, because of the acute quality problems revealed during last year s review. These problems were in the following areas: Research Staffing profile Performance of students Recruitment profile Mapping of students entry qualifications against performance English language competence Ongoing development of assessment criteria Equally the report recently received from the External Advisor to the Standing Panel also highlighted the following: Little analysis of the reasons behind declining student numbers No account of student satisfaction Skills module not about skills Issues relating to 7.5 credit modules Reading lists not uptodate Given the recruitment issues highlighted, the Standing Panel wishes to try and facilitate the validation of this proposal, but in order to consider it, the Standing Panel would need to be assured that all of the issues highlighted by UQC and the External Advisor were being addressed, and the monitoring and reporting UQC 7

8 had required from the School, had been carried out to UQC s satisfaction. It was noted that UQC would be expecting a final report from WBS regarding the MBA, no later than 8 June Actions: WBS to prepare a comprehensive account of their MBA monitoring activities during the session, using existing reports, SQC and UQC minutes where possible, including a copy of the final report to be presented to UQC in June. This account to be presented to the Standing Panel Officer by no later than 20 April 2000, for consideration by the Standing Panel, identifying how it has addressed the issues raised by UQC and the External Advisor. Tony Kapcia to be asked to review the research position, as a follow-on activity to the one carried out for the Review during the last year. [Note Chair advised after the meeting that this was no longer required, as a similar exercise had been conducted by the Dean of Research]. WBS to provide a copy of this report. SP Chair and Deputy (KS and SC) to work with the School, once satisfied that the School has satisfactorily addressed all previous concerns. 8