PART A: SUMMARY REPORT

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1 PROGRAMME APPROVAL REPORT PART A: SUMMARY REPORT CONFIRMED A1 Programme Specification Title: Biology and Health Science Undergraduate Network with the inclusion of a new award title B.Med.Sci. (Hons) Healthcare Science A2 Home Department/School: School of Biology, Chemistry & Health Science A3 Home Faculty: Faculty of Science & Engineering A4 Type of Event: ADC Modification A5 Date of Event: 28 May 2009 A6 Objectives of Event: To ensure that the design, academic standards and quality of learning opportunities of the modified Network, as approved in principle on 31 March 2009 (PAF ref PARM/09/059 refers) and as outlined in A7 below, remain appropriate to the awards to which the Network leads and are informed by reference to institutional regulations and policies, national benchmarks and relevant professional and employment demands. A7 Outline of Proposal: Since the last review of the Biology and Health Science Undergraduate Network in 2007, no substantive changes had been made. Also, no students had graduated from the programmes introduced at that time yet. Still, the innovative changes and issues identified at hat review applied to the programme modification considered here. Recruitment to the BSc (Hons) Clinical Physiology and the BSc (Hons) Biomedical Science had been strong. For the academic year beginning 2007, there were 23 and 108 enrolments respectively. The figures for the academic year beginning September 2008 were 18 and 112 respectively. Applications for entry in 2009 stood at 30 and 254 respectively. The retention rate for the academic year was 96% for both programmes. There had been a significant improvement in resources since 2007 with the purchase of additional, specialized data recording equipment in the physiology/pharmacology laboratory. In September 2008, the teaching expertise of the Health Sciences division was further enhanced with the appointment of a physiologist and medical microbiologist. Furthermore, the relocation of colleagues within the Institute for Biomedical Research into Human Movement and Health (IRM) to the School of Biology, Chemistry & Health Science (SBCHS), strengthened the academic and research experience in the area of biomedical science applications to human movement and health. For consideration at this approval Event were the following proposals: The B.Med.Sci. (Hons) Healthcare Science would be added as a new University award. A Request for New University Award (PARM14) was approved by the head of CASQE (6 March 2009), the Academic Development Committee (6 May 2009) and the Academic Board (13 May 2009). The proposed new route, B.Med.Sci. (Hons) Healthcare Science, was a modification of the current Biology and Health Science Undergraduate Network. It would operate efficiently by sharing the majority of units within this existing Network, alongside other approved units from the BSc (Hons) Biomedical Science, BSc (Hons) Clinical Physiology and the Chemistry Undergraduate Network. The route was designed to facilitate entry to life science-based or physiological science-based careers in healthcare science. The units available at each level reflected the essential elements for a qualification in those specialist areas. The new route featured generic content at Levels 4 & 5 and allowed specialisation at Level 6 for orientation into either of those areas. The new units to be added into the Network were: PARMRPT last modified 22 July 2011 page 1 of 5

2 o Level 4: Physics, Physiological Measurement and Signal Processing (20 credits) o Level 4: Introductory Chemistry for Healthcare Science (20 credits) The awards after completion of appropriate levels would be: o Level 4: Cert. H.E. Medical Science o Level 5: Dip. H.E. Medical Science o Level 6: B. Med.Sci. (Hons) Healthcare Science As at the 2007 review, the general policy of the School was to maintain its full-time student numbers. Initially, this degree was to be introduced with additional student numbers (ASN) in Healthcare Science, but, due to the current economic situation, the offers for ASN had been withdrawn by the government. The Network, therefore, would be offered within current student numbers for the School. A8 Conduct of the Event and Panel Membership: The Event, comprised of: a private panel meeting, a meeting of the panel with current students and alumni and a meeting of the panel with members of the Programme Team was held on 28 May 2009 in the John Dalton Building (rooms E324 & E302) on the All Saints North Campus. The panel included the following internal members: Dr. Ian Eastwood (Chair) Dr. Pete Dunleavy (Acting Dean of Faculty) Dr. Maureen Dawson (FADC Representative) Mrs. Marian Kelly (Senior Officer, Internal Academic Standards and Quality Assurance) Dr. Carmen Corral (Quality Enhancement Officer) The panel included the following external members appointed by the Head of Academic Standards & Quality Enhancement after nomination by the Faculty: Dr. Iain Coleman: Principal Lecturer, Physiology and Pharmacology School of Applied Sciences, University of Wolverhampton Dr. Thomas Gardiner: Director, Centre for Biomedical Sciences Education Queen s University of Belfast A9 Documentary Evidence Base: Draft Definitive Document (including updated Programme Specification) Self-Evaluation Document (SED) incorporating the following appendices: o Report of Network s last approval/review event in 2007 and account of action taken in response o Most recent annual Quality Action Plans, monitoring statistics and external examiners reports o Analysis of student feedback questionnaires o Summary CVs of teaching staff Programme Approval Form approved in principle A10 Conclusions on Innovation and Good Practice: The panel identified the following aspects of good practice: The proposed Physics, Physiological Measurement and Signal Processing (6ABL1XXX) unit was held as being very appropriate to the Network. The Programme Team s timely response to the shift in the national agenda was held to warrant recognition. The variety of teaching approaches employed across the Network, especially given the fact that its intake was rather diverse, was identified as good practice. The Network s strong focus on biology & disease was held as very appropriate. The thorough preparation, by staff and students, for the project at Level 5 was identified as good practice. A11 Conclusions on Quality and Standards: The panel concluded that the intended learning outcomes of the Network were being achieved by students, that the standards of the University s awards were being maintained PARMRPT last modified 22 July 2011 page 2 of 5

3 and that the Network as modified would remain current and valid in the light of developing knowledge in the discipline, practice in its operation and developments in teaching and learning. A12 Summary of Outcome: The Panel recommended continued approval of the Network as modified per Section A7 above with effect from September 2009 subject to fulfilment of the one (1) condition in Section A13 below. A full list of changes made as part of this Modification Event may be found in Appendix 1 of this report. A13 Condition of Approval: The following condition of approval must be fulfilled before the modified Network may commence: The Programme Team must amend the Definitive Document as follows: o Incorporate the B. Med. Sci. (Hons) Healthcare Science documentation into the Definitive Document for the Biology & Health Science Undergraduate Network complete with a clear exposition of the new route that shows there is no duplication in the structure of the existing programmes/routes. o Amend the Chemistry pre-requisite for the Introductory Chemistry for Healthcare Science (6ACH1XXX) unit to require a demonstrable previous study of chemistry (GCSE or above) or something similar and amend the pre-requisite for the Physics, Physiological Measurement and Signal Processing (6ABL1XXX) unit to require study at an appropriate level or something similar. o Update the book lists found in the Unit Specifications to incorporate the most recent/available editions. o Amend the Definitive Document at page 48 to show that the credits are at Level 4 rather than at Level 0. o Decide if a part-time route will be available at Level 4, clarify that a part-time route is offered at Levels 5 & 6, and clarify both policies in both the Definitive Document. A14 Deadlines for Fulfilment of Condition: 30 June 2009, extended to 15th July. A15 Recommendations: The Programme Team must consider and explicitly address the following recommendations in the course of its annual monitoring processes: The Programme Team should bring the chemistry assessment strategies into line with the School norm of 50 dedicated hours. The Programme Team should consider increasing the number of credits earned through the project from 20 to 40 since this was the major difference between the pass degree and the honours degree. The University should consider issuing generic guidance on assessment criteria which takes account of students learning support/language needs. This is particularly important since, for example, knowledge of the English language is not the same thing as mastery of it. A16 Date of next scheduled review: The next, scheduled periodic review of the Network will be held during the Autumn term of For CASQE use only A17 Date Report considered by Head of ASQE: A18 Date of CASQE Recommendation to AQSSc: 8 September September 2009 End of PARMRPT(A) PARMRPT last modified 22 July 2011 page 3 of 5

4 PART C: RESPONSE TO CONDITIONS: STATUS REPORT Programme Title Biology and Health Science Undergraduate Network Type of Event ADC Modification to incorporate B.Med.Sci. (Hons) Healthcare Science Date of Event 28 th May 09 Deadline for fulfilment of Conditions Panel Chair 16 th July 09 Dr Ian Eastwood Response to be approved by (indicate as appropriate) Panel Chair on behalf of Panel All/designated Panel Member (please specify) Yes 1 Action Taken in Response to Condition(s) In response to the conditions set by the Event Panel (list received 17/06/09). The Course Team have incorporated material relating to the B.Med.Sci. (Hons) Healthcare Science into the Definitive and Curriculum Documents for the Biology and Health Science Undergraduate Programme Network. No changes were made to the Self Evaluation Document, following advice from CASQE (02/07/09). The Definitive Document has been further amended to demonstrate that the B.Med.Sci. (Hons) is a distinct course differing from others in the network at Levels 4 and 5, and by at least 60 Level 6 credits, including the Project. A unit / course matrix has been included to clarify this. Proformas for the new units Introductory Chemistry for Healthcare Science and for Physics, Physiological Measurement and Signal Processing have been added to the Curriculum Document and amended as required in the conditions set by the Panel. Booklists for units approved in 2007 (and included in B.Med.Sci.Hons structure) have been updated, where deemed appropriate by unit leaders, where new editions of texts exist. The B.Med.Sci. (Hons) Programme Specification has been amended to make clear that the whole programme can be taken on a part-time basis. Recommendations In general, the recommendations of the Panel will be acted on through the mechanisms associated with the Undergraduate Programmes Board and incorporation of relevant action into Quality Action Plans, where appropriate. PARMRPT last modified 22 July 2011 page 4 of 5

5 2 Documentation submitted to for approval PARMRPT ref: PARM/09/059 Amended documents : - Definitive Document for the Biology and Health Science Undergraduate Network - Curriculum Document for the Biology and Health Science Undergraduate Network 3 Panel Chair/Panel Member Comments 4 Confirmation of approval I confirm that I am satisfied that the conditions of approval have been fulfilled. Signed: Ian W Eastwood ( confirming approval held in CASQE file) Date: 18 August 2009 For CASQE use only C3 Date(s) Response to Conditions 8 September 2009 considered by Head of ASQE C4 Date(s) CASQE Recommendation(s) on 16 September 2009 conditions submitted to AQSSc C5 Date of final AQSSc approval 16 September 2009 End of PARMRPT(C) PARMRPT last modified 22 July 2011 page 5 of 5