JOINT BOARD OF MODERATORS GUIDELINES FOR CHECKING OUTPUT STANDARDS OF DEGREE PROGRAMMES

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1 JOINT BOARD OF MODERATORS GUIDELINES FOR CHECKING OUTPUT STANDARDS OF DEGREE PROGRAMMES 1. Intrductin 1.1 These Guidelines are fr higher educatin institutins (r ther educatinal establishments) prviding accredited IEng, BEng (Hns) and MEng prgrammes. Nte that the title IEng refers t the prfessinal qualificatin. The qualificatin t cmplete the educatinal base fr an IEng is typically a BSc. The primary aims f these Guidelines are t: Prvide infrmatin fr the academic staff respnsible fr the develpment, management and delivery f JBM accredited engineering prgrammes and/r fr nn-accredited prgrammes where accreditatin is being sught. This annex is intended t be f use when develping prgrammes and when preparing fr accreditatin visits. Prvide guidance n the checking f utput standards during accreditatin visits. 1.2 The requirements fr registratin as an Incrprated r a Chartered in the UK are described by the ing Cuncil UK (EC UK ) in the UK Standard fr Prfessinal ing Cmpetence (UK-SPEC). UK-SPEC states that accreditatin decisins are t be based n the cnsideratin f a range f indicatrs (Regulatins fr Registratin, UK-SPEC, February 2004). One such indicatr is whether r nt an engineering prgramme delivers the learning utcmes defined by the JBM. EC UK requires that such learning utcmes are t be derived frm its generic utput standards fr accredited engineering prgrammes (The Accreditatin f Higher Educatin Prgrammes, UK-SPEC, Dec 2008). 1.3 The JBM has adpted the EC UK generic utput standards fr its accredited engineering prgrammes. This has been dne fr the fllwing reasns: T prvide a measure f cntinuity. The EC UK generic utput standards were based n the engineering subject benchmark statements published by the Quality Assurance Agency fr Higher Educatin in Experience gained frm sme f the JBM accreditatin visits has indicated that the benchmark statements have been used by universities when reviewing their existing curse prvisin and when develping new prgrammes. T avid ver-prescriptin. The JBM recgnises that higher educatin institutins must be encuraged t cntinue t develp stimulating, relevant and challenging accredited engineering prgrammes within a framewrk f evlutinary change. The use f generic utput standards shuld prvide higher educatin institutins with sufficient freedm t develp prgrammes that help serve the changing demands f industry and make best use f the available academic expertise and the teaching and Jint Bard f Mderatrs Page 1 f 6 Versin 1 Revisin 0 01 July 2009

2 learning supprt facilities, whilst at the same time ensuring that accredited prgrammes meet the educatinal requirements fr registratin. 1.4 Further details cncerning utput standards are given at pint 2. Pint 3 addresses the checking f utput standards during accreditatin visits. 2. Setting and Checking JBM Output Standards 2.1 As explained in 1.3, the JBM has adpted the EC UK generic utput standards fr its accredited engineering prgrammes. These are stated in the EC UK dcument The Accreditatin f Higher Educatin Prgrammes (2004). A cpy f this dcument can be btained frm: ing Cuncil UK, 10 Maltravers Street, Lndn, WC2R 3ER. The dcument is als available frm the UK-SPEC website ( 2.2 The EC UK generic utput standards cnsist f General Learning Outcmes and Specific Learning Outcmes in ing. The General Learning Outcmes apply t all IEng, BEng (Hns) and MEng prgrammes; they cver knwledge and understanding, intellectual abilities, practical skills and general transferable skills. Additinal enhanced General Learning Outcmes are stated fr graduates frm MEng prgrammes. 2.3 Separate Specific Learning Outcmes in ing are published fr graduates frm IEng, BEng (Hns) and MEng prgrammes. These utcmes cver underpinning science and mathematics; engineering analysis; design; ecnmical, scial and envirnmental cntext; and engineering practice. In accredited MEng prgrammes sme f the EC UK generic utput standards shuld be achieved at enhanced and extended levels (see als 2.4). 2.4 It is expected that the balance f the General and Specific Learning Outcmes achieved by graduates frm JBM accredited prgrammes will vary frm prgramme t prgramme. The balance f the learning utcmes and when they will be achieved during the prgramme f learning will depend n the aims and bjectives f each prgramme. These will be defined by the prgramme prvider, ie. the academic staff respnsible fr the design, develpment and management f the prgramme. The JBM des nt wish t be prescriptive n hw and when the learning utcmes shuld be achieved during an accredited prgramme f learning. 2.5 When develping, managing and delivering a JBM accredited engineering prgramme, it is expected that the prvider will nrmally: Design the prgramme curriculum. JBM accredited prgrammes shuld cmply with the Guidelines fr Develping Degree and Further Learning Prgrammes. Set the target utput standards. During the develpment prcess, the prvider will set the aims and bjectives fr each prgramme that are based n the type f exemplifying academic award (ie. IEng, BEng (Hns), MEng identified by the EC UK and the levels f achievement defined in the apprpriate natinal qualificatins framewrk (ie. the QAA in England, Nrthern Ireland and Wales, and the SCQF in Sctland). The inter-relatin between these tw is shwn in Table 1. Check that the target utput standards have been achieved. Fr each prgramme, the prgramme prvider will check that the graduates have achieved the majrity f the EC UK generic utput standards at the apprpriate level (defined by the QAA r the SCQF). This check will nrmally be carried ut by a rigrus quality assurance r management prcess that includes: Jint Bard f Mderatrs Page 2 f 6 Versin 1 Revisin 0 01 July 2009

3 Assessment f the student s wrk by academic staff in the delivery f the different elements f the prgramme. External verificatin (nrmally carried ut by ne r mre external examiners appinted by the higher educatin institutins respnsible fr the prgramme). An annual review carried ut by the prgramme team. Typically this will take int accunt feedback frm students (eg. via staff-student liaisn meetings and feedback questinnaires) and frm the staff delivering the prgramme. The implementatin (and subsequent mnitring) f any changes t the prgramme arising frm the review. Jint Bard f Mderatrs Page 3 f 6 Versin 1 Revisin 0 01 July 2009

4 Table 1 EC UK Exemplifying Academic Awards and the Natinal Qualificatins Framewrk EC UK level f registratin Typical exemplifying academic award (see nte 1) Natinal Qualificatins Framewrk Level f Achievement (see nte 4) Quality Assurance Agency Scttish Credit and (QAA) Qualificatins Qualificatins Framewrk fr England, Framewrk (SCQF) Nrthern Ireland and Wales Incrprated BEng, BSc Level 6 4 (Intermediate) Level 9 Incrprated BEng (Hns) (see nte 5) BSc (Hns) (see nte 2) Level 6 (Higher) Level 10 Chartered (see nte 3) BEng (Hns) (see nte 2) Level 6 (Higher) Level 10 Chartered MEng, MSc, (see nte 6) Level 7 (Masters) Level 11 Ntes 1. These qualificatins will nrmally be in Civil ing r in a similar assciated field f engineering and technlgy. They must satisfy the JBM Guidelines fr Develping Degree and Further Learning Prgrammes. 2. Prgramme prviders must specify whether Hnurs prgrammes which cmply with QAA Level H r SCQF Level 10 are designed t satisfy the EC UK standards fr CEng r IEng. All prgramme dcumentatin, prgramme specificatins, prgramme literature, prmtinal material and ther assciated dcuments must state clearly the level f accreditatin (CEng r IEng) awarded by the JBM. 3. Hnurs degrees cmplying with QAA Level H r SCQF Level 10 that are accredited t CEng level will require an apprpriate accredited r apprved Masters degree, (see nte 6) r apprpriate Further Learning t Masters level t satisfy the EC UK requirements fr Chartered. 4. The QAA levels f achievement can be fund at and the SCQF levels f achievement can be fund at 5. Graduates wh hld an accredited BEng (Hns) degree frm the CEng listing will meet the educatinal requirements fr an Incrprated subject t demnstrating at the apprpriate Prfessinal Review the practical applicatin f engineering principles. The evidence fr this will be an apprpriate perid f practical experience. 6. Frm 2007, Pstgraduate Diplmas are n lnger accredited by the JBM and are subject t individual assessment by the relevant member institutin. Jint Bard f Mderatrs Page 4 f 6 Versin 1 Revisin 0 01 July 2009

5 3. Checking f Output Standards During Accreditatin Visits 3.1 The JBM has gained many years experience f cnducting accreditatin visits. During such visits it has becme accepted practice t carry ut a check f standards by reviewing: The stated aims and bjectives f each accredited prgramme. These statements must be included in the submissin made t the JBM in advance f the accreditatin visit. Cmparisns are made with the requirements fr IEng and CEng as defined in the JBM Guidelines fr Develping Degree and Further Learning Prgrammes. The prgramme prvider s quality assurance prcedures. This includes a review f external examiners reprts and the minutes f staff-student liaisn cmmittees. The utput frm all stages f each accredited prgramme. Typically this invlves the inspectin f a representative sample f student wrk including examinatin questin papers, examinatin scripts, grup-based design prject wrk, individual research prject wrk, labratry reprts and varius ther frms f assessed wrk submitted by the students during the prgramme f learning. 3.2 T satisfy the accreditatin requirements f UK-SPEC, during accreditatin visits made frm the start f the 2005/06 academic sessin (see 1.5) the JBM will check that: The students cmpleting an accredited prgramme have achieved the utput standards set by the prgramme prvider; and The prgramme s utput standards are based n the EC UK generic utput standards and the natinal qualificatins framewrk apprpriate fr the level f accreditatin sught. 3.3 T facilitate the checking f utput standards, each higher educatin institutin is required t submit t the JBM a clear statement explaining hw the utput standards set fr each accredited prgramme have been achieved by the students cmpleting the prgramme. This statement will frm part f the submissin made t the JBM in advance f the accreditatin visit. It shuld make reference t the aims and bjectives f each accredited prgramme, the EC UK generic utput standards and the apprpriate natinal qualificatins framewrk. 3.4 During the accreditatin visit, the JBM will check that the utput standards have been achieved by carrying ut the reviews described in 3.1 and 3.2. It is recmmended therefre that tw years f the mst recent assessed wrk cmpleted by the students is retained fr inspectin during the accreditatin visit. 3.5 The statement made in supprt f the accreditatin submissin by the higher educatin institutin, referred t in 3.3, may take any frm. It may be helpful t cmplete an Output Standards Statement linking the prgramme aims, bjectives and subject (r mdule) learning utcmes t the EC UK generic utput standards and the evidence t be submitted during the accreditatin visit. A template fr such a statement is prvided verleaf. The use f such a template is nt a cmpulsry requirement f an accreditatin submissin. The higher educatin institutin must be prepared t demnstrate t the visiting JBM team hw any f the utput standards have been achieved. Jint Bard f Mderatrs Page 5 f 6 Versin 1 Revisin 0 01 July 2009

6 DEGREE GUIDELINES: OUTPUT STANDARDS Title f Curse (e.g. BEng(Hns) in Civil ing) Output Standards Statement fr a JBM Accredited ing Prgramme Level f Accreditatin (IEng, BEng (Hns) r MEng) Higher Educatin Institutin: QAA r SCQF Level (e.g. QAA Level H r SCQF level 10) EC UK Output Standard GENERAL LEARNING OUTCOMES Knwledge and Understanding Prgramme Objective(s) and/r Principal Mdules in Supprt f the Output Standard (list 1 r mre prgramme bjectives r mdule cdes frm the mdule descriptrs included in the accreditatin submissin) Evidence f Achievement (e.g. examinatin script, design reprt, dissertatin, lab. reprt, etc.) Intellectual Abilities Practical Skills General Transferable Skills SPECIFIC LEARNING OUTCOMES IN ENGINEERING Underpinning Science and Mathematics ing Analysis Design Ecnmic, Scial and Envirnmental Cntext ing Practice Jint Bard f Mderatrs Page 6 f 6 Versin 1 Revisin 0 01 July 2009