Associate College and Associate Department Approval process

Transcription

1 Collaborative Programmes Office Quality Management Division Associate College and Associate Department Approval process The University may, from time to time, wish to confer the status of Associate College or Associate Department on an organisation or part of an organisation which is not within the University of Portsmouth. In all cases the primary determinant in conferring associate status must be an academic one and the relationship between the University and the associate College/department must be based upon clear understanding of the roles and responsibilities of the partners. Associate College The University may, from time to time, confer the title of Associate College on another educational institution. Such an institution would normally be providing post compulsory education and a significant amount of higher education in collaboration with the University and could be in either the private or public sectors, within the UK or overseas. Exclusivity: The University may or may not require exclusivity in the relationship with an Associate College. The University would normally validate a range of courses in the College through the established University quality assurance system before there is consideration of Associate College status. Before conferring associate status, the University will have reviewed and approved the general quality assurance and student support systems operating in the College and agreed that these are appropriate to support the standards of course delivery required by the University. The University will, in each case, define any special rights or benefits accorded to the Associate College, its staff and students, including the use of the term Associate College in marketing, the use of the University logo and corporate identity 1 and staff and student access to University facilities and the processes to be used to terminate an agreement etc. These will be set out in the Memorandum of Association which is completed by CPO in liaison with the relevant Faculty. The precise nature of the academic courses and programmes to be offered for validation by the University to operate in the College will be contained in the Memorandum of Association. Any financial relationship between the two institutions will be spelt out clearly in a Memorandum of Association. Arrangements will be made for the continuing quality assurance of the Associate Colleges procedures, with specific arrangements for the continuing assurance of research degrees. In the case that a given Associate College is an institution which only delivers higher education work, but does not have the power to validate its own degree courses, the University might become the sole, exclusive accreditor of the College s courses. It would then be normal for the University to accredit the institution in terms of both the validation of specific course programmes and regarding the general quality assurance arrangements within the College. 1 Corporate Identity Approval of Collaborative Programmes and Partnerships November 2011 Page 1 of 11 Associate College and Associate Department Approval process November 2011 Page 1 of 11

2 Associate Department The University may, from time to time, wish to confer the status of Associate Department on an organisational unit within another institution. Again, the main determinant would be the academic relationship between the University and that Associate Department. It is considered that the Associate Department will normally be within an institution which is not primarily educational in nature - then the academic relationship is more likely to be focused on research and development than on course delivery. The title of Associate Department will only be awarded after a formal visit by an approval panel which would need to consider at the academic record and potential of the unit to ensure that approval had been given by the governing body of the relevant organisation and to clearly identify the nature of the associate relationship. In the cases of both Associate College and Associate Department approval would be vested in the following procedure: Formal proposals for Associate status must be submitted to Academic Policy Committee (APC) in the first instance. Where the proposal rests upon existing well-established relationships, APC may recommend approval directly to Academic Council (AC) Final approval of Associate status will in all cases be by decision of AC following a report and recommendations from the appropriate Committee. Such reports will normally be based on a visit to the institution or organisation concerned by a formally constituted panel. In the case of relationships built upon research activity, these will be recommended by the URDC/FRDC as appropriate to the activity. URDC/FRDC will also be responsible for the ongoing development and monitoring of the activities concerned. Where the Associate status rests upon the delivery of taught courses leading to the awards of the University of Portsmouth, the collaborative relationship will either be through approved franchised programmes or through the validation of externally delivered programmes. The normal quality assurance arrangements will operate for such approvals, and recommendation for Associate status shall be separate and distinct from the approval process. Recommendations will come from Quality Assurance Committee (QAC). Research activity and collaborative arrangements for the delivery of taught courses leading to the awards of the University shall remain subject to the agreed procedures, regulations, and modus operandi for the conduct of these activities, notwithstanding any agreement to confer associate status. Where Associate status is agreed, it may be appropriate to confer the title on the partner institution of the University through the award of a formal statement or Certificate of Association which will be issued by the Faculty on completion of the signing of the Memorandum of Association. In the specific case of medical or other clinical departments within Hospital Trusts wishing to be associated with the University, and Police Forces or other Criminal Justice Agencies wishing to be associated with the University through the Institute of Criminal Justice Studies (ICJS), the procedure and entitlements need to be differentiated from the arrangements described above. The procedure to be followed is given at Annex A. Approval of Collaborative Programmes and Partnerships November 2011 Page 2 of 11 Associate College and Associate Department Approval process November 2011 Page 2 of 11

3 Annex 1 SHSSW procedure for approving applications for Academic Department status This paper describes the process to be followed in approving an application from a medical or other clinical department to become associated with the University through the Faculty of Science, School of Health Sciences and Social Work (SHSSW). In line with the University s approach of openness and rigour, and in order to enable full multidisciplinary departments to apply, explicit criteria have been established on which to judge associate department applications. The term department is used generically in this Appendix to describe medical and clinical departments in the National Health Services (NHS). Titles and nomenclature The conventional nomenclature in the NHS is such that the titles of associated department or associated school are inappropriate to departments; similarly the title associate member of staff has no currency of meaning or recognition for staff working in departments. Departments which make a successful application will therefore be accorded the following title: Academic Department of, School of Health Sciences and Social Work, Faculty of Science, University of Portsmouth. Staff of the department may apply for an honorary position within the University, following the Visiting and Honorary Appointments Policy Staff successful in their application shall be offered terms and conditions as advised to the Dean of Faculty by the Human Resources Department of the University. Any additional entitlements that may arise for staff arising from successful application to an honorary position must be defined and agreed as a part of the Memorandum of Agreement confirming the associate department relationship between the University and the department. Procedures Departments should use the criteria below to shape their application but may include other items which in their judgement give academic credibility. Applications should include the following: the name(s) of the department(s) being put forward for consideration; curriculum vitae of staff to demonstrate that the department has suitably qualified members of staff in the appropriate field of study for whom linkage to the University will be a benefit for their continuing professional and academic development; a demonstration that the department has a record of academic and academic related activity. This should include as a minimum: a record of research publications in the refereed journals; a record of other publications of its profession; the provision of educational courses (credit and non-credit-bearing); the provision of education through the teaching of its submitted staff either within the department or externally; Approval of Collaborative Programmes and Partnerships November 2011 Page 3 of 11 Associate College and Associate Department Approval process November 2011 Page 3 of 11

4 presentations and posters given by the department; a record of grants awarded; students supervised through Masters and Doctoral level awards by departmental staff; evidence of a record of scientific application and innovation; a demonstration that the activities of the department are organised in such a way that they are commensurate with, and related to, the academic life of the University and would enhance the University s standard in the community at large; a statement by the department, endorsed by its governing authority, indicating willingness to collaborate with the University and to accept its mission; an outline of the departments academic potential whether through research, course delivery, consultancy or other academic activities; an outline of the quality assurance system for the department s activities. Applications from departments should be forwarded to the Head of the School of Health Sciences and Social Work who will notify the Senior Registrar (QMD) of the application. The Senior Registrar (QMD) will arrange, in consultation with the Pro Vice-Chancellor for a meeting of the Associate Schools Working Group to consider the application. The Associate Schools Working Group shall be appointed by the Pro Vice-Chancellor and shall comprise the following membership within the University of Portsmouth but from outside of the Faculty of Science: Dean (who shall act as Chair); 1 Associate Dean (Academic); 1 Head of an Academic Department; 1 representative of Research and Knowledge Transfer Committee; others who may be asked to advise as appropriate and who may come from the Faculty of Science. The Senior Registrar (QMD) or her or his nominee will service the group. The terms of reference of the Associate Schools Working Group are to: consider applications from departments in relation to the criteria stated at 4, below; make a recommendation in the form of a report to the Pro Vice-Chancellor as to whether the application should be approved or not; provide reasons for its recommendation, to include, in cases where the recommendation is for approval of the application, the anticipated benefits which will accrue to the University; make such visits to the department, to ask for additional information, to interview staff of the department, and to ask for advice as it considers necessary to the process. The University aims for the report of the Associate Schools Working Group normally to be concluded within three months of an application being referred to the Senior Registrar (QMD). Upon receipt of the report from the Associate Schools Working Group the Pro Vice-Chancellor will evaluate the application and report, and submit it to Academic Policy Committee (APC) for recommendation to Academic Council (AC). The department will be informed of the progress of an application. Approval of Collaborative Programmes and Partnerships November 2011 Page 4 of 11 Associate College and Associate Department Approval process November 2011 Page 4 of 11

5 Once AC have agreed to the recommendation, a formal Certificate of Association signed by the Vice- Chancellor and the Chair of the appropriate governing body will be presented to the department by the University. The precise nature of the association will be contained in a Memorandum of Association. No financial or legal obligation shall arise from this association, although there may be separate contracts between the University and the department or the department s governing body. An approved department may use the title on its publicity materials and letter headings. Use of the University logo and corporate identity must be with the agreement of the University s Marketing and Communications Department. The approval shall be for a period of five years and may be renewed upon the recommendation of the Dean of the Faculty of Science to APC. The association will be kept under periodic review through the Faculty of Science and its quality assurance arrangements, together with such reports as Research and Knowledge Transfer Committee and APC may require. Either party may withdraw from the association giving the other party six months notice in writing to either the Vice-Chancellor or the Chair of the appropriate governing body. Should the University wish to withdraw from the arrangement it will be with the agreement of AC. A subsequent formal letter indicating the University s intentions will be sent by the Vice-Chancellor. Criteria Six subject areas have been chosen on which to base decision making. These are listed below. There are three subject areas which are linked to research and development and three to education. The criteria are divided into two types, major and minor. Two points are to be given for the attainment of a major criterion and one point for a minor criterion. A score of more than six points enables the application of a department to be recommended for approval. Research Grants For departments intending to submit more than ten people for honorary academic posts, two or more people will have received two or more external non-commercial research grants in the last three years (for every extra 20 people included there is an incremental rise in research grant requirement, i.e. for 30 people it is three people who will have received more than two external research grants in the last three years etc.). OR For departments intending to submit less than ten people for honorary academic posts at least one person will have received at least one external non-commercial research grant in the last three years. The department has received at least one research or evaluation grant in the last three years from within the Trust or through a bequest or from a commercial sponsor. Approval of Collaborative Programmes and Partnerships November 2011 Page 5 of 11 Associate College and Associate Department Approval process November 2011 Page 5 of 11

6 Research Publications (in peer reviewed outlets) For departments intending to submit more than ten people for honorary academic posts, at least three or more staff will each have had three or more separate research article publications over the last three years. (This excludes review articles and editorials.) OR For departments intending to submit less than ten people for honorary academic posts, there will be two or more separate research article publications over the last three years. (This excludes review articles and editorials.) There will be evidence of at least one research article in the last three years. (This excludes review articles and editorials.) Research Support Over the last three years, three or more externally funded non-commercial research activities will have taken place in the department. OR Over the last three years, two or more members of staff will have completed a PhD, PD, MS or MD. Over the last three years, one or more externally funded non-commercial research activities will have taken place in the department. Certificated Educational Courses (including the University) For departments intending to submit more than ten people for honorary academic posts, there is evidence that a member of staff is a joint Course Leader or joint unit leader or that three or more staff regularly teach on a credit-bearing course. OR For departments intending to submit less than ten people for honorary academic posts, there is evidence that a member of staff is a joint Course Leader or a joint unit leader or that two or more staff regularly teach on a credit-bearing course. One or more members of staff have taught on a credit-bearing course at least once over the last two years. Professional Body Educational Courses The department has been asked by and has delivered for a national professional body an educational course over at least two years. Approval of Collaborative Programmes and Partnerships November 2011 Page 6 of 11 Associate College and Associate Department Approval process November 2011 Page 6 of 11

7 The department delivers at least one specified course annually and has done for at least two years and this course carries professional body accreditation. Other Academic Excellence The department has one or more University funded staff working in it at Senior Lecturer, Reader or Professor level. OR The department has gained national repute and standing for its educational activities. The department is host to one or more honorary or visiting University academics at the Senior Lecturer, Reader or Professor level. The department has gained national recognition and standing for any of its activities. Approval of Collaborative Programmes and Partnerships November 2011 Page 7 of 11 Associate College and Associate Department Approval process November 2011 Page 7 of 11

8 ICJS procedure for approving applications for Academic Department status This paper describes the process to be followed in approving an application from a police or other criminal justice agency training and education department to become associated with the University through the Institute of Criminal Justice Studies (ICJS). In line with the University s approach of openness and rigour, and in order to enable appropriate Departments to apply, explicit criteria have been established on which to judge associate department applications. The term department is used generically in this Appendix to describe departments in police and other criminal justice agencies that are specifically concerned with the design and delivery of training and education programmes. Titles and nomenclature Departments which make a successful application will be accorded the following title:, Associate Department of the Institute of Criminal Justice Studies (ICJS), Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Portsmouth. Staff of the department may apply for an honorary position within the University, following the Visiting and Honorary Appointments Policy. Staff successful in their application shall be offered terms and conditions as advised to the Dean of Faculty by the Human Resources Department of the University. Any additional entitlements that may arise for staff arising from successful application to an honorary position must be defined and agreed as a part of the memorandum of agreement confirming the associate department relationship between the University and the department. Procedures Departments should use the criteria below to shape their application but may include other items that in their judgement give academic credibility. Applications should include the following: the name(s) of the department(s) being put forward for consideration; curriculum vitae of staff to demonstrate that the department has suitably qualified members of staff in the appropriate field of study for whom linkage to the University will be a benefit for their continuing professional and academic development; demonstration that the department has a record of the provision of educational programmes which meet appropriate Higher Education standards. This should include as a minimum: an evidence-based approach to policy and practice such as the use of evaluation to inform design and delivery; membership of appropriate professional bodies or equivalent; the provision of educational courses (credit and non-credit-bearing); the provision of education through the teaching of its submitted staff either within the department or externally; the provision of methodologically rigorous training and education programmes; students supervised through Masters and Doctoral level and professional awards by departmental staff; Approval of Collaborative Programmes and Partnerships November 2011 Page 8 of 11 Associate College and Associate Department Approval process November 2011 Page 8 of 11

9 a commitment to the educational development of its staff; evidence of innovation in the design of policy and practice; a demonstration that the activities of the department are organised in such a way that they are commensurate with, and related to, the academic life of the University and would enhance the University s standard in the community at large; a statement by the department, endorsed by its governing authority, indicating willingness to collaborate with the University and to accept its mission; an outline of the department s academic potential whether through research, course delivery, consultancy or other academic activities; an outline of the quality assurance system for the department s activities. Applications from departments should be forwarded to the Head of the Institute of Criminal Justice Studies (ICJS), who will notify the Senior Registrar (QMD) of the application. The Senior Registrar (QMD) will arrange, in consultation with the Pro Vice-Chancellor for a meeting of the Associate Schools Working Group to consider the application. The Associate Schools Working Group shall be appointed by the Pro Vice-Chancellor and shall comprise the following membership from within the University of Portsmouth but from outside the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences: 1 Dean (who shall act as Chair); 1 Associate Dean (Academic); 1 Head of Department; 1 representative of Teaching and Learning Committee; others who may be asked to advise as appropriate and who may come from the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences. The Senior Registrar (QMD) or her or his nominee will service the group. The terms of reference of the Associate Schools Working Group are to: consider applications from departments in relation to the criteria given below; make a recommendation in the form of a report to the Pro Vice-Chancellor as to whether the application should be approved or not; provide reasons for its recommendation, to include, in cases where the recommendation is for approval of the application, the anticipated benefits which will accrue to the University; make such visits to the department, to ask for additional information, to interview staff of the department, and to ask for advice as it considers necessary to the process. The University aims for the report of the Associate Schools Working Group normally to be concluded within three months of an application being referred to the Senior Registrar (QMD). Upon receipt of the report from the Associate Schools Working Group the Pro Vice-Chancellor will evaluate the application and report, and submit it to Academic Policy Committee (APC) for recommendation to Academic Council (AC). The department will be informed of the progress of an application. Once AC have agreed to the recommendation, a formal Certificate of Association signed by the Vice- Chancellor and the Chair of the appropriate governing body will be presented to the department by the University. The precise nature of the association will be contained in a Memorandum of Approval of Collaborative Programmes and Partnerships November 2011 Page 9 of 11 Associate College and Associate Department Approval process November 2011 Page 9 of 11

10 Association. No financial or legal obligation shall arise from this association, although there may be separate contracts between the University and the department or the department s governing body. An approved department may use the title on its publicity materials and letter headings. Use of the University logo and corporate identity must be with the agreement of the University s Marketing and Communications Department. The approval shall be for a period of five years and may be renewed upon the recommendation of the Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences to APC. The association will be kept under periodic review through the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences and its quality assurance arrangements, together with such reports as APC may require. Either party may withdraw from the association giving the other party six months notice in writing to either the Vice-Chancellor or the Chair of the appropriate governing body. Should the University wish to withdraw from the arrangement it will be with the agreement of Academic Council. A subsequent formal letter indicating the University s intentions will be sent by the Vice-Chancellor. Criteria Five subject areas have been chosen on which to base decision making. These are listed below. There are two subject areas that are linked to research and evidence-based policy and practices and three to education and quality standards. The criteria are divided into two types, major and minor. Two points are to be given for the attainment of a major criterion and one point for a minor criterion. A score of more than six points enables the application of a department to be recommended for approval. Commitment to Research and Knowledge Enhancement The Associate Schools Working Group finds evidence that the department makes extensive and widespread use of academic research and literature to inform its policies and practices. OR The department has employed the Institute of Criminal Justice Studies (ICJS) on at least two occasions to undertake research or knowledge transfer activities. The Associate Schools Working Group finds evidence of the use of academic research and literature to inform some of the policies and practices of the department. An evidence-based approach to the design, delivery and content of educational programmes that is at a level compatible with Higher Education Institutions. The design, delivery and content of the department s training and education programmes will be at a level compatible with that of Higher Education Institutions; it will be substantially evidence-based and, where appropriate, reflect national guidelines and doctrine. Typically this might be evidenced Approval of Collaborative Programmes and Partnerships November 2011 Page 10 of 11 Associate College and Associate Department Approval process November 2011 Page 10 of 11

11 by accreditation work undertaken by the ICJS or where the ICJS has been commissioned to undertake consultancy to assist with programme delivery. The content of the department s training and education programmes will to some significant extent be evidence-based and, where appropriate, reflect national guidelines and doctrine. The delivery of a nationally recognised framework of educational programmes The department is nationally recognised as a Centre of Excellence in terms of its training and education programmes, some of the programmes will be at a level equivalent to Higher Education Institutions. Typically previous accreditation work or the engagement of ICJS staff in the design and delivery of programmes will evidence this. OR The department has developed training and education programmes in respect of internal policy and practice that is designed to create new nationally recognised policy and practice. Typically the training and education programmes will be at a level equivalent to Higher Education. The department is regionally recognised as a Centre of Excellence in terms of its training and education programmes. Meets nationally recognised quality standards The department meets the appropriate quality standards set by Skills for Justice, or an appropriate equivalent body. The department is committed to meeting appropriate quality standards set by Skills for Justice, or an appropriate equivalent body. Other Academic Excellence Individual members of staff employed by the department have a record of high-level academic activity at a level commensurate with that expected of a member of staff employed at a Higher Education Institute. Individual members of staff employed by the department are committed to undertaking high-level academic activity at a level broadly equivalent to that expected at Higher Education Institute. Approval of Collaborative Programmes and Partnerships November 2011 Page 11 of 11 Associate College and Associate Department Approval process November 2011 Page 11 of 11