Glossary of Terms Terminology Abbreviation Definition Academic Approval Sometimes called a Validation or DAG The process by which the University judges a module or course and approves it as being of an appropriate standard and quality to contribute, or lead to one of its awards. Approval in this context is used in its broadest sense and is not specific to Collaborative Provision. It is applied to all approval of academic matters, both for NTU home courses, as well as for CP partners. Advanced Standing Agreement ASA An ASA involves an academic judgement that the outcomes of a specified external course partially meet those of a specified NTU course. An ASA is based upon the principle that both the NTU and external course will continue to function as independent courses designed to meet their own aims and outcomes the ASA should not impose curriculum or other changes on either party Approval Period Articulation Agreement (Collaborative Provision Category: H) Business Evaluation Forms (formerly called the Business Approval Forms, formerly called the Business Case Template BCT) Business Evaluation or Business Approval Process or Business Planning Process BEF The length of time given to a course or centre to run. Approval will usually be given for 3 years. At the end of the approval period a course/centre will need to be reapproved in order to continue operating. The re-approval of a course/centre is usually called Course Review / Institutional Review. NTU grants advanced standing to regular cohorts of students completing a named course at a named partner (often overseas). Students are aware from the outset of their course that they can gain advanced standing entry to named courses at NTU on successful completion of partner course. This category is different to the procedure whereby advanced standing can be gained by individuals through APL/APEL (see QHS 15C) The forms used to propose and collect key information relating to new business. Data is collected from a variety of sources to enable the University to consider the business implications associated with a proposal. Such as financial resource (human and physical) marketing etc The stages of consideration and sign off by University Committees which the Business Evaluation Forms are progressed through before a course can go to academic approval.
Collaborative Framework Document A comprehensive guidance document which sets out the operational detail of how a collaboration will run and who is responsible for what. Collaborative Partnerships Office CPO The central department that has oversight of all NTU collaborative activity. CPO: Help advise and guide Schools through the processes required for new and on-going collaborative business Manage the operational aspects of VS provision Are responsible for holding NTUs collaborative register Are responsible for holding and owning NTUs Collaborative Business Evaluation Forms Collaborative Provision CP CP refers to any NTU association with a partner where NTU credits or awards are delivered and/or assessed. Or where NTU grants advanced standing or progression onto named NTU courses. Each collaborative arrangement is individually tailored to meet the needs of both parties and the details of the arrangement are captured in the Collaborative Framework Document. All Collaborative Provision is underpinned by a signed legal contract referred to as the Collaborative Agreement. Consortium (Collaborative Provision Category: D) Course Review Degree Approval Group Sometimes called a Validation, or Academic Approval DAG Courses are delivered as part of a consortium, often through a multi-centre framework, with other HEIs or employers such as LEAs, Health Authorities, Further Education Colleges, and Training Partnerships. A consortium arrangement may be on a franchise, joint or distance delivery basis. Re-approval of a course that has come to the end of its approval period. The process by which the University judges a module or course and approves it as being of an appropriate standard and quality to contribute, or lead to one of its awards. The term DAG is most commonly applied to approvals that take place within NTU. CP approvals, particularly those that take place at the partner Institution, are more often referred to as Academic Approval, or a Validation/Approval event.
Distance Delivery (Collaborative Provision Category: G) Dual Degree (Collaborative Provision Category: F) Erasmus Exchange Agreement Franchise (Collaborative Provision Category: B) Institutional Review International Exchange Agreement Joint Degree An existing NTU course is wholly delivered by NTU staff, either at the partner s or another organisation s premises. This category also includes research degrees taught and/or supervised at a distance. NTU collaborates with one or more degree awarding bodies (or equivalent) in order to jointly deliver a course which entails formal study periods in two or more centres, leading to separate awards from each partner. The most common model of Dual Degree at NTU: is where an existing home course is mapped to an existing course at a partner Institution. Students are given advanced standing credit for modules completed at their home Institution, before transferring to the partner Institution for a period of study (sometimes returning to their home Institution for the final study period). Students receive multiple certificates, one from each participating Institution. Often these may carry different titles. NTU partners with a University or fellow Higher Education Institution under the LLP/Erasmus Framework. Partnership is intended to provide opportunity for student and/or faculty exchange. Exchanges are reciprocal and are based on the principle of credit transfer. In certain cases, students may be eligible for the awards of their host institution (for example, Dual or Joint Degrees). Note: Presently these apply to institutions inside the European Economic Area (EEA). The partner delivers the whole of an existing NTU course to NTU students, at its own centre. The partner is approved by NTU. The course could, on occasion, be newly designed by the partner/ntu, or could be a modified version of an existing NTU course. The course may be designed to top up an existing award offered by the partner. Re-approval of a Centre/Partner that has come to the end of its approval period. NTU partners with a University or fellow HEI outside of the Erasmus framework. Partnership is intended to provide opportunity for student and/or Faculty exchange. Exchanges are reciprocal and are based on the principle of credit transfer. In certain cases, students may be eligible for the awards of their host institution (Dual or Joint Degrees, for example). Note: Presently these apply to institutions outside the European Economic Area (EEA). NTU collaborates with one or more degree awarding bodies (or equivalent) in order to jointly deliver a course which entails formal study periods in two or more centres,
(Collaborative Provision Category: E) Joint Delivery (Collaborative Provision Category: C) Multi-Centre Framework Multi-Partner Framework Multi-Centre Partnership or Multi-Centre Arrangement Multi-Partner Arrangement Multi-School Framework Multi-School Partnership or Multi-School Arrangement or Multi-School Centre leading to a single award made jointly by both partners. The most common model of Joint Degree at NTU:. is where a new course of study is developed in conjunction with a partner Institution. The course is designed so that students study specific elements of a course at each of the partner Institutions. The resulting course is new, bespoke and the shared nature of the course is reflected in the students receiving one certificate which carries the names and crests/logos of each of the participating Institutions. The partner and NTU jointly deliver an existing NTU course to NTU students. The location of delivery may vary. The course could be a modified version of an existing NTU course to suit the nature of the partnership. This category also includes jointly delivered and/or supervised research degrees. A modified version of the Collaborative Framework Document, tailored to suit a Multi- Centre arrangement. This document sets up the principles to which all Centres/Partners must agree. A collaboration run with two or more Partners. E.g. a joint degree run with multiple partners, perhaps one in Italy and one in Spain. The students might study a semester at each Institution. A modified version of the Collaborative Framework Document, tailored to suit a Multi- School Arrangement. This document sets up the principles to which all NTU Schools must agree. A Partner who s portfolio of courses run in collaboration with NTU spans across different NTU Schools. E.g. a partner runs NTU franchise courses in Business, Art & Design and Science & Technology. Partnership Risk Assessment Tool PARAT A metrics based tool by which the University can measure the viability and desireability of various aspects of a potential partnership. Progression Agreement Students studying at named partners are entitled to entry onto the beginning of a named NTU course once they have met the admission requirements.
Research Degree A research degree offers the opportunity to undertake an in-depth study of a specific field, usually over two or three years. The research is written up in the form of a thesis or dissertation and candidates will take an oral examination (viva) conducted by specialists in the field of research. A Professional Doctorate is a research degree which is more structured than a traditional PhD in that students follow a series of five modules delivered in short study blocks broken up into two-, three- or four-day workshops. These represent the taught element of the Professional Doctorate in the early stages of the course. Students are also assigned two supervisors who provide specialist subject knowledge and expertise in designing and conducting management research. Research is undertaken independently in order to critically investigate and evaluate the research topic. Research Degrees are managed by NTUs Graduate School. School-based Study Abroad/Hosting Agreement Collaborative provision where the operational responsibility sits within the respective NTU School. This includes all CP categories, except VS : Franchise Dual/Double Degree Joint Degree Distance Delivery Consortium (can also be VS) Articulation/Advanced Standing agreements Progression Agreements NTU provides hosting to students from partner institutions, who study on a nonreciprocal or fee-paying basis. Attachment may be to standard or bespoke course and results in credit transfer. Teach-Out The term applied to a collaboration that is marked out as closing. This term can be applied to an individual course, or all collaborative courses run in conjunction with a partner. There can be many reasons for a teach-out. The course is being withdrawn as it is not recruiting. A Partner is withdrawing from its collaboration with NTU, or vice versa.
Teach-Out Period This applies to the period from when a centre/course goes into teach-out, and when the newly negotiated teach-out agreement states the course/centre will close. During this time the Partner and NTU work together to ensure all students have been informed of the closure and are given clear instructions on when examinations will be held and how much time they have to complete their award under the NTU name. Transnational Education TNE Education and learning opportunities that are provided in more than one country. In the context of the Quality Code, it typically refers to higher education provision of a UK degree-awarding body which is delivered in a country outside the UK and often by delivery organisations other than the degree awarding body. Validated Centre (Collaborative Provision Category: A) Validation or Approval (Sometime called - Academic Approval or DAG) A centre approved via the Validation Service. The Institution is approved to deliver its own courses to its own students and those courses are accredited by NTU. Validate Centres are usually: Private Education Providers who require an accrediting body Private Companies who have the expertise to deliver in-company training but who require an accrediting body Further Education Colleges who require an accrediting body for HE provision Overseas Education Providers who desire a UKHE award The process by which the University judges a module or course and approves it as being of an appropriate standard and quality to contribute, or lead to one of its awards. Validation in this context is used in its broadest sense and is not specific to the Validation Service, or even Collaborative Provision as a whole. It is applied to all approval of academic matters, both for NTU home courses, as well as for CP partners. Validation Service VS An accreditation service. The partner is validated to deliver its own courses to its own students and those courses are accredited by NTU. Students studying and successfully passing a validation service course will be awarded an NTU certificate. VS is the only CP that sits outside the School-based provision. It is managed centrally within CPO. VS Institutions are usually:
Private Education Providers who require an accrediting body Private Companies who have the expertise to deliver in-company training but who require an accrediting body Further Education Colleges who require an accrediting body for HE provision Overseas Education Providers who desire a UKHE award