SELF REPORT FOR RENEWAL OF ACCREDITATION OF OFFICIAL BACHELOR S AND MASTER'S DEGREES

SELF REPORT FOR RENEWAL OF ACCREDITATION OF OFFICIAL BACHELOR S AND MASTER'S DEGREES

The present proposal has been drawn up to provide help when writing the self report, following the criteria and sub criteria that will be analysed in the renewal of accreditation process. Each sub criteria describes the standards through which universities must evidence compliance, and includes a brief description and appraisal thereof. In each sub criteria, universities must indicate, by means of a list, whatever evidence they deem pertinent. The full list of evidence must be set out in an annexed list, specifying where this may be consulted (ACSUCYL s document management system, university website, etc.). When drawing up the self report, universities are advised to refer to the Assessment Guide for the Renewal of Accreditation, which describes the criteria, sub criteria and standards, compliance with which the evaluators will be assessing. The Guide also details which possible evidence universities might submit in order to substantiate compliance. When devising this self report, the criteria and aspects evaluated in the follow up process conducted by the Agency have been taken into consideration, such that those responsible for writing it may find relevant information in the preliminary reports issued on the degree. Also included are aspects concerning which the institution must evaluate its implementation in previous years, since the self report should lead to a reflection on the degree s relevance, improvements and future viability. The self report should be no longer than 40 pages 1. 1 This refers to the self report itself, and does not include the tables of data and possible evidence annexed. Ed. 2. April 2013 2

SELF REPORT FOR RENEWAL OF ACCREDITATION UNIVERSITY DEGREE CENTRE/S AT WHICH IT IS TAUGHT BODY APPROVING THE SELF REPORT DATE APPROVAL SELF REPORT OF OF INTRODUCTION Brief description and appraisal of the extent to which the initial project set out in the report has been complied with, focusing particularly on: - Whether said project has fulfilled its goals and, should this not be the case, pointing out the reasons why not all of the objectives listed in the report have been met. - Which difficulties have been encountered when implementing the degree. Ed. 2. April 2013 3

1. Implementation of the programme. The degree course programme has been implemented as described in the verified report, has proved appropriate, consistent, and no major problems have arisen, thereby enabling students to acquire the skills correctly. 1.1. Relevance of the degree s academic, scientific, and professional interest The skills profile set out in the degree course (and its description in the curriculum) has maintained its relevance within the disciplinary field (academic, scientific or professional). The degree course training profile adapts to socioeconomic needs and, where applicable, to the needs and requirements of the regulated profession. 1.2. Organisation and academic management of the training programme a) Entrance and admission procedure. The entrance requirements enable students to have the right admission profile to commence the studies, and the application of said requirements adheres to the number of places offered in the verified report. Any additional training fulfils its objective with regard to students from different disciplinary backgrounds acquiring the skills and knowledge. b) Rules governing continuation, transfer, and recognition of credits. The rules laid down by the university governing continuation have been applied correctly to the degree. Procedures for transfer and recognition of credits have been applied appropriately bearing in mind the skills previously acquired by students and those to be acquired on the degree. Ed. 2. April 2013 4

b) Teaching Plan. The modules and/or courses available have been taught in line with the stipulations set out in the verified report. The content of the teaching guides and other learning resources has proved appropriate, accessible to students, and has been available prior to registration for all courses, including internships and final bachelor s and master s projects. c) Teaching coordination. Horizontal and vertical coordination between the various courses has proved adequate and has ensured both a proper allocation of the workload for the student and appropriate time management. Appropriate coordination between the practical training activities (laboratories, case studies, etc.) and those related to theory has been ensured. In cases where the degree is taught at various university centres or is an interuniversity degree, coordination mechanisms between all the centres involved in teaching the curriculum have been in place. Where internships exist, the necessary coordination and supervision has been in place to ensure that these allow students to acquire the corresponding skills. d) Course for transition to the bachelor s degree. Standard: The course for adaptation to the bachelor s degree has been taught in accordance with the provisions set out in the verification report. Brief description and appraisal of compliance with the standard: e) Suspension of the course. Standard: Where applicable, the rights of students affected by the suspension of the degree course for which they enrolled have been guaranteed and students have been given the necessary Ed. 2. April 2013 5

information. Brief description and appraisal of compliance with the standard: Guidelines for assessing sub criterion 1.2. Organisation and academic management of the training programme. In order to assess this sub criterion, the following lists should be provided: List of students on whose academic record recognition of credits has been included. List of students who have taken the transition course to the bachelor s degree. Throughout the process, assessment bodies may request access to a selection of said files. Ed. 2. April 2013 6

2. Transparency and Internal Quality Assurance System. The degree has the necessary mechanisms in place to ensure: publicly available appropriate and sufficient information, implementation of the internal quality assurance system, analysis of the recommendations put forward in the various external reports, and inclusion in the planning and implementation of the degree of the proposals for improvement to emerge from external follow up. 2.1. Public information concerning the degree The university publishes sufficient and relevant information concerning the characteristics of the programme, its implementation, and the outcomes achieved. The publicly available information concerning the degree is objective, up to date, and consistent with the content of the verified degree report as well as any subsequent changes approved. All stakeholders (students, graduates, employers, families, ) are guaranteed easy access to relevant information concerning the degree. 2.2. Internal Quality Assurance System The internal quality assurance system (IQAS) in place ensures that information and outcomes relevant to decision making and the efficient management of the degree will be gathered, particularly concerning learning outcomes and stakeholder satisfaction. The IQAS in place has procedures available to facilitate assessment and improvement of: the quality of teaching and teaching staff the quality of internships the quality of mobility programmes The IQAS has the appropriate procedures available to deal with suggestions and grievances. The IQAS facilitates degree follow up, as well as proposals for modifications and action aimed at improving the degree, based on the analysis of objective data. In cases where the degree is taught at various university centres or is an interuniversity degree, the action taken as a result of implementing the IQAS is coordinated at all the centres involved in the programme. Ed. 2. April 2013 7

2.3. Progress of the implementation of the degree The recommendations put forward in the various assessment reports have been analysed and, where applicable, have been put into effect in the planning and implementation of the degree. The action taken in response to the recommendations has proved effective in dealing with the problems highlighted. Ed. 2. April 2013 8

3. Human and support resources. The human, material and support resources required for the activities foreseen in the curriculum are appropriate to ensure that students are able to acquire the necessary skills. 3.1. Academic staff Teaching staff meet the necessary requirements in terms of the academic qualifications needed to teach in the programme and have the appropriate teaching, research and/or professional experience. Sufficient teaching staff are available and evidence the dedication required to perform their duties appropriately, particularly with regard to the number of students on the degree and, where applicable, the various ways in which it is taught. The commitments made in the verification report with regard to foreseen teaching staff resources (recruitment, improving the teaching and research qualifications of teaching staff, etc.) have been met. The institution provides teaching staff with opportunities and means to further their training and update their knowledge in the relevant field with a view to improving their teaching and ensuring teaching staff competence. 3.2. Support resources for learning The support staff directly involved in implementing the degree have been sufficient and appropriate bearing in mind the nature of the degree and the various ways it is taught. The commitments made in the verification report with regard to support staff resources (recruitment, improving qualifications, etc.) have been met. The academic and professional guidance services respond to the needs of the students learning process. The material resources available (classrooms, facilities, libraries, laboratories, etc.) concur with the estimations specified and commitments made in the verification report. Sufficient and appropriate material resources are available for the number of students and the nature of the degree. In the case of semi onsite or online programmes, there must be sufficient support resources and facilities to respond to the specific needs of students (infrastructure and facilities both at the centre in charge of the degree as well as in external centres centres offering practical Ed. 2. April 2013 9

training, enterprises, affiliated centres, etc.). Ed. 2. April 2013 10

4. Programme results. An analysis has been carried out of the main data and results to emerge from the introduction of the degree as well as its performance. The results meet the expectations and nature of the degree. 4.1. Achieving the expected learning outcomes The institution ensures that the learning outcomes are public and comprehensible. Mechanisms are in place to determine whether students acquire the skills described in the verification report. Training and assessment are consistent with the expected learning outcomes. Procedures for assessing the courses provide a reliable appraisal of the intended learning outcomes and are public. The learning outcomes achieved by the students meet the objectives of the programme and the requirements of the degree qualification as specified in the Spanish Qualifications Framework for Higher Education (Spanish acronym MECES). Guidelines to gauge the expected learning outcomes: Amongst other evidence, this assessment will be based on a selection of final bachelor s and master s degree projects and assignments (Spanish acronym TFG/TFM), as well as internship reports (where these are a compulsory part of the degree). The following describes the guidelines which should be adopted when making the selection: 1. Together with the self report, the university will also provide a list of graduates from over the previous two academic years. At the very least, this list should contain: student, date of graduation, centre, type of study, final average mark and mark awarded for the TFG/TFM. 2. Prior to the visit, the Assessment Committee should select 12 academic records, covering a range of marks, corresponding to the main teaching modality used in the degree (onsite, semi onsite, ). 3. In addition, a number of academic records should be chosen from amongst the remaining possible modalities, respecting the proportion existing between the number of graduates in each modality and also taking into account the mark obtained. 4. Differentiating between the various marks obtained should take three groups into account: 5 6.9, 7 8.9, and over 8.9. 5. Once the selection has been made and the university has been notified, the examples of students work (TFG/TFM and, where applicable, internship reports) should be made available to the Committee through ACSUCYL s document management system. Ed. 2. April 2013 11

Remarks: If the number of graduates over the last two academic years is below 30, a list should be provided of the last 30 graduates. If the transition course to the bachelor s degree has been taught, the guidelines described above should be followed, based on the specific list of graduates to have taken the course. 4.2. Performance of the degree indicators The performance of the degree s main data and indicators reflects the type of student enrolled, is consistent with the thematic area and context of the degree. The performance of the indicators is consistent with the expectations set out in the verified report. 4.3. Job placement Mechanisms are in place to analyse and evaluate: The extent and quality of graduate job placement. The appropriateness of the degree to socioeconomic needs. The appropriateness of the degree to the needs and requirements of the profession. Job placement indicators evidence appropriate attainment taking into account the socioeconomic context and nature of the degree. 4.4. Stakeholder satisfaction There is sufficient stakeholder satisfaction with the degree. Procedures are in place to periodically analyse and gauge the satisfaction of students, teaching staff, graduates, employers, and other stakeholders, with regard to the design, implementation Ed. 2. April 2013 12

and outcomes of the degree. Measures are adopted to improve stakeholder satisfaction. 4.5. External projection of the degree Standard: Activities involving internationalisation and participation in mobility programmes are encouraged, and show outcomes which are appropriate to the nature and expected results of the degree bearing in mind the number of students. 5. Improvement plan. The self report should contain the main areas of improvement foreseen for the degree in the coming years, linking them to the strengths and weaknesses pinpointed. Said plan should contain the objectives pursued and the action foreseen to achieve them. It should detail those responsible, timeframe, and follow up indicators for the planned action. The plan s format and structure should be set out by the university taking account of the previously mentioned variables. Ed. 2. April 2013 13

6. Tables of data and indicators 2. Per academic year, the following data and indicators on available courses, demand and enrolment on the degree should be indicated: - Number new places available - Number of new students - Ratio of supply and demand for new places - Percentage of new students enrolled per means of admission - University entrance examination cut off mark - Average entrance mark - Number of students enrolled on the degree - Percentage of male/female students enrolled - Percentage of new students by geographic origin: from the same province, other provinces in the region of Castilla y León, other regions in Spain, and from abroad. Likewise, per academic year, the following data and indicators concerning the performance of the degree should be included: - Performance rate - Dropout rate - Graduation rate - Efficiency rate - Number of graduates per academic year As regards the academic staff involved in implementing the programme, the following tables for each academic year covered in the period under assessment should be completed: 2 To obtain these data and indicators, the university should use the Integrated System of University Information whenever possible. Ed. 2. April 2013 14

TABLE OF TEACHING AND RESEARCH STAFF WHO TEACH ON THE DEGREE (per academic year) ACADEMIC YEAR Name and Surnames Date of Birth University / Institution Rank Area of Knowledge Department Years in which they teach Degree (1 st - 4 th Bachelor / 1 st - 2 nd Master) If applicable: highest rank awarded Doctor favourable assessment by the (Yes/No) No. of hours taught in the degree Total no. teaching hours given by the professor at the university No. of five-year teaching periods No. of six-year research periods Date last six-year period awarded Agency SUMMARY TABLE BY CATEGORIES OF TEACHING AND RESEARCH STAFF TEACHING ON THE DEGREE (by academic year) ACADEMIC YEAR Rank Number of % category out of total Doctors teaching and teaching and research research staff staff on the degree % Doctors % hours taught by this rank out of the total no. of hours taught in the degree Ed. 2. April 2013 15