Programme Approval: BSc Economics and Politics London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) Purpose Members of the LTAS are invited to consider the attached report from a programme approval panel, with a view to endorse the panel s recommendation to introduce of the BSc Economics and Politics award as an addition to the Economics, Management, Finance and Social Sciences (EMFSS) suite of programmes (LSE). The LSE wishes to introduce the programme from the 2015-16 academic year. Background and Context A panel was convened in August 2014 on behalf of LTAS to consider a proposal from the LSE to introduce the BSc Economics and Politics award as an addition to the current suite of LSE s Economics, Management, Finance and Social Sciences (EMFSS) suite of programmes. The panel did not meet face-to-face; the panel members discussed their observations via email. The new award is equivalent to LSE s BSc Government and Economics programme offered for campus based students. This is the most popular undergraduate programme offered by the LSE s Government Department. The majority of teaching institutions already support a range of Economics courses, and a number of teaching institutions have expressed interest in supporting the new programme. A recommendation by the LTAS to approve the introduction of the new award will require formal endorsement by the University of London International Academy Academic Committee, and the Board of the University of London International Academy. Recommended Action Members of the LTAS are invited to: endorse the panel s recommendation to introduce the new BSc Economics and Politics award; consider whether any observations noted by the panel members in the report concerning student advice and progression/choice of courses require further action prior to programme launch. Inger-Lise Moen Corporate Performance and Quality September 2014
Approval Event Report BSc Economics and Politics Report of a panel convened on behalf of the Learning Teaching and Assessment Sub-Committee to consider the approval of the BSc Economics and Politics to the Economics, Finance, Management and Social Sciences (EMFSS) portfolio Programme: Lead College: Panel constitution: BSc Economics and Politics London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) Dr Colin Walter, Chair and member of the LTAS Dr Kathy Baker, UoLIA academic member Dr Duncan Watson, Reader in Economics University of East Anglia, Course Director for BSc Politics and Economics and external subject specialist Ms Inger-Lise Moen, UoLIA, secretary to the panel Introduction 1. The LSE is responsible for the academic direction of the EMFSS suite of programmes. The proposed new award, BSc Economics and Politics, is constituted from already existing courses within the EMFSS suite of programmes. The LSE offers an equivalent on campus programme: BSc Government and Economics. This is the most popular undergraduate programme offered by the Government Department and could be seen as a driver for offering a similar award through distance/flexible learning. The majority of teaching institutions already support a range of Economics courses, so the addition of Politics courses should be should be within their capacity to support. A number of teaching institutions which already provide support and tuition for various EMFSS programmes have expressed an interest in the new programme. 2. The Academic Coordinators for the Economics and Politics subject areas, Dr Donald Verry and Dr Eiko Thielemann, both from the LSE, have provided their endorsement to the proposal. The LSE s International Programmes Board, which is responsible for overseeing the management and delivery of the EMFSS programmes, provided its support in favour of the establishment of the new programme at its last meeting on 23 June 2014. International Programmes Approval 3. A panel was established in August 2014 to consider the proposed programme, convened on behalf of the Learning, Teaching and Assessment Sub-Committee (LTAS) which, in turn, reports to the University of London International Academy Academic committee (ULIAAC). 4. The International Programmes current procedures for the approval of new programmes allow LTAS to designate consideration of new programme proposals to an LTAS panel. In
accordance with these procedures, a Panel was convened to consider the programme proposal on behalf of LTAS. The panel was concerned with the approval of the BSc Economics and Politics, particularly focusing on: The appropriateness of the award title The intended learning outcomes The programme structure, including the range and balance of content of individual courses The collection of courses and how this would allow students to achieve the programme learning outcomes How the collection of courses would allow the student to meet the progression requirements within the programme Context of the programme review 5. The panel was provided with the following documents: 1. The constitution of the approval panel 2. A programme approval pro forma for panel member feedback 3. A briefing document, outlining a number of aspects which required comment by the panel 4. The structure of the programme: entry requirements, component courses and choices for the standard and graduate entry routes 5. The Programme Specification, using the general template for all International Programmes 6. QAA Subject benchmarks for i) Economics and ii) Politics 7. EMFSS Programme Specifications and Regulations for 2014-15 8. EMFSS Programme Handbook for 2014-15 9. EMFSS Prospectus for 2014-15 (Documents 7-9 do not include the BSc in Economics and Politics) 6. The panel was informed (from the briefing document) that: The academic management of this award is to be carried out in accordance with the LSE Quality Schedule in the same way as all other awards offered under the suite of EMFSS programmes; All courses constituting the award of BSc Economics and Politics form part of the existing EMFSS suite of programmes and have been through Lead College approval; therefore individual course approval (including a review of assessment methods) does not fall within the remit of this approval process; The structure of the award of BSc Economics and Politics (Standard Route and Graduate Entry Route) is equivalent to that of all other awards offered under the EMFSS suite of programmes; The learning resources for each individual course, such as subject guides, Virtual Learning Environment (VLE), academic guidance and support are already used for other EMFSS programmes; therefore this programme should offer students a similar learning experience to that of existing EMFSS programmes; All information to students about the BSc Economics and Politics programme will be presented in the same format as that of existing EMFSS programmes.
7. Partly for logistical reasons, it was decided that the panel would consider the proposal by correspondence. Panel members were asked for comments based on the points mentioned previously in relation to the overall award structure and opportunities afforded to students. Panel findings 8. The structure of the degree is clearly set out in document 4. The number and levels of individual courses in the degree match those of the other EMFSS degrees. Two exit awards, a Diploma and a Certificate of Higher Education, are also planned to be available with the same structure as existing EMFSS awards of the same name. 9. The panel noted that the structure details in document 4 would normally be found in the Programme Specification (document 5). Thus, document 4 needs to be integrated if the Programme Specification is to be issued separately from the standard EMFSS PSR (document 7). Indeed, some other sections would also have to be added to the Programme Specification, such as the scheme of awards. 10. The ratio of politics to economics is close to 50:50 in each year, i.e. for each of the levels 4, 5 and 6 courses, with just one elective enabling a greater portion of one than the other. This general measure of the balance and range of content, together with the pre-requisites for the higher level modules, indicate a sensible choice from the two subjects. The external subject specialist, who has been a course director of joint honours provision at two different higher education institutions (and, committed to interdisciplinary study, has led the creation of a Philosophy, Politics and Economics programme), confirmed that the two halves fitted well together and complemented each other as well as individually forming a good grounding in each subject. 11. The educational aims and learning outcomes are clearly stated in the Programme Specification. The subject expert confirmed that these would be achieved by passing the various courses which formed the degree. The panel agreed that these aims and outcomes, with the choice of courses and the content of those courses, represent a coherent and worthwhile joint degree in politics and economics. Consequently, it was clear that the proposed title of the degree was also appropriate. 12. The panel noted, however, a bias towards economics in the knowledge and understanding section in the Programme Specification and suggested that this could be tidied up. 13. It was also verified that the degree components matched appropriate sections of the expectations set out in the politics and economics benchmark statements. The panel noted, however, a potential issue with the third programme aim: To enable students intending to pursue higher degrees to develop the necessary analytical and theoretical sophistications, and breadth and depth of understanding, within their field of study. The issue is that a student could graduate from this programme without knowing that pursuing specialist post-
graduate economics degrees would be problematic. Unless students undertook further quantitative options (Elements of Econometrics) they would relative to the standard post graduate applicant have insufficient quantitative skills. Given the difficulties in ensuring choice within a joint honours programme, the panel does not recommend changes to the programme structure, but notes that it would be imperative that sufficient guidance is offered to students so that they can make an informed module choice. 14. An important issue was that of progression. On the one hand, the wide choice of courses offered to students should ensure, in particular, that they are capable of evaluating alternative viewpoints and therefore lead to graduates with a more pluralist perspective. On the other hand, given the ample module choice, the panel was of the view that students will need advice on the order of taking modules in order not extend the length of their degree unduly. Currently there is no advice on this in the EMFSS programme handbook, nor is this highlighted as something students should consider in their choice. The only mention of it is on pages 55 and 73 of the EMFSS Prospectus. The simplest advice would be to complete courses with no pre-requisite first, then those with only 100 course pre-requisites, then those with 200 course pre-requisites. 15. Moreover, the panel noted that it does seem possible to fail either one of the core intermediate theory modules, an outcome that many single economics degrees would not allow. Whilst this is not necessarily a problem for the award itself, it would impact on possible further study opportunities and student advice should be carefully provided. 16. In summary, the panel was of the view that the award of the BSc Economics and Politics wold be an excellent addition to the current EMFSS portfolio, but that programme information and student advice concerning progression and individual course choice, as noted in paragraphs 8-15 should be refined prior to programme launch. 17. The panel complemented the EMFSS team at the LSE for constructing a valuable new degree in the EMFSS portfolio. Conclusion 18. The panel, convened on behalf of the LTAS to consider the proposal for the introduction of the BSc Economics and Politics award, recommends approval of this programme as an addition to the EMFSS portfolio. September 2014 Dr Colin Walter, Chair