Form 6 Format of Course Proposal Rationale and Templates

							Form 6: Format of Course Proposal: Rationale and Templates                                                             2007/2008
E-versions of the Proforma for a Course Proposal, associated Coversheets and Templates are available at:
http://www.hw.ac.uk/registry/acadev-prog.php


A. GUIDANCE NOTES ON TYPE OF COURSE PROPOSAL

1.        Proposal Type 1: Full Proposal
                                                                                                          1
          A full proposal, as detailed below, is required for a new course or where modifications involve
           Adding additional modes of study
           Adding additional locations of study
           Adding a new language of instruction or assessment in cases of “non-languages” courses
           Courses involving Approved Learning Partners for the first time
           Courses involving Collaborative Partners for the first time
           Courses leading to joint or dual awards for the first time
           Courses/modules which do not result in a formal award, but are to be credit-rated and students to be
              provided with a transcript.

2.        Proposal Type 2: Short-Form Proposal
          A short-form proposal will be sufficient, and need only describe the specific changes, where the
          modifications relate to:

                 Revised course structure with new or withdrawn modules or modules where the title/credit-
                  rating/level/semester/code has been altered (course structure must be provided)
                 Changes to the standard entry requirements (not changes to the qualifications that meet the
                  standard)
                 Changes in course title

3.        Proposal Type 3: Restructuring the Academic Year

              Restructuring the Academic Year: Submission of Course Proposals

                  all courses will need to be submitted for re-approval as a result of RAY. In the interests of
                   efficiency, Schools may wish to submit proposals at the programme level (see section C2.
                   Standard Process for Approval: Programme Level Submissions).
                  if course modifications are restricted primarily to incorporation of the key principles of RAY, it will
                   be sufficient for Schools to provide a shorter Course Proposal (see below) in the case of all
                   sections except Section 4.
                  If Schools have used RAY as an opportunity to introduce „significant changes‟ to the course (ie
                   in addition to RAY-related modifications), a full proposal (see Proposal Type 1 above) will be
                   required. „Significant changes‟ include modifications to: mode of delivery; location of study;
                   course objectives and course syllabus.




B. COURSE PROPOSAL
This section sets out the information which Schools should provide to the Studies Committees when submitting
new or substantially modified courses for approval.

Coversheet
Course Proposal Form (Form 4)

Course Proposal
1. Origin of Proposal
   The purpose of this section is to allow the course to be placed in a wider context. It is not intended that this
   should exceed half a page and may be a single sentence if a set of courses is being approved as part of a
   programme or the course is largely unchanged due to RAY.

       1.1        Historical context, how was the proposal initiated
       1.2        Reasons for introduction or modification (perceived market, staffing opportunity etc.)
       1.3        Details of market research and future trends.

1
    Where modifications apply to a range of courses within a programme, then a programme level submission is required (Form 3).
2. Aims and Objectives
   The aim of this section is to explain the overall objectives of the course and how it fits with the School and
   University objectives. There should be references to School strategies, forward plans etc. For courses that
   are being revised as part of RAY, this may be a short section and should not normally exceed 1 page.

    2.1    Clear statement of aims and expected learning outcomes
    2.2    Compatibility with overall School strategic plans
    2.3    Alignment with University‟s mission statement and strategy
    2.4    Target student numbers
    2.5    Target employment sector(s)
    2.6    Statement on equal opportunities (race, gender and disability) and identification of related issues.

3. Course management and general information
   The purpose of this section is to explain how the course is managed. All aspects of management should be
   covered including: recruitment of students; curriculum development, monitoring and evaluation;
   relationships with Professional and Statutory Bodies; management of academic standards. This section
   may be common for all courses in a programme or even across the School as a whole, in which case a
   standard section may be appended to the Course Proposal.

    It is likely that this section will not exceed 2 pages for conventional courses running on the Home Campus.
    Where other modes of delivery or locations of study are being considered for approval, then this section will
    be longer and include issues such as the management of quality in partners (Approved Learning Partners,
    Collaborative Partners), induction and ongoing support for Approved Learning Partner staff and monitoring
    of the progress of off-campus students.

    3.1   Recruitment policy and entry qualifications
    3.2   Course management structure including committee(s), industrial or business input
    3.3   Accreditation by professional and other bodies
    3.4   Proposed publicity methods
    3.5   External examiners
    3.6   Quality assurance, including Collaborative and Approved Learning Partners, Approved Teachers &
          Tutors, managing off-campus students
    3.7   Timetabling and staff-student contact if not standard (eg block teaching).

    Requirements for Approved Learning Partners relating to staff competences, facilities etc should be
    produced on a separate page so that the information can be included as part of the documentation required
    for approval of an Approved Learning Partner.

4. Course Description
   The purpose of this section is to ensure that the course curriculum is at present, and likely to remain,
   current, coherent and complete, and that the course meets the University expectations as set out in the
   RAY Curriculum Structure Guidelines, particularly research-informed learning and employability &
   professional career readiness (EPCR) (objectives at 2007). It is likely that this section will be about 2-4
   pages long. Where aspects of the curriculum such as the development of research-informed learning or the
   development of EPCR skills are common across a programme or even across the School as a whole, then
   they may be prepared as a separate Appendix so that they can be reused for other courses.

    4.1   Outline of the course
    4.2   Processes for developing the course and for ongoing evaluation to ensure that the course curriculum
          is current, coherent and complete. References to Benchmark Statements and other external
          reference points should be included. There should be an explicit statement of the compliance of the
          course and its awards with the credit and level requirements of the Scottish Credit and Qualifications
          Framework (SCQF)
    4.3   Activities to ensure effective transition to University for new students
    4.4   Development of research-informed learning skills throughout the course
    4.5   Development of employment-related skills (inc PDP) throughout the course
    4.6   Consideration of the international dimension to student learning, the curriculum and wider experience

5. Resource Implications and Costing
   The purpose of this section is to ensure that the School has the resources and academic, administrative
   and managerial expertise to deliver the course. Where this is a conventional course delivered at the Home
   Campus, then this section may be short. Where the course is to be delivered by non-conventional methods
   or outside the Home Campus, then this section needs to be more substantial.

    5.1   Staffing skills necessary for the delivery of the course. This is mainly intended for courses to be
          delivered outside the Home Campus or by non-traditional methods (e.g. blended learning)
    5.2   Special staff development that will be required to deliver the course (e.g. development of VLE skills)
   5.3    Likely involvement of external staff
   5.4    Any necessary additional staffing (academic, part-time, support, administrative) and confirmation that
          these staff costs are included in forward School budgets
   5.5    Operational efficiency (including, where appropriate, service teaching requirements)
   5.6    Issues concerning funded numbers, research studentships
   5.7    Requirements for, and any limitations arising from restrictions in, physical space, teaching room and
          laboratory availability
   5.8    Special facilities (e.g. labs - not computers and library) required at any Approved Learning Partner or
          Partner where the course is to be delivered outside the Home Campus.
   5.9    Concerns or special issues regarding Library and computing facilities
   5.10   Fees (including any fee differentials) as at time of submission
   5.11   Costing analysis, anticipated net income
   5.12   Sources for start-up costs (if first year(s) in deficit)
   5.13   Compliance with financial outline in School strategic plan.

6. Any Other Relevant Information

   Schools should identify here any additional information that might be relevant.

7. Course Structure

   7.1    A clear outline (with diagrams if helpful) of programme of which the course is part and of modules,
          electives etc.

   7.2    The Standard Course Structure/Notes/Description templates should be included (Note: there are
          different forms for undergraduate and postgraduate courses)

8. A Summary of the Proposal for Senate

   8.1    A one or two paragraph summary of the course proposal to be forwarded to Senate if proposal is
          approved.