Our Academic and Quality Frameworks

Phil Brimson

Quality Manager (Validation and Review)

The Academic Year – from 2014

UG and PG programmes run slightly differentlyWe have three terms UG and two Semesters PG

• September to Christmas• Christmas to Easter• Easter to June

• Some programmes might run over the summer, which is also a time for resits

• There was a summer school in 2014, which might continue

• Some UG students are in transition from our previous framework, which might mean that they are more ‘semesterised’

Assessment Framework

• Assessment regulations govern all taught postgraduate and undergraduate programmes

• Programmes are made up of modules – chunks of teaching and assessment

• Each module has a level (degree of difficulty)• Each module has a credit value (one credit equals 10

student study hours)• Modules may be from a single subject area or more than

one subject area or School

Single and Combined Honours(Undergraduate)

• We operate Single subject degrees e.g. BA Sociology, although some comprise more than one subject, such as Law and Criminology

• There are a number of two subject Combined Honours and Combined Studies degrees but these are running out and only have legacy students on them

Regulatory Framework

• We have recently revised our assessment regulations for undergraduate programmes, and these have come into effect from September 2014

• Under the new framework, our progression and award assessment boards will have a greater focus on the student and their profile

• Our PG regulations have remained unchanged for now, and are more ‘modular’ in their approach

Undergraduate Programmes - New

• Level 4 = 4+ modules – multiples of 30 credits – 120 credits• Level 5 = 4+ modules – multiples of 30 credits – 120 credits• Level 6 = 4+ modules – multiples of 30 credits – 120 credits

= 360 credits overall

• Assessment – will be spread over the year, and include formative assessment – 15 credit modules may have an assessment after Christmas.

• Summer reassessment for all modules.• Students need to have successfully completed at least 90 credits

per year to progress (105 credits if 15 credit modules) – so no more than 1 module unpassed per year.

• The assessment board will make the decision on student progress based on the profile.

Postgraduate Programmes(mainly masters degrees)

Level 7 (M) = 4 modules of 30 credits + 1 module of 60 credits= 180 credits

Semester A Mod 1 Mod 2

assessment assessment Semester B

Mod 3 Mod 4 assessment assessment

Summer PeriodThe dissertation module (=60 credits)September reassessment of Sem A and Sem B modulesOctober award board for Masters degrees

Modules

• Each module comprises 1, 2 or 3 assessed components (pro rata double modules)

• Components have weights (adding up to 100%)– (Component weights are recorded on DELTA student record

system)

• Components have marks (0-100%)– (Component marks are recorded on DELTA student record

system)

Assessment and Reassessment - Current

• Undergraduate modules– Pass mark = 40% (component threshold 30%)– Capped at 40% for further assessment

• Postgraduate modules– Pass mark = 50%(component threshold 40%)– Capped at 50% for further assessment

Reassessment and Repeat - PG• Reassessment if not passed on assessment

• all components marked <50% reassessed• all components marked ≥50% carried through• reassessment in September• module capped at 50%• achieved mark shown on transcript as well

• If not passed on reassessment• repeat module (‘with attendance’)

– capped at 50%– no prior marks carried through

• do alternative module (option modules only)– rules for first time study apply

• No further assessment or reassessment is allowed on a repeated module after reassessment

Reassessment and Repeat – UG

• Reassessment if not passed on assessment• all components <40% reassessed (unless pass compensation can be

awarded and other thresholds met)• all components ≥40% marks carried through• reassessment in summer• reassessed components capped at 40%• achieved mark shown on transcript as well

• If not passed on reassessment• assessment boards can make several decisions. Guidance will be

made available• repeat module (‘with attendance’)

– capped– no prior marks carried through

• repeat the Level of study again (this can only occur once during the lifetime of a programme)

Assessment Boards

• Subject Area Progression Boards (one per subject area)• approves standards for all Subject Area modules• confirms module marks for modules at all levels• awards credit, including A(E)L credit, compensation and implements

extenuation decisions• makes programme progression decisions for students on each

programme in the subject area

• Subject Area Award Boards• confers awards and classification• awards compensation (and credit)• implements Extenuation decisions

Classification - Current• Postgraduate Masters

– Merit 60%-69%, Distinction 70%+• Undergraduate

70% - 100% First Class Honours

60% - 69% Second Class Honours, First Division

50% - 59% Second Class Honours, Second Division

40% - 49% Third Class Honours

0% - 39% Not passed

Arithmetic mean of the best 90 credits at level 6

X

0.8

+ Arithmetic mean of the next best 90 credits at levels 5 and/or 6

X 0.2

• Verify that academic standards on modules and programmes are appropriate.

• Comparability with modules delivered elsewhere or by other mode within UEL.

• Comparability with similar HE courses across the UK.• To assure and maintain academic standards.• Ensure that the assessment processes are sound, fairly

operated and in line with our policies and regulations.

External Examiners - Role

Extenuation (process currently being updated)• The aim is:

To provide a safety net for students who experience events which are:

• unforeseeable - in that the student could have no prior knowledge of the event concerned, and

• unpreventable - in that the student could do nothing reasonably in heir power to prevent such an event, and

• expected to have a serious impact on the performance

Extenuation - Continued

• A central panel will consider all claims as currently happens.

• Outcomes will be used by assessment boards whilst considering student profile.

• Guidance will be provided to help consistency at the assessment boards.

Extenuation - Continued

• May be claimed for exams or coursework.• Is submitted by the student on forms with independent

documentary evidence.• Is judged by a UEL panel based purely on the claim and

evidence.• The student's identity is anonymous.• Staff are not allowed to:

– Advise students on extenuation (though they can try to ensure that the form is completed)

– Support a student's case for extenuation• Advice for the student is provided via:

– The Student’s Union UELSU– The extenuation website pages

Coursework Submission

• For UG programmes, there is the possibility of submitting coursework up to 24 hours late with a deduction of 5 marks.

• Coursework is submitted through School helpdesks (not to individual members of staff) / via e-submission.

• For PG programmes, one minute late is ‘late’ and is marked at 0.

• For work submitted late there is the possibility of extenuation.

Quality Assurance and Enhancement Processes

• All processes are outlined in the Quality Manual, which is available online via the QAE webpages.

www.uel.ac.uk/qa• Outlines how to approve programmes, make changes to

programmes and modules (amongst other things), and external examining.

• Manual of General Regulations is also on these pages.

Quality Assurance and Enhancement Processes - Continued

• Always interested to get feedback from staff where they feel that there is something which could be improved – each school has a QAE Link person.

• Each school has a Quality Leader, its own committees and a servicing officer.

• Outcomes considered through University-wide committees.

Module specification

http://www.uel.ac.uk/qa/policies/forms Module amendments Changes not requiring any approval◦ reading lists

Changes requiring quality committee approval◦ e.g., changes to assessment, routine curriculum

updating

Modules and Amendments

• Module handbooks / guides• Module evaluation / e-system• Module reporting• Skills curriculum should be embedded within the

modules

http://www.uel.ac.uk/qa/policies/forms

Module Processes - Expectations

Student Rights and Responsibilities

• Student charter

http://www.uel.ac.uk/studentcharter/• Student feedback processes:

– programme committees– programme reps– module evaluation (via EvaSys)– informal discussion with programme/field leader,

module tutor, School Registrar

Questions?