UNIVERSITY of ULSTER Paper No LTC/15/3A)
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UNIVERSITY OF ULSTER Paper No LTC/15/3a) LEARNING AND TEACHING COMMITTEE Agenda Item 6a) 1 April 2015 REPORT FROM THE COURSE APPROVAL SUB-COMMITTEE (4.2.15) PRESENT Professor D A McAlister (Chair), Dr M Black, Dr R McAlister, Mr J McCann, Professor A McKillop, Dr T McLernon, Ms U Quinn, Mrs A Scanlon 1 MEMBERSHIP The Chair of the Sub-Committee welcomed Dr Ruth McAlister and Dr Michaela Black as the new representatives for the Faculties of Social Sciences and Computing and Engineering respectively. 2 COURSE APPROVAL The Sub-Committee considered business from each Faculty and the Department of Access, Digital and Distributed Learning and noted revisions, the introduction of credit- bearing short courses and withdrawals approved by them as detailed in the appendix. FACULTY OF ART, DESIGN AND THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT BSc Hons Architectural Technology and Management RECEIVED: a request from the Faculty for a one-year extension to the period of approval for BSc Hons Architectural Technology and Management to include the 2016 intake. NOTED: (a) that the Faculty wished to develop new content for the programme, which could also be delivered as shared modules across provision offered by the Belfast School of Architecture; (b) that the postponement of the revalidation for one year would align the revalidation of the programme with BA Hons Architecture and MArch Architecture, due for revalidation in 2016/17, and enable the School to investigate the extent of cross-disciplinary teaching for these programmes; (c) that the external examiner had confirmed that the programme remained current and valid; (d) that the programme was validated by the Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists (CIAT) until 2018. RECOMMENDED: that the request for a one-year extension to the period of approval, to include the 2016 intake, be approved. AGREED: that the Faculty consider the implications of the extension for the revalidation of FdSc Architectural Technology with Sustainable Design (Colleges – Network) due in 2015/16. FACULTY OF ARTS Revalidation Unit 7D: Creative Media (South West College) RECEIVED: the report of the Revalidation Panel for: FdA Digital Arts and Technologies (with CertHE exit award) (FT/PT/PT Fast-track) at South West College (Dungannon, Enniskillen and Omagh campuses) (replacing FdA Creative Media Production). NOTED: (a) that FdA Performing Arts - Acting, Dance and Production had been withdrawn; (b) that the Panel had confirmed that the proposed new title was appropriate and reflected the revised content of the programme; (c) that the initial offer standard was set at 80 UCAS points and graduates of the programme could progress directly into Level 5 of BSc Hons Creative Technologies (FT/PT) (ME), for which an average of 40% in the final level modules of the FdA was required, or BA Hons Media Studies and Production (FT/PT) (CE), for which students would be required to achieve an average of 50% in the final level modules as it had a higher offer standard of 280 UCAS tariff points; (d) that a part-time fast-track mode had been introduced at this revalidation and that all three modes of delivery would be offered at each campus; the Panel had recommended that a review be undertaken of the programme structures across the three delivery modes in order to achieve greater efficiencies; (e) that issues raised by students had included access to classrooms and equipment, insufficient experience of practical work prior to placement and problems with group work; (f) that the Panel had strongly recommended that consideration be given to employing a media technician / learning technologist to help maintain specialised physical resources. AGREED: that it be recommended to the Learning and Teaching Committee that, subject to the Panel’s condition and recommendations being addressed, FdA Digital Arts and Technologies be approved for a period of five years (intakes 2015 – 2019). Approved Maximum Cohort Sizes: 20 full-time students on each campus; 2 20 students in total across part-time / part-time fast-track on each campus. Revalidation Unit 13A: General Humanities (Southern Regional College) RECEIVED: the report of the Revalidation Panel for: AB in English and History (with CertHE exit award) (PT) at Southern Regional College (Newry campus). NOTED: (a) that the majority of students progressed to the final year of the University’s BA Hons English and History delivered at the College by Ulster staff; (b) that significant changes had been made to the curriculum for revalidation; the Panel had been of the view that the proposed new curriculum appeared to lack the depth and breadth of subject content that would be expected to prepare students for progression to final year of an Honours degree and had raised concern regarding the different credit weightings of modules; (c) that the Panel had set as a condition of approval that the curriculum be re-designed to meet History and English subject benchmarks and that the module descriptions be revised to more accurately reflect the content of the programme; the Team was to consult with relevant University subject specialists as part of the re-drafting process; (d) that investment in library stock would be required for the new curriculum; the Panel had set as a condition of approval that relevant reading material be in place prior to the commencement of the programme in September 2015; (e) that a positive report had been received from the external examiner in relation to the current programme. RECOMMENDED: that, subject to the Panel’s conditions and recommendations being addressed, the programme be approved for a further period of five years (intakes 2015 – 2019). Approved Maximum Cohort Size: 40 students. Revalidation Unit 19A: Media Studies (Undergraduate) RECEIVED: the report of the Revalidation Panel for: UG Hons Subject: Film Studies (Major/Main/Minor) (with CertHE and AB exit awards and optional DIAS) (FT/PT) (CE); 3 BSc Hons Interactive Media (proposed new title and award – previously BA Hons Interactive Media Arts) (with CertHE and AB exit awards and optional DPP & optional DIAS) (FT/PT) (CE); UG Hons Subject: Journalism (Major) (with CertHE and AB exit awards and optional DIAS) (FT/PT) (CE); UG Hons Media Studies (Major/Main/Minor) (with CertHE and AB exit awards and optional DIAS) (FT/PT) (CE); BA Hons Media Studies and Production (with CertHE and AB exit awards and optional DIAS) (FT/PT) (CE); UG Hons Photo Imaging (Minor) (with CertHE and AB exit awards and optional DIAS) (FT/PT) (CE). NOTED: (a) that the Film Studies and Photo Imaging provision would have no further intakes as they were to be withdrawn; the Faculty had, however, wished to proceed with the revalidation of these programmes in order to introduce CertHE and AB exit awards for current students; (b) that the Panel had recommended consideration be given to developing a Single Honours Journalism programme; (c) that the Panel had set as a condition of approval that the bridging arrangements for students progressing to the programmes from colleges and the management and structure of the part-time provision be reviewed; (d) that students had reported large seminar classes (with 30 – 40 students) in the Media Studies with Photo Imaging provision, which had resulted in high demand for reading material from the library; (e) that the Panel had recommended a review of online resources to include further investment in e-books; (f) that Course Directors undertook the role of Adviser of Studies for all students; (g) that students had reported an imbalance in assessment requirements across modules and a delay in receiving feedback in some cases; the Panel had been of the same view regarding the imbalance in assessment and had set as a condition of approval that a review of the Learning, Teaching and Assessment strategy be undertaken to include the weighting of assessments, the timing of submission deadlines and feedback. RECOMMENDED: that, subject to the Panel’s conditions and recommendations being addressed, the provision be approved for a further period of five years (intakes 2015 – 2019) and the new title of ‘BSc Hons Interactive Media’ be approved. AGREED: that the Subject Team be reminded of the University’s Studies Advice System and policy on Small Group Teaching. 4 Revalidation Unit 19B: Media Studies (Postgraduate) RECEIVED: the report of the Revalidation Panel for: MA Documentary Practice (with PgCert and PgDip exit awards) (FT/PT) (CE) MA Journalism (with PgDip exit award) (FT) (CE) MA Media Management and Policy (with PgCert and PgDip exit awards) (FT/PT) (BT). NOTED: (a) that the Panel had been of the view that there appeared to be insufficient coverage of media policy in the Media Management and Policy course and had set as a condition of approval that the award, with its two named strands, ‘Management’ and ‘Policy’ be reviewed to ensure that both aspects were suitably present throughout the programme; (b) that a perceived lack of meaningful feedback had been raised by students, particularly in relation to the Media Management and Policy programme; (c) that the Panel had set as a condition of approval that the curriculum of the Journalism programme be reviewed in order to take cognisance of the latest developments in social media; (d) that the Panel had set as a condition of approval that, for all of the programmes, each module description be reviewed to incorporate appropriate reading lists, content and Master’s-level learning outcomes; (e) that the Panel had recommended that the overall management of the three programmes be kept under review; (f) that there was heavy reliance on one member of the teaching team in terms of co-ordinating modules, particularly in relation to the Documentary Practice programme and that the Panel had recommended that the full-time staffing complement be kept under review. RECOMMENDED: that, subject to the Panel’s conditions and recommendations being addressed, the provision be approved for a further period of five years (intakes 2015 – 2019).