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Programme Studies Boards

Programme Studies Boards will be responsible for the review, enhancement and development of the modules and programmes within the scope of that Board.

Group of students sat on chairs in breakout area

Terms of Reference

Introduction and Principles

Every Faculty-based Programme and short course will be included within the scope of a Programme Studies Board (PSB), responsible for the operation of a portfolio of programmes.

The Programme Studies Board will normally meet at least once each term.

Pro-Vice Chancellor of Faculties must nominate Chairs of Programme Studies Boards for Academic Quality and Compliance Sub-Committee (AQCSC) approval no later than the end of November in the academic year in which the Board is to sit.

The PSB can establish sub-committees to assist in its business. The remit of the sub-committees will be outlined by the PSB, and activity monitored via receipt of reports.

Any Chair's Actions must be formally recorded and reported to the next meeting of the PSB to ensure that a clear record is available of Chair’s Actions.

Terms of Reference

Programme Studies Boards will be responsible for the review, enhancement and development of the modules and programmes within the scope of that Board; for ensuring that learning outcomes are appropriate to the award and that teaching, learning and assessment strategies are appropriate to the learning outcomes; that student support is in place, and for identifying resourcing issues. Programme Studies Boards have specific responsibility for the oversight of student retention and should also consider internal University KPIs and external data.

Management of Programmes and Modules

  • To consider proposals for new programmes, changes to existing programmes and programme closure or suspend recruitment for a specified time
  • To consider proposals for the introduction of new modules and changes to existing modules
  • To ensure annual review of programmes and modules take place, including consideration of appropriate statistical information and identification of good practice and areas for enhancement
  • Ensuring that all relevant documentation (e.g. programme specifications, module descriptors, module guides) is current and accurate
  • To receive disseminate/implement changes to University policy and procedures from University committees/Faculty committees
  • To consider and endorse proposals for programme-specific regulations.

External Examining

  • To receive External Examiner reports, initiate actions in response to reports and to approve responses to reports in a timely fashion
  • To consider nominations for new External Examiners and agree any re-allocation or extension of External Examiner duties.

Quality Assurance and Enhancement

  • Providing responses (where appropriate) to requirements and recommendations from programme approval, periodic review, partner approval, partner review and PSRB accreditation
  • To approve module and programme documentation before a programme approval event or periodic review, and approve any subsequent revisions
  • To ensure that effective monitoring and evaluation procedures are in place for obtaining feedback from students on the provision covered by the Board and determining any action to be taken as a consequence
  • To provide responses to items referred from University committees/Faculty committees
  • Providing responses/action to issues such as QAA subject benchmarks; apprenticeship standards; changes required by PSRB
  • Receiving external examiners’ reports, student feedback, and other sources of information on good practice or areas for enhancement and initiating action to be taken as a consequence.

Articulations and Study Abroad

  • To approve the ‘academic fit’ for students on study abroad scheme
  • Considering and approving Type 1 Articulations (direct entry from a nationally recognised UK qualification, e.g. FDs and HNDs) and Type 2 Articulations (direct entry on the basis of an award from a recognised body in the UK or overseas with external oversight) progression routes

Constitution

Membership

a) Chair, Pro-Vice Chancellor of Faculty, Head of School or Team Leader

b) The Programme Leader of each of the programmes within the portfolio

c) The Programme Manager(s) and Assistant Programme Manager(s) from the London/Hong Kong campuses (where applicable); the Assistant Programme Leaders (or nominee) from local partner colleges (where applicable)

d) At least two student representatives elected by and from the students registered on each relevant programme

e) If not already included in the membership specified above, the relevant Centre Leader(s)

f) Co-option of a maximum of two other members of staff as determined by the Pro-Vice Chancellor of Faculty, to be renewed on an annual basis.

Quoracy requirements for Programme Studies Board

The quorum shall be one third of this membership or three internal members (one of whom must be the chair), whichever is the greater.