Approval Taught Programmes
Education Partnership Approval Process - Taught Programmes
All education partnership arrangements follow a four-step approval process, summary information and links to documents are available below and in Education Partnerships Approval Process.
Step 1 - Initial Idea
Ideas for education partnerships can come from a variety of sources and your first point of call should be a discussion with your Faculty Dean (Global or Education), your Faculty Education Manager and the Education Partnerships Team.
When the idea has formed into a firmer proposal the first stage is University level endorsement to proceed to the formal approval process. This University review is undertaken by the Strategic Education Partnerships Group (SEPG), whose membership includes the PVC Education and PVC Global. Full details are available in the SEPG Terms of Reference and Membership.
SEPG will make a decision on whether the proposal should proceed to further development.
Step 2 - High level due diligence and business case
Once SEPG approval is given to proceed Stage 2 has two parts.
The Education Partnerships team will complete a high-level due diligence report on the proposed partner, which can mostly be undertaken independently but may require information from the partner and/or the academic proposer. A recommendation at this stage will be made on whether an independent site visit is required.
The second part is the development of an initial business case for the arrangement which will include the following aspects:
- Rationale for the development including how it will contribute to University, Faculty and School strategic objectives
- Evidence of market demand for the arrangement
- Proposed fee income and indicative costings for the development and delivery stage of the arrangement
The completed form should be submitted to your Faculty Education Team for consideration by the appropriate Faculty Group. The faculty will make a decision on whether the initial business case is sufficient for the proposal to proceed to further programme and partnership development.
Complete the Stage 2 Form and submit to your Faculty Education Team - Stage 2 - Business Case and Due Diligence Form.docx
Step 3 - Programme and Partnership Development
In this stage you and the partner will work collaboratively to design a coherent programme of study and to develop the operational aspects of the partnership.
The documentation, in addition to the standard expectations as set out in the Programme Approval Policy, required will be agreed with the Proposer in collaboration with the Faculty Education Team and the Registry and Education Services Education Partnership Team. Both teams will provide support during the development of the arrangement.
The final documentation will be considered by a Programme and Partnerships Approval Committee (PPAC). The PPAC will make a recommendation to the University Education Committee (UEC) on approval.
Guidance on this stage is available from:
- Faculty Education Teams
- Education Partnership Team
- Learning and Teaching Development Service (LTDS).
Next steps:
Complete the Programme Approval Documentation
Complete the Partnership Lifecycle
Step 4 - Post approval/Pre-launch activities
After approval has been given by UEC the following areas should be completed. Support and guidance will be available from various teams including the Faculty Education Team and Registry and Education Services Education Partnerships Team.
- Conclude and sign legal agreement with the partner
- Agree marketing in collaboration with the partner and the University marketing team.
- Fully develop the operations and student handbook.
- Fully develop academic content.