Policy for Student Participation in Quality Assurance
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Quality and Standards Quality Assurance Committee December 2016 July 2016 July 2017 V1.2 https://intra.brunel.ac.uk/s/QSO/Team/Student Policies/Student Participation in QA
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Section 1: Appointment and Selection of Students to Quality Assurance Activities and Events The University expects to have students as full panel members at its major review and approval events so as to contribute to its quality assurance processes. Additionally, the university expects to have students as team members in the development and design of its academic programmes. This policy sets out the process for identifying, organising, selecting and training students that will be involved in quality assurance (QA) activities and events including: Regulatory Audit, Programme Design and Development, Programme Approval and Periodic Programme Review. Generic specifications for these different activities are given in Section 3, to illustrate what is involved (including timescales) for students taking part. APPOINTMENT 1. During the annual student representative training period, the Union of Brunel Students will brief student representatives on opportunities for involvement in QA activities as panel or team members. The Union of Brunel Students will have been informed about such opportunities by the Quality & Standards Office (Q&S). 2. The Union of Brunel Students will direct students to a Brunel webpage that will provide information on current opportunities for student involvement in QA activities or events. Students will contact Q&S to register their interest and will be invited to an interview.. 3. Through students registering their interest and undertaking QA roles, a pool of student panel/team members will be established from which the University can draw for specific activities. SELECTION 1. Q&S, working under the direction of the Pro Vice‐Chancellor (Quality Assurance and Enhancement), will select students for programme design reviews, Regulatory Audit and Periodic Programme Review. Colleges are responsible for appointing students to programme development teams, in consultation with Quality and Standards. 2. Students who are confirmed to take part in a quality activity or event will be briefed by Q&S on what is required of them. 2
Section 2: Recognising Student Participation in Quality Assurance Activities and Events Participation in a quality assurance event or activity will be recorded in a student’s Higher Education Achievement Report (HEAR). In order to provide the opportunity to as many students as possible, the University has determined that students, who are not paid officers of the Union of Brunel Students, should be rewarded for engaging in the following activities: Type of Event Reward vouchers value Programme Design and Development £10/session to a maximum of £50 Programme Approval £50 per event Regulatory Audit £50 Periodic Programme Review £100 For Programme Design and Development, the student will be appointed from within the Department/Division. For Programme Approval, Regulatory Audit and Periodic Programme Review, the student will be appointed from another College. In order to be rewarded for their participation, students will be expected to provide relevant personal details, including for compliance with any relevant legislation. The Quality and Standards Office, in liaison with Human Resources, will coordinate rewards to individuals. In order to receive the recognition and reward for their contribution, the student must have satisfactorily discharged their duties, including attending all training sessions as required. Student representation activities not otherwise covered by this policy – particularly internal programme‐level activities such as meeting external examiners, contributing to focus groups, etc – are not normally eligible for remuneration.
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Section 3: Specifications for Quality Assurance Activities and Events Activity
Programme Development
Purpose/Focus
To join a programme development team to help design and develop a new programme of study, in line with the University’s definition of successful programme attributes. Students would be required to meet with the rest of the team on an ad‐hoc basis over a period of approximately 3 to 12 months, including attending the final approval event (typically ½‐1 day)to help present proposals. The normal composition of the team will be: Team Leader, a Recognised Programme Developer (RPD) from within the College At least two academic staff members from the Department/Division At least two students from the Department/Division Appropriate education administration staff from the College Be part of the programme development team and contribute to its design through consultation.
Duration Team Members
Work of the student
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Event
Programme Design Approval (including re-approval)
Purpose/Focus
To act as part of a Panel to approve a programme of study to be delivered at the University. This could be for a completely new programme or one that is allied to an existing programme. Note, the role of student Panel members is different to that of students who may also attend approval events as part of the programme development team.
Duration
Attendance required at the approval event (typically ½‐1 day), with some preparatory reading work and usually a pre‐briefing Chair, a Recognised Programme Developer from another College Two academics from another College (at least one must be a RPD) One academic from within the College, but outside the Department At least two academic/professional members from outside the University One representative for Academic Service Departments One student from another College Officer (from Quality & Standards) Where new collaborative provision is associated with the programme, additional QAC/Partnerships representation For a Fast‐Track approval, the membership will be reduced. Review documentation provided by Colleges/Departments prior to the event. Identify questions to ask and matters to clarify at the approval event. Discuss matters with other Panel members as appropriate.
Panel Members
Work of the student panel member prior to the event Work of the student panel member at the event
Meet with staff and students Ask questions based on the documents provided and the discussion at the event. Provide input to the Panel’s discussion.
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Event
Periodic Programme Review
Purpose/Focus
Periodic Programme Review (PPR) is the process whereby individual Colleges’ educational provision is reviewed through self‐evaluation and peer discussion. The procedure for Periodic Programme Review can be found at: http://www.brunel.ac.uk/about/quality‐assurance/documents/pdf/Periodic‐ Programme‐Review‐Procedure‐v2.0.pdf Attendance required at the event (typically 1 day)
Duration Panel Members
Work of the student panel member prior to the event Work of the student panel member at the event
Chair: Dean or Vice‐Dean (Education) (for Taught provision) Minimum two experienced academic staff with responsibility for learning and teaching for each review meeting; and (for PGR provision) minimum two experienced academic staff with responsibility for postgraduate research students External reviewers: Minimum two external subject specialists for each discipline to be reviewed, and for the PGR provision review Student representatives: One for each discipline meeting, and one research student for PGR meeting Representative from Brunel Educational Excellence Centre (in attendance) Secretary: Quality & Standards Officer for College under review Review documentation provided by Colleges/Departments prior to the event. Prepare questions. Discuss matters with other panel members as appropriate.
Meet with staff and students Ask questions based on the documents provided and the discussion at the event. Provide input to the Panel’s discussion.
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Event
Regulatory Audit
Purpose/Focus
An annual 'health check' of policies, processes and practices for the delivery of all taught and research student‐related provision in a College or other academic areas including Distance Learning and Off‐Campus provision where applicable. Attendance required at the event (typically ½ day)
Duration
Panel Members
Work of the student panel member prior to the event Work of the student panel member at the event
Pro‐Vice‐Chancellor (Quality Assurance and Enhancement) Vice‐Dean (Education) from another College (Chair) Associate Dean (Quality Assurance) from another College Education Manager from another College Student Rep from another academic unit Quality and Standards Officer associated with the academic unit Director of Graduate School
Review documentation provided by Colleges/Departments prior to the event. Prepare questions. Discuss matters with other panel members as appropriate.
Meet with staff and students Ask questions based on the documents provided and the discussion at the event. Provide input to the Panel’s discussion.