Validation Workshop

1
Validation Workshop

• 24 October 2007
• Validation Papers
• Documentation for each stage
• Sources of advice and guidance

2
Outline of Process

• Outline Approval
• College Academic Plan to APC
• Development Approval
• Form to VSC
• Stage Meetings I II
• Course Handbook, Validation Log (VL), Notes of
  Meetings, Programme Specification
• Final Approval
• Validation Papers to VSC

3
Validation Procedures Diagram
OUTLINE APPROVAL (College Academic Plan to APC)
COURSE DEVELOPMENT

• Documents
• Course Handbook
• Validation Papers
• validation log
• notes of meetings
• programme specification

Advice Validation Aide Memoire External
Assessors Internal Advisers Academic Affairs
STAGE I meeting
STAGE II meeting
Head of College Recommendation
FINAL APPROVAL (Validation Papers to VSC)
4
Development Approval

• Following APC approval, work should begin on a
  detailed proposal to the VSC, otherwise known as
  the VSC form.
• A template, as well as best practice examples,
  can found on the AA website.
• Course teams should consider the academic focus
  and purpose, industry and student demand, the
  resources needed to support the development
  itself and the resources needed to deliver and
  sustain the proposal.

5
The Validation Log

• Records the actions needed and response at each
  stage of the validation process
• Should begin from VSC Development Approval
• Ideally Course Directors and Administrators work
  on this together
• Used by VSC as evidence that validation has been
  thorough

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Tips for a Successful VSC Development Approval
Form

• Clearly state course title, mode, and proposing
  college/school
• Avoid cutting and pasting
• Provide a clear and coherent rationale
• Dont skip on the distinctive features
• Details on resourcing, student numbers and
  staffing are vital be explicit
• Dont forget the required signatures, proposed
  staff CVs, and the course diagram

7
Stage I Meeting

• Stage I should be held when the outline structure
  of the course has been agreed and the aims and
  outcomes written, but before the full unit
  descriptions have been written.
• The documents for a Stage I meeting are
• the draft course handbook up to section 4 (course
  structure and outline curriculum)
• background paperwork such as the form that went
  to VSC.
• Stage I meetings are chaired by the Dean of
  School or College Dean.

8
Stage II Meeting

• The Stage II meeting is generally held when the
  team consider the handbook complete and are ready
  to present it to external assessors and others.
• Notes should be taken as for Stage I. Stage II
  meetings are chaired by a head of college, dean
  or senior academic from another college of the
  university.
• Documents will be
• the completed course handbook
• minutes of the Stage I Meeting
• the validation log
• the programme specification
• the validation papers

9
Final Approval VSC

• The VSC uses secondary rather than primary
  evidence to fulfil its duties and does not
  receive the course handbook.
• It is a college responsibility to ensure that
  validation papers are completed to the highest
  quality, so that the sub-committee can use them
  to validate the course.

10
Validation Papers for Final Approval

• the validation log
• the programme specification
• notes of Stage Meetings I II
• recommendation from Head of College

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Tips for a Successful Final Approval (1)

• The validation log
• The validation log should be filled in
  completely, clearly stating responses to concerns
  raised at each stage.
• Avoid statements such as done. Be explicit.
• Avoid listing minute details (for example,
  typographical corrections in the handbook).
• The programme specification
• Be brief! Only essential information is needed.
• Check to make sure information is accurate.

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Tips for a Successful Final Approval (2)

• Notes of Stage Meetings I II
• Notes should be taken and VL updated.
• Make sure action points have been addressed and
  can be mapped.
• Stage II signature required before coming back to
  VSC.
• Various
• Include a course diagram.
• Include all signatures.
• Make sure concerns have been addressed.

13
Advice and Guidance

• Academic Affairs website, Course Validation,
  Revalidation and Review
• AA Handbook, Chapter 2
• Validation Aide Memoire
• Examples of good practice
• Guidance and briefing notes
• Academic Affairs staff
• Amanda Ostermann, John Melton
• Written comment on first full draft of handbook

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Advice and Guidance Course Adviser

• Should be appointed and consulted as early as
  possible
• Usually from another College more than one may
  be consulted
• Panel of Advisers listed on AA website
• Should have experience of validation or of
  running a similar course
• Assists team to clarify ideas and by offering a
  critical perspective

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Advice and Guidance - External Assessor

• At least one is a requirement, usually two
• Normally an academic plus an industry person
• Must be independent of the University (CV to
  Academic Affairs)
• Appointed by Dean, paid by AA
• Number of days input normally 2-3. Additional
  days must be agreed with AA

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Summary of Documents

• VSC Form (Proposal)
• Stage I
• Outline course handbook, course structure,
  outline curriculum
• Validation Log
• Notes of meeting
• Stage II
• Full draft handbook including unit descriptors
• Notes of Stage I
• Programme specification
• Validation Log
• VSC Final Approval
• Validation papers, stage meeting notes, completed
  validation log, finalised programme specification

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Outline of Process for Course Review

• Approval Stage
• Submission of VSC form
• Review Meeting
• Consideration of documents
• Post Review Meeting
• Handbook update
• Handbook checked by AA
• Final Approval
• Report of Review
• Course team response to CAC
• Notification to VSC

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Course Review Documents

• Review Panel considers
• Written appraisal by course team
• Current course Handbook
• Last two years external examiner and course
  monitoring reports
• Significant changes to resources
• Composition and membership of course team
  (including CVs of new staff)
• For courses proceeding to revalidation, the Panel
  should also consider
• Summary of proposed changes
• Draft of revised Handbook (as for Stage I of
  Validation)

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Course Review Written Appraisal

• Course teams written appraisal is under headings
  of
• Curriculum design, content and organisation
• Teaching learning and assessment
• Student progression and achievement
• Student support and guidance
• Learning resources
• Quality management and enhancement
• There is no set format for the written appraisal.
• An example of an outline template for the written
  appraisal prepared by Gary Naylor at LCC School
  of Media is included in todays info pack and is
  available on the AA website, together with recent
  examples of written appraisals.