Summative Review Briefing 2011

1. Summative Review Briefing 2011

2. 15th & 16th February 2011 • Reviews the quality of the HE student learning experience • Covers all aspects of the College’s management of its HE provision • Takes account of the role of the awarding body • No college nominees on the review team • Summative review report is published openly Summative Review

3. Core Themes • Academic standards • the level of achievement a student has to reach in order to achieve a particular award or qualification • Quality of learning opportunities • the effectiveness of everything provided by the college, to ensure that students have the best possible opportunity to meet the stated learning outcomes of their programmes and academic standards of the awards they are seeking to achieve • Public information • Information about academic programmes, academic standards and the quality of learning opportunities published by the college FFE Satisfaction Survey Summative Review Framework for Excellence

4. Provisional judgements related to core themes 1&2 (Academic standards and Quality of Learning Opportunities) • Confidence • Limited confidence • No confidence • Provisional conclusion related to core theme 3 (Public Information) • Reliance can be placed • Reliance cannot be placed • May also reach the conclusion that the information is accurate, but incomplete, or vice versa. • identifies good practice and recommendations Possible Outcomes

5. Carried out to date • Produced Self Evaluation Document (SED) • Student Written Submission (SWS) • Action Plan updates from the Development Engagement • Collate central evidence • Produced Quality Files • Preparatory meeting to consider agenda, structure and initial response to SED

6. Additional Information • Policy / strategy statements on; • Marketing • Employability • Virtual learning environment • Scholarly activity • Student tutorials • External examiner appointment and induction procedures • Student induction information • List of the public information for which the College is responsible • Outline of college procedures for approving and checking published information • Course and module handbooks (a sample selection) • Retention, achievement and success data Additional Information

7. For the visit; Staff CVs Wider range of programme specifications A small sample of assessed work (including associated records) Teaching & Learning Additional Information

8. General Progress made on the Development Engagement action plan Extent to which the management of the provision aligns with the requirements and expectations of the Academic Infrastructure Core Theme 1: Academic standards How is curriculum development managed strategically and what mechanisms are in place to mesh curriculum development ideas and strategy? The rationale and potential benefits (and threats) of introducing the Common Modular Framework. The Internal Review Process The effectiveness of reviews (APE’s) For Further Exploration

9. Core Theme 2: Quality of learning opportunities (1) • Role and impact of the OU Academic Reviewer • The quality and timeliness of feedback. • Analysis and use of NSS and internal surveys, including the sharing of good practice. How are students able to evaluate the quality of teaching? • Role of Contextual and Theoretical Studies modules • Clarify the pattern, purpose and value of student tutorials. • What are the arrangements for student inductions and are they consistent and effective? • What additional support is available and how is it communicated to students? • How are students informed about progression opportunities to employment and further study? For Further Exploration

10. Core Theme 2: Quality of learning opportunities (2) • Analysis of retention, achievement and success- How are they used internally? • What is the profile of staff qualifications and experience? • How are staff development arrangements managed to meet the needs of HE, including the promotion of an HE culture and ethos? • What is the range and effectiveness of staff scholarly activity and how is it managed? • How effectivene is the College capital expenditure process in ensuring that resources match course needs? • How are add-on costs for specialist materials communicated to students and are there implications for their achievement of programme learning outcomes? For Further Exploration

11. Core Theme 3: Public information What are the arrangements for ensuring the accuracy, currency and usefulness of e-information? How well established are electronic forms of published information, including the College VLE, and how are they used across the provision? The mechanisms through which students are able to comment on the published informed produced for them- formal, informal How is such feedback used? Students awareness of relevant policies and procedures For Further Exploration

12. Meetings with Staff DAY 1 Tuesday Feb 15th 11.30 – 12.45 Academic Standards 13.15 – 14.15 Student Meeting 14.45 – 3.45 Quality of Student Learning 16.15 – 17.00 Public Information DAY 2 Wednesday Feb 16th 10.00 – 11.00 Partnership arrangements. (OU rep and College link staff) 11.30 – 12.30 Any outstanding matters AGENDA

13. Developmental Engagement Actions Appointment of Assessment Review Peers (formerly IV) Appointment of Head of Quality and Standards Guidance for students and staff on critiques Updated module evaluation and review process eLearning Working Group and draft guidelines Draft policy for public information Draft review of assessment of group work guidance For Further Exploration

14. Academic Infrastructure provides guidance on maintaining quality and standards for universities and colleges. sets out expectations for the level and broad content of higher education awards set out expectations about standards of degrees in a range of subject areas. concise description of the intended learning outcomes of an HE programme