Programmes Committee

Terms of Reference

The Programmes Committee (PC) is a sub-committee of the Quality Assurance and Enhancement Committee (QAEC).  It has delegated responsibility from QAEC to consider proposals for new and major modifications to undergraduate and postgraduate taught programmes of study as well as the university's EngD programmes.

The Committee is also responsible for providing quality assurance oversight for courses that do not result in an award of the university but that bear the name of the university. This includes, but is not limited to, continuing professional development, Horizons, Business for Professionals of Engineering and Science (BPES) modules, pre-sessional courses, and summer school courses, including outreach. The Committee’s remit excludes the Early Career Researcher Institute's professional skills development programme and Careers Service’s training programme which are quality assured separately.

Approval of Programmes of Study

• To oversee and approve an annual schedule of programme approval activity for the university linked to the university Strategic Planning Round.
• To consider and recommend, to the Quality Assurance and Enhancement Committee, the approval of new award bearing undergraduate, postgraduate taught and EngD programmes congruent with university expectations and academic regulations.
• To manage the approval process and programme development activity including providing advice at the initial stages in such areas as: regulatory queries; engagement with the university's mission; relevant university Codes of Practice and Strategies; and development of a Memorandum of Agreement (for collaborative programmes).
• To scrutinise the academic standards and quality of new programme proposals, including the content of the curriculum, the learning, teaching and assessment strategies and the curriculum structure.
• To ensure that sufficient external and independent consultation (including student consultation) has been sought in assessing the academic standards and quality of new programme proposals.
• To ensure that relevant internal and external reference points, including Professional, Statutory and Regulatory Body (PSRB) requirements, have been taken into consideration in the design of a programme.

Major Modifications to Programmes of Study

• To consider proposals for the suspension or withdrawal of programmes and major modifications to programme title, curriculum structure, content and delivery of individual programmes in accordance with the university Programme and Module Modification Procedure.
• To receive and endorse reports from Faculty Education Committees on the approval of minor modifications to approved curricula.
• Following appropriate strategic partnership approval, to approve all new collaborative modules (those which are run in collaboration with another institution).
• To ensure that sufficient external and independent consultation (including student consultation) has been sought for modifications.

Short Course Approval and Modifications

• To maintain an overview of the quality, standards and enhancement of university's short course activities.
• To approve new non-credit bearing short courses offered by departments and centres.
• To approve new credit bearing short courses offered by departments and centres.
• To approve new credit bearing online modules.
• To approve major modifications to existing short courses.
• To advise QAEC on developments in UK and international short course provision.
• To maintain oversight of the university's Short Course Catalogue.