Quality Assurance in Masters Programmes and

Research Training in Masters Programmes

at Newcastle University

Dr Robin HumphreyDirector of Research Postgraduate TrainingFaculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

Newcastle University, UK

EUROPOS SĄJUNGAEuropos socialinis fondas

MYKOLO ROMERIOUNIVERSITETAS

 

Procedures at Newcastle University

• Institutional Context

• Procedural Detail

• The Role of the External Examiner

City of Newcastle

• Most important city in the North East of England – Regional capital

• Population of 284,000; 33,000 are students

• Three hours by rail from London

• International airport, 10km from campus

Newcastle University

• Established 1834

• City centre campus in North East of England

• Employs over 4,000 people

• One of UK’s top 20 research universities; member of the Russell Group.

• 13,500 full-time students

• Over 2,500 international students from more than 100 countries

• Low living costs in comparison with rest of UK

University Research

• Very strong research ethos

• Over 50 research centres

• Ten academic Schools awarded top ratings in UK govt. research assessment exercise (RAE)

• “Russell Group” member, major research universities in the UK

Newcastle University • Accounting• Agriculture• Archaeology• Architecture• Art• Biology• Biomedical Sciences• Business• Chemistry• Classics• Combined Studies• Computing• Dentistry• Economics• Education• Engineering• English• Environmental Sciences• Film Studies• Food (nutrition)

•Gender and Women’s Studies•Geography•Geomatics (Surveying)•History•Languages•Law•Mathematics•Medicine•Music•Philosophical Studies•Physics•Politics•Psychology•Religious Studies•Sociology •Social Policy•Speech•Town Planning

Postgraduate Culture

• Large number of masters programmes (184; 115 in HASS)

• Extensive recognition of research masters programmes by ESRC, AHRC and NERC (UK Govt. Research Councils)

Faculty of Humanities, Arts, and the Social Sciences

• Schools– Architecture, Planning and Landscape– Arts and Cultures– Business School– Education, Communication and Language – English Literature. Language and Linguistics– Geography, Politics and Sociology– Law School– Modern Languages– Historical Studies

Newcastle University: Quality Assurance in Masters Programmes

• Approval of new programmes

• QA in existing programmes

• The role of the external examiner

Approval of new programmes

• http://www.newcastle.ac.uk/aqss/qsh/programmes/index.php

• Qualifications and Credit Framework

– http://www.ncl.ac.uk/aqss/qsh/NUQCFDoc.pdf

Quality Assurance Committee Structure

• In Discipline: Board of Studies (for one, or more, programmes) ; Staff Student Committee

• In Faculty: Teaching and Learning Committee; Undergraduate Dean (deals with taught masters programme), chair of FTLC

• In University: University Teaching and Learning Committee; QuILT (phttp://www.ncl.ac.uk/aqss/); Pro Vice Chancellor for Teaching and Learning chairs UTLC, PG and UG Deans are members

Approval of new programmes

• Part 1– Part 1 Programme Proposal Form -Case for launching new programme (student market;

employers to recruit them; business case)– Submitted to Faculty Teaching and Learning Committee

• Part 2 – Part 2 Programme Proposal Form -Detailed paperwork (programme specification;

regulations; module outlines; disability support checklist)– Submitted to Faculty Teaching and Learning Committee

• Part 3– Paperwork passed to Centre (QuILT), who send to External Advisor– Reports to University Teaching and Learning Committee– Small panel of FTLC and UTLC nominees meets to consider paperwork with the

proposers– Recommends to Pro-Vice Chancellor for Teaching and Learning

• Only after Part 3 can recruitment start

Quality Assurance of Existing Programmes

• Annual Monitoring and Review– Submitted to FTLC– Check BoS meet yearly requirements– Tick box, no text, but action plans

• Major changes to Programmes– FTLC Approval (but difficult to oversee)

• Marking and moderation

• External examining– Reports submitted to Vice Chancellor– Reviewed by FTLC– Overview report to UTLC– If problem, response demanded quickly

The Role of the External Examiner

• Rolehttp://www.ncl.ac.uk/aqss/qsh/examinations_and_assessment/policy_revised_21.03.07.pdf

• Appointment

• Report to Vice Chancellor; summaries of reports published

• Traininghttp://www.ncl.ac.uk/aqss/qsh/examinations_and_assessment/Enhancing_support_for_external_examiners_Oct_05.pdf

• Lessons from Experience