ACADEMIC QUALITY ASSURANCE

Appendix 5

Continuous Course Enhancement Process

Last updated June 2018

Academic Quality and Compliance

Contents
Procedural Document on the Continuous Course Enhancement Process
(formerly Annual Monitoring) ...................................................................... 1
1. Purpose ............................................................................................................. 1
2. Features ............................................................................................................ 1
3. Process .............................................................................................................. 2
3.1 Course level (including Collaborative Partners)........................................................ 2
3.2 School level ............................................................................................................... 2
3.3 UK Partner Institution – Institutional level ............................................................... 3
3.4 Services ..................................................................................................................... 3
3.5 University .................................................................................................................. 3
4. Timetable for annual monitoring process, including feedback ............................ 4
Procedural Document on the Continuous Course Enhancement Process
(formerly Annual Monitoring)

1. Purpose
To aid the University in its pursuit of excellence; specifically:

 To evaluate and enhance course quality

 To ensure the best possible student experience within the resource available

 To ensure that appropriate action is taken to remedy any identified shortcomings

 To identify and disseminate innovative practice and commendations

 To build up information needed for the periodic review process and for external reviews

2. Features
2.1 At the end of the academic year each course and subject is reviewed by the course team with
regard to its operation that year and a report prepared. In the case of clustered courses a
single report can be submitted, provided this adequately highlights any matters related to
each specific course. It is recognised that some courses run outwith the standard academic
year. Reports must still be submitted for these, as their issues would otherwise not be
included in the overall monitoring process. A report should also be submitted for courses
which are "running out", so that there is a complete record.

2.2 Schools are required to monitor course operation on an ongoing basis throughout the year,
to take prompt action where appropriate, with feedback, and to document matters raised
and their outcomes. The annual course/subject monitoring report is the summative element
in this activity.

2.3 The annual course/subject monitoring report is intended to be an overview and commentary
reflecting feedback from students, external examiners, employers, etc. It is expected that
Schools will collect and retain full information even though this will not be presented in full
in the report. The report will normally be no more than eight sides A4 in length.

2.4 At each level (course/subject; School/UCLan Campus; partner institution; University) an

action plan is produced for those matters which can be addressed at that level. Any issues
which are beyond the remit at that level are referred up (eg by a course to the School/ UCLan
Campus and by School/ UCLan Campus to University).

2.5 Service issues are collated from Head of School/ UCLan Campus reports and taken up with
the relevant Services so that responses and action can be reported to the University at the
special annual monitoring meeting of Academic Standards and Quality Assurance Committee
(ASQAC).

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2.6 Innovative Practice and Commendations from School reports are discussed Faculty Academic
Standards and Quality Assurance Committees (ASQAC) and items of particular interest and
benefit are noted and included in the University report compiled by AQC which is considered
by University ASQAC.

2.7 The School actions identified through the annual monitoring process are confirmed at Faculty
Academic Standards and Quality Assurance Committee. The course actions identified
through the annual monitoring process are confirmed by the Head of School.

3. Process

3.1 Course level (including Collaborative Partners)

3.1.1 The Course/Subject Leader, working with the course teams responsible for producing the
Course/Subject Monitoring report (partner course leader for Collaborative provision) , and
for submitting it to the Head of School (or to AQC for Collaborative provision) by the required
date(s). The report will be produced on a standard University template, with a variant for
courses/subjects operating collaboratively.

3.1.2 In order to meet the guidance of the QAA Code of Practice (Part B, Chapter 10: Managing
Higher Education Provision with others) with respect to the monitoring of publicity materials,
all Collaborative Partners are required to submit fact sheets and course specific advertising
materials with the Course Leader’s report for consideration by the University. International
Partners who utilise a HE prospectus are required to submit this with their Course level
reports. Schools are required to ensure that the publicity materials are accurate in terms of
title, method of delivery, admissions requirements and academic content.

3.1.3 It is expected that the School visits their partner institution at least twice per academic year
and these visit reports should be completed by the UCLan colleague and be Uploaded onto
Sharepoint promptly on return to the University. AQC will provide Heads of School progress
reports after semester 1 and semester 2 on the submission of collaborative visit reports.

3.2 School level

3.2.1 The Head of School will receive and consider all course/subject reports (including those from
collaborative partners). The Head of School in liaison with senior School staff will prepare a
report using a standard University template. This will:
 Confirm that all course team reports and action plans have been considered and submitted,
noting outstanding reports
 Confirm that all collaborative visit reports have been considered and submitted, noting
outstanding reports
 Provide an update to any outstanding issues that have not been resolved through the School
Actions
 Provide detail of any School level actions already resolved
 Confirm any issues to be referred to the University (service level actions)
 Confirm publicity materials provided by relevant Partner Institutions
 Comment on the operation and effectiveness of the peer support scheme

Any actions to be taken forward, and those actions to be reported on from the previous year,
should be included within the Action Plan.

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3.2.2 The Rector of UCLan Cyprus and Strategic Lead for UCLan Burnley will receive and consider
all annual monitoring reports concerning their respective provision and complete an UCLan
campus report. This will:
 Consider the progress on achieving the actions or outcomes from the previous year
 Comment on the statistics for the campus
 Comment on the student, course team and External Examiner feedback
 Comment on the learning resources
 Comment on the liaison with the UCLan host School and UCLan services
 Confirm any issues that should be referred to the University

3.2.3 The Head of School has responsibility for ensuring that there is feedback to students and to
external examiners.

3.2.4 The Head of School and RDT will produce a separate report on the operation of research
degree programmes operating within the School. Any actions to be taken forward, and those
actions to be reported on from the previous year, should be included within the Action Plan.

3.3 UK Partner Institution – Institutional level

3.3.1 The Principal (or nominee) of a UK partner institution will receive and consider all
course/subject reports for courses operating within their institution and will prepare a
report, using the standard template, for AQC, identifying issues to be addressed by the
College/institution (action plan) and issues to be referred to the University.

3.3.2 The Principal or nominee is responsible for monitoring institutional action plans.

3.4 Services

3.4.1 Services provide routes for addressing operational issues throughout the year via College
Executive Meetings so that only those which cannot be resolved by the relevant Director of
Services are referred to ASQAC.

3.4.2 These issues will be taken up with the relevant Services and a report on their responses
prepared for the special annual monitoring meeting of ASQAC

3.4.3 Academic Quality and Compliance (AQC) will provide updates to the Schools on Service Issues
through Faculty ASQAC’s.

3.5 University

3.5.1 School reports, will be scrutinised by Faculty Academic Standards and Quality Assurance
Committee. AQC will provide an overall report to the special annual monitoring meeting of
ASQAC to initiate the debate on those issues which the Committee may wish to endorse as
priorities for action and to provide an update on the actions achieved in the previous year at
institutional level.

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3.5.2 Partnership Development Office will prepare a report on generic UK partnership course
operation issues for the special annual monitoring meeting of ASQAC; International Office
will prepare a report on generic overseas partnership course operation issues for the special
annual monitoring meeting of ASQAC.

3.5.3 The Head of the Graduate Research School will prepare a report on the operation of research
degree programmes for the Research and Innovation Committee (RIC) and ASQAC. The
report will include an Action Plan identifying Service level and Graduate School issues.

3.5.4 ASQAC will agree any changes to the annual monitoring process for the subsequent year.

4. Timetable for annual monitoring process, including feedback

Note: For specific deadlines please refer to the Academic Quality and Compliance webpage.
All dates refer to the academic year following that under review

Date Responsible Activity

person/group
Course level
Ongoing Course Collect student data and evidence in preparation for annual
leader/team review (e.g. minutes from SSLCs, student results, progression and
withdrawals)
Autumn Course Undertakes review and prepares report, including CAP
leader/team
Ongoing Course Uploads report and any collaborative visit reports to SharePoint
leader/team
Ongoing Course Monitors progress on CAP
leader/team
End of Course Reports progress on CAP to Head of School and to students
session leader/team (normally via SSLC)
School /UCLan Campus level
–July - Head of School Course Leader Reports to be available via SharePoint
November /Rector of UCLan
Cyprus /Strategic
Lead for UCLan
Burnley
December Head of School Prepares draft School/UCLan Campus report, including School
/Rector of UCLan Action Plan. Faculty ASQAC Committees to approve UClan Head
Cyprus /Strategic of School report.
Lead for UCLan
Burnley
January Head of School Uploads confirmed Head of School /UCLan Campus report to
Rector of UCLan SharePoint
Cyprus /Strategic
Lead for UCLan
Burnley
Ongoing Head of School Monitors progress on CAPs, and on SAP
/Rector of UCLan
Cyprus /Strategic

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 Lead for UCLan
Burnley
End of Head of School Receives progress reports on CAPs from all courses in School
session /Rector of UCLan /UCLan Campus
Cyprus /Strategic
Lead for UCLan
Burnley
End of Head of School Reports progress on CAPs and SAP to School /UCLan Campus
session /Rector of UCLan
Cyprus /Strategic
Lead for UCLan
Burnley
End of RDT/Head Prepare a report on the operation of the School’s research degree
Session programmes.

Partner Institution level

Oct/ Nov Head/ Principal Prepares draft Partner College/institution level report, including
action plan
Beg Nov Head/ Principal Uploads report to SharePoint
University level
February AQC Agrees actions with Services
February AQC Prepares draft report on University issues, including UAP
November- International Office Prepare reports on generic partnership issues
February and Partnership (UK and International respectively)
Development
Office
February AQC Considers (UK and International) and draft report on University
issues
February Head of Graduate Prepares a draft report on University issues and Graduate
Research School Research School issues, including UAP and SAP.

March Chair of ASQAC Special meeting of University ASQAC to consider annual

monitoring reports regarding University Campuses, UK and
International Research School
End of Chair of Faculty Reports progress on UAP to Schools
session ASQAC

Key: CAP Course action plan UAP University action plan

SAP School action plan SSLC Student-Staff Liaison Committee