Due Diligence Report for New Collaborative Partners

This template is to be completed by the Academic Quality and Policy Office in consultation with the Academic Lead for the proposed partnership, with
input from the Partner and stakeholders across the College as appropriate following approval of the Initial Expression of Interest form by the Senior Vice-
Principal (Academic Strategy and Research).

In order to safeguard the interests of students, the College undertakes appropriate and proportionate due diligence checks before proceeding in any
substantive way with the development of a collaborative arrangement. In formulating the College’s due diligence procedures, the College adheres to the
guidance provided by the QAA in Chapter B10 Managing Higher Education Provision with Others within the UK Quality Code for Higher Education.

The template below outlines the information that will normally be required, however the full requirements will be determined on a case by case basis. See
Appendix 1 for a full list of areas that should be considered when completing this template. This report is intended to provide the Partnerships Committee
with a comprehensive view of the proposed partner legally, financially and academically, and to give sufficient information to enable an informed decision
to be made as to whether or not to proceed further with the collaboration. Source documents should be referenced and available for review by the
committee if requested. Due diligence enquiries are also refreshed periodically and where circumstances change (for example, if the activities are
extended or if the ownership of a delivery organisation or support provider changes).

Due diligence enquiries and agreements must be completed before the implementation of any academic activities.

Note: There is a separate template for the due diligence process for student mobility partnerships (Study Abroad and Student Exchange).

Lead Department/School and Contact

Proposed Partner Organisation

Full name of organisation and registration number (if applicable)

Registered Address:
Principal place of business (if different from registered address)

Legal Status of Organisation

e.g University incorporated by charter; Public company registered on the UK Stock exchange; Wholly owned subsidiary of x parent company; R
Charity

Organisation web address:

Lead contact
Name, position and contact details

Authorised signatories
Names, position and contact details
Proposed Arrangement
Type of Collaboration
e.g. franchised arrangement; validation arrangement. Please also state whether this will be a College-wide, School-wide, Department-wide o
level collaboration.

Initial Risk Assessment

Note that this should have been completed as part of the Initial Expression of Interest.
Low/Medium/High*

*delete as appropriate
Confirmation that the organisation has the authority/legal right to enter into the type of collaboration proposed
Yes/No/Unsure*

*delete as appropriate
Confirmation from the organisation that delivery will not be sub-contracted to another party or agent
Yes/No*

*delete as appropriate
Proposed award
Include any details of proposed professional accreditation

Awarding body
Royal Holloway University of London/ Royal Holloway and Bedford New College*

*delete as appropriate
 Strategic Fit – Compatibility and Complementarity of Educational Objectives
Likely source information: Partner organisation mission statement, strategic plan, prospectus, staffing arrangements; current and previous partnerships; ex
organisations’ web pages
Give a brief description of the proposed partner organisation and explain how the organisation is compatible with the lead Department or School and t
College Strategy. Give details of relevant current partnerships and any reasons for the termination or rejection of partnerships. Where appropriate, an
report from an external expert should be attached as an appendix.

Financial Stability
Likely source information: audited accounts; financial report; organisational structure; taxation details; exchange controls
A report examining the financial due diligence of the organisation should be provided by the School Accountants and signed off by the Head of Finance. Where
possible this should include audited accounts or equivalent records of the organisation for the last 3 – 5 financial years.

Signed:
Name:
Date:

Legal Competency
Likely source information: details of insurance policies required by law; legal framework; appropriate policies; declaration of litigation or arbitration proceedings; pending
prosecution, investigation or inquiry; ability to carry out proposed partnership; declared liabilities; data protection or intellectual property issues.
 Please provide a statement confirming the legal competency of the proposed partner. Confirmation of relevant insurance liability should be provided b
Finance Office. Legal competency should be confirmed by the College’s Legal Advisor.

Signed:
Name:
Date:

UKVI
Does the Institution have trusted sponsorship status for the purposes of Student Route visas? (UK partners only)
See: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/register-of-licensed-sponsors-students
Yes/No*

*delete as appropriate
Will students with a Student Route visa that are sponsored by the College be taught elsewhere as part of the partnership, and will the partner
therefore need to be added to the College’s Sponsor license?
Nb. if the answer is ‘Yes’, additional due diligence may be required. Please discuss this with the Senior Academic Quality Manager (Partnerships) if you are unsure.
Yes/No*

*delete as appropriate

Academic Suitability
Quality Assurance
Provide details of the quality assurance arrangements in place for: student recruitment; student academic support; feedback to students on assessed work;
management of examinations and assessment; student pastoral guidance; student feedback through questionnaires, student/staff committees etc. collection and
evaluation; teaching and learning methods.
Appropriate Resources to support higher education courses
Please include details of teaching staff CVs, staff development, appropriate support services, adequate learning resources, language qualifications of key me
teaching staff where English is not the first language.

Ethos and Environment for teaching and learning appropriate to higher education
Please include details of the location, availability and quality of facilities (teaching venues, laboratories, library access, accommodation, IT facilities, student
and provide a brief description of the teaching and learning environment provided by the organisation. The site visit report should be attached as an append

Regulatory framework and academic and administrative policies and practices

Please include details of the following policies: Student appeals and complaints; extenuating circumstances; equal opportunities, health and safety, environ
development, anti-bribery. If the potential partner organisation is small and does not have the infrastructure to develop a compatible framework, explain ho
be met.

Ethical considerations
Does the organisation have any affiliations or relationships that might be of ethical concern e.g. tobacco companies? Are there any political/ethical issues as
with the organisation of which the College should be aware?
For international partnerships:

Local Conditions including law and regulation

Give brief details of any local laws or regulations that must be taken into account. Likely source information: advice of British Council or FCO; requirement for
government approval or licence for the collaboration

Please confirm the attachment of the following additional documentation:

A confidential independent report from an external expert in the field of Yes/ No

study on the ‘wisdom’ of the collaboration with the proposed organisation
The report of a site visit to the prospective partner institution Yes/ No

Completed by: Name

Date: xx/xx/xxxx
Nb. Information is accurate as of the date specified
 For Use by Partnerships Committee:

Considered at meeting of Partnerships Date

Committee on:
Approval Status Approved/Rejected
Signed Chair of PC
Comments