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Programme/Subject Committee and Course/Subject Director

Once a programme has been approved, a programme committee is formally established (see Terms of Reference) and a Programme Director appointed (see Duties).  It is the responsibility of the Programme Director working with the programme committee and in particular those designated as Module Co-ordinators (see Duties and Responsibilities) to ensure the effective management of the programme.

The programme committee is responsible for the ongoing administration of the programme, including, where applicable, placement in accordance with the University's Code of Practice and Guide to Good Practice, and study abroad in accordance with the Policy for Quality Assurance in respect of Study Abroad.  The programme committee also undertakes University quality assurance procedures with respect to the programme and associated modules.

For certain provision, these programme-based arrangements are adapted to take account of the subject-focused development in undergraduate Honours degree provision (see Regulatory Framework).  Subject-based management, encompassing Single Honours, Major, Main and/or Minor strands in an undergraduate subject, is the responsibility of a Programme Committee and a Subject Director.  A Campus Coordinating Group, comprising Subject Directors led by a campus Director of Combined Studies, addresses cross-subject matters.  These arrangements were approved by Senate in October 2002.

There are separate listings of approved combinations for Coleraine, Jordanstown and DLD.

Student Charter

The University's Student Charter and its associate charters set out the University's commitments to students and its expectations of them.

Student Support and Guidance

The programme or subject committee is expected to put in place, in accordance with University and Faculty policies, arrangements for student support and guidance, in particular:

  • student induction, and monitoring attendance
  • studies advice and access to staff
  • student consultation

Guidelines on Student Induction were endorsed by the Learning and Teaching Committee in May 2002, a policy on transition in June 2005, and a protocol on monitoring attendance in May 2004.  The University issues all students with a University Handbook.  In addition, a programme or subject handbook, deriving from the evaluation document, should be provided to students and supplemented as appropriate by detailed module information. The Centre for Higher Education Research and Practice has developed a template.  There is an indicative list of information which should also be provided in module handouts.

A programme support area for each course is available in the VLE, Blackboard Learn, to assist communication with students.

Studies Advice

An adviser of studies is allocated to each student.  The University has a Code of Practice for Advisers of Studies (Guidance on implementing the Code has been provided to Faculties for implementation from 2012/13)

Feedback by lecturing staff is a regular feature of programme delivery.  Students should be made aware of arrangements for individual access to staff outside scheduled teaching, in person and by email.  While staff are not expected to be available 'on demand', all Faculties expect contact details to be provided and information on availability to be indicated on office doors and in appropriate documentation.

Staff/Student Consultation

Information on staff/student consultation and guidance on good practice is available from Quality Enhancement's website.

Board of Examiners

The programme committee, with the external examiners, becomes the Board of Examiners for the programme and as such determines the assessment results and academic progression of students, and makes recommendations for awards to Senate.

For undergraduate Major/Minor, Joint or Combined (three minor) Honours degrees, a two-tier system operates.  The subject committee and the subject external examiners form the subject Board of Examiners which determines assessment results (and progress decisions and award recommendations for Single Honours degree students) and forwards these to the Campus Progress and Award Board.  This comprises Subject Directors and the Chief External Examiner.  It reviews performance in all modules in the subjects taken and makes progress decisions and forwards award recommendations to Senate.