Disclaimer: This page is only for reference by staff and students at TEIs operating under the Common Awards scheme. Durham University staff and students should instead refer to the Learning and Teaching Handbook here.The information on this page is reviewed every three months.
Definition
1. The University's approach to collaborative provision is underpinned by the principles and policy detailed in this handbook, and it will only consider entering into collaborative partnerships which will support it in achieving its strategic objectives as defined in its Strategy, and key core and transversal sub-strategies including Education, access and future skills, Research and engagement, Global Durham and Our City and Region.
2. In particular, the University Strategy 2017-2027 commits the University to ensuring that Durham is a leading university of choice for an increasingly diverse and international student population, and to increasing opportunities for our students to study at non-UK universities. The use of collaborative provision has a key role to play as we look to enhance our curricular offering to meet these key aims.
What is Collaborative Provision?
3. At Durham, Collaborative Provision encompasses all educational provision leading to a Durham award, or to specific credit toward a Durham award, which is delivered, assessed and/or supported through an arrangement with one or more partner organisations.
4. Within this definition, there are a number of different types of collaborative provision which can be used in different circumstances, including:
Full Collaboration: where two or more partners contribute to a single programme recognising each other’s credit, and making one or more awards in the process (e.g. joint or dual/multiple award taught programmes or research cotutelle)
Delegated Delivery: where (exclusively) Durham credit is awarded for teaching and assessment delivered in full or part by a partner organisation on our behalf (e.g. Franchise or Validated provision, or smaller partial delegations of activity)
Durham-only delivery: where a programme is delivered and assessed wholly by Durham with other collaborative aspects for support (e.g. distance taught; overseas campus; employer-programmes; co-supervisory partnership)
5. In addition, while they do not lead directly to Durham credit/awards, progression agreements which permit students who meet agreed conditions at an academic partner to apply for entry to a Durham programme are also considered under processes for collaborative provision. Such arrangements include:
Partner & recognised credit: a partner-programme where the partner recognises credit provided by Durham. (e.g. overlapping articulation such as 3+1+1)
6. A more detailed typology of the types of collaborative partnership the University is willing to consider is given in Appendix a9.01. If departments/schools wish to discuss whether an initiative under consideration would constitute collaborative provision, or where a proposal sits within the typology of collaborative provision, they should contact their Faculty Support Officer, in the Academic Quality Service, in the first instance.
7. Student exchange and placement agreements will not normally fall within the University's policies and procedures for collaborative provision, but are covered instead by the procedures for placements in LTH 3.7.
8. All forms of collaborative provision are governed by formal legal agreements (Memorandum of Association, or MoA), which are reviewed by Legal Services (who will perform final due diligence checks on the agreement) before being signed by an authorised signatory of the University.
Principles
1. The University is responsible for the quality and standards of all academic awards made in its name. Its policies and procedures for collaborative provision are therefore based on the following principles:
a. that the academic standards of all awards involving collaborative provision must be compatible with the University's qualification descriptors, level descriptors and credit framework, and with external reference points including the OfS Conditions of Registration and the national FHEQ;
b. that the quality of student learning opportunities and experiences on collaborative programmes should be equivalent to those of comparable awards delivered and supported solely by the University, and adequate to enable students to achieve the appropriate academic standards;
c. that appropriate due diligence will be undertaken for financial, regulatory and legal matters in relation to each partnership;
d. that the policies and processes that relate to a particular type of collaborative activity should be proportionate, and wherever possible tailored to that activity.
Issues of Consideration
2. To ensure that it meets these underlying principles, the University's approach to collaborative provision is that:
a. it will only consider collaboration with partner organisations where this will support achievement of its strategic aims and objectives;
b. it will only consider collaboration with partner organisations which have, in relation to their designated role: the academic standing to successfully deliver programmes to appropriate academic standards; the financial standing to sustain them; and the legal standing to contract to their delivery;
c. it will only negotiate arrangements for collaborative partnerships which will enable it effectively to meet its responsibilities for the quality and standards of the University's awards;
d. it will only consider validating the programmes of another organisation where it has appropriate and sustainable academic expertise to enable it to assure itself of the comparability of academic standards and the quality of learning opportunities at the partner institution;
e. for all collaborative partnerships there shall be a written and legally binding agreement or contract setting out the rights and obligations of the parties, which is signed by the authorised representatives of the University and the partner organisation;
f. all proposals for collaborative partnerships shall be considered according to the approved policies and procedures of the University, and that once a partnership has been approved the partnership and the programme(s) offered through it shall be entered on the University's Register of Collaborative Provision;
g. during the period of the partnership, the University will monitor the provision and partnership and if it perceives that academic standards are at risk it reserves the right to suspend or terminate the collaboration subject to safeguards for students;
h. all collaborative partnerships will usually be entered into for a five-year period, with any requests for a variation to the normal period requiring explicit approval as part of the partnership approval process;
i. any proposal to renew an existing collaborative partnership shall only be considered for approval following an appropriate review of the academic standards and quality of the provision, leading to a recommendation as to whether the proposal shall be renewed (subject to safeguards to students).
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