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Durham University staff and students should instead refer to the Learning and Teaching Handbook here.

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Extract from Durham University Learning & Teaching Handbook

9.3 Criteria for the approval and renewal of collaborative partnerships

 

Initial approval

1. Initial proposals will be considered against the following criteria:

a. the alignment of the proposed collaboration with the University's strategic aims and objectives, and those of the proposing department/school and its faculty;

b. the soundness of the rationale for the proposed collaboration;

c. the legal, financial and regulatory standing of the proposed partner in relation to the proposed activity.

d. the appropriateness of entering into the proposed collaboration given the University's, and proposing department’s, existing collaborative arrangements and other commitments;

e. the commitment and support of senior management in the University and the partner organisation to the proposed collaboration.

Full approval

2. Depending on the nature of the collaboration and the linked process, the proposal may be considered by a panel, and/or by Education Committee or one of its subcommittees (as specified in LTH 9.5). Each process ensures that approval is reviewed against the following requirements.

Approval of the Partner

3. In respect of the proposed partner, each full proposal must satisfy the University:

a. that the prospective partner organisation can contract legally with the University, and will comply with all relevant legal requirements and obligations (which includes compliance with the Modern Slavery Act);

b. that the prospective partner organisation is financially stable;

c. that the mission and educational objectives of the proposed partner are consistent with those of the University;

d. of the appropriateness of the overall academic standing of the prospective partner organisation in relation to its designated role;

e. that the prospective partner organisation has experience of delivering comparable programmes at a similar level, or is capable of delivering programmes at that level;

f. that, where the proposed partner organisation is known to have or have had previous relationships with other UK awarding institutions, it has an acceptable record of partnership with other institutions;

g. that the prospective partner organisation has an understanding of (and, where relevant, appropriate track record with) the regulatory practices and expectations of English HE (e.g. in connection with OfS assurance arrangements, external examining, assessment arrangements etc), as relevant to its role in the partnership;

h. that, if instruction and assessment is to be in a language other than English, it has the capacity to provide translation facilities to an appropriate standard if needed.

 

Approval of the Proposal

4. In respect of the proposed partnership, the full proposal must satisfy the University:

a. of the robustness of the overall quality control and assurance procedures governing the partnership;

b. of the adequacy of overall provision for academic and pastoral support and guidance;

c. of the adequacy of the overall learning support and infrastructure in relation to the ability to meet requirements for awards;

d. of the adequacy of overall staffing (academic and support) in relation to the ability to meet requirements for awards;

e. that appropriate mechanisms are in place to ensure the accuracy of all public information, publicity information and promotional activity relating to the partnership;

And in respect of overseas partnerships:

f. that in-country recognition requirements have been investigated, and that one of the following has been demonstrated by the proposing department/school:

i. there are no in-country recognition requirements;

ii. there is no requirement to seek in-country recognition in order to deliver the proposed programme, but in order for the programme to be recognised as a valid qualification in the country in which it is delivered national recognition is needed (in these cases, the proposers must demonstrate how this recognition will be achieved or alternatively why they are not seeking it and how students will be informed that the programme does not carry this recognition);

iii. approval from a national body is required to deliver the programme, and this has been obtained.

g. where in-country delivery is required, that in-country financial requirements have been investigated, and that any potential tax liabilities have been taken into account.

Procedure for the consideration of requests to renew a collaborative partnership

5. All collaborative partnerships are entered into for a fixed period of time, defined in the memorandum of association governing the partnership. Departments/schools may propose that a collaborative partnership be renewed. Such proposals may be either approved or not approved. Consequently, departments/schools wishing to renew a collaborative partnership must ensure that they submit such proposals as soon as practically possible so that if the proposal is not approved steps can be taken to ensure that students on the programmes involved are not disadvantaged.

6. The proposing department/school should submit the following documentation:

a. either, for a full collaborative partnership, a completed renewal form available at Appendix A9.10 (or, where a variation to the standard approval process has been agreed, an updated copy of the original proposal form); 

b. a proposed new memorandum of agreement;

c. a proposed new business case;

d. evidence of consultation with the Librarian and Director of CIS (or their nominees) on any issues relating to the provision of learning resources that have arisen in relation to the collaborative partnership being considered for renewal.

e. copies of the most recent reports received by the Faculty Collaborative Provision panel, and the consideration by that panel.

The Academic Quality Service will add any reports submitted to Faculty Collaborative Provision Monitoring Panels in respect of the partnership proposed for renewal, the minutes of the Panel's consideration of these reports, and any relevant extract and follow-up action from recent periodic review or accreditation reports concerning the partnership.