External examiners with partner institutions External Examiners’ Workshop, 13 March 2017 Tanya Izzard Quality & Standards Manager, Partnership Office t.izzard@brighton.ac.uk EEs from LUCY BROWN Brighton Film School BA (Hons) Digital Film (UoBH) / BA (Hons) Film Production (top up) (BFS) TIM BENNETT-HART East Surrey College FdA Music and Sound Production ANDREW JONES East Surrey College FdSc Internet Software Development JIM BUICK Northbrook FdEng Motorsport Engineering ROS SIMMS Northbrook Undergraduate Communication Design / Graphic Design / Illustration courses CLIVE GARLAND SCCH BA (Hons) Fine Art Practice NORMA JAMES SDC BSc (Hons) Person-Centred Counselling (top up, FdSc Person-Centred Counselling GRANT MCCAIG Plumpton FdA Creative Metalworking

In this session overview of Brighton’s provision delivered in partnership Information on individual partners quality assurance management and structures examination board operation how we use your report administrative arrangements, contacts and sources of information

Brighton’s partnership provision – taught courses UK partners Brighton Film School Central Sussex College, Crawley City College Brighton & Hove East Surrey College, Redhill KLC School of Design, London Northbrook College, Worthing Plumpton College, Lewes Sussex Coast College Hastings Sussex Downs College, Lewes and Eastbourne International partners Angell Akademie Freiburg, Germany Ecole de Savignac, France Wittenborg University of Applied Sciences, NL Mauritius Institute of Education Partnership working is predominantly with UK institutions in terms of student numbers. The majority of our relationships with further education colleges are now validation, ie the College owns the student numbers and students do not enrol with Brighton. City College Brighton and Hove and Northbrook College will merge on 31 March to form the Greater Brighton Metropolitan College. Our overseas partnerships are all offered on a flying faculty, shared delivery basis.

Partnership provision – size and shape 1900 students on programmes delivered in partnership, about 9% of total student body 1500 at FECs, 250 at UK specialist providers, 100 overseas 60 degrees, 70 foundation degrees, 4 masters programmes and 2 ITE courses validated for delivery at partner institutions City College Brighton & Hove 209 East Surrey College 68 Northbrook College 644 Plumpton College 316 Sussex Coast College Hastings 137 Sussex Downs College 186 Brighton Film School 24

Students at partner institutions Compared with the University, partner institutions recruit: older students - around 50% over 21, 35% over 25 more students who declare a disability more students from low participation neighbourhoods (at FECs) more students from state schools (at FECs) Compared with the University, partner institutions have slightly lower rates of progression/retention same or higher achievement rates mostly same or higher employability rates But also note that data can be limited – small cohorts, low response rates Generally partners, even specialist providers, recruit older students and they are more likely to recruit students who declare a disability. However, it should be noted that a lot of our partnership offer is in the art, design and media subject area which recruits higher number of students with dyslexia and similar disabilities. FECs recruit slightly more strongly than the University from LPNs and from state schools. Limited differences in progression – generally 1-2% lower than at the University, but achievement and employability rates are generally at or above the University’s rates.

Types of partnership Validation partnership College has own contract with HEFCE Students enrol only with college Sub-contractual partnership Numbers franchised from University Students enrol with college and University individual partner institutions may have a mix of validation and sub-contractual programmes but the majority now are validation In 2016-17, 1800 students on validation courses, 235 on sub-contractual and this will decrease again in 2017-18 There are two types of partnership, defined by HEFCE: Validation – students have no access to the University’s resources – can lead to misunderstandings about what the University should be providing Sub-contractual – full access to the University’s library and information resources, VLE, and student support but not School-level resources such as studios or labs in both cases, the college has primary responsibility for provision of teaching on the programme More information on entitlement in a later slide

Funding and student entitlements For validation partnership programmes: borrow from college library, reference access only to books in University library access to online learning resources provided by college only access to college VLE only student support provided entirely by college may be members of Brighton Students’ Union For sub-contractual provision can borrow from University library access to University online library and VLE some student support provided by University automatically members of Brighton Students’ Union This slide lists the main entitlements for students for each model of partnership.

Types of course Foundation degrees 3 year degrees (10 in 2017-18) normally 2 years, full time work-related element Progression route to Level 6 3 year degrees (10 in 2017-18) 1 year top-up degrees (34 in 2017-18) MSc degree at Plumpton PGCE/CertEd Further Education and Training Consortium courses – delivered at number of partners or partner(s) and University Much of the college provision is the 2+1 FD plus top-up model and this works well for many markets. BUT there is increased demand for 3 year degrees now, especially in Art and Design subject areas. 3 of the 7 colleges are now offering 3-year degrees. FDs – Brighton works mainly with a work-related model of these so students tend to address the vocational element through placements, live projects, and simulation. Some FDs (esp in the Education subject area) use the work-based model and provide professional development for students already in the industry. Progression from FDs is normally available direct to Level 6 4 consortium courses: different management arrangements help to ensure consistency of practice and parity of student experience across all sites of delivery A Consortium Programme Leader from the relevant University School is appointed and each college site of delivery appoints a Course Leader There is usually a collective course management group, cross-institutional moderation arrangements and collective assessment planning. Always a single exam board and the same external examiner(s) across all sites of delivery.

East Surrey College Based Redhill Smallest FEC partner 68 students, also offers HN provision Cohort tends to be local, mature and quite small All courses offered on validation basis Courses: FdA Early Years Care and Education FdA Event and Tourism Management FdSc Internet Software Development FdA Music and Sound Production FdA Travel & Tourism Management

Greater Brighton Metropolitan College Will be formed from City College Brighton and Hove on 31 March 2017 2 campuses in Brighton, 1 in Shoreham, 2 in Worthing Recruits regionally as well as locally 800+ HE students post-merger All courses except ITE in Brighton offered on validation basis Courses include: Brighton: business, tourism, hospitality, photography, ITE Shoreham: automotive engineering Worthing: fine art, photography, media and computing, fashion, theatre arts, music

Plumpton College Land-based College with substantial learning resources near Lewes Recruits regionally and internationally on some courses Also strong internal progression Some subject areas recruit younger cohorts but also considerable interest from mature students and career change All courses offered on validation basis Courses include: agriculture, forestry, horticulture, animal science, equine science, veterinary nursing, wine production and business, outdoor adventure education, creative metalworking

Sussex Coast College Hastings 2 campuses in Hastings Developing University Centre Hastings with Brighton’s support Strong local recruitment, strong recruitment from LPNs Substantial new provision for 2017-18 QAA Quality Review Visit in May 2017 Changing from 2+1 model of FD and BA top-up to 3 year degrees Intake has been sub-contractual but will be validation from 2017 entry Provision mainly focused on art and design and ITE at present, expanding into business, computing, engineering from 2017-18

Sussex Downs College 3 campuses in Eastbourne, Lewes, Newhaven Quality Review Visit March 2017 Strong local recruitment and some courses recruit regionally All courses except ITE now offered on validation basis Diverse HE offer: counselling, music production, ITE, sport coaching, public and emergency services management, complementary healthcare, digital media

Brighton Film School Smallest and newest partner, first intake in 2015-16, 25 students on one course BA (Hons) Film Production offered on sub-contractual basis Quality and Standards oversight through School of Media at University of Brighton Link tutor (Philip Connelly) appointed by School of Media

Partner responsibilities all teaching, assessment and other aspects of programme delivery appointment of course leader provision of teaching accommodation provision of learning resources and student support liaison with external examiner staff recruitment, deployment and development organisation and servicing of HE Board organisation and servicing of exam boards implementation of University policy and regulations administrative support University does not normally contribute to programme delivery except on a contingency basis. The same for teaching accommodation and learning resources. Sub-contractual students have automatic access to University libraries and online resources as well, but not to School-managed resources like labs and studios. We approve staff CVs before appointments are confirmed.

University responsibilities oversight of academic standards, quality of student learning opportunities course validation and review maintaining definitive programme and module information appointment and remuneration of external examiners chairing examination boards approval of staff appointments access to learning resources and student support (sub- contractual) academic and administrative support These are the responsibilities we don’t delegate. They are set out in legal agreements. There are additional. shared responsibilities in respect of marketing and public information.

University academic support Subject representative provides academic guidance and leadership for programmes in subject group chairs annual subject group meeting supports and attends periodic review of programmes Consortium programme leader same responsibilities as subject representative also responsible for management of consortium delivery chairs consortium meetings, organises cross- consortium activities produces annual monitoring report

Communication with external examiner Course leader at partner has primary responsibility for liaison with external examiner in respect of: provision of information about programme moderation of assessment briefs/exam papers dates and times of visits and exam boards arrangements for moderation of assessed work access to college VLE if required responding to external examiner report FEC manages administration of visits – accommodation and travel Consortium Programme Leader may also liaise with external for consortium programmes Your primary contact will be the course leader at the college.

Exam boards for partnership courses normally held at partner institution chaired by a member of University staff attended by a member of Quality and Standards team serviced by college staff (except Brighton Film School) normally held June/July and September (referral boards, external examiners not required to attend) Small number of courses have February exam boards student results documentation: validation courses: College produces sub-contractual courses: University produces The Chair will not necessarily be from your subject area but will be an experienced exam board chair. The documents differ depending on funding route (UoB and colleges have different software), but should all have the appropriate information to enable the board to make decisions

Management and oversight of quality and standards FEC provision Specialist provision Course boards course report EE report FEC HE Boards course report EE report School Academic Scrutiny Commitee School report FEC Sub-committee college annual report Specialist & Overseas Partnership Sub-committee School report, Course reports EEs submit a report after the summer exam boards, feeds into the University’s quality assurance processes: Course boards include student reps: provide an opportunity to discuss external examiner reports in detail review course monitoring reports which contain response monitors actions Other committee levels on separate slides Academic Standards Committee

Consideration of external examiner reports submitted directly to Brighton: externalexaminers@brighton.ac.uk all reports are read by Quality and Standards staff, VC or Deputy VC and passed on to college Course Leader, HE Manager and Principal Course Leader prepares response and identifies actions through course monitoring report early in Autumn term Monitoring report received and reviewed by relevant committees, action plan endorsed and monitored Students have access to external examiner reports through course boards and Studentcentral and are advised of actions taken in response to these There is a report template on the website.

Responding to External Examiner reports Course Leader should routinely send a copy of annual course monitoring report which outlines response to external examiner report and action planning Partner institutions may also choose to reply separately Partners can refer reports to the University if the issues raised are beyond the scope of their responsibilities – University will reply in consultation with partner Matters of serious concern: Partnership Office manages an investigation and advises the Deputy Vice-Chancellor on response and actions required, partner institution involved as required You should always receive a copy of the annual course monitoring report which shows how the course has responded to your comments.

Emerging issues from 2015-16 academic health process Supporting the HE culture in non-University settings: Consistency of practice Isolation of course teams Benchmarking and standardising assessment, feedback Securing the staffing resource – turnover, capacity to deliver Supporting staff development – informal keeping abreast of subject, formal academic and pedagogic development Small, disparate courses within a larger FEC can get isolated from each other and it can be difficult to ensure consistent practice across all courses. This is exacerbated in small institutions who have few points of reference. University supports with subject group activities but attendance can be patchy. Staff turnover and appointments are increasingly challenging in the FE sector. Loss of key staff at important points in the academic year have left courses and academic processes such as marking and moderation vulnerable. The University will step in if required, but we are also working with partners to try to ensure that we are not needed. Staff development – there is a substantial and generous offer made by the University of fee waivers and free access to Centre for Learning and Teaching activities – but FECs at least find it difficult to enable staff to attend.

Further information Partnership Staffcentral pages for contacts, more detail of quality assurance processes http://staff.brighton.ac.uk/reg/part/Pages/home.aspx