Proforma for the Reflective Document prepared by Head of Department (or nominee).
 

In completing this document the Head of Department may find it useful to reference Annual Monitoring Reports to avoid significant repetition.

1.  Overview of the scope of the review

a.  Courses to which the report applies:

List all courses covered by the document.  Please note, all courses for which the department has responsibility.  Please see the ‘Procedures for Periodic Review’ at  http://www.essex.ac.uk/quality/pages/PeriodicReviewDocuments/proceduresforpr.htm   for further details about Periodic Review coverage.

b.  Professional/Statutory or Regulatory body accreditation:

List any that apply and identify which courses are accredited. 

c.  Do any of the courses include study aboard, work placement or work-based learning?

If yes, indicate which courses are involved and provide full details under the learning, teaching and assessment heading, including details of how the department has addressed the University’s requirements as detailed in the Guidelines on Work-based Learning/Placement (http://www.essex.ac.uk/quality/pages/workbased_learning.htm)

d.  Brief information regarding the use of GTAs 

2.  A brief introduction to the department

3.  The main characteristics of the courses covered by the review

Identify, briefly, the main features of the courses under review.  You should provide a short (no more than two paragraphs) comment about the distinctive features of the department’s provision including what distinguishes the courses under review from provision at another University.

4.  An evaluation of the courses under review

This should include major developments since the last Periodic Review/during the last five years.  Your evaluation should cross reference to previous annual monitoring reports in order to avoid repetition of detail.  The evaluation should include, in summary, an indication of how the department sees the courses under review developing over the next few years and a rationale for any changes planned. 

Please structure your evaluation under the following headings:   

• Curricula;
   
• Learning, Teaching and Assessment;

To include details of the department’s learning, teaching and assessment strategy; development of skills for employment; PDP; issues arising from Work-based learning/placement/study abroad (see 3);

• Student recruitment, progression and support,

To include an evaluation of both those statistics provided to the department by the Planning Office in advance of the meeting and a consideration of SSS and NSS results.

• Learning resources,
• Issues arising from feedback from External Examiners,
• Any other issues. 

5.  A summary of the key themes for consideration at the Periodic Review

This is your opportunity to clearly identify those issues the department would find it particularly helpful to consider as part of the Periodic Review.  These should be drawn from issues arising from the more detailed evaluation of the courses and/or annual monitoring reports.