Validation documentation

Introduction 

Validation documentation should provide the validation Panel with the information they need to understand the course or courses being proposed, including how they will be taught, assessed and resourced.  Panel members appreciate concise documentation, but documentation must be sufficiently detailed to allow the Panel to evaluate the proposal properly.  Validation documentation is important and it is recommended that course teams seek advice on writing the document from the Academic Officer and/or the Assistant Registrar (Quality) as early in the process as possible.   

The validation documentation should be structured in line with the following template:

Template for validation documentation

Ideally, validation documentation should be split into two parts - part one should be an over-arching reflective document and part two should provide supplementary documentation including those documents needed for University systems such as the programme specification and new module/course proposals.  Full details of what should be included in each part are provided below.

Part 1: Reflective Document

General Course Information

1. the titles of all proposed awards , including any intermediate awards such as a Certificate or Diploma.
    

2. Rationale for the course.
    

3. Information on how the course was developed, including details of any external consultation and how this impacted upon the final proposal.
    

4. Target students, anticipated market and growth, including employer demand.  Departments are encouraged to request a market research report from External Relations to assist with the departmental development of this section of the document.
    

5. Progression opportunities.  An indication of the progression opportunities (further academic study, employment etc) for the students.
    

6. Relationship with existing provision, including details of shared modules/courses, impact on existing provision, links with other departments, evidence of consultation with other departments regarding shared provision/links with the department.

Detailed Course Information

7. Overview of the Course Structure and Content, including:

• how the curriculum promotes organised progression through the levels of the award, in line with the QAA’s Framework for Higher Education Qualifications (FHEQ);

• the overall balance of the award, for example  breadth and depth of subject materials, personal development and academic outcomes;

• the link between the overarching aims of the course(s) and the content;

• Skills development and support for PDP.

8. Mapping to QAA/Professional Benchmarks, including an indication of the reasons why any elements of the benchmark(s) have not been used.
    

9. Learning and Teaching Strategy, including details of the range of learning and teaching tools employed and the departmental approach to these and how this take into account the needs of current and potential student groups.  Comment on the appropriateness of the strategy for students with any additional needs and what adjustments that might need to be made.
    

10. Assessment Strategy, including balance of assessment tools, assessment load, development of skills/preparation of students for assessment, formative and summative feedback, innovative methods.  Indicate the appropriateness of the strategy for students with any additional needs.
     

11.  Details of year abroad, sandwich year, work-based learning or placement arrangements and how this will be managed.  Details of how this arrangement adheres to the University’s Guidelines on Work-based Learning (http://www.essex.ac.uk/quality/pages/workbased_learning.htm) should be provided and a draft handbook for students should be provided if available.  If you have any questions about this aspect of your proposal you are advised to contact the Assistant Registrar (Quality) in the first instance.  Proposers are advised that unless specific permission is granted by the UG or PG School Board, assessment of any period of study abroad is compulsory.

 Resources

12. Course management and staffing, including any staff development required
     

13. Details of any additional resources in order for the course to commence, where these have not previously been identified and approved by USG as part of Part 1 approval.

Part 2: Supplementary Documentation

1. Full Programme Specification and module map
    

2. New module proposals including new module coversheet, syllabus information, teaching and assessment details, for all new modules for approval.
    

3. Outlines of existing modules which will form part of the new award(s)
    

4. Draft Student Handbook  (if available)