STRATEGIC APPROVAL FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF A NEW PROGRAMME OR
PATHWAY
Version No.
Date
Notes – Q&S USE ONLY
By
1.0
1.1
07.11.14
25.06.15
Final version of amended form
CMB signatory added.
SMck
SMck
All academic programmes should be designed to assist in the delivery of the University’s strategic
objectives. Please consider key documents – including the University Strategic Plan, College Plan(s)
– when completing this section.
The Strategic Approval process seeks to consider the proposal for the development of a new
programme or new pathway:
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in the light of the University and College plans;
to ensure that all significant risks have been identified and mitigated;
to ensure that all resource implications have been or will be within the capabilities of the
University/College;
to ensure that all reasonable steps have been taken to scope the market for the proposed
programme and that a reasoned business case stands;
to identify any changes needed before strategic approval can be recommended.
The purpose of this form is to guide and structure the collection and presentation of the information
necessary for the Education Strategy Committee to evaluate the proposed programme.
Please address any queries or return the completed form to the Quality and Standards Officer with
responsibility for your College.
Proposing College(s)
If more than one College will be involved in
delivering the proposed programme, please list the
lead College first.
Proposing Department(s)/Division(s)
Proposers
If more than one Department/Division will be
involved in delivering the proposed programme,
please list the lead Department/Division first.
Academic Lead; contact details
Administrative Lead; contact details
Members of the Programme Development
Team
Scrutiny by College/Department/Division
V1.1 Maintained by: Quality and Standards Office Owned by: SASP
Location: https://intra.brunel.ac.uk/s/QSO/Team/Programmes
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Date approved by College Management
Board:
Date approved by Departmental Academic
Committee:
New Programme
Type of
proposal
(please tick
one):
New Programme allied to (current
programme):
current programme title
New Variant of (current programme):
New Variant Pathway of (current
programme):
Proposed New Programme Title
Proposed New Award Title(s) and FHEQ
Level
ab initio Award(s) and FHEQ Levels
Level of entry (e.g. 0, 1, 2, 3, 5)
Entry requirements
Variation(s) to September start
Proposed date of first entry cohort
When do you intend to advertise?
Mode(s) of study
(e.g., F/T, P/T, D/L.)
(e.g., Standard, Off-campus,
Block delivery, D/L.)
Mode(s) of delivery
Proposed
Programme
Normal period of registration per mode of
study
Significant risk factors
If the proposed programme is interdisciplinary, please state the approximate
contribution of each Division (as a
percentage)
Will the proposed programme require any
PSRB/external accreditation in order to run?
YES
NO
YES
NO
If YES, name of accrediting body:
Will the proposed programme involve any
external partnership or collaborative activity?
If yes, please complete section 6 overleaf.
DBS checks for students?*
YES
NO
Will the proposed programme require:
ATAS listing?*
YES
NO
* please contact the Admissions Office or your QSO contact if you require information about these questions.
V1.1 Maintained by: Quality and Standards Office Owned by: SASP
Location: https://intra.brunel.ac.uk/s/QSO/Team/Programmes
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College(s)/Department(s) Minutes
Attachments –
REQUIRED
Existing approved programme specification (if a New Variant Programme or
Pathway)
Report from Marketing Office (including appropriate JACS coding)
1. Short description of, and rationale for, proposed programme
This section should describe the distinctive features of the proposed programme and any unique activities or
opportunities. Please outline the intake groups and the intended graduate destination types both in terms of
organisation type or job role. Include opportunities for further study as well as possible employment
pathways.
2. Specific Risks
Are there any specific areas of risk associated with the proposed programme? If so, please outline the risks
and mitigation strategy. Are there any specific necessary aspects of the proposed programme that would
prevent the participation of any protected characteristic group?
3. How does the proposed programme fit with Brunel’s educational strategic priorities?
What is the strategic significance of the proposed programme to the College and the University, and how
does it fit with the existing and planned future portfolio of programmes? Please include the key educational
strategic objectives that will be met by the programme and consider aspects such as employability,
internationalisation and enhanced student experience. Has the proposed programme arisen from Academic
Programme Review recommendations or Annual Programme Monitoring outcomes?
4. Student numbers
Proposed student intake numbers projected over first 5 years of the programme, based on market research
confirmed by the Marketing department:
1st intake
Steady state intake
Home/EU - full time
Home/EU - part time
Overseas - full time
Other (please specify –
eg distance learning, off
campus)
Total projected numbers
Maximum intake
V1.1 Maintained by: Quality and Standards Office Owned by: SASP
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How does the proposed programme impact on College/Department/Division student recruitment targets and
how might it impact on other programmes in the College/Department/Division? What are the maximum
student numbers per year limited by? This relates to regulated and un-regulated numbers. (e.g. if there is a
Home/EU intake are numbers on other programmes being cut and if so what is the rationale? For overseas
numbers, what is the College/Department/Division's planned intake and how will this proposed programme
impact on intakes on other programmes?)
5. Market rationale for the proposed programme.
It is important that an investigation of the market is undertaken to demonstrate evidence of demand for the
programme. Please provide a commentary on the market rationale and include a report from Home and
International Marketing (as appropriate), with particular reference to the following:
Market research;
Sustainable local/regional demand;
‘USP’ of the proposed programme;
Meeting employer needs;
Consistency with current discipline offer;
Comparison with competitor programmes from both Brunel and other institutions;
Sustainability;
How the programme will be marketed.
If the proposed date of commencement of advertising is less than 6 months before the first cohort entry
please explain how you will achieve a viable first intake:
6. External Partnership/Collaborative activity
Please describe the external partnership/collaborative activity that the proposed programme will be involved
with. Is this a new partnership/collaboration for the University? For existing partnerships/collaborations, are
there any specific risks for the proposed programme?
7. Resources required for the proposed programme
Please consider set-up costs, staffing (academic and administrative), access to learning resources, space
implications, etc. This includes exceptional resource implications for units outside the College, such as the
School of Professional Development and the Library. Are there any specific resource risks? Where the
programme cannot be run from the College's existing resources a statement should be provided indicating
how the necessary resources will be made available to support the programme; the estimated costs for the
provision of each resource must be included.
Please comment on the long-term financial viability and sustainability of the programme.
8. What are the proposed fee arrangements?
For each mode of study proposed in the programme please state the proposed fee band for both home/EU
and overseas students using this year’s fees as a guide (the current fee structure can be found at:
http://www.brunel.ac.uk/courses/pg/pgfees (postgraduate) or http://www.brunel.ac.uk/courses/ug/fees/costs
(undergraduate). Please provide a rationale for your fee proposals. If the proposed programme requires a
special fee band, please confirm that any consideration for special fee band has been agreed by the Head of
Admissions.
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The Chair of the College Management Board is requested to sign below to
confirm that this proposal is granted strategic approval by the College.
Signed ........................................................................................
CMB)
(Chair
of
Date………………………………………
The Chair of Education Strategy Committee is requested to sign below to
confirm that this proposal is granted strategic approval.
Signed ........................................................................................
ESC)
Date………………………………………
V1.1 Maintained by: Quality and Standards Office Owned by: SASP
Location: https://intra.brunel.ac.uk/s/QSO/Team/Programmes
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(Chair
of