Educational Partnerships Policy
Strategic Approach to
Educational Partnership
Development
The University will only consider entering into educational partnerships where such a partnership will address at
least one of the following strategic institutional priorities:
1. To support the strategic aims and values of Newcastle University as outlined in Vision 2021 specifically to help
meet the following objectives:
a. To maintain a significant international, national and regional profile and reputation
2. To support the University’s Learning, Teaching and Student Experience Strategy, in particular the following
strategic objectives:
a. C: To provide programmes that meet relevant accreditation and quality standards
b. E: To deliver a fully rounded, enjoyable and formative student experience that supports development of
employability skills for national and global markets.
3. To support the University’s Internationalisation Strategy, in particular the following strategic objectives
a. SO1: Develop and sustain a number of high quality in-country operations and partnerships to deliver
excellence in teaching, training, engagement and research
b. SO3: Develop a cohort of high quality partners abroad that share our vision.
c. SO6: Attract the highest quality international researchers to Newcastle for research collaborations1.
4. To support the University’s Engagement Strategy, in particular to meet the University’s commitment to widening
participation and engagement with the region.
5. To support the University’s Student Recruitment Strategy, in particular the recruitment of a diverse cohort of
high-quality international students.
Types of Educational Partnership
6. The University will consider entering a range of UK-based and international educational partnership activity
which helps to support the above strategic objectives and vision.
7. The University does not engage in franchise activity unless it addresses a compelling strategic imperative. Any
decision on whether to engage in a franchise arrangement will be taken by the University’s Executive Board.
8. The University only engages with validation activity where there is a strategic fit between proposals, and in areas
where there is existing academic and sustainable expertise within the institution.
General principles
9. Approval of partnerships is carried out in accordance with the procedures set out in the University’s Educational
Partnerships Policy.
1
In the context of developing a portfolio of institutional level Joint PhD arrangements.
10. The University will only enter in to educational partnerships with institutions which can demonstrate appropriate
academic, financial and legal standing.
11. The consideration of Educational Partnerships shall take into account the academic reputation and quality of the
partner, normally an equivalent or higher standard, and the type and location of activity proposed.
12. Partnerships with institutions that are not of an equal standing to the University may be considered for lower
risk partnerships such as articulations and pathway arrangements or for capacity building purposes where this
aligns at an institutional level with the University’s stated strategies.
13. Academic standards of an award involving an educational partnership must be equivalent to comparable awards
or credit delivered in Newcastle, and must meet or exceed the standards set out in the relevant qualification
descriptor in the Framework for Higher Education Qualifications. Educational Partnerships will only be
considered where achievement of these standards will be attainable.
14. Partnerships will only be considered for approval where it is possible to establish a high quality student
experience for all students wherever they are located.
15. Partnerships should be financially viable, appropriately resourced and have fully costed business cases approved
through the appropriate routes2
16. All educational partnerships activity should be supported by a legal agreement, agreed and signed prior to the
delivery of any modules or programmes through the partnership, which will be monitored and reviewed at
regular intervals.
2
Approval of business cases is considered separately from the academic approval of an educational partnership