Partnership Approval

Introduction and overview

The University is responsible for the standards of all provision offered in its name and also is ultimately responsible for the quality of the student learning experience provided under collaborative arrangements. These arrangements closely follow the QAA Code of Practice Section 2: Collaborative provision and flexible and distributed learning (including e-learning). The partnership approval process therefore seeks to establish that the academic standards and quality of the student learning experience provided by the prospective partner are likely to meet the requirements of, and be comparable to, the standards and quality of programmes at UW. The main purpose of the partner approval process is to ascertain the viability and suitability of the proposed institutional collaboration. It is distinct from the approval of specific programme arrangements; the processes for which fall under the University's Course Planning and Approval process.

Partnership Approval Process

The process for the initiation, development and formal approval of a new collaborative partnership where UW credit-bearing provision is proposed is managed by the Academic Quality Unit, overseen by a Senior Quality Officer (Collaborative). A summary of the process, in flow chart form, provides a useful overview; full details of the Partnership Approval process, and associated guidance, are also available through these pages with the intention of supporting both University and partner staff in working collaboratively from an early stage.

The process is broadly sequential, but some steps (eg. due diligence confirmation) may commence earlier in order to facilitate decisions making, and/or may be part of an ongoing process if legal advice and other documentary evidence is required for specific purposes. Equally some steps may proceed in parallel.

In the initial stages discussions typically take place through a number of meetings and communications between key individuals, but at an early point both organisations identify a key contact who will oversee the development of the partnership. All proposals for collaborative partnerships must have a sponsoring UW academic Institute and the UW key contact is usually a member of the designated Institute.

In selecting and approving a new partner, the University will endeavour to ensure that procedures are followed with appropriate flexibility and rigour, commensurate with the level of risk involved, given the status of the partner and the nature of the partnership. For instance, partnership arrangements comprising only articulation and/or progression agreements are normally managed less intensively than those involving full delivery of a UW award.

Changing site of delivery

In cases where a previously approved collaborative course or module is proposed to be taught at a new venue, a site/resources check should be carried out by the relevant Institute.

The site/resources report is considered for approval by IQC. IQC then notify AQU of all venue approvals in order to inform the updating of the course agreement.

Timing

The process for approving a new partnership from initial discussions, through assessment of the suitability of the partner, the partner approval process and the course approval process, normally takes at least a full calendar year (although partnerships which do not involve course delivery by a partner organisation may be approved in a shorter time period).

The partnership approval process is normally completed before the approval of the programme collaboration. However the later stages of the processes may run concurrently, and there may be occasions for particular types of collaboration, such as progression agreements, off-site delivery and the accreditation of a small volume of provision (generally up to and including 30 credits) where partnership and course approval processes may be combined. In all cases, no collaborative arrangement can be put into operation until formal agreements relating to both the partnership and programme have been signed by all parties.

All partnerships are subject to UW’s Partnership Review Process on a quinquennial basis.

Supporting material

The Partnership Approval Process document provides the context for the purpose and use of the following: