PSRBs

PSRBs

Engagement with Professional, Statutory and Regulatory Bodies (PSRBs)

The University engages with a number of PSRBs through formal accreditation or recognition of a range of courses, the majority of which are in the Institute of Health and Society or the Institute of Education.  Given the growth in provision with PSRB involvement, processes for engaging with PSRBs have been further formalised and strengthened in order for the University to continue to be assured that requirements are being met across UW and in partner institutions. 

A central record of all PSRB-related provision and requirements is kept by the Academic Quality Unit (AQU).  AQU has a monitoring and oversight role for PSRB engagement.  Institutes retain responsibility for liaising with PSRBs and the management of PSRB-related programmes within their subject areas.

All applications for new PSRB accreditations must be formally signed off by the relevant Head of Institute and the Director of Quality and Educational Development before being forwarded to the PSRB.

AQU is responsible for:

• Maintaining and publishing on the AQU website a register of all PSRB engagement including:
• 1. PSRB and course details
  2. The nature of PSRB involvement
  3. Dates of PSRB approval
• On receipt from Institutes, recording details of all PSRB engagements, including initial accreditation/recognition, visits and reports.
• Providing the annually updated register, including details of any forthcoming engagements, to IQCs and Institute PSRB contacts for review and monitoring
• Ensuring PSRBs are formally notified of the contacts for all correspondence with the University – normally an Institute contact and an AQU contact
• Providing support to key staff involved in the management of any course newly accredited by a PSRB, to ensure all are familiar with and understand University protocols for PSRB engagements and communications, and the specific PSRB requirements

Institutes are responsible for:

• Managing all PSRB-related courses in their subject areas and ensuring that the courses continue to meet PSRB requirements
• Informing PSRBs of any changes to accredited/recognised/approved courses
• Liaising with PSRBs through a key Institute contact for each PSRB or course
• Submitting reports to PSRBs and arranging PSRB visits in accordance with PSRB requirements and deadlines
• Sending copies of all correspondence to the Academic Quality Unit
• Informing AQU of all engagements with PSRBs (the PSRB engagement form is available for use as appropriate)
• Informing AQU of any amendments to details kept within the central PSRB database
• Ensuring effective oversight at senior management level of all PSRB engagements and communications, including monitoring and review of the PSRB register and receipt of PSRB reports at IQCs

In addition to PSRB reports and visits, the ways in which courses are meeting PSRB requirements will be addressed internally through course annual evaluation reports.

In the first year of operation of a PSRB recognised course, where there is a requirement to submit the annual evaluation report to the PSRB, it must first be formally signed off by the relevant Head of Institute and the Director of Quality and Educational Development.

Procedures for engaging with PSRBs for initial accreditation, recognition or approval remains primarily the responsibility of each Institute in accordance with the processes of the relevant PSRB.  This should normally take place at the time of course approval.  AQU should be informed at an early stage through completion of the PSRB engagement form which for initial accreditation should be submitted to AQU with the course proposal Intention to Approve form.  Prospective and current students must always be informed of the status of the course with regards to PSRB accreditation.

For collaborative provision, precept A5 of the Code of Practice refers:

A5 The awarding institution should inform any professional, statutory and regulatory body (PSRB), which has approved or recognised a programme that is the subject of a possible or actual collaborative arrangement, of its proposals and of any final agreements which involve the programme. This applies equally to programmes for which significant FDL arrangements are developed after the programme has been approved or recognised. In any case, the status of the programme in respect of PSRB recognition should be made clear to prospective students.

Therefore, where PSRB accreditation, recognition or approval occurs at the time of course approval, normal UW procedures will apply.  If however changes occur to the mode or location of study, or if a new collaborative arrangement for the course is put in place, the relevant UW Institute should liaise with the PSRB regarding whether the new or amended provision falls under the current accreditation/recognition/approval arrangements.  Students must, as in all cases of PSRB involvement, be informed of the status of the new/amended provision with regards to PSRB accreditation.

AQU will make regular checks of all records relating to PSRBs through quarterly emails to Institute contacts requesting that the database be checked and updated if required, highlighting all PSRB engagements taking place over the next quarter and requesting copies of any information that has not been received.  This is, however, a quarterly audit designed to strengthen the approaches outlined above rather than replace them.  A paper is taken by ASQEC at the beginning of each academic year outlining PSRB engagement and outcomes.