Academic Quality Framework Chapter 17, Part AA

QA Policy Statement

1. Northeastern University London (‘the University’) Academic Quality Framework Chapter 17 (AQF17) aligns with the University of Kent’s Codes of Practice for Research Courses. Where amendments have been made, these reflect specific processes and governance within Northeastern University London.
2. There is a systematic process of review of AQF17 on an annual basis.

Parts

3. Part C: Approval of Research Candidates and Projects
4. Part D: Information to Students
5. Part E: Annual Monitoring
6. Part G: Personal Academic Support System
7. Part H: Supervision
8. Part I: Director of the Doctoral School
9. Part J: Progression and Examination
10. Part K: External and Internal Examiners
11. Part L: Student Evaluation
12. Part M: Practice Research
13. Part O: Researcher Development Programme
14. Part P: Research Student Teachers and Demonstrators
15. Part Q: Student Engagement in Quality Assurance and Enhancement

Preamble

16. The PhD Programme Management Board, University of Kent and Northeastern University London (‘the PhD PMB’) is responsible for ensuring that arrangements are in place that will:
    1. Stimulate, through regular critical self-evaluation, improvement of the quality of the education provided;
    2. Inform and provide assurance to current and potential students, and relevant external agencies and interests, as to the high quality of the education provided.
17. AQF17 covers all programmes leading to the award by the University of Kent of research degrees, delivered by the University. It does not cover taught programmes of study (see Northeastern University London Academic Quality Framework, Chapters 1 – 16). This Chapter is reviewed at regular intervals and is revised from time to time by the PhD PMB in order to ensure that it continues to represent best practice and is effective.

Terms Used

18. A programme of study – hereafter ‘a programme’ – consists of a defined and approved subject area to which students may propose a research thesis, which leads, when successfully completed, to an award from the University of Kent.
19. The terms ‘annual monitoring’ and ‘annual reporting’ are used in AQF17 exclusively to describe quality management functions at a programme level. Where procedures are expected to operate for individual students, the term ‘student progress’ will be used.

Principles

20. AQF17 is based on the principles that quality assurance procedures will be simple and effective, will be integrated into the routine management of research programmes, and will harmonise as far as possible internal University and external agency requirements.

Responsibilities

21. This section of AQF17 summarises where responsibility lies for the various elements of the arrangements for assuring the quality of education provided by the University via research programmes. Detailed requirements are set out in a series of Parts to AQF17, which are listed above.

Northeastern University London

22. The University’s Doctoral School is responsible for:
    1. Ensuring that programmes submitted for approval conform with the requirements set out in University of Kent Codes of Practice, see Annex B: Approval and Withdrawal of Research Courses;
    2. Delivering programmes as approved;
    3. Providing a research environment which will encourage students to flourish and achieve their potential;
    4. Ensuring that all students are provided with all the information relating to their programme in good time (see Part D: Information to Students);
    5. Annual monitoring of programmes and student progress, determining action to be taken as a consequence and reporting on these matters to the PhD PMB (see Part E: Annual Monitoring);
    6. Providing academic advice and support for their students (see Part G: Personal Academic Support System);
    7. Obtaining and considering the views of students on the education which the University provides (see Part L: Student Evaluation);
    8. Acting upon the decisions of the PhD PMB;
    9. Ensuring that students have access to appropriate supervision (see Part H: Supervision);
    10. Providing reasonable access to space and IT resources and ensuring the provision of research and related skills (e.g. basic IT and data retrieval) training;
    11. Ensuring student engagement in quality assurance activities (see Part Q: Student Engagement in Quality Assurance and Enhancement);
    12. Recommending approval of proposed programmes, having ensured that no such approval is recommended unless the proposed programme conforms to the requirements of the University of Kent (see Annex B: Approval and Withdrawal of Research Courses);
    13. Recommending withdrawal of programmes;
    14. Ensuring that annual monitoring conforms to the requirements of AQF17 and reviewing the outcome of such monitoring (see Part E: Annual Monitoring);
    15. Reporting annually to Academic Board on the exercise of powers delegated to it by that Board.

The PhD Programme Management Board, University of Kent and Northeastern University London

23. The PhD PMB is responsible for:
    1. Recommending the approval of programmes, having ensured that no programme is recommended unless it conforms to the requirements of the University of Kent’s Codes of Practice for Research Courses  (see Annex B: Approval and Withdrawal of Research Courses);
    2. Determining, in the light of reports from review panels, whether programmes will continue, on satisfaction of specified conditions or discontinue (see Annex F: Periodic Review);
    3. Approving withdrawal of programmes;
    4. Keeping under review AQF17 and its effectiveness.

Progression and Award Boards

24. Progression and Award Boards are responsible for:
    1. Making recommendations for the award of qualifications;
    2. Making recommendations with regard to resubmission examinations and termination of registration (see Part J: Progression and Examination).

External Examiners

25. External Examiners are responsible for:
    1. Ensuring that assessment of students is undertaken fairly and rigorously (see Part K: External and Internal Examiners).

26. Collaborative programmes of study leading to awards of the University of Kent are subject to its Regulations, Codes of Practice for Quality Assurance and Credit Framework conventions, except in the case that these are varied in a signed Memorandum of Agreement.
27. Institutions offering programmes of study leading to awards from the University are required to have in place a quality assurance system that is consistent with the requirements of the University of Kent’s Codes of Practice for Quality Assurance.

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