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Amendments to separate the resource and business plan approval from the academic and quality assurance responsibility of the new course approval process
Introduction
The changes to the Student Numbers Planning process and the introduction of a ‘stage 0’ approval for new programmes through Financial Performance Committee deliver the following advantages:
- Replacing the existing sign off for resource planning purposes (by Planning and Estates) with a more meaningful, early-stage business plan check allowing consideration and formal confirmation of a new programme proposal before detailed work on academic development has taken place
- Enabling the consideration of the collective implications of new programmes in a given period, and against the context of the overall UCL student numbers forecast
- Contextualising new programme developments as part of the Faculty’s curriculum portfolio plan and giving attention to and advance notice of implications for the student experience, programme duplication and overlap and UCL and Faculty resource implications
- Give greater assurance regarding strategic planning of new programmes and student numbers
The changes should expedite the work of PMAP by:
- Enabling it to focus attention on and streamline academic approval
- Removing the current bottleneck around sign-off at the Outline Approval stage for planning and timetabling purposes
Summary of changes
| Amendment | Rationale |
|---|---|
| 2.2/ 2.1.4/ 2.2.2/ 2.3.4 Programme planning is the first phase with new proposals considered through the Student Numbers Planning process with the mandate for further development granted by Financial Performance Committee | Clarification of the new early stage approval of new programme proposals |
2.2.3 Business Plan and Market Research. Documents required by Financial Performance Committee are detailed a) The Faculty Curriculum Portfolio Plan which contextualises the new programme b) The New Programme Impact Assessment, including consideration of potential programme overlap or duplication, the implications for the student experience and information on the likely impact on central UCL resources including teaching space and regulatory support other admin costs. c) The Faculty Business Case Financial Planning Tool template (Annex 7.2.1), d) Evidence of market research (Annex 7.2.2) | The transfer of the consideration of the business plan, market research and the strategic fit of the new programme out of the PMAP process. |
| 2.3.1 Information and Documentation Required for Outline Approval Outline approval by PMAP will focus on academic and quality assurance aspects. | Removal of strategic fit, business case and market research from documentation required for PMAP approval. This information will be considered during the 3 programme planning phase with responsibility for approval for further development through Financial Performance Committee. |
2.4.1 Final Approval As above | The strategic fit, business case, initial market research and programme competition to be considered as part of the earlier stage 0 / programme mandate phase and not by PMAP. |
Full regulations: Chapter 7: Programme and Module Approval and Amendment Framework