To ensure that collaborative coursework arrangements align with the UKAP’s strategic objectives.
To ensure that sound quality assurance principles are followed in the development and management of collaborative coursework arrangements.

Scope

Any formal agreement that covers collaborative coursework arrangements with external higher education providers including:
• Transnational collaborative delivery arrangements;
• Joint degree programs;
• Articulation arrangements; and
• Twinning programs.

The policy and procedures apply to all UKAP campuses, and all coursework programs.

Policy Statement

UKAP will enter into collaborative coursework arrangements with reputable higher education providers for the provision of UKAP courses, units and curriculum, only where these are aligned with the UKAP’s strategic objectives. 

Choice of Partner
1. UKAP will evaluate the status, reputation and financial viability of any higher education provider before entering into collaborative coursework arrangements.
2. UKAP will enter into an educational partnership with other higher education providers only when the partnership will not in any way detract from UKAP’s own status and reputation.

Level of UKAP Control in Collaborative Coursework Arrangement:
3.  For joint degree programs, UKAP and the higher education provider/s will have equal academic control in the collaborative coursework arrangements.
4. For all other collaborative coursework arrangements UKAP will have full authority over academic matters.

Quality and Profitability:
5. Where higher education providers are responsible for facilities and support services, a designated UKAP representative must view and approve the facilities as appropriately located, suitable and safe, and the support services (premises, administrative support, teaching equipment, library and computing facilities) as comparable to UKAP standards.
6. Collaborative coursework arrangements will be closely monitored for quality and profitability.

Risk Analysis:
7. Collaborative coursework arrangement proposals will be subject to a risk assessment with respect to reputation, the financial impact on UKAP campuses and other relevant risks.

Approval and Review
8. Collaborative coursework arrangements will be approved and reviewed through the UKAP’s standard course approval (please refer to the Establishing, Disestablishing and Amending Coursework Course Procedures) and review processes.

Agreements
9. A formal agreement must be drawn up between UKAP UKAP and the host higher education provider/s.
Compliance

Definitions

Articulation agreements:
1) formal arrangements with a higher education provider for the automatic granting of credit towards a UKAP course for work undertaken at the host higher education provider/s; and/or 2) an arrangements that guarantees entry to a UKAP course for a certain level of performance in a course at the host higher education provider/s. Either aspect of an articulation agreement will normally involve collaborative teaching and/or curriculum development, or at least provisions in the agreement for UKAP to be notified in advance of any changes to course curriculum at the host higher education provider/s.

Block Credit Transfer Arrangement:
Involves credit being granted for a whole section of a course such as a semester or year of full-time study in the course, not necessarily for specified units (see credit transfer policy and procedures).

Collaborative Delivery: Where UKAP and a higher education provider share responsibility for providing teaching, academic support, administration, support services or facilities for a particular course. UKAP is the home higher education provider, and students are enrolled and classified as UKAP students.

Course: The accumulation of units, according to a set of rules, that leads to the award of a qualification (eg Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Engineering).

Curriculum: The specifications for a course or unit which describe all the learning experiences a student undergoes, generally including objectives, content, intended learning outcomes, teaching methodology, recommended or prescribed assessment tasks, assessment exemplars, etc.

Higher Education Provider: A public or private body that is established or recognised by or under the law of the government of the home country. The higher education provider offers diploma or degree level courses equivalent to UKAP standards.

Host Higher Education Provider: The higher education provider at which a student undertakes a certain number of units as for a specified period of time.

Home Higher Education Provider: The higher education provider at which the student has enrolled in a specified award course, and from where the student will graduate.

Joint degree program: Where UKAP and host higher education provider/s jointly develop a program and each higher education provider cross credits the units undertaken at the other institution.

Off-campus (also referred to as Distance Education): Off-campus learning is a flexible mode of study. It is based on a combination of independent learning materials and learning support systems. Off campus learning requires minimal or no student attendance on campus.

Transnational collaborative delivery program: A collaborative delivery program offered in an overseas location, excluding UKAP campuses or centres.

Twinning Programs: A course, formalised by an agreement, where a reputable higher education provider delivers the first year or two years of an undergraduate course and UKAP delivers the final year or sometimes two years at one of its campuses. Students who successfully complete the host higher education providers program are granted credit to enter into the final stage of a UKAP course. Students are enrolled as UKAP students and are taught by UKAP academics. The division of time spent between UKAP and the host higher education provider is described by such labels

Unit: The basic component of a course.

Author

Director, International Education, Office of International Engagement