Latest quality management and academic partnerships operational guidance

Academic Registry is pleased to announce the publication of the 2024-25 iterations of the university’s quality management guidance and academic partnerships operational guidance.

What is new within the guidance

All guidance has been updated to ensure that references and terminology remain up to date.

In addition, the following key enhancements have been introduced for 2024-25 onwards:

• Validation and periodic programme review – introduction of the requirement that validation and periodic programme review panels, considering apprenticeships, should normally contain an employer representative. This will be in addition to the external academic representative.
• Programme and module amendments (changes to a programme title) – when considering changes to a programme’s title, the Programme and Module Amendment Panel are now required to receive written confirmation from the programme’s external examiner that the proposed, new title is appropriately aligned to the programme’s existing content.
• Programme and module amendments (collaborative provision) – when developing proposals to amend collaborative provision, proposers are required to assess if their intended changes would impact on any agreed contractual and/or financial arrangements.
• External examining (period of engagement) – confirmation that potential engagement with an upcoming periodic programme review cannot be the sole reason for seeking to extend an external examiner’s period of engagement.
• External examining (payment) - introduction of clearer requirements governing the payment of additional annual fees to external examiners.
• Academic partnerships operational guidance – expanded guidance governing the approval of staff to deliver and assess LJMU collaborative provision.

As applicable, the updated guidance also confirms the deadlines for the 24-25 quality management cycle.

Colleagues urged to review updated guidance

Colleagues are encouraged to review the guidance to inform their engagement with these key quality management mechanisms this academic year.

These enhancements have not only been driven by operational need and external drivers but have also been heavily informed by stakeholder feedback.

Access the new guidance

The updated quality management guidance can be found on the Academic Quality webpage, whilst the latest academic partnerships operational guidance is available on the Academic Registry webpages.

Get further help

If you have any questions regarding the university’s approach to quality management, please contact the Academic Quality and Standards Team via the Helpdesk.