Full Handbook Contents

Section 1 - Teaching and Learning at the University of Aberdeen: An Overview

1.1 Introduction
1.2 History and Constitution
1.3 Mission and Aims
1.4 The Governance and Academic Structures of the University
- The University Court
  Ordinances
  Resolutions
- The Senatus Academicus (The Senate)
- The Colleges
1.5 Managerial and Planning Structures
- Senior Management
- Colleges, Schools and other Units
1.6 The University and Scottish AcademicStructures
1.7 Student Support
1.8 Teaching and Learning Practice
1.9 Assessment and Monitoring
- General
- Common Assessment Scale (CAS)
- Marking Policies
- Examination Rules
- Grade Spectrum for Determining Degree Classification
- Monitoring and the SCEF exercise
1.10 The Assurance and Enhancement of Academic Quality and Standards in Teaching and Learning
1.11 Management Information and the Student Record
1.12 Freedom of Information and Data Protection
- Freedom of Information
- Data Protection
Appendices

Section 2 - Quality Assurance in Higher Education: An Overview

2.1 Introduction and terminology
- Academic standards
- Academic quality
- Quality assurance
- Quality enhancement
2.2 The Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA)
2.3 The Academic Quality Handbook
2.4 Principles and practices of academic quality review: a quick guide
2.5 Institutional reviews
2.6 Subject reviews
- 1992-1999: Teaching Quality Assessment (TQA)
- Subject review 2000-2002: QAA subject review
2.7 Useful information on the Web
Appendices

Section 3 - The Assurance and Enhancement of Academic Quality and Standards in Teaching and Learning

3.1 Responsibility for Academic Standards and Quality Assurance
- Quality and Standards in UK Higher Education
- The Senatus Academicus
- Schools
- University Systems
- Officers
3.2 Quality Assurance and Enhancement Committee Structure
3.3 Course and Programme Design, Approval, Validation and Review
- Course and Programme Proposal Forms
- Design and Initial Approval of Courses and Programmes
  Responsibility
  Rationale and Requirements
  Level
  Progression
  Balance
  Flexibility
  Coherence
  Integrity
  Joint and Major/Minor Programmes
  Points of Reference
  Progress Files/Transcripts/European Diploma Supplement/Personal Development and Planning
- School Approval
- College Approval, Central Validation and The Planning Cycle
- Course and Programme Review and Re-Validation
3.4 The University’s Policy in regard to Academic Standards
- The Definition of, and Responsibility for, Academic Standards
- The Maintenance, Verification and Monitoring of Academic Standards
- The Review of Academic Standards
3.5 Quality Control Mechanisms
- Course Review
  Student Course Evaluation Form
  Staff:Student Liaison Committees
  External Examiners’ Reports
- Programme Review
- Other Forms of Feedback
- Internal Teaching Reviews
- Audit Files
3.6 Quality Enhancement
- Educational Development and Innovation in Teaching and Learning
  A brief history of Educational Development at the University of Aberdeen
- Learning Technology Unit
- C&IT Skills and Information Skills
- Provisions for Students with Disabilities and Medical Conditions
- Learning from Internal and External Reports and Publications
  Course and Programme Review
  Internal Teaching Review
  External Accreditation
  Enhancement-led Institutional Review
  External Reference Points
- University Committee on Teaching and Learning
- Quality Enhancement Strategy
3.7 Staff Recruitment and Development
- Appointment Procedures
- Initial Development of Staff
  Introduction to Learning and Teaching in Higher Education course
  Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education Teaching
  Postgraduate Demonstrators
  Programme of courses for postgraduate demonstrators, teaching assistants, postdoctoral and contract research staff with occasional teaching duties
  Bespoke Development
  Open programme of courses
  Bespoke Delivery
  Projects and ongoing development
- Continuous Professional Development and Performance Evaluation
- Appraisal and Promotion Procedures
- Relief Teaching
Appendices

Section 4 - Student Recruitment and Admissions

4.1 Recruitment and Admissions - An Overview
4.2 Exemptions, Recognitions, Credit Transfer, APL and APEL
4.3 Student Recruitment and Admissions Service
4.4 Undergraduate Admissions
4.5 Postgraduate Admissions
4.6 Centre for Lifelong Learning
Appendices

Section 5 - Student Guidance and Learner Support

5.1 Student Charter
5.2 Student Affairs
5.3 Student Support
5.4 Academic and Personal Support
5.5 Advisers of Studies and Regents
- Advisers of Studies
- Regents
5.6 Supervisors of Postgraduate Students
5.7 Codes of Practice
5.8 Communication with Students
5.9 Wardenial Support
5.10 The Students’ Association (AUSA)
5.11 Welfare, Financial and Term-Time Employment Advice
5.12 Class Representatives
5.13 Students with Disabilities
5.14 Sport and Recreation Services
5.15 The Rocking Horse Nursery
5.16 The Old Aberdeen Medical Practice and Dental Unit
5.17 The Chaplaincy
5.18 The University Counselling Service
5.19 The Student Accommodation Service
5.20 The Careers and Appointments Service
5.21 The Registry
5.22 Student Learning Service
5.23 English Language Support
5.24 Information Systems and Services (Computing & Library)
5.25 Policy Statements/Appeals/Complaints/Student Discipline
5.26 Making Your Opinions Known (including non-academic complaints)
Appendices

Section 6 - Teaching and Learning Policies and Academic Administration

6.1 Central Support and Guidance
6.2 Joining Instructions, Registration, Matriculation
6.3 Curriculum Approval
- Regulations and the University Calendar
- Catalogue of Courses
- Advising/Curriculum Approval
  Honours Programmes by Part-time Study
  Study Abroad
- Change of Curriculum 6-8
- Changes to Mode of Study (e.g. Full-Time to Part-Time)
6.4 Student Record System
6.5 Merit Certificates
6.6 Monitoring Student Progress (Undergraduate Students)
6.7 Class Certificates (Undergraduate Students)
- Deadlines for Class Certificate Refusal
- Procedures for Class Certificate Refusal
6.8 Class Lists
6.9 Candidate Lists
6.10 Examination Results
6.11 Medical Certificates
6.12 University Policies on Teaching and Learning Arrangements
- Wednesday Afternoon Teaching
- Quotas for Honours Options
- Timetabling of Core Courses
- Student Feedback
- Course and Programme Proposals
- Relief Teaching
- Students’ Work Affected by their Undertaking Paid Employment
6.13 Progress and Academic Appeals
- Progress: Undergraduate Students
- Progress: Postgraduate Students
- Representation Against Termination of Study or Candidature for an Award
- Academic Appeals
6.14 Complaints and Discipline
- Complaints
- Student Discipline
- Examination Offences (including plagiarism)
6.15 Transfer
6.16 Withdrawal
6.17 External Candidates, Readmission
6.18 Queries and Contact Details
6.19 Forms
Appendices

Section 7- Assessment and Examination Policies and Practices : Taught Courses and Programmes

7.1 Introduction
7.2 Types of Assessment
- Prescribed Degree Assessments
- Summative and Formative Assessments
7.3 Setting and Arranging Assessments
- Written Examination Papers
- In-Course Assignments and Projects/Dissertations
- Referencing and Avoiding Plagiarism
- Information to Candidates
7.4 Scheduling of, and Entry to, Assessments
- Examination Diets and Timetables
- Latest Date for Submission of Overall Course Results
- First Attempt
- Re-assessment
- External Candidates
- Examination Entry Fees
- Examinations Held Outwith Aberdeen
- Examinations Held Outwith the Formal Diets
7.5 Rules for the Conduct of Prescribed Assessments and Written Examinations for Degrees or Diplomas
7.6 Candidates with Disabilities
7.7 Marking and Assessment Policies
- Double, “Blind” and Anonymous Marking
- Written Examination Scripts
- Other Summative Assessments
- Common Assessment Scale
- Approval/Moderation of Marks and Results
- Determination of Honours Classification (Grade Spectrum)
- Good Cause
- Aegrotat Degrees, Designated and other non-Honours Degrees
- Determination of Postgraduate Awards
- Feedback to Students
- Written Examination Scripts
- In-Course Assignments
- Other Forms of Assessment
- Data Protection
- Analysis of Marks
7.8 Internal Examiners/Markers
7.9 External Examiners
- Nomination, Appointment and Induction
- Approval of Prescribed Degree Assessments
- Assessment of Examination Scripts
- Assessment of In-Course Assignments and Projects/Dissertations
- Selection of Scripts and other work to be sent/made available to the
- External Examiner
- Oral Examinations and Interviews
- Compulsory Oral Examinations
- Discretionary Oral Examinations
- Interviews
7.10 Medical and other Extenuating Circumstances
7.11 Guidelines for those who fail, or who fail to attend or complete, an element of prescribed assessment
7.12 Examiners’ Meetings and Approval of Marks
- Number, Composition and Purpose of Examiners’ Meetings
- Programmes delivered by one School
- Programmes delivered by more than one School
- Conduct of Examiners’ Meetings
7.13 Examination Results
- Preparation, Submission, Recording and Notification of Results
- Amended CAS Marks or Results
7.14 Award of Certificates and Diplomas
7.15 Award of Degrees and Graduation
7.16 Transcripts
7.17 Assessment Offences (including Plagiarism)
- Academic Appeals
- Disposal and Retention of Work that Contributes to a Prescribed
- Degree Assessment
7.18 Academic Appeals
7.19 Disposal and Retention of Work that Contributes to a Prescribed Degree Assessment
Appendices

Section 8 - Research Students

8.1 Introduction
8.2 Admission and Appointment of Supervisor
8.3 Code of Practice: Postgraduate Research Students
8.4 Guidance and Support
- Postgraduate Assessment Form
- Postgraduate Structured Management Framework
- Monitoring of Supervision and Facilities
- Problems and Difficulties
- Research Student Administration
8.5 Taught Elements of Research Programmes
8.6 Examination
- Preparation and Submission of Theses
- Nomination and Appointment of Examiners
- Oral Examination
8.7 Examiners’ Reports
8.8 Re-Submission
8.9 Progress and Academic Appeals
- Representations Against Termination of Study or Candidature for an Award
- Academic Appeals
8.10 Complaints and Discipline
- Complaints
- Student Discipline
- Examination Offences (including plagiarism)
8.11 Graduation
Appendices

Section 9 - External Examining: Taught Courses and Programmes

9.1 Introduction
9.2 Purposes and Functions of the External Examiner System
9.3 The University’s Formal Requirements
9.4 The Roles and Responsibilities of External Examiners
9.5 Nomination and Period of Service of External Examiners
9.6 Appointment of External Examiners and Termination of Contract
9.7 Induction of External Examiners
9.8 Participation in Assessment Procedures
9.9 Comments and Advice to Schools
9.10 External Examiners’ Reports and Fees

Section 10 - Collaborative Arrangements: Quality Assurance Procedures

10.1 Introduction
10.2 Types of Collaborative Arrangements
- Articulation
- Accreditation
- Validation
- Franchising
10.3 Rationale for Involvement in Collaborative Arrangements
10.4 Articulation Routes(including Students Entering with Advanced Standing)
- APL/APEL
- Articulation Agreements
10.5 Memorandum of Understanding/Other Types of Agreement
- Staff and Student Exchanges
10.6 Accreditation, Validation and Franchise Arrangements
- Procedural Framework
- Position Paper
- Business Plan and Budget
- Submission of Documentation by Prospective Partner
- Scrutiny of Documentation by Accreditation/Validation/Franchise Panel
- Scrutiny of Proposal by Academic Standards Committee
- Accreditation/Validation/Franchise Panel Visit and Report
- Preparation of Formal Agreement
- Review Procedures and Follow-up Visits
Appendices

Section 11 - Academic Support Services and Resources

11.1 Learning and Professional Development
11.2 Directorate of Information Systems and Services
- Library Services
- One Library - Four Sites
- Linked by Technology
- Computing Services
- In Support of Learning
- Integrated Help Desk Services
- Instruction and Information
- Teaching, Liaison and Consultancy Team
- Learning Technology Unit
- Audio-Visual Unit
- Photographic, Reprographic and Binding Services
- Further Contacts and On-line Information
11.3 Language Centre
11.4 Medical Illustration
11.5 Research and Innovation
11.6 CPD Services, Research and Innovation
11.7 Development Trust
11.8 Registry
- Registry Services
- Postgraduate Registry
- Senate Office
- Socrates Unit
11.9 Conference Facilities

Academic Quality Handbook

Full Handbook Contents