Origin
The Education Partnerships Subcommittee (EPSC) is a subcommittee of the Education & Student Experience Committee set up to advise on the quality management and quality enhancement of the University’s education programmes delivered through UK and overseas partnerships. (Proposed and approved partnerships, including collaborative provision, International Branch Campus, Pathway Provider, Online Programme Manager (OPM), other progression/enhanced progression, validation/franchise partnerships (TNE), with students studying elsewhere.
Purpose
- To ensure our students have an excellent education experience and support for successful outcomes regardless of mode and place of study.
- To advise and assure the Education & Student Experience Committee on the delivery and evaluation of the University’s partnerships as they relate to education.
- To advise the Academic Quality & Standards Subcommittee (AQSS) on the regulatory and quality assurance framework in respect of partnership provision in the UK and overseas, taking due account of external reference points such as the UK Quality Code for Higher Education and the Office for Students Conditions of Registration.
- The Chair is responsible for ensuring that any equality impacts against each project/policy/process/procedure have been considered as part of the decision-making process.
Responsibilities and activity
- To ensure equivalent experience and outcomes for students is of high quality, irrespective of the mode and location of delivery.
- To advise the Education & Student Experience Committee on the development and implementation of education policies relating to partnership education provision.
- To support determinations, consistent with university policy and best practices, by the International Committee, Transnational Education (TNE) Programme Board, ONCAMPUS Joint Management Board, Southampton Global Online Programmes (SGOP) Academic Board, University of Southampton Malaysia (UoSM) Operations Board, and any future such Groups/Boards.
- To consider and to advise the Education & Student Experience Committee and the International Committee on the level of due diligence and oversight, in relation to education policy and quality assurance/enhancement, required for individual partnerships.
- To make recommendations on approval of education partnerships to Education & Student Experience Committee and/or AQSS and the International Committee.
- To ensure standards are credible when delivered with partners, including but not limited to:
- Consideration of reports from Collaboration Approval/Review Panels making recommendations to the Education & Student Experience Committee and/or AQSS.
- Receiving, following consideration by School Programmes Committees, annual partnership provision reports from Schools, and providing feedback as necessary for consideration and action by Schools.
- Consideration of outcomes and the quality of Progression /Enhanced Progression partnerships.
- To have oversight of partnership engagement with students and their experience and outcomes.
- To advise the Education & Student Experience Committee and AQSS of any action or issues in relation to standards or quality in the operation of partnership provision.
- To encourage the sharing of good practice across Schools and Faculties regarding the establishment and ongoing management of partnership provision.
Reporting arrangements
- The Education Partnerships Subcommittee reports to the Education & Student Experience Committee.
- On matters of quality assurance, the Education Partnerships Subcommittee also reports to the Academic Quality & Standards Subcommittee.
- The Education Partnerships Subcommittee will liaise regularly with the International Committee, the Transnational Education Programme Board, and the Partner Scrutiny Panel.
- Regular reports, covering areas such as, but not limited to, developments, progression, issues for consideration, are received from:
- Southampton ONCAMPUS Joint Academic Board
- Southampton Global Online Programmes Academic Board
- University of Southampton Malaysia Operational Board
- Faculty Education & Student Experience Subcommittees
Constitution
It is proposed that the membership should be reviewed annually to ensure the composition of the group reflects those Schools and Faculties which are engaging in a significant amount of educational partnership provision.
- Chair: Vice-President (Education & Student Experience) or nominee
- Executive Director, Student Life or nominee
- Executive Director, Student Administration & Academic Affairs or nominee
- Director of the Doctoral College or nominee
- Head of Quality, Standards and Accreditation
- Quality, Standards & Accreditation Manager (QSAT)
- Faculty Academic Registrar/Head of Taught Programme Administration from a Faculty with a substantial amount of partnership provision
- Students’ Union Vice-President Education & Democracy
- An academic representative from each Faculty
- University of Southampton Malaysia (UoSM) Representative
- Chair of International Committee
- Chair of Partner Scrutiny Panel
- Chair of Southampton ONCAMPUS Joint Academic Board
- Chair of Southampton Global Online Programmes Academic Board
- Secretary
In attendance:
Director of Legal Services or nominee
If a member is unable to attend, they should send a substitute.
Quorum and frequency
Quorum
The Education Partnerships Subcommittee will be quorate with one third of the membership plus one in attendance.
Frequency of meetings
The Education Partnerships Subcommittee will meet at least three times per year.
Resources
Secretariat support will be provided by Quality, Standards and Accreditation Team.
Terms of Reference review
Date of last review:....... June 2023
Date of next review:...... September 2024
Governance reporting line
The Education Partnerships Subcommittee reports to the Education and Student Experience Committee.
Document owner
Education and Student Experience Committee.