Divisions in Akari

Reviewing, commenting and resource approval

As part of the School’s internal quality assurance processes for approving new programmes and courses, relevant central divisions are required to use the our curriculum management system, Akari. This includes actions such as:

  • Approving or rejecting new proposals as resource approvers
  • Reviewing and commenting on new proposals.

The following divisons are involved in this process: 

  • Admissions
  • ARD Systems
  • LSE Careers
  • Data and Technology Services (DTS)
  • Eden Centre
  • Finance Division
  • International Strategy and Academic Partnerships
  • Library
  • Market Intelligence
  • PhD Academy
  • Planning Division
  • Student Marketing
  • Student Recruitment and Study Abroad
  • Student Services Centre
  • Timetables
  • Widening Participation

We have outlined below some key actions for divisions, but if you have any further questions please contact tqaro@lse.ac.uk.


 

Accessing the system

 You should already have access to the Akari system.

If you do not have access, please email the DTS Service Desk, copying in your line manager for approval.

Taking action on new courses and programmes

Departments submit new course and programme proposals to the Education Committee sub-committees (USSC, GSSC and RDSC) at various times throughout the academic year, according to the sub-committee deadlines

COURSES 

Departments may submit new course proposals to any of the Education Committee sub-committees throughout the year. A higher volume of proposals is typically submitted in May, ahead of the final committee meeting of the academic year.

When a new course proposal is submitted, the following resource approvers will receive an email notification from Akari, and are expected to review and take action on the proposal as promptly as possible: 

  • Data and Technology Services (DTS)
  • Library
  • Timetables 

Please visit the Divisions section of the Akari support site for guidance on how to review and approve/reject a course proposal. 

PROGRAMMES

Departments must submit new programme proposals to the relevant Education Committee sub-committee by the following final deadlines each year: 

  • Undergraduate: November USSC meeting
  • Postgraduate: January GSSC meeting
  • Research: March RDSC meeting

When departments create a new programme proposal in Akari, they are required to complete the proposal in two phases

Phase 1 (Draft)

What is it? 

Initial submission of general programme information, including:

  • Proposed year of introduction
  • Lead department
  • Programme title, level, unit value and duration
  • Recruitment and admissions details
  • Rationale for the new programme. 

When is it required?

Any time after the programme has received the green light through the annual monitoring process, but before the relevant Education Committee sub-committee meeting.

What do divisions need to do?

No action is required at this stage. Divisions will be involved once the proposal progresses to Phase 2 (Draft).

Phase 2 (Draft)

What is it?

Submission of the remaining proposal details, including:

  • Learning outcomes
  • Programme design
  • Programme regulations
  • Progression and classification
  • Resource requirements
  • External regulatory classifications 

When is it required?

In time for the deadline of the relevant Education Committee sub-committee.

What do divisions need to do?

Once a proposal enters Phase 2, nominated colleagues in the following divisions will receive an email notification from Akari requesting them to review and comment on the Phase 1 information: 

  •  Admissions
  • ARD Systems
  • LSE Careers
  • Data and Technology Services (DTS)
  • Eden Centre
  • Finance Division
  • International Strategy and Academic Partnerships
  • Library
  • Market Intelligence
  • PhD Academy
  • Planning Division
  • Student Marketing
  • Student Recruitment and Study Abroad
  • Student Services Centre
  • Timetables
  • Widening Participation

Please visit the Divisions section of the Akari support site for guidance on reviewing and commenting on Phase 2 (Draft) programme proposals. 

Resource Approval

What is it?

After Phase 2 is submitted by the department, TQARO forwards the proposal for final resource approval.

When is it required?

Before the deadline of the relevant Education Committee sub-committee

What do divisions need to do?

Nominated colleagues in the following divisions will receive an email notification to conduct a final review and add any additional comments in Akari: 

  • Admissions
  • ARD Systems
  • LSE Careers
  • Data and Technology Services (DTS)
  • Eden Centre
  • Finance Division
  • International Strategy and Academic Partnerships
  • Library
  • Market Intelligence
  • PhD Academy
  • Planning Division
  • Student Marketing
  • Student Recruitment and Study Abroad
  • Student Services Centre
  • Timetables
  • Widening Participation 

In addition, the following divisions must provide formal resource approval or rejection in Akari: 

  • Data and Technology Services (DTS)
  • Library
  • Planning Division
  • Student Services Centre
  • Timetables

Please visit the Divisions section of the Akari support site for guidance on how to review, comment on and give resource approval for a Phase 2 programme proposal. 

 

Receiving notifications about changes to existing courses and programmes

You may receive email notifications from Akari when the status of a course or programme changes.

Departments can submit changes to existing courses and programmes at any time during the academic year. However, most changes are submitted during the Annual Course Guide Review period (March-May).  

After this period, TQARO processes these changes in preparation for publication in the Calendar. In some cases, nominated colleagues in divisions will receive an email notification for information only, particularly when a course or programme reaches a key status such as Approved or Withdrawn.  

Please visit the Divisions section of the Akari support site for guidance on receiving email notifications. 

Which divisions are notified about changes to existing courses and programmes? 

When a major programme change is approved, or when a programme is suspended or withdrawn

  • Admissions
  • ARD Systems
  • Eden Centre
  • International Strategy and Academic Partnerships
  • Market Intelligence
  • PhD Academy
  • Planning Division
  • Student Marketing
  • Student Recruitment and Study Abroad
  • Student Services Centre
  • Timetables

 When a major course change is approved: 

  • Student Marketing
  • Timetables