A
Annual course guide review
The annual review of course information is now carried out online. Edits to course details can be made directly in CAPIS by staff from academic departments during Lent Term and Summer Term once CAPIS has been rolled forward to the next academic year
Person responsible: Janine Olding
For CAPIS queries please email: ard.capis@lse.ac.uk
Annual programme monitoring
TQARO coordinates an annual programme monitoring exercise on behalf of the Education Committee. This exercise asks departments to look at the currency and validity of their programmes in light of developments in the relevant discipline(s) and practice in its application. It also allows them to look at the effectiveness of the curriculum and of assessment in helping students to achieve the programme's intended learning outcomes.
Person responsible: Thomas Hewlett
C
Calendar
The Calendar gathers together into a single resource regulations relating to students and their study. Full programme regulations and course guides are included. These are updated throughout the year.
Person responsible: Janine Olding
Characteristics Statements
Characteristics Statements describe the distinctive features of qualifications at particular levels within the Qualifications Frameworks. They describe the qualifications in terms of their purpose, general characteristics and generic outcomes, but do not include subject level detail.
More information: QAA website: Setting and Maintaining Academic Standards
Competition and Markets Authority (CMA)
The CMA sets out the consumer rights of students. Full details of the CMA guidance can be found in the Higher education: guide to consumer rights for students.
Course And Programme Information System (CAPIS)
CAPIS is an online data management system. The system enables TQARO to store, update and manage course information. In addition CAPIS facilitates the proposal process for new courses and the annual course guide review of current course information by academic departments.
Person responsible: Janine Olding
For CAPIS queries please email: ard.capis@lse.ac.uk
Course approval
Three Sub-Committees of the Academic and Student Affairs Committee are responsible for the consideration of all new course and programme proposals. There is one Sub-Committee per level of study: Undergraduate (USSC), Graduate (GSSC) and Research Degrees (RDSC).
Person responsible: Thomas Hewlett (USSC), Janine Olding (GSSC) and Marcus Cerny (RDSC).
For CAPIS queries please email: ard.capis@lse.ac.uk
D
Department Teaching Committees (DTCs)
Departmental Teaching Committees oversee teaching and learning issues within the Department. DTCs are responsible for the oversight of 'major' modifications to courses and programmes and other devolved responsibilities with 'major' designation. Please see Sections 11-16 of the Quality Assurance Handbook for more information on devolved quality assurance and major modifications to courses and programmes.
More information: Department Teaching Committees
Person responsible: Thomas Hewlett
E
Education Committee
The Education Committee is responsible for School policy and procedures about all aspects of student experience, including teaching. Reports to the Academic Board.
Person responsible: Thomas Hewlett
Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI)
When proposing new courses and programmes, or making modifications to existing courses and programmes, proposers will need to consider how the issue of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion has been addressed through the consideration of accessibility and inclusivity in all areas of teaching, learning and assessment. Please see Equity, Diversity, Inclusion or contact Tlc.Academicdevelopment@lse.ac.uk for more information.
Enhanced course guides (ECGs)
Enhanced course guides contain all of the same information as the old course guides, e.g. teacher responsible, availability, content, teaching, assessment, etc. But they also include additional information, e.g. results from the ‘course’ section of the class/seminar surveys, and – for some departments – student performance data, each averaged across a three-year period.
For ECG queries please email: ard.capis@lse.ac.uk
Examinations
Changes to examination format and guidance on take-home exams.
External examiner system
External examiners play an important role in helping the School to assure the standards of its awards and the quality of its students' learning opportunities. They are academics from peer institutions who are experts in their fields. Externals are nominated by departments and appointed (and annually re-appointed) according to School rules.
More information: Information for Examiners
F
Framework for higher education qualifications (FHEQ)
The framework for higher education qualifications describes the achievement represented by higher education qualifications and therefore answers the questions: 'What is a BSc? What is an MSc?'
Person responsible: Thomas Hewlett
G
Graduate Studies Sub-Committee (GSSC)
Meets regularly to consider new taught graduate course and programme proposals. Further information can be found on the GSSC homepage.
Person responsible: Janine Olding
I
Intercalated degree programmes
The Undergraduate Studies Sub-Committee uses the School's principles on intercalated degree programmes when considering proposals for intercalated/placement undergraduate degree arrangements, or arrangements for individual students.
M
Marking
Three forms of marking practice for summative assessment: double-blind marking; sighted double marking; and moderated single marking, involving a second examiner.
Mission
TQARO's mission, values, aims and objectives.
Person responsible: Thomas Hewlett
Modular master's programmes
Some MSc programmes are offered in the format of concentrated modules. These are often aimed at professionals in the workplace as 'Executive Master's' or 'E-MSc programmes'.
N
National Student Survey (NSS)
A nationally recognised survey which gives students a way of providing honest feedback on their satisfaction with their programme at their university or college.
More information: The National Student Survey
Contact: TQARO Surveys
O
Office for Students (OfS)
The independent regulator of higher education in England.
More information: Office for Students
P
Principles on nine/ten month master's programmes
Please refer to the Bologna Process for more information.
Programme approval
Three Sub-Committees of the Academic and Student Affairs Committee are responsible for the consideration of all new course and programme proposals, including new programme streams with distinct admissions entry routes and new programme specialisms on existing degree programmes. There is one Sub-Committee per level of study: Undergraduate (USSC), Graduate (GSSC) and Research Degrees (RDSC).
Person responsible: Thomas Hewlett (USSC), Janine Olding (GSSC) and Marcus Cerny (RDSC).
For CAPIS queries please email: ard.capis@lse.ac.uk
Prospectuses
The Undergraduate Prospectus and Graduate Prospectus are vital recruitment tools for the School. Programme and course information is checked regularly for accuracy. TQARO is not responsible for producing the prospectuses but works with the Admissions Office to ensure all published information on the School's programmes is consistent.
Person responsible: Thomas Hewlett
Q
Quality Assurance Agency
The QAA is the main national body in England which carries out Higher Education Review and is responsible for setting national benchmarks for quality assurance activity.
Person responsible: Thomas Hewlett
QAA Quality Code
The UK Quality Code for Higher Education is used to assure the standards and quality of UK higher education. It is used by UK higher education providers to ensure they are achieving the outcomes expected of them.
Person responsible: Thomas Hewlett
Quality Assurance Handbook
LSE’s Quality Assurance Handbook draws together in to a single location the policies and procedures in place for existing and newly devolved quality assurance activities administered by central professional services teams and academic departments within the School.
Person responsible: Thomas Hewlett
R
Research Degrees Sub-Committee (RDSC)
The Research Degrees Sub-Committee is serviced by colleagues in the PhD Academy
Person responsible: Marcus Cerny
Reviews of taught provision
TQARO manages periodic reviews of taught provision in departments and institutes. These reviews are conducted under the authority of the Education Committee.
Person responsible: Thomas Hewlett
S
Seminar and class size limits
School policy requires undergraduate classes and graduate seminars to have a maximum limit of 15 students per group. USSC and GSSC can grant exemptions to the maximum class/seminar size rule in some cases.
Shared UG-PGT teaching: approval criteria
Shared UG and PGT teaching: approval criteria
Strategy
The School’s strategy for managing academic standards sets out how the School assures the quality of its teaching, learning and assessment activity. TQARO advises the School on its approach to quality assurance, including in relation to the external regulatory context.
Person responsible: Thomas Hewlett
Sub-Committee dates and deadlines
Deadlines for the current academic session.
Subject benchmark statements
Subject benchmark statements set out expectations about standards of degrees in a range of subject areas. They describe what gives a discipline its coherence and identity, and define what can be expected of a graduate in terms of the abilities and skills needed to develop understanding or competence in the subject.
Person responsible: Thomas Hewlett
Surveys
Regular surveys of (a) part-time class teachers and (b) permanent teachers.
Contact: TQARO Surveys
U
Undergraduate Studies Sub-Committee (USSC)
Meets regularly to consider new undergraduate programme and course proposals. Further information can be found on the USSC homepage.
Person responsible: Thomas Hewlett
Unistats
All institutions are required to publish information on the Unistats website. The aim is to help provide information for potential applicants. See the Unistats website for further information.
Person responsible: Thomas Hewlett
W
Website
The TQARO website is the main source of information on quality-related matters.
Person responsible: Janine Olding