Response to the Validation Panel for the DIT Foundation Programmes

Transcription

1 Response to the Validation Panel for the DIT Foundation Programmes Condition: The programme should be presented as two separate programmes with separate programme documentation, including programme aims, programme learning outcomes, admissions requirements and process, programme schedules, assessment regulations and module descriptors and progression of students to the DIT. The programme documentation should be presented according to DIT current requirements and include supporting documentation and the Student Handbook and should be proofread and edited to ensure that the documentation is accurate, complete and consistent throughout and that it signposts students to relevant student and assessment regulations (e.g. appeals procedure). The proposed programme will be presented as two separate programmes as 1) DIT Foundation Programme (International) and 2) DIT Foundation Programme (Access). Both sets of programme documentation will be presented in line with DIT s requirement as set in DIT s Handbook of Academic Quality Enhancement (Revised June 2012) and, will include programme aims, programme learning outcomes, admissions requirements and process, programme schedules, assessment regulations and module descriptors in the supporting documentation and the Student Handbooks. Recommendations a) The Panel acknowledges the rationale behind the lack of award at this point, however, it considers that graduates of these programmes should receive an award commensurate with their effort and achievement. It recommends that the Team pitch the programmes at level six on the National Framework of Qualifications and seek approval of a minor award at this level as soon as possible. The Programme Development Committee and the Programme Committee welcome the recommendation from the panel and would like to take the following actions: The DIT Foundation Programme (Access) will do a further analysis of the impact of this change on application to and participation on the programme and will engage in dialogue during with the relevant student funding agencies to ensure that the target group students could continue to participate on the programme if awarded at level 6, minor award. If this can be ensured then the programme will seek approval for that award. Taking into the specific background of the potential incoming students (mainly from countries with 11-year education) to the programme 2013/2014, the DIT Foundation Programme (International) will be presented with a certificate of completion, at least as a pilot scheme for a year. A programme amendment would be sought for following years if it is appropriate to its oriented market. b) The Panel commends the sharing of modules between the two programmes and hopes that this will continue as appropriate. Modules will continue to be shared between the two programmes.

2 c) The Panel commends the Team s support of the Access programme as part of DIT s commitment to access and civic engagement and its Widening Participation policy, and it also supports the current funding arrangement. The Panel does recommend that the Management Team explore alternative/additional funding sources for the ongoing support of this programme. panel and will continue to pursue alternative and additional funding sources for the ongoing support of the programme d) The Panel welcomes the commitment to appoint staff to support and to deliver the programme. It recommends that the Management Team leverage the expertise of staff across the DIT in the ongoing development and the delivery of modules on both programmes as appropriate, for example English language modules. panel and would like to continue the practice of drawing on DIT s education expertise and resources across DIT in a most cost-effective way in the ongoing development and the delivery of modules on both programmes as appropriate. e) the Team should use the opportunity of the development of these two programmes to create stronger communication links with the DIT schools who will receive these students The programme review and development committee with representatives from each of the colleges will continue to be a key part of this process. The programmes will further develop links with relevant DIT schools during the delivery of the foundation programme and will ensure earlier contact with the schools regarding the students entering their school. f) there should be clarity within the programme documentation regarding the optional modules and indicate where there may be an option to take modules from DIT s undergraduate provision where this is appropriate. Both student handbooks for DIT Foundation Programme (International) and DIT Foundation Programme (Access) have been amended accordingly. g) the draft DIT guidelines for good practice for work placements should be followed as appropriate for the Experiential Learning module, in particular in relation to the information given to students and to placement hosts. These guidelines will be implemented for both students and placement hosts, as well as implementing a mechanism for the management and administration of the work placement. h) the Team should manage students expectations regarding the availability of all optional modules. The availability of all optional modules will be clearly identified with the clause All optional modules may not be offered and will be subject to availability in any given academic year added into the student handbooks. 2

3 i) the syllabus for the Introduction to the Social Sciences module should be revisited with a view to reducing it. The module syllabus has been revised. j) the Team should explore ways of engaging students with other Schools and Colleges within DIT to expose them to the various disciplines that DIT offers, for example design seminars with the College of Engineering and Built Environment. panel and the suggestion from the College of Engineering and Built Environment. In addition to normal module studying, extra learning activities such as seminars and site visits will be included. k) the learning outcomes for some modules should be revisited to ensure that they are worded as learning outcomes and are measurable. The Panel considers that in some modules the learning outcomes are very well written. The learning outcomes have been revised and amended accordingly. l) students on the international programme should be formally assessed on completion of the programme through the IELTS or other recognised certification, in order to certify their level of English prior to progression within DIT. The Programme Management Committee welcomes the recommendation from the panel and has had a thorough re-consideration of this matter. While the reasons for the recommendation are fully understood and appreciated, it is the view of the Committee that the programme should pilot the delivery of the programme without the requirement for an additional IELTS or other recognised certification at the end of the programme. The Team expects that students entering DIT Foundation Programme with an IELTS 5.0, or an IELTS of one point below the requirements for the undergraduate destination programme and successfully completing the DIT Foundation Programme (international) will have a sufficient language competency to progress to undergraduate programmes. Based on the experience and evidence of the students who successfully complete the programme and study on DIT undergraduate programmes, as well as the DIT academic schools receiving those students, this matter will be revisited in two years time at the academic year of 2015/2016. m) the English Language teaching staff work closely with the staff delivering other modules to ensure relevant terminology is covered This will be addressed in the delivery of each module on the DIT Foundation Programme (international) and a glossary of key terms will be provided. n) the Team should consider and monitor how the participation component of modules is assessed. 3

4 The participation component now forms part of the assessment on 3 of the core modules and 1 of the optional modules only and the percentage assessment has been clearly outlined on the overview table. This issue will continue to be reviewed during learning and teaching development on the programme. o) while the Panel supports the access programme s emphasis on continuous assessment, more examinations should be included within the programme, in order to prepare these students for entry to DIT programmes which are likely to have a greater emphasis on examinations. DIT Foundation Programme (Access) has been revised and amended accordingly where appropriate. All students will now sit exams on two of the core modules and on all of the optional modules, with the exception of Art Portfolio Preparation. p) the Team provide further information and breakdown on module assessment, where the assessment is presented at 100% continuous assessment The breakdown of assessment is now clearly outlined on the programme structure table in the student handbooks. q) the Team should track the progress of students on both programmes through the DIT to enable the Team to record progression rates and to research the impact of the programmes on the students academic development This will be implemented for both programmes through the use of Banner. The team will continue to seek the inclusion on Banner of identifiers to allow for more efficient and effective tracking of students by entry route/target group. r) the Team should consider whether it is appropriate for either programme to seek derogations to the General Assessment Regulations, in particular in relation to the number of attempts and the regulations for the application of compensation for marginal failure in some modules. The Programme Development Committee and the Programme Committee welcome the recommendation from the panel. Derogation is sought for both DIT Foundation Programme (Access) and DIT Foundation Programme (International). 1. For the Foundation Programme (Access), the number of attempts for any module will be limited to 5 attempts - the exam and four supplemental attempts: in June to facilitate possible progression through CAO during the same academic year; in August/September with a possible application to CAO the following year; external repeat with attempts in May and August/September. In addition students cannot repeat the year internally but must reapply to the programme. This takes into account the fact that there are no fees for the programme and places are limited, thus if a high number of students continued to repeat the year internally, there would be fewer places available for new students. Reapplying to the programme provides the student with an opportunity to reflect on and address the factors that impacted on their ability to successfully complete the programme. 4

5 2. For the Foundation Programme (International), the number of attempts for any module will be limited to 4 attempts. 3. Derogation is sought for the DIT Foundation Programme (International) in that while the normal DIT General Assessment Regulations on compensation will apply to non-language oriented modules as indicated in the programme document, no compensation is allowed for English language modules. However, a student will be deemed passing the English language modules if, by the 15 th of August of a calendar year, a students can produce an IELTS or other recognised certification which meets the entrance requirement of the specific programme for which the student is designated. No derogations in relation to compensation are sought for the DIT Foundation Programme (Access). 5