www.northumbria.ac.uk/international

Enhancing Quality in International Partnerships –or Collaborative Adventures...

www.northumbria.ac.uk/international

Role of International Office

• Initial advice• Environment• Risk• Overview of University Activity• Alignment to International

Plan• Financial advice?

www.northumbria.ac.uk/international

Role of Academic Services

• Proposal guidance / advice• Documentation advice• International partner /

programme approval• Monitoring conditions of approval• Re-approvals• Enhancement /student

experience

www.northumbria.ac.uk/international

How did it all start?

• Early collaborations- Greece- Russia- Taiwan

• Lessons learnt!

www.northumbria.ac.uk/international

Global Partnerships

www.northumbria.ac.uk/international

Programmes Delivered Overseas

www.northumbria.ac.uk/international

Where are we?

• Franchises• Validations• Dual Awards• Articulations• Letters of Recognition• Exchange Agreements• ……….

www.northumbria.ac.uk/international

Why?

• Corporate Strategy• Diversification• Knowledge creation / pedagogy• Income

• Post-Browne pressures• Reputation• Eg NBS Accreditations

www.northumbria.ac.uk/international

How things are changing

• Drive towards strategic partnerships

• International Strategy• Greater central oversight• Why this partner, why these

programmes, what synergies

• Changing processes• Co-ordination of operations

www.northumbria.ac.uk/international

Quality – how do we assess it?

• Academic – APM • Procedural - deadlines,

conformance• Financial – Budgets• Reputational• Strategic

www.northumbria.ac.uk/international

Why Different Types of CV Activity

• Franchise vs Validation• Ownership, control, overseas

legislation (Malaysia University College)

• Articulation vs Letter of Recognition

• MoU vs MoC

www.northumbria.ac.uk/international

Risk Assessment

• Due Diligence• LTPAS• Risk Approach• Risk – impact – controls –

likelihood• resultant approval and

operational procedures

www.northumbria.ac.uk/international

Change of Approach

• Away from type of CV = procedures to adopt

• To CV outcomes required = risk associated = procedures adopted

• A single framework

www.northumbria.ac.uk/international

Negotiation Points

• Programmes – range, customisation

• Delivery pattern• Student numbers max / min• Entry criteria• KPIs

www.northumbria.ac.uk/international

The Process

• Development idea – proposal (CVP)• SLT & School Exec• International Committee• LTPAS & Finance Director• ULT• Approvals – Partner and

Programme

• ULT

www.northumbria.ac.uk/international

Franchises - Our Obligations

• Materials• Blackboard• Electronic Resources• Operations Manual• Assessment / moderation• Staff development• Marks, progression and awards

www.northumbria.ac.uk/international

Student Experience in TNE

• QAA expectations“collaborative …provision should widen

learning opportunities without prejudice either to the academic standard of the award or the quality of what is offered to students.”

• Cultural/Political/Religious Norms

• What are our responsibilities?

www.northumbria.ac.uk/international

Discussion Questions

• To what extent should experience overseas match the UK?

• What issues have you experienced?

• How can Academic Registry/International Office support Schools with their Partnerships?