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Learning and Teaching Handbook

11.2.4 : Responsibilities for departmental representatives to Faculty Education Committees (Postgraduate)

1. Departmental representatives to FECs (Postgraduate) represent the department on the relevant Faculty Education Committee. This includes representing the department's views to its FEC, and ensuring that key information considered by the FEC is disseminated within, and where appropriate responded to by, their department. They will also be the main point of contact for the faculty and Education Committee on taught postgraduate issues, and provide academic leadership in relation to taught postgraduate provision.

2. In respect of all postgraduate provision, a departmental representative to FEC (Postgraduate) is responsible to FEC (Postgraduate) for:

a. Working with the chair of the board of studies to ensure that appropriate learning resources are in place for the delivery of postgraduate provision.

b. Co-ordinating the department's engagement with University scholarships and funding schemes for postgraduate provision, and with relevant external funding agencies.

c. Ensuring that postgraduate students are effectively inducted into their programmes of study.

d. Considering requests for postgraduate concessions, either for approval at departmental level or for recommendation to the chair of the relevant Faculty Education Committee for approval (with the level at which the concession is considered for approval being determined by the type of concession, as laid out in Section 2 of the Learning and Teaching Handbook).

e. If appropriate, liaising with relevant public statutory and regulatory bodies in relation to external accreditation of postgraduate provision.

f. Ensuring that appropriate mechanisms are in place to gather, consider and respond to student feedback on taught postgraduate programmes and research degree programmes.

g. Promoting the identification and dissemination within the department of effective practice in postgraduate learning and teaching.

3. In respect of research degree programmes, a departmental representative to FEC (Postgraduate) is responsible to FEC (Postgraduate) for:

a. Ensuring the effective implementation of the University's Code of Practice on Research Degrees, and the departmental policies that relate to this, particularly in relation to:

i. admissions;

ii. supervisory arrangements;

iii. reviewing the progress of research students;

iv. the development of research and other skills by research students.

b. Ensuring that effective mechanisms are in place for monitoring student progress and attendance, in line with the core academic commitments defined by supervisory teams.

c. Monitoring submission and completion rates, and ensuring that appropriate support and mechanisms are in place to ensure timely submission and completion by students.

d. Supporting the chair of the board of studies in undertaking the annual review of research degree programmes, and in preparation for periodic reviews.

4. In respect of taught postgraduate provision, a departmental representative to FEC (Postgraduate) is responsible to FEC (Postgraduate) for:

a. Ensuring the effective implementation of policies and processes for admissions and recruitment to, and marketing of, taught postgraduate programmes.

b. Ensuring the effective organisation, delivery and development of taught postgraduate provision in the department.

c. Co-ordinating the development of taught postgraduate provision through the University's curriculum development processes (for which see Section 3 of the Learning and Teaching Handbook).

d. Ensuring that postgraduate students receive clear information about their programme of study, in line Section 6.3.19 of the Learning and Teaching Handbook.

e. Ensuring that effective mechanisms are in place for monitoring student progress and attendance, in line with the core academic commitments defined in the Postgraduate Module Handbook.

f. Overseeing the department's academic adviser system, as it relates to taught postgraduate students.

g. Ensuring the effective running of the examinations process for taught postgraduate programmes within the department.

h. Supporting the chair of the board of studies in undertaking the annual review of taught programmes, as it relates to taught postgraduate provision, and in preparation for periodic reviews.

5. The responsibilities detailed in paragraphs 3 and 4 may be carried out by members of the department other than the departmental representative to FEC (Undergraduate), but the departmental representative is responsible to FEC for ensuring that these activities are appropriately carried out within their department.