Annual Programme Review

The Annual Programme Review (APR) process at Swansea University

The APR process is critical to the ongoing enhancement of programmes, learning opportunities and awards made by the University that underpin the student experience. Annual Programme Review has been developed to enable a pro-active approach to annual monitoring, based on the principles of continuous reflection and aligned to the release of academic quality data across the academic year.

APR provides a framework for Subject Areas to review and formalise existing enhancement and reflective practice, and to offer a formal and coherent vehicle for the consideration of a range of existing data (including External Examiners’ reports, student feedback, enrolments, progression and completion, assessment results, degree outcomes and employability) throughout the year to drive continuous enhancement and improvement of the student experience. Annual Programme Review is also directly informed by Annual Module Review, drawing on the findings of this closely allied process among its constituent modules.

Annual Programme Review is informed by the QAA Quality Code Advice and Guidance on Monitoring and Evaluation. Annual Programme Review information is distributed within Faculties, usually via the Associate Dean Education, School Education Lead and/or Faculty Quality team and is available through the APR Hub. Most of the materials and guidance needed to complete the process can be accessed from here, however Programme Directors should also familiarise themselves with the local School or Faculty arrangements, as every Annual Programme Review will need to be approved by the relevant Faculty approval body, prior to final submission.

It is expected that students will participate actively in APR. This has historically taken place as a part of student reps’ participation in Boards of Studies, however more active involvement from reps and participants in Student-Staff Fora will also be promoted. Members of the Student Review Community trained in quality assurance can be brought in to contribute, or in an advisory capacity. For support and advice on involving students with Annual Programme Review, please contact quality@swansea.ac.uk.

Further guidance on the Annual Programme Review process can be found in the FAQs for this section.

The Purpose of Annual Programme Review

Annual Programme Review is designed to:

Ensure that programmes and curricula remain valid in light of revised QAA Subject Benchmarks, developments within the sector and subject area and/or recent research and practice, whilst continuing to deliver against their intended learning outcomes.
Ensure the quality and consistency of the student experience and ensure that students are fully engaged in the design and review of all programmes of study in partnership with academic staff.
Ensure that key University initiatives and developments are fully embedded across all programmes and reviewed as appropriate.
Continuously reflect upon, evaluate and enhance current curricula, programmes and modules, using key management information to inform practice.
Identify practice or innovation worthy of dissemination and draw matters of generic interest or concern to the institution.
Ensure that appropriate action is taken to address shortcomings identified by the Faculty/School, Institution or External Bodies.

Indicative Timeline 2022-23

Module Review: Semester 1 – 15 April 2023
Module Review: Semester 2 – 31 July 2023
Programme Statement (UG) – 31 October 2023
Programme Statement (PGT) – 31 January 2024

Actions Required

Collect Module Reviews from all of the constituent modules of the programme(s) for which you are director.
Complete the Annual Programme Review (it is recommended that you do this throughout the year as issues arise rather than waiting until the end of the year) using the module reviews and data provided, as well as other qualitative sources of information.
Ensure appropriate note has been taken of January Entry programmes and data.
Ensure all actions arising from Annual Programme Review are recorded on the relevant Faculty/School Integrated Action Plan.

Relevant Expectations and Practices relating to Annual Programme Review outlined in the UK Quality Code for Higher Education

The QAA sets out the expectations, core and common practices to ensure quality and standards are maintained and continuously enhanced, through ongoing and consistent monitoring of modules and programmes. It also provides Advice and Guidance on how to implement this effectively in Universities.

Expectations

The academic standards of courses meet the requirements of the relevant national qualifications framework.
Courses are well-designed, provide a high-quality academic experience for all students and enable a student’s achievement to be reliably assessed

Core Practices

The provider designs and/or delivers high-quality courses
The provider actively engages students, individually and collectively, in the quality of their educational experience.
Where a provider works in partnership with other organisations, it has in place effective arrangements to ensure that the academic experience is high-quality irrespective of where or how courses are delivered and who delivers them.

Common Practices

The provider reviews its core practices for quality regularly and uses the outcomes to drive improvement and enhancement.
The provider’s approach to managing quality takes account of external expertise.
The provider engages students individually and collectively in the development, assurance and enhancement of the quality of their educational experience.