Welsh Medium Provision

13. During curriculum development, academic departments will refer to the University’s strategic aims, particularly the university’s current Welsh Medium strategy/plan. Please refer to Welsh Language Policies and Strategies for further details, including the guiding principles and success indicators in relation to academic provision: https://www.aber.ac.uk/en/cgg/policies/.

14. Scheme provision at the University is overseen by the Quality & Standards Committee (QSC), a sub-committee of Senate. Q&SC is responsible for maintaining an overview of proposals for new schemes, suspensions and withdrawals. Proposals for new schemes will be considered by a standing Academic Scrutiny Panel, which reports to Q&SC.

15. The Approval Pathway sections describe the process for the approval of taught degree schemes and other schemes of study leading to awards at Aberystwyth University and applies to new scheme proposals. Schemes will be approved for a five-year period, after which they will need to undergo a process of review and revalidation (Section 2.12).

16. The approval process is designed to address the guiding principles, and meet the key practices as outlined in the UK Quality Code. This is to assure the University that, in developing new study schemes, academic departments have given proper consideration to the following:

(i) External reference points, including any relevant subject benchmark statements and the Framework for Higher Education Qualifications (FHEQ)

(ii) The advice of external subject specialists (for example a current external examiner or members of an external advisory body) and, where appropriate, the requirements of PSRBs and employers

(iii) The compatibility of scheme proposals with existing provision and with institutional goals and mission

(iv) Resource requirements including staff, library, IT and any subject specific resources (e.g. laboratory facilities)

(v) The likely level of demand.

17. Academic departments planning to introduce a new study scheme, or significantly modify an existing one, should allow for sufficient time for recruitment and advertising.