Introduction
Professional Statutory and Regulatory Bodies (PSRB's) are external bodies which accredit, recognise or approve programmes many of which lead to a professional or vocational qualification or exemption from a professional examination. The University encourages Schools to seek and maintain appropriate PSRB accreditation or similar recognition for its programmes of study.
A PSRB ‘accredited’, ‘recognised’ or ‘approved’ programme may convey or be a step toward obtaining a licence to practise in a particular regulated profession; and/or it may confer full or partial exemption from professional qualifications.
PSRB accreditation usually entails an inspection of provision, either through a visit involving the Programme Team and PSRB representatives or through scrutiny of programme documentation.
Accreditation is often given for a specific time period (accreditation period), after which there has to be further inspection to retain the accreditation/recognition/approval.
Programme Approval and Review
Since accreditation/recognition/approval often requires a Programme Team to submit programme documentation for scrutiny, Schools may consider it appropriate to tie the accreditation/recognition/approval process is in with the Programme Approval and Review process thereby preventing unnecessary duplication of effort.
Responsibility for the preparation of documentation required for programme accreditation/recognition/approval by PSRB's and for making arrangements for visits, (where applicable) rests with the relevant Programme Team. Advice and information should be sought from the Faculty Curriculum and Quality Assurance (CQA) Team and QSAT as appropriate.
Reporting and Monitoring
Each accreditation, agreement or approval must have a nominated academic lead, appointed by SPC and known as the Responsible Individual.
Schools report on compliance with PSRB requirements via the Annual School Report as part of the Annual Monitoring Process.
Responsible Individual
The Responsible Individual will:
- report to SPC and provide reassurance regarding compliance with the PSRB's expectations and requirements.
- oversee the day-to-day operation of existing PSRB accreditations, agreements or approvals.
- monitor updates regarding any changes to PSRB requirements for existing accreditations, agreements or approvals (including having a judgement as to its impact on the affected programmes).
- determine whether any changes to PSRB requirements require an 'immediate' or 'compliance' response or a 'watch and wait' or 'no-action' response.
- make recommendations, to SPC, for the most appropriate response to any changes to PSRB requirements for existing accreditations, agreements, or approvals.
- implement the approved response to any changes to PSRB requirements for existing accreditations, agreements, or approvals.
- escalate, to SPC, any issues or serious concerns regarding existing accreditations, agreements or approvals.
- in partnership with the Faculty CQA Team, ensure that the data for existing accreditations, agreements or approvals is maintained in the Curriculum Management System.
School Programmes Committee
School Programmes Committees will:
- nominate, for each PRSB, an academic member of staff who will be known as the 'Responsible Individual'.
- receive, as regularly as is necessary, reports/recommendations from the Responsible Individual regarding required responses to changes to PSRB requirements.
- agree, following receipt of reports/recommendations from the Responsible Individual', the most appropriate response to any changes to PSRB requirements.
- monitor and maintain oversight of the agreed response, in partnership with the Responsible Individual.
- raise any issues about University-level processes or procedures relating to PSRB relationships.
- receive (and where necessary escalate) any issues or serious concerns regarding an existing accreditation, agreement or approval by a PSRB.
- notify AQSS if accreditation is withdrawn following a PSRB visit.
- maintain oversight, in partnership with the Faculty CQA Team, of data relating to existing accreditations, agreements or approvals with PSRB's.
Reporting to SPC
When making a report to SPC, the Responsible Individual should submit the following information to the Secretary of SPC:
- Name of Responsible Individual
- School
- Name of PSRB
- Overview of Guidance/Update
- How was the Guidance/update located? (e.g. review of webpages/ received by nominated/Responsible Individual by the PSRB)
- Must comply? Yes/No
- Overview of action required/taken.
This will be recorded in the minutes or attached to the minutes by the Secretary.
AQSS
AQSS will:
- receive a list of PSRB's that accredit, recognise or approve University programmes annually (which will include the name of the Responsible Individual)
- receive notification from SPC's if an existing accreditation is withdrawn following a PSRB visit.