Cambridge University Reporter


Report of the General Board on Diplomas and Certificates awarded by the Institute of Continuing Education and other bodies

The GENERAL BOARD beg leave to report to the University as follows:

Introduction

1. Lifelong learning encompasses the University's engagement with students of all ages who learn through specific contact with Cambridge. The engagement is longstanding - dating back to the 1870s - and is an important part of the University's activities, and complements its full-time residential educational provision. The majority of Faculties, Departments, and Colleges, as well as specialist institutions (the Institute of Continuing Education (ICE) and Cambridge Programme for Industry) are engaged with lifelong learning activities, reaching tens of thousands of people of all ages.

2. Provision takes a variety of forms, including continuing vocational, executive, and professional education, some of which are accredited, that is are a recognized achievement at Higher Education level (which may also bear credit under nationally recognized schemes); non-accredited learning opportunities; outreach and community activities; public access to the University's resources, including its libraries and museums; and knowledge dissemination through University institutions and the Colleges. The University also plays a valuable role as a convenor, bringing together external groups and providing a catalyst for the sharing of knowledge.

3. In 2005-06, the Council for Lifelong Learning (CLL) carried out a review of lifelong learning at the University and reported to the central bodies. The CLL concluded that the University's future contributions to lifelong learning should continue to touch all ages, with regional, national, and international impacts, and recommended that the University take a more strategic approach to various subsets of these activities. The full CLL report, which includes a statement of the CLL's strategy for lifelong learning, is available at http://www.admin.cam.ac.uk/offices/education/roles/report.pdf. The report makes a number of wide ranging recommendations, which are still being considered. The General Board, in this first Report resulting from the CLL review, concentrate on one subset of lifelong learning provision: accredited and award-bearing courses.

Accredited and award-bearing courses

4. A number of Certificate and Diploma courses are currently offered and awarded by particular institutions (including the Institute of Continuing Education, the Faculties of Divinity and of Education, the Cambridge Programme for Industry, and the Language Centre). This has hitherto been known as locally certified provision.

5. The distinction between locally certified and University awards is artificial. The public perception is that award-bearing courses are University awards: responsibility for awards rests with the General Board. In the recent institutional audit of the University the Quality Assurance Agency (http://www.qaa.ac.uk/reviews/reports/institutional/CambridgeUni08/summary.asp) commented that, in its view, a situation whereby a component institute of the University is issuing awards in its own name and on the basis of a different quality assurance regime is unsustainable and recommended that the General Board should assume full responsibility for all these locally certified award-bearing programmes. This view was supported by the General Board's 2007 Learning and Teaching Review of ICE, and the Board had, in their consideration of the CLL report, reached the same conclusion.

6. In order to enhance the University's accredited lifelong learning provision the General Board, after consultation with the main providers of locally certified awards, propose that all awards currently offered and awarded by particular institutions formally become awards of the University. Quality assurance mechanisms for such provision are being reviewed and steps are being taken to bring them into line with those in place for Triposes and M.Phils. The revised procedures will include an expectation that all courses will be endorsed by a cognate Faculty Board or, for postgraduate provision, Degree Committee. The appropriate Faculty Boards or Degree Committees will be asked to comment on the academic merits of any proposed course, in the context of the University's lifelong learning provision, and the level of the award.

7. The General Board will expect new awards to be consonant with the CLL's strategy for lifelong learning. The strategy emphasizes that such provision should seek to encourage engagement with, and understanding of, the results of the University's research amongst policy-makers, opinion-formers, and the wider public in the UK and overseas by providing educational pathways, for adult learners, which are complementary to the University's full-time courses; to raise educational aspirations through a more co-ordinated approach between lifelong learning and widening participation activities; or to make a distinctive contribution to local, national or international communities, through knowledge and scholarship dissemination. There will need to be an initial phase of review of existing locally certified awards, and the current list of such provision is given in Annex 1. Awards approved by the General Board under the provisions of this Report will be published in a Schedule to the regulations.

8. The awards which will be covered by the Board's proposals will be open to non-members of the University. Such persons are not expected to matriculate or become members of Colleges. Discussions are underway with the University Librarian and Director of the Computing Service on the facilities that should be made available to such students. Regulations to govern Diplomas and Certificates open to non-members of the University are set out in Annex 2 to this Report. It is expected that the body administering each Certificate or Diploma will submit the programme aims, learning outcomes, syllabus, and recommended credit for each course of study and the special regulations for the examination in each case for consideration by the General Board after consultation with the cognate Faculty Board or Degree Committee.

Recommendations

9. The General Board recommend that

I. The framework proposed in the regulations set out in the Annex to this Report be approved with effect from 1 September 2009, and that Certificates and Diplomas approved by the General Board, in consultation with Faculty Boards, as University awards be listed in a separate Schedule to be published in due course.

II. That, subject to the approval of Recommendation I, the regulations for the Institute of Continuing Education, Cambridge Programme for Industry, and Language Centre be amended with effect from 1 September 2010 as follows:

A. Institute of Continuing Education (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 615)

Regulation 9 (duties of the Management Board).

By removing from sub-paragraph (c) the words ', and to award certificates of the Institute for satisfactory performance in such examinations in subjects approved by the General Board which may include a mark of distinction if the candidate deserves special credit';

and by deleting sub-paragraph (d) and relettering sub-paragraphs (e)-(g) as (d)-(f).

B. Cambridge Programme for Industry (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 612)

Regulation 5 (authority of the Management Board).

By removing from sub-paragraph (c) the words 'and to award certificates of the Programme for satisfactory performance in such examinations in subjects approved by the General Board which may include a mark of distinction if the candidate deserves special credit';

and by deleting sub-paragraph (d).

C. Language Centre (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 623)

Regulation 3 (duties of the Committee of Management).

By deleting sub-paragraph (f)
12 November 2008ALISON RICHARD, Vice-ChancellorTOM BLUNDELLRICHARD HUNTER
 A. P. BAGSHAWW. BORTRICKD. W. B. MACDONALD
 NICK BAMPOSWILLIAM BROWNJ. RALLISON
 GRAEME BARKERPHILIP FORDPATRICK SISSONS
 JOHN BELLRICHARD FRIENDI. H. WHITE

The Council endorses the recommendations in this Report.

17 November 2008

ALISON RICHARD, Vice-Chancellor

ANNEX 1


Qualification Course title
Institute for Continuing Education
Certificate CEManagement Concepts and Skills in Planning
Certificate CEPlanning Enforcement
Certificate CETown Planning Support
Certificate CELegal Practice for Paralegals
Certificate CELegal Studies
Certificate CESocial Enterprise Management
Certificate CEThird Sector Management
Certificate CEIslam, Judaism, and Muslim-Jewish Relations
Certificate CEPrinciples and Practice of Assessment
Certificate CETheological Studies
Certificate HENeighbourhood Policing
Certificate HECoaching
Certificate HELegal Practice for Paralegals
Certificate HELegal Studies
Certificate HEAlternative Dispute Resolution
Certificate HEGrief and Bereavement Studies
Certificate HEVoluntary and Community Studies Eclectic Certificate
Certificate HECommunity Development
Certificate HEInternational Development
Certificate HEPost-Compulsory Education
Certificate HESupporting Equality and Diversity
Certificate HETeaching and Training in Community and Voluntary Contexts
Certificate HEArchaeology
Certificate HECounselling
Certificate HECreative Writing
Certificate HEEgyptology
Certificate HEHistory of Art
Certificate HEScience: Genetics
Certificate HEPractical Horticulture and Plantsmanship
Certificate HEHistoric Building Conservation
Certificate HEPsychology as a Social Science
Certificate HEVoluntary and Community Business Development
Certificate HEFilm Studies
Certificate HEEnglish Literature
Certificate HEMedieval Studies
Certificate HEOrthodox Christian Studies
Certificate HEAnglo-Saxon Studies
Certificate HECultural Studies
Certificate HEGarden History
Certificate HEInterdisciplinary Studies (the CITY)
Certificate HELandscape History and Field Archaeology
Certificate HELocal History
Certificate HEScience: Ecology
Certificate HEShakespeare Studies
Certificate HEScience: Astronomy
Diploma HEPost-Compulsory Education
Diploma HEAn Introduction to English Law and the Law of the European Union 2008
Diploma HELandscape History and Field Archaeology
Diploma HEArchaeology
Diploma HEGarden History
Diploma HEHistory of Art
Diploma HEModern English Studies
Diploma HELocal History
Diploma HENotarial Practice
Diploma HEOrthodox Christian Studies
Adv DiplomaCommunity Leadership
Adv DiplomaTraining, Learning, and Development
Adv DiplomaEntrepreneurship
Adv DiplomaLocal History
Adv DiplomaCounselling
Adv DiplomaGarden History
Adv DiplomaLandscape History and Field Archaeology
Adv DiplomaArchaeology
Adv DiplomaHistory of Art
Adv DiplomaOrthodox Christian Studies
PG CertificateProfessional Practice in Architecture
PG DiplomaProperty Investment
PG DiplomaApplied Criminology, Penology, and Management (Prison Studies)
PG DiplomaApplied Criminology and Police Management
PG DiplomaNotarial Practice 2008
PG DiplomaInterdisciplinary Design for the Built Environment
PG DiplomaManufacturing Leaders' Programme
PG DiplomaEuropean Union Law
PG DiplomaCounselling
PG DiplomaCounselling in a Primary Care Setting
 
Faculty of Education
Adv Diploma Advanced Diploma in Educational Studies - modular
Adv DiplomaAdvanced Diploma in Child and Adolescent Psychotherapeutic Counselling
Adv CertificateAdvanced Certificate in Educational Research (ACER)
CertificateCertificate of Further Professional Study (CFPS) 30 hour/ 60 hour
CertificateCertificate in Educational Enquiry (CEE) 30 hour/ 60 hour
 
Cambridge Programme for Industry
PG CertificateSustainable Business
PG CertificateCross-Sector Partnership
 
Faculty of Divinity
CertificateTheology for Ministry
 
Language Centre
CertificateProficiency in Chinese Basic 1
CertificateProficiency in Chinese Basic 2
CertificateProficiency in French Basic
CertificateProficiency in German Basic
CertificateProficiency in Italian Basic
CertificateProficiency in Spanish Basic
CertificateProficiency in French Intermediate 1
CertificateProficiency in German Intermediate 1
CertificateProficiency in Italian Intermediate 1
CertificateProficiency in Spanish Intermediate 1
CertificateProficiency in French Intermediate 2
CertificateProficiency in German Intermediate 2
CertificateProficiency in Italian Intermediate 2
CertificateProficiency in Spanish Intermediate 2
CertificateProficiency in Advanced French
CertificateProficiency in Advanced Spanish
CertificateProficiency in Russian Basic 1
CertificateProficency in Russian Basic 2
CertificateProficiency in Russian Intermediate

ANNEX 2

Chapter VII

DEGREES, DIPLOMAS, AND OTHER QUALIFICATIONS

DIPLOMAS AND CERTIFICATES OPEN TO NON-MEMBERS OF THE UNIVERSITY

1. The following regulations shall apply to any University examination for Diplomas and Certificates open to non-members of the University listed in the Schedule to these regulations.

2. A subject for any Diploma or Certificate under these regulations and listed in the Schedule, together with a syllabus for the course, the special regulations for the examination, and any subsequent amendments thereof, shall be approved by the General Board, and the Board of Graduate Studies where appropriate.

3. Any person may be approved for admission to a course of study leading to the award of a Diploma or a Certificate granted under the provisions of these regulations who has satisfied the relevant body1 administering the Diploma or a Certificate as qualified to engage in study for the qualification. A register shall be kept by the Registrary of all persons who are studying with a view to obtaining such a qualification.

4. A date shall be agreed between the administering body and the Registrary by which the head of the body administering the Diploma or Certificate shall send to the Registrary a list of all the students who have been newly admitted by that body and who are studying towards a Diploma or Certificate listed in the Schedule to these regulations.

5. The length of candidature for each award shall be determined by the General Board on the recommendation of the administering body.

6. While studying for a Diploma or a Certificate under these regulations a candidate shall pay the appropriate fee for the course as determined by the General Board from time to time on the recommendation of the administering body.

7. No person who has not paid the appropriate fee shall be entitled to attend any lectures related to a course or any course of instruction for a Diploma or Certificate under these regulations.

8. No person shall be permitted to be a candidate in the examination, or any part of the examination, for any Diploma or Certificate under these regulations unless the person's name is on the register and he or she has met the relevant course requirements.

9. Lists of candidates for any written papers in the examinations or any other parts of examinations for any Diploma or Certificate under these regulations shall be sent by the head of the administering body to the Registrary at least three weeks before the first assignment is due to be submitted or, in the case of written papers, before the examination starts.

10. The General Board, on the recommendation of the administering body, shall have powers to recognize periods of previous successful study as meeting part of the requirements for the award.

11. A candidate shall study for a Diploma or Certificate under these regulations in Cambridge, or such other place as the administering body concerned, with the approval of the General Board, shall determine, under the direction of a Course Director appointed by that body and under any special conditions that that body may lay down in each case.

12. The administering body for a Diploma or Certificate shall appoint such number of Examiners as necessary to conduct the examination.

13. A Diploma or Certificate under these regulations shall be awarded to any person who has attended a course of lectures and classes prescribed by the administering body, has satisfactorily completed the assignments for the course, and has also satisfied the Examiners in the examination for the Diploma or the Certificate. The list of successful candidates shall specify the subject in which each candidate has satisfied the Examiners. The symbol (d) may be placed against the names of candidates who acquit themselves with distinction, and the symbol (c) against the names of those who acquit themselves with credit.

14. The Diploma or Certificate shall be in the following form:

THIS IS TO CERTIFY THAT                                     having diligently attended a course of instruction in                                      and having been admitted to the examination appointed by the University of Cambridge has been approved2                                      by the Examiners and has been awarded the Diploma/Certificate3 in4

15. The General Board, on the recommendation of the administering body, shall determine, for each award, whether a candidate who is not awarded a Diploma or Certificate may be a candidate again in either the same or in any other field.

16. Fees to Examiners shall be as determined from time to time by the General Board on the recommendation of the administering body.

17. Review procedures for examination results and student complaints shall be approved from time to time by the General Board on the recommendation of the administering body.

SCHEDULE

Examinations for which the foregoing regulations apply Diplomas
Certificates

1 The bodies approved by the General Board to administer the qualifications under these regulations are: the Management Boards of the Institute of Continuing Education and the Cambridge Programme for Industry, the Committee of Management of the Language Centre, and the Faculty Boards of Divinity and Education.

2 Insert 'with Distinction' or 'with Credit' if appropriate.

3 Delete as appropriate.

4 Insert the subject in which the candidate has satisfied the Examiners.