Validation Service Collaborative Provision: Business Planning Process

The University has currently undertaken a major review of the way it undertakes business planning for collaborative provision. All collaborative provision, including validation service, should obtain business sign off before academic approval or review takes place.  Please refer to the documents below before commencing collaborative provision business planning:

• Collaborative Provision Business Approval Process Flow (Collaborative Provision Business Approval Process Flow)
• Collaborative Provision Business Approval Guidance (Collaborative  Provision Business Approval Process Guidance)

Online Business Planning

• Contact Julie Page in the Collaborative Partnerships Office to initiate the first stages of the outline business case.  Sections A and B of the BCT-VS form should be completed at this stage (BCT-VS form).
• Contact the College Finance and Planning Manager to undertake a Partnership Agreement Risk Assessment Tool (PARAT).
• Outline Business Case and PARAT should then be considered by the School Executive.

Full Business Planning and Due Diligence

• Following approval of outline business planning, contact Julie Page to initiate the full business planning process.  Sections C-H of the BCT-VS form should be completed at this stage.
• In some cases full, outsourced due diligence will be required, Chris Cox, Head of Collaborative Partnerships, will be able to advise if this is the case.  If full, outsourced due diligence is required, then College Management Team should consider the proposal and give agreement in principle before the due diligence is undertaken.
• If full, outsourced due diligence is not required, due diligence form A should be completed (Due Diligence Form A).  Additionally, due diligence form B should be completed if the collaboration is with an institution overseas (Due Diligence Form B).
• Full Business Case and due diligence should then be considered by College Management Team.

Senior Management Team Approval

• Following approval of outline business planning, the proposal will be presented to the Senior Management Team by the Head of College.
• Following Senior Management Team approval, the academic approval / review process can commence.

Making change to existing courses

• All changes to courses at Validated Centres should be presented using the reporting proposed changes to courses form (Reporting Proposed changes to courses form).

Should you require any guidance in relation to the collaborative provision business planning process please contact Julie Page or Victoria Fanning.