Section 10: Collaborative Provision

The University has several broad categories of collaborative provision:
- A. Licence / Franchise;
- B. Distance Delivery;
- C. Joint Degree;
- D. Dual Degree;
- E. Consortium arrangements;
- F. Advanced Standing;
- G. Progression agreements;
- H. Approved partner;
- I. Validation Service.
School-based collaborations (categories A-H) are designed, delivered and managed by an NTU School and an external institution, organisation or agency (Centre), and leads to a University award. A Centre may be located overseas. Such courses are normally located in Schools and are the responsibility of the appropriate SASQC.
Within the Validation Service category I, a course is entirely designed, delivered and managed by a Validated Centre (although the University will retain ultimate authority for the award through processes conducted by the Validation Service Sub-committee). The Centre will also be subject to an Institutional Approval process. A University Verifier will be appointed.
A course at a Centre may be approved for the purposes of allowing successful students to enter a designated University course with credit.
All distance-learning courses that involve a partner - even in a simple administrative capacity - are regarded as collaborative. In some cases, it may be necessary to undertake a site visit.
All collaborative provision is subject to the provisions of the ASQ Handbook. Specific aspects may not apply to Validated Centres, although the general principles will.
The parameters of a collaborative arrangement and the respective responsibilities of the University and Centre are set out in a Collaborative Agreement (or Institutional Agreement in the case of a Validated Centre).
The status of a student (and their rights to certain University services) will vary depending upon the nature of the specific collaboration.
Most potential proposals for new collaborative provision must be first assessed by the School Executive, College Management Team and Senior Management for financial and business viability, risk assessment and strategic fit (Due Diligence Guidance and pro-forma are available from CPO).
All collaborative provision will be subject to initial approval, monitoring and annual reporting, and to periodic review.
All collaborative courses will have an external examiner, whose appointment will be approved by the University.
Where appropriate, and normally in the context of the Bologna Process, a collaborative course may lead to a University award / credits and that of the Centre. In the case of the Nottingham Trent award, the degree certificate will always be produced by the University.
The cost of the approval and review of a collaborative partnership will be borne by either the School or the Centre depending upon the nature of the collaborative arrangement.
Full details can be found in Section 10 of the ASQ Handbook.