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The University of Kent, Canterbury, Kent, CT2 7NZ, T +44 (0)1227 764000
Collaborative Provision
The University enters into a range of collaborative partnerships with UK and overseas institutions. In accordance with the QAA's definition, collaborative provision denotes educational provision leading to an award, or to specific credit toward an award, of an awarding institution and/or supported and/or assessed through an arrangement with a partner organisation. The Quality Assurance Office keeps an up-to-date register of collaborative partnerships and collaborative programmes operated by those partners.
Before Kent enter into legally binding agreements with institutions a process of due diligence is carried out to ensure itself of the good standing of the prospective partner. Inter-institutional agreements detail how academic standards of collaborative programmes will be managed. The University has a set of procedures for ensuring that programmes delivered under collaborative arrangements meet the expectations of the UK Academic Infrastructure.
Types of Collaborative Provision
The University operates policies and procedures relating to different types of collaborative provision, below is an overview of the main types used at the University. A full typology is available within the Collaborative Provision Polices and Procedures Part 1.
Validation
The University validates programmes of study at other institutions. This means that the other institution devises and delivers the programme to its own students and that students who successfully complete the programme of study are awarded a Certificate, Diploma or Degree by the University. The University is therefore responsible for standards of awards and quality assurance of validated programmes.
Franchised Provision
The University franchises delivery of programmes of study to its Associate/Partner Colleges. This means that the other institution is responsible for delivery of a programme of study to students of the University. Franchised Programmes of Study are subject to Annex O of the Code of Practice for Quality Assurance of Taught Programmes of Study.
Joint Awards
The University works in collaboration with one or more collaborating partners to offer students one single award. Students complete one academic programme, but their degree certificate shows the award is given jointly by the partners.
Dual Awards
The University collaborates with a number of partners whereby students study for a single programme of study but receive two awards, one from each partner institution. In most cases the students spend half their studies at one institution and then half at the other.
Progression/Articulation Arrangements
The University has several progression agreements in place, whereby students are guaranteed entry to the start of of a University of Kent programme as a result of prior study at a partner institution, which may involve gaining a particular qualification (possibly with specified marks). Articulation Agreements, which allow for a cohort students from a partner institution to be admitted with advance standing onto a Kent programme, are less common, but might be established as per the guidance set out in the International Partnership Handbook.