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Validation and Partnerships form the University's collaborative provision: educational activity that leads to City, University of London award (or credit) and is delivered, supported and/or assessed through an arrangement with a partner organisation either in the UK or overseas.

City engages in a variety of different types of collaborative provision including:

  • Validation - this activity is managed centrally through the leadership of the Academic Director (Collaborative Provision).
  • Partnerships - this is overseen by the Deputy President (Education). Deans of Schools have day-to-day responsibility for any award- or credit-bearing partnership activity.

This includes:

  • Joint Programmes
  • Franchised Programmes
  • Articulated Provision
  • Access/Feeder Programmes
  • Off-site programme delivery

All collaborative provision will be underpinned by a Memorandum of Agreement.

Ultimate strategic responsibility for all collaborative provision lies with the City's Executive Committee including responsibility for signing-off any proposed new activity.

Student and Academic Services provides administrative management for validation and institutional-level partnerships. In addition, it provides support to Schools on new and on-going partnership activity.

Types of collaborative provision at City, University of London.

Validation

Validation is a process whereby City recognises the quality and standards of programmes delivered and designed by an approved institution as equivalent to its own. Successful students receive a certificate, diploma or degree from City.

Validation at City

  • Establishes links with a range of primarily London-based, high-profile institutions
  • Broadens the base of academic awards made in its name
  • Enables other forms of collaboration
  • Facilitates mutual educational development
  • Widens its reputation

The Academic Director (Collaborative Provision) provides academic leadership for the City's validation portfolio.

Course Board Chairs oversee the academic development of each validation.

The Collaborative Provision Committee advises the Academic Director (Collaborative Provision) in this work.

Student and Academic Services provides administrative management for the validation portfolio.

Validation Documents

Developing Partnerships

Partnerships as a term encompasses all collaborative activity except validation. Partnership provision usually involves the award of City, University of London credit or awards.

The approval of partnerships and the development of programmes specific to a partnership is a two-tiered system. There are also additional areas to be considered during the Stage A and B programme approval process.

Approval flow diagram.

Stage A

Stage A is the initial approval stage for partnership programmes and is designed to enable an initial evaluation of a credit or award-bearing Collaborative Provision proposal.

It is undertaken at both an Academic School-level via PARC prior to detailed discussions taking place with the proposed partner.

Stage A focuses on the compatibility of the proposed partner with City, an initial outline of the proposal and any associated risks.

Once School PARC conditions are met, Collaborative Provision proposals are forwarded to the Assistant Registrar (Partnerships and Academic Development) in Student and Academic Services for review by the University Strategic Partnerships Approval and Review Committee (USPARC).

Stage B Approval

After all of the Stage A conditions have been responded to, the proposal is considered by School PARC for School Stage B approval.

Academic Partnership Coordinators will complete the Stage B forms in liaison with the School PARC Secretary and School Head of Academic Services.

A member of the partner institution may be required to attend the School Stage B PARC meeting, if appropriate to the nature of the partnership.

Partner institution representation at the PARC meeting will be agreed in liaison with Student and Academic Services.

Academic Partnership Coordinator

Each programme involving partnership provision will have a link tutor who will oversee the academic development of the programme and act as the main point of contact between City and the Partner Institution.

The role is a flexible one as the amount of time required will vary depending on the partner and the complexity of the provision.

In the event of a Partner Institution having a large number of programmes or being spread across more than one School, there would be the potential for more than one Academic Partnership Coordinator.

Role profile for Academic Partnership Coordinators.

Guidance Documents

Alongside the Student Policies & Regulations page, the guidance and forms below are designed to help validated institutions and partners navigate City’s quality assurance processes.

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