Programmes of study that are funded by clients or other external sources are included in the university’s ordinary quality assurance work, with some adjustments.
INN University offers several programmes of study that are externally funded. These are programmes of study that students must pay for themselves, either as open programmes with tuition fees or according to agreement with the client. These programmes of study :
- often have differing start-up cycles
- have a smaller scope
- have several partners
- are purely online studies
- are conducted outside the university’s campuses and premises
About organisation and implementation
The programmes of study are advertised as open programmes with tuition fees or are organised according to agreement with a client, but are carried out in a very similar manner to ordinary programmes of study:
- Admission to the programmes of study is carried out through the university’s ordinary admissions routines with the quality assurance it entails.
- Approval and revision of the programme descriptions follow the same routines as ordinary programmes of study, in accordance with the university’s process description regarding programme content.
- Requirements for academic communities that provide teaching/lectures are the same as in ordinary programmes of study.
- Examinations are conducted in accordance with the university’s guidelines. Teaching and examinations that are conducted outside the university’s ordinary campuses and premises must be appropriate.
- All externally funded programmes of study have a programme of study coordinator and all courses have a course coordinator. These roles can be taken on in slightly different ways and by people who also have other roles, but the responsibility is clearly assigned at all times.
- Reporting from these takes place in the same way as for ordinary programmes of study.
- It is not necessary to establish programme of study committees for externally funded programmes of study of a smaller scope. The programme of study committee’s tasks can be performed through meetings between the programme of study coordinators and the client/partners, or meetings with the student representative. The dean approves deviations from the ordinary scheme/arrangements.
Evaluations and feedback
The following evaluation schemes will be relevant for externally funded programmes of study:
- Oral or written course evaluation during or at the end of each course in the form of questionnaires, other written variants or evaluation meetings.
- Overall programme of study evaluation after the completion of programmes that involve several courses that follow the same form.
- Written and oral feedback from the client and partners
- Periodic meetings between partners
The evaluations are summarised and discussed with the students where possible.
Student participation
The students’ opinions should be heard in connection with all the university’s programmes of study. Student participation in externally funded programmes of study depends on the organisation of the programme. As a general rule, a student representative must be appointed for each programme of study that is implemented. However, in cases where this is not feasible, student participation may take place through digital solutions, evaluations or dialogue with the client. The programme of study coordinator is responsible for ensuring that student participation is satisfactory.
Reporting
During and/or after the completion of the programme, the programme of study coordinator submits a written report to the dean based on the university’s report template (NO). The report may also be sent to partners. The programme of study coordinators’ report is included in joint reporting to the university.
Development of the portfolio of studies
The provision of externally funded studies is developed on the basis of the university’s strategic choices, and in dialogue with external partners and customers. Changes in programme descriptions are discussed with clients and with academic staff before they are sent to the Education Committee for consideration. The annual rhythm of the work on the portfolio of studies may be somewhat different from the university in general because the start-up and implementation of some programmes of study is determined in dialogue with the client.
Actors’ responsibilities and duties
- The faculty deans are primarily responsible for the educational programmes and the quality of education.
- The vice-dean of education has a specific responsibility regarding pedagogical development.
- A programme of study coordinator is appointed to each individual programme of study before start-up and implementation
- In programmes of study that include several courses, course coordinators are appointed. If the programme of study only has one course, the programme of study coordinator is also the course coordinator. The course coordinator is responsible for planning and implementing the programme of study.