Collaborative Partnerships

St Mary's have entered into collaborative arrangements with a small number of partner institutions.

These partnerships take a number of different forms including Validation, Franchise, Part-Franchise, Articulation Agreements and Flying Faculty arrangements. The University has responsibility for the academic standards of all awards made in our name, irrespective of whether we deliver the programme itself or whether this is done in whole or part by another organisation, i.e. through collaborative partnerships.

Programmes offered through collaborative partnerships are monitored carefully to ensure that they meet threshold academic standards and comply fully with the University's Quality Assurance mechanisms and regulations and policies. In developing collaborative partnerships the University must be assured that the student opportunities for learning at collaborative partner institutions are consistent with those provided within the University, that academic standards are equivalent to those of comparable qualifications within the University, and that collaborating partners reflect the ethos, mission and values of the University.

Useful Documents

• Partnership AIM framework
• Operations manual for franchise partnership
• Partnership link tutor role
• Approval of teaching staff at partner institutions

Writing proposals for collaborative provision

• APP1 Initial Viability and Risk Assessment
• APP2 Due Diligence
• Academic Partnership Expansion Plan proposal form

Articulation arrangements

• Articulation Arrangement Approval Form
• Articulation Arrangement Process

Partnership programme monitoring and review

• Programme Review Report Template (CP)