Establishing a Foundation Establishing a Foundation Degree in Computing at Degree in Computing at

Fermanagh CollegeFermanagh College

Gerry Kingston – Lecturer ComputingGerry Kingston – Lecturer Computing

Fermanagh CollegeFermanagh College

Viable Student NumbersUniversity Industrial Partners

Program Concept

Other concerns – Management support, staff and physical resources, marketing

Initial Contact with UniversityInitial Contact with University

• UU had given a presentation to FE colleges in N. Ireland about the provision of Foundation Degrees and invited colleges to apply.

• Fermanagh College had a well established but dated HND in Computing. Inspectorate reports had been generally favourable but noted poor industrial links.

Stage 1 – CA2 formStage 1 – CA2 formCourse Proposal from an external Course Proposal from an external

InstitutionInstitution

Must be submitted by an early deadline eg October.

After initial expression of interest able to correspond with Dr Stephen Hagan – UU Faculty of Engineering Head of Collaborative Courses (my best friend in the whole world)

CA2 Sections CA2 Sections

• Course Outline• Reasons for Proposal• Student numbers• Progression routes• External Agencies –

Industrial Links• Entry Requirements• Aims and Learning

Outcomes

• Course Structure• Teaching and

Learning Methods• Resources

– Staff– Course Committee– Physical– Support

• Endorsement of Proposal

StudentsStudents

• Speaking to existing HND computing students the title Foundation Degree is more appealing than HND

• Changes in application qualification would make little difference to student numbers.

• Consulted with AVCE/BTEC Nat. students in college and their course co-ordinators

• Surveyed careers officers in local schools

Consultation with EmployersConsultation with Employers

• Welcomed by most employers on a visit to their company

• Surveyed essential understanding required• Practical experience required• Programming languages and software packages• Possible number of students who could be

accommodated on work placement• Format of work placement

Management SupportManagement Support

• Management must facilitate and encourage the course team

• Appoint a course co-ordinator and allow staff time for course submission – it requires large quantities of time and effort.

• Support your local course co-ordinator

Course TeamCourse Team

• Decide on module content and structure based on details obtained by course co-ordinator.

• Course structure is primarily controlled by the employer links and core structure provided by the University rather than staff preferences.

• Consider teaching and Learning methods

Outline Structure from UUOutline Structure from UU1 20

xxx

1

10

xxx

A 20

xxx

1 20

xxx

1 20

xxx

1 20

xxx

2 20

xxx

2 20

xxx

1 20

xxx

Ye

ar

1

2 40

Work-based Learning

Ye

ar

2

A

10

xxx

Certificate of Higher Education

2 20

xxx

Fermanagh CollegeFermanagh CollegeFD Computing structureFD Computing structure1 20Systems Analysis

and Design

1 10Comp-uting Math-

ematics

A 20Software

Constructs and Tools

1 20

Database

1 20

Computer Platforms

1 20

Introduction to Programming

2 20Network

DatabaseApplications

2 20

Web Application Development

1 20

Software Construction

Ye

ar

1

2 40

Work-based Learning

Ye

ar

2

A 10Comp-

uter Applic-ations

Certificate of Higher Education

2 20

Computer Networks

Submission of CA2 formSubmission of CA2 formstage 1 completestage 1 complete

• UU Course Approval Sub-Committee considered our CA2 and “recommended to the Teaching and Learning Committee that the proposal proceed to planning and evaluation with a view to entry in September 2004”

• Now we were to prepare a course document in line with the University’s Guide to Collaboration in Course Provision

Stage 2Stage 2Course Document and presentation Course Document and presentation

to Faculty Validation Panel.to Faculty Validation Panel.

Course DocumentFollow University course document template.General Introduction – origins, student demandCourse Specification – learning outcomes, structure, admission

criteriaCommentary – progression, entrepreneurship, teaching, learning

and assessment criteriaCourse Regulations – must follow University standards, work

based learning, course structure and course modules.Course Management – quality assurance, college resources

Module DesignModule Design

• Involve teaching team in overall course plan including relationships between modules and linking modules to needs of industrial partners.

• Not all industrial partners will have identical needs so compromise where necessary and justify decision to industrial partner.

• Ensure coverage of course learning outcomes across module portfolio

Choice of Choice of programming programming

languagelanguage

University ProgressionJava

HND ComputingVB6 & Java

Must be an OO languageQUINN Group

C#Swiftsoft

VBBALCAS

VB.netEventual Choice

Individual Module DesignIndividual Module Design

Teaching team members wrote the modules they expected to deliver then agreed the content with the course co-ordinator.

Views of relevant local employers had a strong input to module design and assessment.

Module structureModule structure• Rationale – brief introduction• Aims – point format• Learning Outcomes

– Knowledge and Understanding– Intellectual Qualities– Professional/Practical Skills– Transferable Skills

• Content• Learning and Teaching Methods• Assessment – ensure coverage of Learning outcomes• Reading List• Summary Description

Work PlacementWork Placement

• Feedback from employers indicated a preference for semester 2 with students possibly spending most of the week with an employer.

• Module assessment– Work placement preparation– Reports on activities during placement– Employer feedback and tutor observation– Post placement review including peer review

APLAPL

Include college APL Scheme in appendix

APL only applicable to year 1 modules (where APL scheme demonstrates academic experience and ability equivalent to any particular module)

Progression RoutesProgression Routes

Foundation Degree in Computing at Fermanagh College

Full time BSc Hons in Computing at University of Ulster joining year 2 and year 4

Part time BSc Hons Computing and Information Systems at Fermanagh College or UU

Employment

Faculty Validation MeetingFaculty Validation Meeting

• Provide 7 copies of course document in advance.

• Meeting took place in UU between Faculty of Engineering staff and the course team.

• Representative from industry present.• Course co-ordinator gave outline of course

proposal then complete team answered questions.

• Work placement and entrepreneurship training were closely examined.

Faculty Validation OutcomeFaculty Validation Outcome

• The Faculty Validation Panel recommended progression to the University Evaluation Panel.

• Significant number of changes requested, especially to Work placement.

• Stage 2 complete

Stage 3Stage 3University Evaluation PanelUniversity Evaluation Panel

• Review and rewrite course document in keeping with comments from the faculty panel.

• Include concept of learning contract between employers and students.

• Provide 7 copies in advance of meeting

University Evaluation Panel, University Evaluation Panel, College staff and Industrial linksCollege staff and Industrial links

University Evaluation PanelUniversity Evaluation Panel

• UU Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Teaching and Learning

• Professor N Black, Dean of Faculty of Engineering

• 3 lecturers from Universities in England

• Local Industrial representative, head of IT at the Quinn Group

University Evaluation PanelUniversity Evaluation Panel

• Tour of facilities

• Presentation of course to panel

• Further changes recommended

• Lunch with various local industrial links

• Course finally accepted (subject to changes in course document)

• Stage 3 complete (almost)

Living with a Foundation DegreeLiving with a Foundation Degree

• Document everything– Course team meetings.– Staff/student consultative meetings– Exam Boards– Resit boards– Course Review

Quality ProceduresQuality Procedures

CW / Ex set by module co-ordinator

Internally verified by course co-ordinator or member of teaching team

Externally verified by subject expert within the University of Ulster

Externally verified by External examiner

Closing commentClosing comment

• An excellent course with real practical skills and abilities.

• Prepares students well for the work environment

• The teaching team must meet frequently in the first year.

• Co-ordinator must drive course forward.