Teaching, learning and assessment overviews

All departments within the University of Essex have a teaching, learning and assessment overview. These serve the following purposes:

• provide an overview to current and prospective students of the teaching, learning and assessment methods used in the department,
• form the basis for discussions within the department, and during quality enhancement meetings, to formulate teaching, learning and assessment plans as well as embedding new initiatives for future academic years
• support academic members of staff in designing, developing, and delivering new courses and modules
• facilitate a standardised approach to learning outcomes to ensure that they are at the appropriate level and volume of credits
• assist with internal/external review or accreditation requirements since it could be referred to without having to create something new
• set the scene for the annual Curriculum Update which would enable more efficient approval of changes by the Faculty Deans and the Quality and Academic Development team. These overviews also assist with compliance with Competition and Markets Authority requirements and other external regulations. The information within the overviews is also drawn on for other publications, such as reassessment strategies.

The overview should cover:

• each level of provision (undergraduate and postgraduate taught and research)
• all modes of delivery (including online/blended study)
• both assessment and reassessment.

Student overview

Each overview begins with a brief summary, at each level of provision, which is aimed at prospective and current students. This includes:

• Details about the general level of experience or status of staff involved in teaching
• Overall methods of assessment (for example, a combination of exams, coursework, or practical assessments)
• Overall expected workload/contact hours (e.g., frequency/duration of lectures and seminars) 

This information is core and aligns with the requirements of consumer protection law. This summary will be published to prospective and current students and will appear on Curriculum Notifications.

Reviewing and updating teaching, learning and assessment overviews

The overviews are reviewed and updated in the Curriculum Update system, as part of the annual process of reviewing and updating every course and module. Information on this is included in the Teaching Learning and Assessment Curriculum Update guidance (.pdf); for further queries please contact quad@essex.ac.uk or crt@essex.ac.uk. 

The overviews must be reviewed and updated as necessary for each academic year, in order to ensure the currency and accuracy of the information given. Changes to the overviews are subject to approval by the Faculty Dean, as laid out in the Reporting and Approval structures (.docx).