Designing Learning Programmes & Modules

Are you tasked with developing a new academic programme or making amendments to an already existing academic programme? If so, it may seem like a daunting task, but there are recommended steps that you can follow to help you.

The decision to embark on developing a new programme usually begins at the departmental level, therefore it is important that you work alongside your departmental team and your HOD, thereafter your CBE Dean and School Director, the Centre for Academic Planning and Quality Promotion (CAPQP) and the CBE Programme Committee to obtain the necessary advice and support needed to undertake programme development, approval processes and eventually implementation.

Use CAPQP'sProgramme Manual which provides the UJ steps of the Programme Development process from start to completion.

In addition, read the Academic Programme Policy Senate Approved 10 June 2021.pdf to become acquainted with what an academic programme is and its requirements for approval.

Here are some of the requirements as per the Academic Programme Policy:

• HEQSF and the Minimum Admission Requirements
• Should comply with the requirements of the relevant statutory and / or non-statutory professional bodies.
• Should align to the vision, mission, values, and strategic objectives of the University.
• Should align with faculty/College strategic plans and be based on established and contemporary research.
• Must be coherently designed to ensure constructive alignment of the curriculum in terms of the purpose of the programme, exit-level outcomes, assessment criteria, the learning content of modules, module learning outcomes, and teaching, learning and assessment opportunities and strategies.
  • A learning guide, per module is required and must comply with the UJ Teaching and Learning Policy and the Policy on Learning Support Materials.
• As the programme is housed within a public higher education institution, the University is restricted to NQF levels 5 to 10 in accordance with the Higher Education Act 101 of 1997.

“A programme / learning programme is a purposeful and structured set of learning experiences (i.e., the teaching, learning and assessment activities) that lead to a qualification (degree, diploma, or certificate). (e.g., BA is the qualification, but BA graduates will have differing learning programmes depending on the subjects chosen)”(p.9).Academic Programme Policy Senate Approved 10 June 2021.pdf

The UJ Academic Programme Policy further indicates that “An academic programme comprises a defined number of modules: it must have a core component and may have fundamental and/or elective components) each providing their own learning outcomes, and assessment criteria aligned to the purpose and exit-level outcomes of the programme. The modules comprising a programme must be placed on an appropriate NQF level and allocated credit values related to the complexity and demands of that NQF level, as well as the outcomes and content of the module” (p.4).

A module is “a predetermined unit of teaching and learning (building block) within a programme with an institutionally determined credit value and duration (sometimes referred to as a subject or course)” (UJ Policy on Learning Resources).

The modules comprising a programme must be placed on an appropriate NQF level and allocated credit values related to the complexity and demands of that NQF level, as well as the outcomes and content of the module.

Other considerations in programme and module development as mentioned in the UJ Academic Programme Policy include the duration of subsidised programmes, contact time, modes of teaching and learning, assessment strategies as well as the accumulation of credits towards a qualification (Credit Accumulation and Transfer- CAT).

When constructing an academic programme, use the principles as outlined in the UJ Policy on Learning Resources (can be found on the UJ sharepoint) to guide the process.

According to the UJ Policy on Teaching and Learning, a learning guide is “a module-specific learning facilitation tool serving as a ‘map’ for the students. It contains organisational as well as learning facilitation components (p. 2).

Consult the UJ Policy on Learning Resources to ensure that you meet all the necessary requirements when you develop a learning guide. Also include your departmental, school and CBE's requirements when developing your learning guides.

• University's Teaching and Learning Policy Download
• Academic Calendar as approved by Senate
• Lecturing Timetable as approved by the University Timetable Committee
• UJ Online Policy Framework and Distance Education Policy (for Online programmes)
• UJ Assessment Policy Download
• UJ Policy on Learning Resources
• UJ Short Learning Programme (SLP) Download

The Centre for Academic Planning and Quality Promotion (CAPQP) will assist with the following academic planning functions around your new academic programme or amendments to a current academic programme:

• Quality assurance
• Regulatory matters
• Professional body accreditations
• DHET, CHE, SAQA processes
• Internal programme approvals
• Programme amendment
• Curriculum transformation

Please consult theirProgramme Manualand theirGuidelines for Curriculum Transformation. Their contact email iscapqp@uj.ac.za

Designing a course (Washington University in St. Louis, USA, Centre for Teaching and Learning)