A change in validation arrangements
OCA is on the move. Not literally, but from September 2012 our undergraduate programmes will have a new validating university. As from then, our undergraduate programmes will be validated by the University for the Creative Arts (UCA), who currently validate our MA in Fine Art.
The change in validation partner follows a review by the OCA of its business model. The aim of the review was to secure best value for students to ensure we were acting consistently with our charitable purpose of widening participation in art education.
UCA is one of Europe’s largest specialist universities of art, design, architecture, media and communication. Its alumni include fashion designers Karen Millen and Zandra Rhodes; Oscar winners Daniel Greaves and Suzie Templeton; and fine artists Tracy Emin and Humphrey Ocean.
We have discussed the changes with the President of the OCA Student Association and he has commented: “Whilst I’m not in a position this early in my OCASA role to anticipate what the impact might be in every individual circumstance, I can see, overall, that this is a positive move for OCA to make.”
I have written to all tutors and students informing them of the change and seeking to answer any questions they may have.
Buckinghamshire New University, which has been OCA’s validation and accreditation partner since 2007, will continue to validate and accredit OCA courses from now until 31 August 2012. We have greatly benefited from their support during a period of transformation for the OCA.
If you are a current student and have any questions or concerns please email enquiries@oca-uk.com
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great news – it will be so much cooler to have a UCA degree (sorry Bucks!)
Will this affect anyone ‘mid course’? Or does it just mean a different uni awards your degree?
It just means that a different university awards your degree
Thank u 🙂
Wonderful news!
I loved my time at KIAD, now UCA in Canterbury doing my fine art cert. It will be a creative relationship I am sure, and I feel I have come full circle if my degree is awarded by UCA.
That sounds good news. There’s one thing that occurs to me which I hadn’t thought of before. If we are associated with a University that provides photography courses (such as the Farnham site near to where I live) does that mean we might be able to attend any of their lectures etc?
Possibly Catherine – we haven’t got to that level of detail yet, but will bear it in mind
It seems good news overall but one thing that occurs to me is that I notice that they don’t offer music courses at UCA. How will that affect students studying music and any future plans to develop a music degree that the OCA might have?
Thanks for the question. UCA do not have a music course and this was a significant factor in the early discussions with them. The external examiner will be from an institution which does have such a course, as will external subject experts bought in to advise on the validation -once we get to that stage.
I have noticed that UCA don’t offer a creative writing course either so how will the changes affect students studying creative writing?
Hi Jo
It is essentially the same answer. There will be no impact on students studying creative writing. The OCA will continue to maintain and develop the courses and provide tuition. UCA will quality assure the processes and assessment, drawing on external experts as necessary.
Sounds like exciting news to me. I checked out UCA’s website and it seems the organisation has been rooted in the creative arts for quite some time. I think this must have more relevance for OCA students (again, sorry Bucks). I’ll watch this space with keen interest.
Thank you for the information, will look forward to returning to studies next year.
Good News, like Catherine I am local to Farnham and welcome the idea of possible co-operation or shared resources.
Does this mean that in point of fact if I am assessed by Bucks now and if I wish to continue towards a degree I will have to apply for accrediation of prior learning as happened when the last changeover happened? If this is the case then I am not amused as when this happened last time although I was given as pass mark by Bucks they did not uphold my grade which was considerably higher.
Mary – given that grades are only important at HE level 6 (our level 3) I suspect that all APL is either pass or fail and not a value judgement beyond that.
Mary – I can’t speak for the process last time (it was before I joined the OCA), but am clear that existing students will not need to apply through the APL process to transfer their credits to UCA. This is covered in the student briefing note. I am out of the office so cannot see if this was sent to you, so I am resending it.
Peter is absolutely right in his comment. You will not been disadvantaged by the transfer in 2007.
I hope this reassures
Gareth
Thanks to both for your responses which are of reassurance.
Mary
Hi Gareth,
On the whole this sounds like a positive move and I shall follow developments with interest.
One question for me is that I may wish to enrol on Sculpture 1 next year and if I do opt for this I notice it does not feature in the UCA subject areas. I note what you replied to Elizabeth Jeffries above but felt it was worth flagging up even so.
Roberta
Hi Roberta
Please do not worry about the Sculpture course – it will remain part of the portfolio. UCA will quality assure our processes and appoint external examiners to ensure assessment is at the appropriate level – it is not necessary for them to run all of the course options that we offer.
Gareth
Peter Haveland says
My college does not do Sculpture as a discrete subject qualification but sculpture features on all the courses other than A/S A2 Photography. So I wouldn’t worry, lots of sculpture happens at UCA and even if it didn’t it would have no effect on what we can offer.
Hi Gareth
My first level 3 course will be assessed in March 2012 with Bucks and so my final module will be with UCA. How will this work for the final marking of the degree as I was under the impression that the final year has to be assessed from the same institution.
You are right Sheila, normally both final modules would need to be assessed by the same institution. However we have factored this into our discussions with UCA, so please do not worry.
Re. transferring credits from Bucks to UCA, will the OCA ensure that the interim results transcripts are forwarded smoothly?
I remember that Glamorgan messed up with the credit transfer to Bucks, with the result that students were asked to send their original credit transcripts to the new university.
Hi Sue
The simple answer is yes. As I said earlier, I can’t speak for the process last time (it was before I joined the OCA) and therefore it would be wrong of me to start trying to attribute blame. However I am supremely confident that both BNU and UCA will handle their parts of the transition professionally and that we have the capability to ensure that our responsibilities are met.
Thanks for the information Gareth.
Hi Gareth,
I am doing level 3 – is it worth hanging on and having both courses assessed at UCA, rather than at 2 different places or does it not matter?
Hi Tanya
It doesn’t really matter and you may disadvantage yourself if you have both courses assessed at the same time as you will lose the opportunity to benefit from the assessment feedback from the first course.