Committee Related Information

• At the programme level, a Programme and Curriculum Committee (PCC) is set up for a taught postgraduate programme.  The major responsibilities are:

1. To take charge of the degree programme, including the design, implementation and review of the curriculum, inter alia, the achievement of the intended programme learning outcomes.

2. To liaise with all Department/Units/Divisions concerned on programme matters, such as course offerings for each academic year.

3. To liaise with Registry/School of Graduate Studies on all academic matters, including review of academic regulations and examination matters.

4. To review admissions policy for the degree programme.

5. To deal with all other matters related to the degree programme.

• A Board of Examiners is set up for a taught postgraduate programme to oversee examination matters. The major duties are:

1. To maintain the academic standards of the programme at a level appropriate to the type of award.

2. To approve examination question papers after considering the views and recommendations of External Academic Advisers, where appropriate.

3. To maintain general supervision of the system of continuous assessment, where it applies.

4.  To maintain the proper conduct of examinations.

5. To determine students’ examination results.

6. To assess the progress of students and to report its decisions, including its recommendations for award classification, to the Postgraduate Studies Committee.

7. To consider appeals referred to it by the Registrar.

• The Staff-Student Consultation Committee provides a platform for students to express their views on the programme and individual courses, and for the departments/academic units to solicit student feedback on specific aspects of the programme and courses for continuous improvement.  The major responsibilities are:

1. To promote understanding between students and teaching staff.

2. To consider feedback from students regarding teaching, learning and course evaluation and issues of importance for enhancing teaching and learning quality.

3. To consider any other matters of concern to students.

4. To review and monitor the learning and teaching quality assurance mechanisms and processes within the programme.

5.  To provide feedback to students on changes made to courses and teaching in response to the Course Teaching and Learning Evaluation exercise.

6.  To formulate strategies in helping students to learn more effectively.

• The appointment of External Academic Advisers (EAAs) is intended to provide an external and impartial check that internal standards are being fairly and consistently applied and that Lingnan's measures are comparable with those of similar degree programmes at the tertiary level in Kong and outside Hong Kong. The duties of EAAs include:

1. To assist the programmes in maintaining standards comparable to those in other tertiary institutions of international repute;
2. To take an overview of the assessment arrangements, including comments on any assessment materials for continuous assessment, examinations papers and assessment/marking schemes of selected courses sent to them. Comments received on constant assessment materials, examination papers, and assessment/marking schemes should be used for future reference and planning purposes;
3. To receive and assess a sample of student works, including examination scripts, dissertations, project reports, essays, case studies, etc., as appropriate to enable him/her to understand students' academic standards. Comments from External Academic Advisers regarding the appropriateness of markings should be used for future reference and planning purposes;
4. To satisfy himself/herself that the standards set by the Board of Examiners concerned are appropriate and comparable with the standards of equivalent programmes at other tertiary institutions;
5. To submit a confidential report to the President by 1st July. The report should cover issues in the following areas with reference to those in programmes at other comparable tertiary institutions:

          (1) the structure, organisation, design and marking of all assessments.

          (2) academic standards, i.e., examination papers, course work and grading with regard to the quality of outcome, the performance of students, and the level of the award.

          (3)development of the programme, with regard to such matters as the curriculum, the assessment scheme and resources.

•  An Advisory Board shall normally meet once a year to help plan and keep under review the following aspects of work including future developments:

7. Level and length of courses/programme(s) concerned in relation to local and regional needs;

8. The relevance of the courses/programme(s) in relation to the local and regional needs;

9. The prospects of local and regional employment for graduates;

10. The adequacy of the equipment and other resources of the academic unit(s) to fulfil local and regional needs;

11. The development of teaching and other activities carried out jointly by the academic unit(s) and the appropriate sector of the community;

12. Investigation consultancy and other services given by the academic unit(s); and

13. Keep under review the assistance that the community can give to further the objectives of the University in the subject concerned by way of practical training facilities, the provision of part-time teaching staff and equipment, the award of scholarships, student-fellowships, etc.