Information for Course Leads
Information for Course Leads
Welcome to the SFC Upskilling Project's Information for Course Leads webpage. Here, you will find information on the progression of your course now that it has been commissioned through the Upskilling Project Course Commissioning Process.
Project Management
Throughout the Project Cycle, various meetings and touchpoints will be established to provide support and guidance for the design and delivery of your course.
These include:
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Monthly Project Oversight Meetings: These meetings, organised by the Upskilling Project Coordinator, occur on a monthly basis to ensure project progress and address any concerns or questions.
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Ad-hoc Meetings: Additional meetings will be scheduled as needed to address specific requirements or discuss any emerging issues.
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Course Design Meetings: These meetings are organised by the Learning Innovation Support Unit (LISU) in collaboration with your assigned Learning Innovation Officer. They focus on the course's design, mapping, and building process, providing valuable support and guidance.
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Catch-up Meeting: Midway through the course, meeting will be organised to conduct a mid-course check-in, ensuring everything is on track and addressing any necessary adjustments or concerns.
Project Team
Your Project Team consists of various members, each with their respective roles:
- College Project Lead: Provides guidance on college practices specific to the project.
- Upskilling Project Manager: Oversees and manages the entire Upskilling Project.
- Course Lead: Takes the lead in developing and delivering course content.
- Course Team: Comprises Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTAs) and other academics who assist in supporting course delivery.
- LISU Learning Innovation Officer: Offers support in course mapping, design, and building.
- Course Administrator: Manages administrative tasks related to the courses once they are launched.
- Upskilling Learner Support Coordinator: Coordinates learner-facing tasks such as registration, enrollment, and handling enquiries.
- Upskilling Project Coordinator: Coordinates project-related tasks, including organising project meetings, and gathering course feedback.
- Upskilling Marketing Coordinator: Manages marketing tasks, including managing course webpages, leading on course promotion, liaising with external contacts, and designing marketing materials.
Areas of Responsibility
School and Course Team Responsibilities:
- Collaborate with LISU to plan the course effectively.
- Work with LISU to complete the necessary PIP (Programme Information and Planning) documents and submit them on time for approval.
- Arrange for an External Examiner and identify Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTAs) for the course.
- Once the PIP is approved, ensure the course is correctly set up on MyCampus, including necessary enrolment conditions.
- Take responsibility for the administration of the course.
LISU Responsibilities:
- Collaborate with the Course Lead to design and map out the course delivery.
- Assist the course team in constructing the required PIP documents.
- Provide expertise and support regarding learning technology considerations and pedagogical approaches aligned with the course's intended learning outcomes and aims.
- Offer ongoing support as needed during course delivery.
SFC Upskilling Project Team Responsibilities:
- Arrange an initial meeting with the Course Lead and LISU.
- Set up and coordinate monthly catch-up meetings.
- Establish and manage the use of the Teams Channel for communication.
- Provide necessary project information and updates.
- Create and manage the course webpage.
- Contribute to the PIP specification, particularly regarding industry and partner engagement, ensuring consistency across the course portfolio.
- Create and manage booking pages for the course.
- Undertake marketing activities to promote the course.
- Provide updates on recruitment numbers to the Course Team.
- Ensure successful admission of all learners to the course plans.
- Coordinate registration and enrolment of learners in the courses.
- Handle learner enquiries prior to the course start date. Additionally, offer support to the Course Administrator in case of difficulties with enquiries once the course has commenced.
RACI Matrix:
Course PIP & Course Mapping
Each SFC Upskilling course is supported by a dedicated Learning Innovation Officer from LISU. This officer assists throughout the PIP process, facilitates course design and mapping, and provides expertise in technology and pedagogic considerations. At the end of each course run, they can also assist the Course Lead in identifying potential adjustments for future iterations.
Communication
Each run of the SFC Upskilling Portfolio includes the following communication and update channels:
- Teams Page: A dedicated Teams Page is created to facilitate updates and communication among project team members.
- General Channel: This channel provides updates relevant to all courses, including key deadlines, useful resources, and reminders for all course teams. Membership includes all course teams, LISU, and the SFC Upskilling Project Team.
- Specific Channel: Each individual course team has its own channel for course-specific discussions. Membership includes the course team, a specific Learning Technologist, and the SFC Upskilling Project Team.
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Email Communication: Important updates will also be sent via email to ensure that no key information is missed.
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Mid-Run Catch-Up Meeting: Once the courses have started, communication will continue through the Teams Page. A mid-run catch-up meeting will be scheduled to review progress and ensure everything is running smoothly.
These channels and meetings aim to facilitate effective communication and collaboration throughout the SFC Upskilling Project, ensuring that all team members stay informed and connected.
Project Timeline
We adhere to a timeline for each cycle of courses, aiming to follow the key dates outlined below:
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Course Planning & Meetings: This phase begins approximately 6 months before the course starts. It involves initial planning and meetings to set the course in motion.
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Development Funding Transfer: Around 5 months before the course starts, the transfer of development funding takes place. This funding supports the course's design and build process.
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Course Marketing Launch: Approximately 2 months prior to the course start date, the course marketing campaign is launched to promote the upcoming courses and generate interest among potential learners.
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Learner Registration & Enrollment: This stage occurs between 6 weeks and 1 month before the course starts. Learners are registered and enrolled in the courses to secure their participation.
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Course Start: Typically, the course commences at the end of the month as per the scheduled start date.
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Delivery Funding Transfer: Once the course has started, the transfer of delivery funding takes place. This funding supports the ongoing delivery, teaching, and associated tasks throughout the course duration.
Funding
The funding for the SFC Upskilling Project is allocated across three main areas, specifically for 10-week, 10-credit courses:
- Course Development: A fixed amount (equivalent to 250 hours at G7) is provided to cover the expenses associated with designing and building the course.
- Course Delivery: The funding for course delivery is a set figure per learner and is dependent on the number of assessments on a course.
- Course Administration: A fixed amount (equivalent to G5 0.2 FTE for 20 weeks) is allocated to cover administrative tasks related to the course.
Successful course teams will receive development funding to support the design and construction of a course, as well as delivery funding to cover associated teaching, marking, and moderation. This funding can be utilised, for example, to cover Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTAs).
To ensure that the Project meets the Scottish Funding Council's targets, each course is assigned a target number of learners. Typically, this ranges between 50 and 100 for new courses, but exceptions can be discussed. The target number of learners forms the basis for the initial delivery funding.
The funding is transferred at College level in mid-September.
Course Delivery & Administration
Course Administration:
The Course Administrator is responsible for all course administration once the courses start. This includes tasks such as setting assessment dates, organising exam boards, and releasing grades. It is important that they follow the standard processes established by the School/College/University.
Course Inbox:
Prior to the start of your course, all learner enquiries should be directed to upskillingproject@glasgow.ac.uk. Course Leads are not expected to handle learner enquiries during this stage.
Once your course begins, learners will be advised to contact their respective course inboxes. College administrators will monitor these inboxes and flag any unusual issues to upskillingproject@glasgow.ac.uk. This ensures prompt assistance for learners and prevents individual enquiries from getting lost in Teams or personal inboxes.
Assessments:
SFC Upskilling Courses offer two pathways for learners. They can choose to submit assessments for credit or undertake the course for CPD only, without submitting assessments. On average, approximately 53% of learners choose to undertake assessment for credit.
Grading:
Grading of Upskilling assignments follows the standard University scales and procedures. Once assessments are submitted and graded, they need to be ratified at the Exam Board. The Exam Board should follow the structure of a typical exam board within the school and be organised by the Course Administrator.
Feedback:
The feedback questionnaire will be shared with you for your input before it is incorporated into the 10th week of the Moodle course and included in the final email to students. Once sufficient feedback has been collected, the Upskilling Project Coordinator will forward the data to you for review.
Next Steps:
For any enquiries related to the SFC Upskilling Project, funding, or course-related matters, please contact the SFC Upskilling Project Team. We are available to address your questions and provide assistance.
If you have specific questions regarding College or School policies, please contact your designated Upskilling College Lead. They will be able to provide guidance based on the relevant policies and procedures.
You will be assigned a contact from LISU (Learning Innovation Support Unit) who will assist you with your course design. The details of your LISU contact will be communicated to you prior to or during your initial meeting, ensuring effective collaboration and support.
Approximately 6 months before the scheduled start of your course, the SFC Upskilling Project Team will reach out to you with the date for your initial meeting. Subsequent catch-up meetings will also be scheduled to ensure regular communication and progress updates.
These communication channels and support structures are in place to ensure that you have the necessary assistance and guidance throughout your SFC Upskilling Project journey. Enjoy!
