AOR review supporting definitions and scenarios

The definitions that follow are adapted from those used in the 2017 research project ‘Transnational education: a classification framework and data collection guidelines for international programme and provider mobility (IPPM)’ produced by the British Council in collaboration with DAAD. More detail on the decision to use these definitions can be found in the main consultation document.

Programme type (individualised and aggregate data models): Course.PROGRAMMETYPE

Independent programme: Independent UK arrangement, whereby a UK-owned course is delivered overseas, potentially localised for the host country. The UK provider has responsibility for programme design, delivery, and quality assurance. Separate host country organisation(s) may also have a quality assurance role.

Partnership programme: Collaborative UK and overseas arrangement. This may include programmes that result in students receiving either a single award, single award from two providers (joint), or a separate award from each provider (double). Responsibility for programme design, delivery, and quality assurance may be shared between the UK provider and the overseas provider, though not all aspects of the provision will necessarily be divided, or divided evenly. Separate host country organisation(s) may also have a quality assurance role. Where a programme meets the definition for both a partnership programme and a franchised programme, or a partnership programme and a validated programme, they should be coded as a franchised or validated programme respectively.

Franchised programme: Collaborative UK and overseas arrangement. The UK provider owns a course delivered in full by the overseas provider. The UK provider has is predominantly responsible for programme design and quality assurance, but delivery is by the overseas provider. Separate host country organisation(s) may also have a quality assurance role.

Validated programme: Collaborative UK and overseas arrangement. The overseas provider owns a course which leads to an award conferred by the UK provider. The UK provider is predominantly responsible for quality assurance, while the overseas provider is predominantly responsible for programme design and fully responsible for delivery. Separate host country organisation(s) may also have a quality assurance role. 

Venue type (individualised data model): Venue.VENUETYPE

International branch campus: Independent UK arrangement. An overseas physical location owned by the UK provider. The UK provider typically has responsibility for the design, delivery, and quality assurance of programmes delivered at this location. Separate host country organisation(s) may also have a quality assurance role.

In some cases, a commercial partner may actually own and/or manage the physical facilities at an overseas campus. However, where the reporting provider owns and manages the intellectual operation (including academic support services), this is regarded as an international branch campus of the reporting provider.

Joint venture: Collaborative UK and overseas arrangement. A physical location owned and / or managed by the UK provider and the overseas provider jointly. Responsibility for the design, delivery, and quality assurance of programmes delivered at this location may be divided between the UK provider and the overseas provider, or sit with one or the other alone. Separate host country organisation(s) may also have a quality assurance role.

Partner campus: Collaborative UK and overseas arrangement. A physical location owned and / or managed by an overseas organisation, and used to deliver collaborative provision (partnership, franchised, and / or validated programmes). Responsibility for programme design, delivery, and quality assurance may be divided between the UK provider and the overseas provider, or sit with one or the other alone. Separate host country organisation(s) may also have a quality assurance role.

Distance learning (individualised data model): StudyLocation.DISTANCE

Independent UK arrangement or collaborative UK and overseas arrangement, whereby students are not in attendance for the whole of the year, with the possible exception of occasional attendance, such as examinations or summer schools. Responsibility for programme design, delivery, and quality assurance may be divided between the UK provider and the overseas provider, or sit with one or the other alone. Separate host country organisation(s) may also have a quality assurance role.

The definitions that follow are adapted from those used in the 2017 research project ‘Transnational education: a classification framework and data collection guidelines for international programme and provider mobility (IPPM)’ produced by the British Council in collaboration with DAAD. More detail on the decision to use these definitions can be found in the consultations.

Programme type (individualised and aggregate data models): Course.PROGRAMMETYPE

Independent programme: Independent UK arrangement, whereby a UK-owned course is delivered overseas, potentially localised for the host country. The UK provider has responsibility for programme design, delivery, and quality assurance. Separate host country organisation(s) may also have a quality assurance role.

Partnership programme: Collaborative UK and overseas arrangement. This may include programmes that result in students receiving either a single award, single award from two providers (joint), or a separate award from each provider (double). Responsibility for programme design, delivery, and quality assurance may be shared between the UK provider and the overseas provider, though not all aspects of the provision will necessarily be divided, or divided evenly. Separate host country organisation(s) may also have a quality assurance role. Where a programme meets the definition for both a partnership programme and a franchised programme, or a partnership programme and a validated programme, they should be coded as a franchised or validated programme respectively.

Franchised programme: Collaborative UK and overseas arrangement. The UK provider owns a course delivered in full by the overseas provider. The UK provider has is predominantly responsible for programme design and quality assurance, but delivery is by the overseas provider. Separate host country organisation(s) may also have a quality assurance role.

Validated programme: Collaborative UK and overseas arrangement. The overseas provider owns a course which leads to an award conferred by the UK provider. The UK provider is predominantly responsible for quality assurance, while the overseas provider is predominantly responsible for programme design and fully responsible for delivery. Separate host country organisation(s) may also have a quality assurance role. 

Venue type (aggregate data model): Provision.VENUETYPE

International branch campus: Independent UK arrangement. An overseas physical location owned by the UK provider. The UK provider typically has responsibility for the design, delivery, and quality assurance of programmes delivered at this location. Separate host country organisation(s) may also have a quality assurance role.

In some cases, a commercial partner may actually own and/or manage the physical facilities at an overseas campus. However, where the reporting provider owns and manages the intellectual operation (including academic support services), this is regarded as an international branch campus of the reporting provider and is not considered distinct from any other campus of the provider.

Joint venture: Collaborative UK and overseas arrangement. A physical location owned and / or managed by the UK provider and the overseas provider jointly. Responsibility for the design, delivery, and quality assurance of programmes delivered at this location may be divided between the UK provider and the overseas provider, or sit with one or the other alone. Separate host country organisation(s) may also have a quality assurance role.

Partner campus: Collaborative UK and overseas arrangement. A physical location owned and / or managed by an overseas organisation, and used to deliver collaborative provision (partnership, franchised, and / or validated programmes). Responsibility for programme design, delivery, and quality assurance may be divided between the UK provider and the overseas provider, or sit with one or the other alone. Separate host country organisation(s) may also have a quality assurance role.

Distance learning: Independent UK arrangement or collaborative UK and overseas arrangement, whereby students are not in attendance for the whole of the year, with the possible exception of occasional attendance, such as examinations or summer schools. Responsibility for programme design, delivery, and quality assurance may be divided between the UK provider and the overseas provider, or sit with one or the other alone. Separate host country organisation(s) may also have a quality assurance role.

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​A student enrols on a course offered by Poppleton University and studies onsite at their international branch campus in Dubai. Poppleton University own the course, register the student, deliver the teaching, and confer the award.

• Registering body: Poppleton University.
• Teaching body: Poppleton University. The teaching is delivered from the UAE.
• Awarding body: Poppleton University.
• Venue: Poppleton University Dubai, an international branch campus based in the UAE.
• The course is an independent programme.

A student is enrolled on a course offered by Beijing – Poppleton University, a joint venture between Poppleton University and The Chinese University, and studies onsite at the joint venture’s campus in Beijing. The two partnering providers jointly own the course, register the student, and deliver the teaching, and the award is conferred by Poppleton University. 

• Registering bodies: Poppleton University and The Chinese University.
• Teaching bodies: Poppleton University and The Chinese University. The teaching is delivered from China.
• Awarding body: Poppleton University.
• Venue: Beijing - Poppleton University, a joint venture based in China.
• The course is a partnership programme.

A student is enrolled on a course offered by The Greek University, a partner of Poppleton University, and studies onsite at the partner’s campus in Athens. Poppleton University owns the course and registers the student, The Greek University delivers the teaching, and the award is conferred by Poppleton University. 

• Registering body: Poppleton University.
• Teaching body: The Greek University. The teaching is delivered from Greece.
• Awarding body: Poppleton University.
• Venue: The Greek University, Athens Campus, a partner campus.
• The course is a franchised programme.

A student is enrolled on a course offered by The Singaporean University, a partner of Poppleton University, and studies onsite at the partner’s campus in Singapore. The Singaporean University owns the course, registers the student, and delivers the teaching, and the award is conferred by Poppleton University.

• Registering body: The Singaporean University.
• Teaching body: The Singaporean University. The teaching is delivered from Singapore.
• Awarding body: Poppleton University.
• Venue: The Singaporean University, a partner campus.
• The course is a validated programme.

A student is enrolled on a course offered by Poppleton University. The course is primarily delivered via distance learning, but the student has access to facilities and support, including occasional face-to-face teaching, at a regional centre in Cape Town managed by The South African School, a partner of Poppleton University. Poppleton University owns the course, registers the student, delivers the teaching in conjunction with The South African School, and confers the award.

• Registering body: Poppleton University.
• Teaching bodies: Poppleton University and The South African School. The teaching is delivered partly from South Africa and partly remotely.
• Awarding body: Poppleton University.
• Venue: The South African School, a partner campus.
• The course is a partnership programme.

A student is enrolled on a course offered by The Omani University, a partner of Poppleton University. The course is primarily delivered via distance learning, but the student has access to facilities and support, including some face-to-face teaching, at a regional centre in Muscat managed by The Omani University. The Omani University owns the course, registers the student, and delivers the teaching, and the award is conferred by Poppleton University.

• Registering body: The Omani University.
• Teaching body: The Omani University. The teaching is delivered partly from Oman and partly remotely.
• Awarding body: Poppleton University.
• Venue: The Omani University, a partner campus.
• The course is a validated programme.

A student is enrolled on a course offered by Poppleton University, and studies online from Palau. Poppleton University owns the course, registers the student, delivers the teaching, and confers the award.

• Registering body: Poppleton University.
• Teaching body: Poppleton University. The teaching is delivered from the UK.
• Awarding body: Poppleton University.
• Venue: no venue because the course is a distance learning course.
• The course is an independent programme.

A student is enrolled on a course jointly offered by Poppleton University and its partner, The Irish University, and studies online from Canada. Poppleton University and The Irish University jointly own the course, register the student, and deliver the teaching, and separate awards are conferred by Poppleton University and The Irish University.

• Registering bodies: Poppleton University and The Irish University.
• Teaching bodies: Poppleton University and The Irish University. The teaching is delivered from the UK and Ireland.
• Awarding bodies: Poppleton University and The Irish University.
• Venue: no venue because the course is a distance learning course.
• The course is a partnership programme.

A student is enrolled on a course offered by The Danish University, a partner of Poppleton University, and studies online from Senegal. The Danish University owns the course, registers the student, and delivers the teaching, and the award is conferred by Poppleton University.

• Registering body: The Danish University.
• Teaching body: The Danish University. The teaching is delivered from Denmark.
• Awarding body: Poppleton University.
• Venue: no venue because the course is a distance learning course.
• The course is a validated programme.