Samenvatting besluit

“Five programmes of the University of Kent at Brussels (UKB) were submitted for accreditation: Master in International Relations (MA IR), LLM in International Law with International Relations (LLMwIR), Master in International Conflict Analysis (MA ICA), Master in International Political Economy (MA IPE), and the LLM in International Economic Law (LLM IEL). The panel found that the application documents had not done justice to the five programmes, which reflect an academic serieux and an excellent academic standard. After having examined the updates of the provided documents and having spoken to staff and students during the site visit, the panel members were impressed by the content of the programmes and the opportunities they offer the students to develop their thinking and knowledge. This also holds true for the LLM in International Economic Law.
The aims and objectives clearly reflect what is required at a Master’s level. The set intended learning outcomes even exceed what is required for a programme at such a level. The panel found the intended learning outcomes well in line with the subject / discipline specific requirements.
The panel considers current developments to be well represented in the curriculum, as well as current professional practice. UKB makes maximum use of its access to international institutions and to the people working there. The panel regards the learning materials to definitely reflect the interaction between education and research.
The training of research competences starts right at the beginning of the programme and ends with the Master’s dissertation. The panel considers the methodology module to be well developed for ensuring the achievement of research competences.
The programme consist of three core modules: International Economic Regulation, International Economic Law and Corporate Governance. From a limited number of law modules, politics and international relation modules, and economic modules, the students are required to select three more modules. The modules are all well described and documented and show clear learning objectives. They also prove that faculty members target a wide array of theoretical approaches and epistemological questions. The aims and objectives are well met in the curriculum. The supervision by the student’s personal tutor ensures that the tailor-made programmes correspond with the learning outcomes. The working methods are varied and provide for a range of generic skills. Ample feedback is given during classes and on the papers. The panel finds the marking of the papers and dissertations in general appropriate, though sometimes to tend to be on the high side. The panel, however, feels uncomfortable with the 40% pass rule and recommends that the institution bring its grading in line with that customary in higher education in Belgium and the Netherlands. It also recommends the introduction of an intermediary check of the theses to ensure that they meet the basic requirements, before the final examination.
The internal consistency of the programme is assured by its structure of core modules and a limited number of selective modules, for the selection of which permission by the programme convener and administrator is needed. The development of modules and programmes is subjected to a strict procedure by Kent University in Canterbury. Internal consistency is maintained through allocation of core modules to members of the permanent staff, who also supervise the external teachers.
Enough measures are taken to ensure a proper workload. The panel agrees with staff and students they spoke to, that the programme is intensive but feasible.
Students are admitted to the programme with a wide variety in backgrounds. The UKB carefully assesses whether students meet the requirements and aims at a cohort of students that reflects the diversity. About 40% of the applicants are admitted. The panel agrees that this diversity is made to benefit in the programme in developing each student’s interdisciplinary approach of international relations.
The decree on higher education defines the length of a program in terms of “studiepunten”, whereas a “studiepunt” corresponds to 25 – 30 hours of study. “Studiepunten” is translated in this report as “study points”. The programme consists of 60 - 72 “study points” and has a nominal duration of one year for the full time programme. The 60 - 72 “study points” correspond to 180 UK credits. According to the programme documentation, students complete their Master programme in International Relations with a Master’s Dissertation of 12,000 words on an approved topic. The master thesis is estimated to take 600 hours, to which 60 UK credits are allocated, and includes 90 hrs of preparatory work such as a module Fundamentals, Dissertation and Research (FDR).
According to the Flemish and Dutch academic practice the number of credits allocated to a thesis does not include preparatory programme elements. In this view the thesis counts for 510 hours of work, which equals 17 to 20 study points.
The programme is primarily taught by active researchers, under supervision of the heads of the departments of Kent University in Canterbury. All teachers, including the external teachers for the selective modules, have a PhD. The panel regards their research qualifications to be high. In each programme one or two of the three professors participate in teaching. The number of staff is adequate. Students do not experience any difficulties in accessing the staff members. All permanent staff members are experienced teachers.
All newly appointed teaching staff of the University are expected to take the Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education. The teachers appear to be dedicated and are held in high esteem by their students.
The housing and facilities of the UKB, including ICT, are adequate for the programme. The facilities are mainly those of the Free University of Brussels (VUB). The collection of the library belongs to the Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB). The collection of its library is at present outdated in some areas, but in the process of being improved. The somewhat restricted use of these library facilities by the students is addressed regularly by the management of UKB. The panel encourages the Dean to keep up with these initiatives. The students have also access to other libraries as well as to electronic resources.
Students are very well introduced to the programme and are subsequently tutored in an adequate way. Each student has her / his own tutor, who offers support by advising the students in their choice and sequence of the elective modules. Support is given in their job applications.
The University of Kent has an extensive system of quality assurance in which various committees are responsible for specific quality aspects. At the Brussels campus this system has been appropriately adapted to the specific needs of the small campus, and functions adequately. Comments of the students, who appeared to be assertive, are taken seriously.
The University of Kent has taken sufficient measures to ensure that students can complete the whole programme, in case of unexpected disruption of the programme in Brussels. The investments and financial provisions are sufficient to realise the LLM in International Economic Law.
Given these considerations, the panel advises the NVAO to take a positive decision regarding the quality of the proposed programme.”