JISC

Overview

Utilising the Lean Thinking methodology for process improvements, the PALET project will develop revised procedures for the approval of new programmes to create a more agile, efficient and flexible approach to the design of curricula and the subsequent approval process. In the context of the University’s Modern IT Working Environment (MWE) project, a service-oriented approach will be utilised to develop a toolset to support academic and support staff through each stage of the new programme approval process, which will also ensure that the resulting programme and module information is clearly defined and can be seamlessly utilised by other business applications

Aims and objectives

The four key aims of the project are:

1. Improvements to the business case developed to support a new programme proposal
2. Consideration of the processes used to design programmes
3. A streamlining of the information required in a new programme proposal and enhancements to the links between this and a programme’s operation
4. Implementation of a revised procedure for the approval of new programmes

Project methodology

The main stages of the project will be concerned with:

• A review and revision of the processes and procedure used to develop and approve a new programme of study
• Development of an IT based toolset to support staff developing a new programme and the revised procedure
• Piloting and evaluation of the new toolset within the School of Nursing and Midwifery Studies
• Review, reflection on, revision and evaluation of the pilot, and final approval of the revised procedure and dissemination of the project outcomes

Anticipated outputs and outcomes

The main output of the project will be the IT toolset developed to support the operation of the revised procedure.

A range of outcomes will arise from the project. They include enhanced understanding of:

• the applicability and suitability of lean principles to process review;
• the ways in which academic communities approach curricula design and put together programmes;
• the suitability of IT tools to support collaborative approaches to curriculum design;
• the management of change, particularly that associated with the adoption of new IT tools.

Technology / Standards used (if applicable)

Business Process

• BPEL (Business Process Execution Language) - OASIS

Web Services

• ­WSDL (Web Service Definition Language) - W3C

• SOAP (Simple Open Access Protocol) - W3C

User Interfaces

• ­ XFDL (Extensible Forms Definition Language) - W3C

• ­ XFORMS - W3C

OASIS  (Organisation for the Advancement of Structured Information Standards)

W3C  (World Wide Web Consortium)

Lead institution

• Cardiff University