Learner Charter for short courses and CPD

Entitlement and responsibilities statement

Having made the decision to study a short course with the University of Derby, we welcome you into our community.

It’s important that you understand clearly what joining one of our short course communities means for you. Although whilst studying a short course with the University of Derby, you are not an enrolled student of the University, we are committed to providing you a courteous and professional service. This statement will help you understand the spirit of the relationship between you, the University and other members of our learning community - your fellow learners and staff.

In that sense this statement forms a Learning Agreement. The areas of support and responsibility detailed here are also areas that from our research our learners have told us are important for their success.

As a university, we are committed to helping you make the most of your time studying the course. We want to challenge you intellectually, help you maximise your performance, enjoy your experience and achieve to your full academic potential.

Studying a short course can be demanding but we appreciate most learners have a flexible approach. We know this flexibility is important to help you meet that challenge and succeed.

Being a member of our community also gives you a number of responsibilities. These responsibilities are important in assisting you and other learners to get the most from your time on the course. Taking these responsibilities seriously and acting upon them will help to provide the right kind of environment for you and others to study, learn and grow.

Responsibilities statements

Having joined the community, you have accepted a number of responsibilities. This list is not complete but is intended to highlight those responsibilities that we believe are of most benefit to you. This means we encourage you to:

Entitlement statements

You can expect:

Academic support

If you are undertaking a tutor led course, you will have a named person as the lead educator for your course who will present the course material to you. This person will have direct experience in the field.

The academic lead on facilitated courses provides academic input and course support and will try to answer key questions that are identified by the cohort of learners through course discussion forum or through direct contact.

If you are undertaking a course without a facilitator then you will have access to materials and activities developed by an experienced tutor, but you will not have direct access to a tutor.

Administrative, technical and pastoral support

You will have a named person as the Online Learner Advisor for your course who will provide advice and guidance on administrative, technical and pastoral support issues, ensuring you do not experience any difficulties in engaging with the course.

Short course information

Clear information about the course will be provided throughout to inform your choice and engagement with the course.

Subject related contact with other learners

On tutor led courses, you will have regular opportunities for good quality, informal, subject related, contact with learners from your course, including learners from more advanced levels, and from a global as well as UK perspective. This will include real-time opportunities as well as other discussion boards, forums and contact methods.

Academic timetable

Your timetable for the course will be published at the start of the course and available throughout the course. This is intended to provide the opportunity to plan your time during the course. As the course moves through each week, support and engagement will be aimed at that current week’s content.

A supportive learning environment

Positive support to address issues related to the conduct of others that impacts on the learning environment for you. There are clear procedures set out for reporting and dealing with conduct causing concern, and positive support from any member of the course team to listen and act appropriately to address concerns.

Co-ordinated and responsive communication

The University will communicate with you in a co-ordinated and considered way, with information that is:

We will do this using a variety of media appropriate for you, and will consult with learners on the best way to do this. Communication aimed at all learners will be timed at important intervals during the course, with key messages designed to help you in your learning.

Professional service standards

You will receive courteous and professional service from the course team.

An opportunity to express your concerns

We aim to continuously improve the quality of service we provide. If we have fallen below the standard that you expect, we would like to know so that we can address the shortcoming. We will always try to respond quickly and constructively to the points that you raise. In case you want to express a concern about the course or behaviour of any of the learners please contact the assigned course lead through the email provided in the course information page.

Data Protection

We collect some data about you during your participation in the course. This data is managed according to well established data protection policies. You can see details of these policies on our website: ITS Policies.

Policies

The short course is hosted on a platform external to the University and you should make yourself familiar with the Privacy Policy, Terms of Use and Payment and Refund Policy.