Progression and articulation agreements approval
Guidance, information and resources for those proposing new progression or articulation agreements with overseas higher education institutions.
November 2024
Definitions
An articulation agreement is a formal partnership through which the University of York will guarantee a place on a programme to a student - usually from an overseas higher education institution - when the student has attained a particular level or award at their first institution. Undergraduate students will join the University of York programme ‘with advanced standing’, that is, part-way through the York degree by recognition of their earlier learning at the partner. Articulation may involve a student graduating only with a York degree or with dual degrees from both York and the partner through mutual credit recognition. To facilitate articulation and consideration of appropriate awards, an Articulation Agreement includes academic programme ‘mapping’ that demonstrates the fit and feasibility of the applicant’s original programme of study with the University of York programme they will enter. Where a dual degree will be offered, the mapping also ensures the stages of the York degree will meet the requirements of the partner institution’s degree they will contribute towards.
A progression agreement is also a formal partnership, usually with an overseas higher education institution. However, there is no guarantee of admissions and students follow standard admissions routes and entry criteria. Students complete a degree/programme at the partner institution before being considered for admission to the start of a UoY degree course, e.g. a student completes a four-year UG course at the home institution before being considered for admission to a PGT UoY degree.
For full definitions of articulation and progression partnerships, as well as other models of collaborative provision, please review the University of York Taxonomy of Taught Educational Partnerships Models (York Users Only). For collaboration initiatives that are not articulation or progression, please follow the advice and guidance on the Quality Assurance web pages.
Rationale and timescales
All University of York articulation or progression agreements with other institutions (usually overseas) require appropriate scrutiny and approval. The information set out below summarises how this approval is to be achieved, balancing carefully the need for speed and efficiency with the need to also safeguard students and their learning experience, and the reputation, legal and financial standing of the University of York. The expansion of this type of collaboration is a key institutional priority and referenced in all Faculty Strategic Plans as a means to diversify risk and increase York’s global reputational footprint. Wider forms of mutually beneficial international collaboration will often flow from the establishment of these teaching partnerships.
In terms of the overall timing of this process within the academic year, it is also important to note that - as far as possible - the aim should be to build the consideration and approval of new partnership opportunities into the annual faculty strategic and resource planning cycle and ensure that they are then implemented in a timely and efficient manner. Ideally this would see new proposals being considered in time to be included in time for academic Strategic Planning Meetings in the autumn, and for their inclusion in the Five Year Forecast (5YF) by the end of January every year at the latest (although it is acknowledged that valuable new opportunities may not always fit neatly into this timescale).
The overall approval process has the following stages:
- Stage 0 - Triage: ideas generation and initial assessments.
- Stage 1 - Due diligence, business case and faculty business case approval.
- Stage 2 - Partner information request (for articulations only): Key information gathering about the proposed partner institution.
- Stage 3 - Curriculum mapping (for articulations only): Assessing the academic fit and feasibility of the potential partner’s programme(s)
- against the relevant York programme(s).
- Stage 4 - University Teaching Committee (UTC) approval.
- Stage 5 - Contracting and legal assessment.
- Stage 6 - Final legal agreement sign-off.
Details of each of these stages are provided below and are summarised in Articulation and Progression Process flow diagram (PDF 
, 49kb). Details are also available in the Quick Reference Guide.
Stages 1 to 3 should, whenever possible, be completed concurrently in the interests of speed and efficiency - but only if appropriate. If there are potentially risks associated with, for example, the business case or the curriculum mapping, then it might be more prudent to complete these stages sequentially to avoid wasted effort. The approach should be decided on a case-by-case basis by the Global Partnerships team, in consultation with the Strategic Planning & Performance (SP&P) contact, the relevant Associate Dean for Partnerships, Engagement, and Internationalisation (AD PEI) and the proposer.
Overall aims:
- To identify opportunities for new partnerships and agreements.
- To conduct a rapid, initial assessment/triage of new proposals and opportunities.
- To conduct a rapid, initial due diligence assessment of the proposed partner institution.
- To enable a ‘fail/fast’ approach with an early assessment of whether to proceed or not with the proposal.
Responsibilities/contacts
- Coordination lead: Global Partnerships Team (GPT) in International Recruitment, Partnerships and Mobility (IRPM).
- Collaborative provision advice: Academic Quality Team. Includes advice on collaborative provision models, quality assurance, and curriculum mapping.
- Department/school: Designated articulations contact (academic member of staff).
- Oversight and approval: Associate Dean for Partnerships, Engagement and International.
Summary:
- Opportunities for new partnerships and agreements are likely to be generated primarily through either i) the international development work undertaken by the IRPM team in target markets, or ii) through new or existing academic links maintained by staff in departments/schools. Whichever route the initial idea comes from, academic involvement and ownership is required to ensure successful delivery of the taught programme(s) to all students.
- To start the process, the proposer (ie the academic lead) should complete the Partnership Triage Google Form which asks for information about, for example, the proposed partner institution, the York programmes involved, potential student numbers, timescales and potential future growth opportunities.
- Submitted triage forms are tracked through a central spreadsheet monitored by the Global Partnerships team in IRPM to ensure that timely and efficient progress is made for all proposals.
- An initial assessment of the proposal is made by IRPM and the relevant Associate Dean for Partnerships, Engagement, and Internationalisation (AD PEI). The AD PEI will lead on any initial consultation with the relevant HoD(s) that they may feel is necessary. Assessment will be based on i) alignment with institutional and faculty international priorities; ii) the nature of the partnership model, its market fit and level of potential risk; and iii) an IRPM recommendation on the scope and scalability of the business opportunity.
- Having received the recommendation, the AD PEI will confirm with the Global Partnerships team that the proposal should either progress or should be declined, or further information will be sought. The GPT will respond to the proposer to update them on the outcome of their proposal. If approved, the GPT will send a Progression & Articulation Agreement Approval Form to the proposer. This form will be used to take the proposal through the approval stages (as described below).
- The IRPM initial due diligence assessment will be carried out. If a risk is flagged, the initial escalation route is to the Director of IRPM and PVC Global Strategy. If the risk relates to a security sensitive subject area (eg if the subject area is subject to export licence controls), IRPM will direct the proposer to discuss the matter with the Research Policy, Integrity and Performance (PIP) Team in RIKE.
- If both the initial triage and due diligence assessments are positive, the proposal can progress to Stage 1.
- In addition, a new Progression & Articulation Agreement Approval Form will be automatically created in Google (see a blank template of the form) and this will be completed and used to take the proposal through the following stages. The form will also be pre-populated with all the information from the Partnership Triage Form.
Timescales:
Five days for initial response from GPT; five days for a response from AD PEI. Please note that in both cases this might be a request for further information rather than a decision.
Approval(s):
Associate Dean for Partnerships, Engagement and International
Overall aims
- Due diligence: An initial reputational check on the proposed partner.
- To define key ‘business case’ parameters for the proposal (academic and resource implications etc).
- To record comments on the proposed business case from relevant teams.
- To approve the proposal within the relevant department and faculty.
Stages 1 to 3 should, whenever possible, be completed concurrently.
Responsibilities/contacts
- Coordination lead: Global Partnerships Team (GPT) to gather all relevant proposal information from the proposer and prospective partner, and judge ‘best estimate’ student numbers.
- Department/school: Designated articulations contact (academic member of staff); Department / School Management Team to approve the business case for the department / school.
- SP&P contact: To coordinate with the Dean(s), Faculty Leadership Group and HoD to provide comments as required, ensure appropriate consideration and approval.
Summary
- The IRPM initial due diligence assessment will be carried out as soon as a positive Stage 0 / triage decision is confirmed. If a risk is flagged, the initial escalation route is to the Director of IRPM and PVC Global Strategy. If the risk relates to a security sensitive subject area (e.g. if the subject area is subject to export licence controls), IRPM will direct the proposer to discuss the matter with the Research Policy, Integrity and Performance (PIP) Team in RIKE.
- Using the Progression and Articulation Agreement Approval Form, the GPT will coordinate with the proposer and other stakeholders specified in order to complete the Stage 1: Business Case tab - Parts 1, 2 and 3.
- The questions in this section aim to record key ‘business case’ parameters associated with the proposed partnership and academic as well as a range of information about practical details, resource implications and potential student intakes. This section also includes space for the lead department/school to highlight any potential operational/resourcing implications required to successfully deliver the partnership from their point of view. More specifically…
- In Part 2, IRPM will comment on the viability and benefit of the proposal, based on a review of (i) market intelligence, local transnational education (TNE) regulations and competitive context, (ii) scholarship/agent recommendations, and (iii) outputs of initial due diligence checks. The comments will also cover the operational impact for IRPM of servicing partnership over time as well as any recruitment or marketing considerations for the faculty.
- The UG/PG admissions teams will comment on (i) whether or not they support the proposal and why, (ii) any significant issues/risks and, if applicable, iii) how these might be controlled.
- In Part 3 (for articulation agreements only), the Faculty Leadership Team (FLT) will comment on whether or not they support the proposal and why, any particular concerns, issues or risks, along with potential control measures. They will also highlight any additional resources that might be required (e.g. staffing, facilities, or equipment) and explain how these needs might be met, particularly if the proposal impacts on existing capacity or operations. Each FLT member's input will contribute to evaluating the overall feasibility and resource implications of the business case. The SP&P contact will coordinate with the FLT to complete this section.
- For articulation agreements, when the Stage 1 tab has been fully populated, the SP&P contact will ensure that it is signed and dated by the relevant HoD(s). Stage 1 approval will then be sought from the relevant Faculty Executive Board, or from the Dean (with delegated authority to the AD PEI if required) taking chair’s action on behalf of the Board. These approvals confirm that the information is correct and that the proposal can proceed to the next stages.
- For progression agreements, only the Dean’s / Faculty Executive Board approval is required at this stage.
- Following this stage of work, the faculty will have a clear understanding of the strategic and resourcing implications of the proposal, and these can - if the proposal is finally approved - be integrated into annual strategic and budget planning.
Timescales
All comments made by the IRPM, admissions and faculty leadership teams should be completed within 10 working days.
Approval(s)
- HoD(s), on behalf of the relevant department(s)/school(s)
- Faculty Executive Board - or the Dean (AD PEI if required), taking chair’s action on behalf of the FEB.
Overall aims:
- To collate detailed information about the proposed partner institution (supplementing the details already recorded in Stage 0) to provide assurance to UoY about, in particular, the partner’s governance, legal and quality assurance arrangements.
Responsibilities/contacts
- Coordination lead: Global Partnerships Team.
Summary:
- In parallel with Stage 1, the Global Partnerships team will complete the Stage 2 ‘Partner Information’ tab - liaising with the intended partner institution as required.
- The information required includes a range of information about key contacts and points of authority, governance, relevant learning and teaching policies and strategies, teaching quality and resources, legal authority, existing partnerships, timelines and approvals, objectives of partner and support they will require.
- When all the relevant information has been collected and verified, this will be signed and dated by an appropriate member of IRPM.
Timescales:
Partners will be requested to return the form within two weeks but response times may vary depending on the institution and quality of the response.
Approval(s):
Global Partnerships Team / IRPM.
Overall aims:
- To ensure that the curricula already taken by the articulation students at their ‘home’ institution map appropriately onto the programmes of study they will take at the University of York, such that they will be able to complete their studies at York successfully and have a positive academic and student experience. Where articulations involve dual awards, mapping will also be needed to provide the partner with information about the fit of the York programme to their own.
Responsibilities/contacts
- Coordination lead: Department/school designated articulations contact
- Academic Quality Team: AQ Faculty contact
Global Partnerships facilitate any discussions required with the partner but are not directly involved.
Summary:
- When the appropriate prior approvals are in place (this might be straight after Stage 0, or after Stage 1 - see note above), departments/schools will undertake a curriculum mapping exercise with their proposed partner following the guidance developed by the Academic Quality (AQ) team. This process will provide an assessment of the specific academic feasibility and fit of the proposed articulation agreement.
- The results of the curriculum mapping exercise should be documented by the department/school and relevant information and links added to the Stage 3 tab in the Progression and Articulation Agreement Approval Form. The information will detail any implications for students' studies or measures likely to be required by York and/or the partner to maximise the potential for students to successfully engage in the programme and achieve their intended outcomes.
- When all relevant information has been added to the proforma, the department should notify the AQ team, so that they can review the information.
- Following that review, and when all comments and questions have been addressed, the AQ team should record their recommendation about the overall feasibility and fit of the relevant curricula at the bottom of the Stage 3 tab and inform the SPP that this has been done.
- Any significant issues - i.e. those likely to impact on the overall feasibility of the proposed agreement - should be raised with the Global Partnerships team and the AD PEI if required so that they can be addressed as rapidly as possible.
- When any curriculum mapping issues have been resolved, the Global Partnerships team will notify all relevant parties by email that Stage 3 has been completed. If Stages 1-3 are all complete, the GPT will also contact Legal Services to notify them of the upcoming work on the contract for the proposed agreement.
- NB: The Academic Quality Team can provide examples of curriculum mapping undertaken for articulation agreement proposals and can support proposers completing mapping. Please contact academic-quality-admin
@york.ac.uk to request examples.
Timescales:
- 10-15 working days
Approval(s):
- Academic Quality team
Overall aims:
- To confirm the approval of the proposed articulation agreement at faculty level and by University Teaching Committee.
Responsibilities/contacts
- Coordination lead: Global Partnerships Team
Summary:
- When Stages 1 to 3 are all complete (whether in parallel or sequentially), the GPT will take forward for UTC approval, or for chair’s action approval by the PVC-TLS (or delegate) and formal reporting to the committee as Category 2 business. The GPT will notify IRPM by email when these two approvals are in place and record correctly on the approvals tab of the proforma.
- NB: This is the final approval point for Progression Agreements; UTC approval is required only for articulation agreements.
Timescales:
Within five working days (approvals can be done through chair’s action).
Approval(s):
- PVC for Teaching, Learning and Students (or Associate PVC for TLS) - on behalf of UTC.
Overall aims:
- To draft and negotiate the legal agreement relating to the partnership between UoY and the partner institution.
Responsibilities/contacts
- Coordination lead: Global Partnerships Team
- Legal agreement drafting and related advice: Legal Services
Summary:
- With the new progression or articulation partnership fully approved by the University, the GPT Relationship Manager will forward the information/pro forma to the University’s legal team and liaise with them as required to develop the partnership legal agreement.
- The GPT and the legal team will also liaise with the partner institution as required in order to confirm the legal agreement.
Timescales:
Dependent on the nature of the specific partnership.
Approval(s):
Not applicable - See Stage 6
Overall aims
- To confirm the final sign-off of the legal agreement relating to the partnership.
Responsibilities/contacts
- Coordination lead: Global Partnerships Team
Summary
- When the legal agreements and associated documentation are ready for signing, the GPT will liaise with both the partner institution and the PVC-TLS to arrange the final sign-off (and Legal Services if required). The PVC-TLS will sign-off the agreement for the University for both articulation and progression agreements.
- When the agreements have been signed, the GPT will notify all parties involved by email that the new partnership is fully approved and that all relevant legal agreements are in place.
- The GPT will also notify all relevant PS units within the University, including the admissions and marketing teams, Timetabling, Student Systems, the Fees Office etc.
Timescales
- Within five working days (approvals can be done through chair’s action) if possible - although this might take longer if contract negotiations with the partner are needed.
Approval(s)
- PVC for Teaching, Learning and Students (or Associate PVC for TLS) for the University
Handbook
An Operational Handbook will be created by the Global Partnerships Team for each specific partnership as a shared document to be used by UoY stakeholders and the partner to manage the partnership once the agreement has been signed. This will cover practical issues such as admissions, programme changes, marketing coordination, and review.
Student Recruitment
Once the agreement has been signed, the relevant International Recruitment Manager (IRM) will be informed by the Global Partnerships team. The IRM in collaboration with the departmental leads will develop a Student Recruitment Action Plan, including required resources to deliver expected student numbers. The Action Plan will be tailored to meet the needs of each agreement and will outline at least the following: i) Annual recruitment activities, ii) required resources (staff time and budget); iii) associated marketing activities.