These pages provide information on ongoing strategic projects, policies, or working groups that the Office is developing. To find out more about any of the projects, please contact educationalpolicy@admin.cam.ac.uk.  

Joint Review of Part-time Students 2022-24

A review of part-time students began in 2022 to provide an overview of and direction for the University’s provision for part-time students. The intention of the review was to address strategic, governance and operational matters relating to part-time students as well as consider key concerns such as accessibility, inclusivity and the part-time student experience within the Cambridge context.

The work of the review was divided into two phases carried out by a Steering Group. The preliminary report of the review covering the first phase identified 10 recommendations covering broad themes regarding all part-time students along with some focused particularly on non-matriculated students. Successful outcomes of this phase included:

• The inclusion of non-matriculated students in the University’s alumni network,

• Provision for resource access to the ADRC and Careers Service to provide support to non-matriculated students on award bearing courses,

• The establishment of a Framework for Administering Bodies to clarify responsibilities around recruitment and admissions, student support, learning resources and the management of student records and data.

Phase 2 of the review largely focused on producing a Mutual Expectations document which sets out to articulate the relationship between Colleges, course teams and University central services when planning for and running courses for part-time matriculated students.

The Review was Chaired by Professor Bhaskar Vira, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Education)

Diversification of Assessment

In Michaelmas 2025 a new Ordinance for Assessment will be published in the Statutes and Ordinances, allowing faculties and departments to vary how courses are assessed without the need for application and approval by committee.  The EQPO team are liaising with faculties and departments to amend individual course regulations to enable this change.  The background of the development of the new Ordinance can be read in the Joint Report of the Council and the General Board published in Reporter on 14 June 2023.

This work goes hand in hand with the review of Chapter III, (Examinations) of the Statutes and Ordinances following the Marking and Assessment Boycott which impacted the Easter 2023 Examination period.  Further details of this work can be found in the Joint Report of the Council and the General Board published in Reporter on 24 July 2024.