Our client is a research-intensive UK university.
The university was facing falling National Student Survey scores in some areas, a growing focus on value-for-money, and fierce domestic and international competition.
Nous found that the university’s programme architecture – the framework that structures a university’s educational offer – was confusing, inflexible and complex in some areas, costing the university more than £4 million per year.
Therefore, the university engaged Nous to design a bespoke programme architecture to align student experience, maximise efficiency, prioritise teaching and research activities, and optimise student choice.
Senior Executive, UK university
Nous’ deep analysis and consultation revealed that the existing programme portfolio presented overwhelming initial choice for new students and little subsequent flexibility. Incompatible programme structures constrained students from taking modules from other subject areas, and limited study abroad and work placement opportunities.
Our blended Nous-university team refined the proposed programme architecture in collaboration with professional services staff and academic staff from all faculties. This drew insight from those who would be impacted by the programme architecture changes and established their buy-in.
We enabled the university to think boldly about how its degree offering met the needs of future students. Working with students, we identified key benefits, including increased interdisciplinarity and employability skills, and built them into the programme architecture.
The new programme architecture will support recruitment, growth and interdisciplinarity while supporting the university’s reputation for excellence in education and research into the future. The programme architecture has been designed to: