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Approach to initial accreditation (TNO) tailored to the KU Leuven conduct

At KU Leuven, the initial accreditation procedure (TNO) tailored to the specific conduct is shaped on the basis of a blueprint+.

Why do we use a blueprint+?

Blueprint+

The blueprint is an instrument that clearly and concisely indicates the profile and vision of the study programme and how the programme will realise this vision. In order to adequately cover all aspects of the TNO framework, we use a blueprint+. The blueprint+ forms the core of the KU Leuven initial accreditation file and gives programmes the opportunity to go deeper into certain aspects of the programme and include more elements than the traditional themes from the regular blueprint. For those aspects that are still missing or need further, more in-depth clarification, you can provide additional information in the blueprint+. The blueprint+ as a whole and the additional information form an easily readable and coherent file that should enable the external advisory committee to assess the quality of the new study programme. 

Attachments

For the mandatory attachments, the stage 2 file (in Dutch) constitutes the core, complemented by the other aspects of the assessment framework. The stage 2 file includes:

  • all information necessary to include the study programme in the programme catalogue (i.e. also all ECTS course descriptions),
  • the learning outcomes and personal development goals of the programme;
  • the information required for the diploma and the diploma supplement.

To a large extent, this blueprint+ will already be able to offer an answer to the eight quality characteristics and to the three interrelated questions:

  • What does the programme intend?

  • How does the programme want to realise its intentions?

  • How will the achievement of these intentions be demonstrated?

For those aspects that are still missing or require further, more in-depth clarification, additional (process) information can be added to the blueprint+:

  • Description of how stakeholders and experts were involved in the design of the programme and how they will continue to be involved in the programme in the future;
  • Explanation of how the aspects of quality characteristics 7 and 8 are shaped.

Schematic overview of the initial accreditation (TNO) tailored to the KU Leuven conduct

Added value of using the blueprint +

The blueprint format allows the programme to place its own emphases and maximise its own educational profile. This is in line with the appreciative approach that forms the basis of both the university-wide vision on quality assurance and the TNO assessment framework of the Accreditation Organisation of the Netherlands and Flanders (NVAO).

Given the fact that as a new programme you will take ownership of the blueprint(+) yourself, you will be as prepared as possible for an inherent quality assurance process.

In addition, the use of the blueprint+ makes it possible to maximise the efforts of the TNO procedure and to align it as closely as possible with the functioning of the programme.

Support TNO tailored to the specific conduct

In addition to the COBRA portal, the new programmes can also rely on the educational policy units for support: 

  • The Educational Development Unit offers advice on curriculum development aspects (e.g. profiling exercises, curriculum design, learning outcomes, ...).
  • The Educational Policy Department supervises the programmes throughout the various stages of the procedure for applying for new study programmes and advises the programmes on the content of the file

Why do we use a blueprint+?

The choice for this format was based on four principles:

  • The KU Leuven TNO format is in line with the university-wide vision on quality assurance
  • It is in line with the NVAO assessment framework.
  • The format enables the advisory committee to formulate an answer to the three interrelated questions from the TNO framework of the NVAO.
  • KU Leuven would like the initial accreditation procedure (TNO) tailored to the specific conduct to correspond as closely as possible with the existing instruments used by KU Leuven within its own conduct, rather than developing a completely new and separate format.

Based on these principles, the decision was made to base the approach on two existing instruments that already cover many aspects of the TNO framework: the blueprint and the stage 2 file.