FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ON ACCREDITATION
Click on the question for the answer.
Why does JAMES exist?
JAMES exits because educational HE/FE establishments seek to have their learning skills content approved, monitored or supported to make for better employable graduates and students. There is a demand for JAMES services from all these establishments. JAMES are a working professionals group dealing with all aspects of professional audio, music technology and studio training within FE/HE.
What are JAMES Masterclasses?
JAMES Masterclasses are simply about working professionals visiting JAMES approved centres to be alongside the students. We can design a masterclass on a particular subject, or a particular recorded project combined with lectures, discussions and Q & As. They normally last at least one day as a session.
What is the difference between Accreditation and Validation?
As representatives of the contributing trade and professional bodies the JAMES Committee recognizes that validation and accreditation are distinct operations and that there will be a difference in emphasis between them.
Validation is concerned mainly with academic standards and the application of the rules of the validating body. Industry accreditation is concerned not only with the course content but also with the environment in which the course is delivered, relevance to Industry, the professional outlook and experience of those who deliver it.
Accreditation will be considered in relation to the employment needs of the Association’s members (this includes the needs of self-employed and freelance personnel). It also takes into account rapid changes in industry practice.
The JAMES Education Committee will wish to avoid being prescriptive towards educational establishments but will hope to encourage initiatives in course design. It may be necessary to recommend where improvements could be made to the course structure or content. In this way the industry can support educational institutions.
Full details of all costs involved, including reduced cost options for multiple Course Accreditation at the same visit, are available here.
Contact JAMES Accreditation
Validation is concerned mainly with academic standards and the application of the rules of the validating body. Industry accreditation is concerned not only with the course content but also with the environment in which the course is delivered, relevance to Industry, the professional outlook and experience of those who deliver it.
Accreditation will be considered in relation to the employment needs of the Association’s members (this includes the needs of self-employed and freelance personnel). It also takes into account rapid changes in industry practice.
The JAMES Education Committee will wish to avoid being prescriptive towards educational establishments but will hope to encourage initiatives in course design. It may be necessary to recommend where improvements could be made to the course structure or content. In this way the industry can support educational institutions.
Full details of all costs involved, including reduced cost options for multiple Course Accreditation at the same visit, are available here.
Contact JAMES Accreditation
How does JAMES acknowledge educational courses?
JAMES currently offers industry recognition course in 3 ways:
* Established courses will have been running for 18 months or more.
- FE Center Approval covering a 3 year period - available for institutions to cover one or more of the NQF Level 3 courses that they are running.
- HE Course Accreditation covering a 3 year period - available for institutions to cover an established* NQF Level 4 or higher FHEQ course that they are running.
- Provisional Accreditation covering 4.5 years in two phases - available for institutions to cover new courses in the start-up phase leading to full Accreditation.
* Established courses will have been running for 18 months or more.
What is the proceedure for gaining Accreditation?
- JAMES receives accreditation/approval enquiry from Course Team
- JAMES liaise with Course Team who complete and return a simple course details application document
- JAMES and Course Team agree a suitable event timetable
- Course Team liaise with JAMES to complete and return full course documentation with fees*
- JAMES agrees with Course Team for a one day assessors inspection visit to view the facilities and meet with staff and students
- Assessor's written reports reviewed by JAMES assessment panel
- JAMES final report sent to Course Team
- JAMES industry accreditation/approval logos sent to Course Team for marketing use
- Course Team supply content and links for information page on JAMES website
*Published fees refer to the cost for a single course application. Multiple course applications will be heavily discounted.
What happens on the Accreditation visit day?
Representatives of JAMES will visit the educational establishment to discuss the course, meet students, inspect facilities and project work. A date and timetable for this will be agreed with the institution.
Below is the schedule that we normally use but this can be adapted by agreement beforehand.
9.30am. Arrive, coffee in room set aside for assessors for the day. Assessors meet to review procedure.
10.00am–10.30am meet with course leaders. This gives the assessors time to ask initial questions and to orientate themselves to the courses.
10.30am-12.00pm. Tour of the facilities, during which questions can be asked. This will include a tour of the library and other learning facilities.
12.00pm–1.00pm. Meet with students, past and present.
1.00pm-1.45pm. Lunch with staff and students.
1.45pm. Assessors meet again alone in their room and have a chance to review what they have seen.
2.00pm. Meet with course team. A chance to ask questions of the lecturers.
3.30pm-4.30pm. Assessors meet together again and after discussion give feedback to course leaders.
4.30pm. Leave.
This schedule may need to be extended and altered as circumstances dictate.
Full details of all costs involved, including reduced cost options for multiple Course Accreditation at the same visit, are available here.
Below is the schedule that we normally use but this can be adapted by agreement beforehand.
9.30am. Arrive, coffee in room set aside for assessors for the day. Assessors meet to review procedure.
10.00am–10.30am meet with course leaders. This gives the assessors time to ask initial questions and to orientate themselves to the courses.
10.30am-12.00pm. Tour of the facilities, during which questions can be asked. This will include a tour of the library and other learning facilities.
12.00pm–1.00pm. Meet with students, past and present.
1.00pm-1.45pm. Lunch with staff and students.
1.45pm. Assessors meet again alone in their room and have a chance to review what they have seen.
2.00pm. Meet with course team. A chance to ask questions of the lecturers.
3.30pm-4.30pm. Assessors meet together again and after discussion give feedback to course leaders.
4.30pm. Leave.
This schedule may need to be extended and altered as circumstances dictate.
Full details of all costs involved, including reduced cost options for multiple Course Accreditation at the same visit, are available here.
Is JAMES Accreditation officially recognised?
Yes! JAMES Accreditation is recognised by not only the Sector Skills Council Skillset, but also by the Awarding Bodies Edexcel and City and Guilds, with whom our members work closely to ensure that any new qualifications are relevant to our industry. We are discussing co-operation with other government bodies such as Ofsted, QAA, LSC, fDa and LLLUK, to ensure that we can offer the greatest amount of industry support to learners, teachers and institutions. This is our way of "Linking Industry and Education".
Where can I find an updated list of all JAMES Accredited courses?
Either on this site or via the very detailed BPI-MED - www.bpi-med.co.uk