ABSTRACT
The United Kingdom Business and Technician Education Council (BTEC), whose remit covers a range of post-school vocational programmes has clear guidance notes and procedures for the franchising of its courses. However, the quality assurance arrangements for franchising between the higher and further education sectors have been more patchy. In developing its own approach for the approval of franchising, the Nottingham Trent University has drawn on its established principles and practice of quality assurance. First City College (FCC) is franchised to offer the BTEC Higher National Diploma in electrical and electronic engineering, business and finance, and computer studies. An important aspect of the link concerns staff development as FCC needs to be exposed to the teaching methods and the assessment strategy used by the franchisor. FCC students appreciate the efforts to provide quality education, and the introduction of student representation on course committees gives students the opportunity to voice their opinion.
