Good practice handbook

Introduction

This handbook has been written to assist institutions who are in the process of putting together their applications to ARB to seek or renew prescription of their qualifications. It is intended to supplement ARB's publications Prescription of Qualifications: ARB Procedures and Prescription of Qualifications: ARB Criteria (which were published in 2002). In particular, this handbook provides guidance on what material has proved to be most useful to ARB when considering applications for prescription, and how this material may be best presented to enable ARB to easily navigate and understand applications.

The handbook provides guidance on good practice. It is not intended to fetter an institution's freedom to present in its application, with the exception of examples of student work, whatever material it wishes the Board to consider. That institutions should have such freedom is a cardinal principle of the prescription procedures.

The guidance is based on the experience of ARB and the institutions which have submitted applications between 2003 and 2008. ARB has sought written feedback from institutions that have submitted applications during each prescription cycle since 2003, and has held meetings with them, to ensure that any difficulties that may have arisen for institutions in understanding the process or what was expected of them could be addressed to assist institutions in the future.

This handbook is not written in stone. It is envisaged that it will be an evolving document, and like the process itself, will be reviewed annually and updated accordingly.

Any comments or queries should be addressed to the Qualifications Department: qualificationsdepartment@arb.org.uk.