Golden Thread update July 2017

We are fast approaching the beginning of the roll out of the New Pathways modules and Centralised Assessment under the Golden Thread project.

The first Region to launch the new system will be the UK and Europe. Regional Pathway Leaders (RPLs) for that Region have been briefed on the new course materials in May. Their responsibility will be to ensure that all CIArb Pathway training is delivered to the required standard by a tutoring faculty that is well briefed and well supported. RPLs have been chosen on the basis of their experience and expertise as tutors and practitioners, together with a willingness to fulfil this new role.

We can expect to see the first new Module 1 courses being scheduled to run in the UK and Europe in the autumn and the first Centralised Assessment for those modules in December. The rollout will continue Region by Region, as described on the CIArb website. A review of the Approved Faculty List (AFL) is being conducted alongside the roll out of the new syllabi and each region will be invited to submit their renewals in time for RPLs to brief and support the new Faculty. For further details on the proposed schedule please visit the website.

At the last Education and Membership Committee meeting in June, the Accelerated Route to Membership (ARM) course was discussed. The Committee agreed that the course content needs to be aligned to the New Pathways to ensure it continues as a truly accelerated route to membership. Some changes to the content are now underway to ensure that candidates completing this course can sit the Module 1 examination in the new centralized assessment system.

The Committee welcomed using the ARM as the route for lawyers only to gain membership, and are keen to continue supporting non-lawyers to undertake the pathways courses as their route to membership. Similarly, the Committee decided that candidates completing the Accelerated Route to Fellowship (ARF) should be awarded a Certificate of Completion only and should complete the Module 3 examination in the centralized assessment process and a Peer Interview to be awarded Fellowship status.

The CIArb Diploma in International Commercial Arbitration now has a clear set of criteria that must be met in order to achieve Diploma level qualification status. More details on the criteria and Faculty required are available online.

All courses leading to qualifications and/or entry to the Institute proposed by Branches need to be set out clearly in Branch Development Plans and Course Approval for each course submitted to Nicole Cooper in E&T. Requests for approval should be received a minimum of 4 weeks prior to the commencement of any advertising of the course. If approval is not received on time and the Branch proceeds to run the course, candidates on the course will not be accepted for membership. Please refer to the Branch Network Guide for more details on the application process.

The Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) of England and Wales define a programme specification document as “a concise description of the intended learning outcomes of a higher education programme of study, and the means by which the outcomes are achieved and demonstrated”.

We have provided a draft summary document of the New Pathways courses setting out the modular structure, the assessment methods that enable achievement to be demonstrated, and the relationship of the programme and its study elements to the curriculum and qualifications framework (QCF). It is also an important quality assurance document and will support the Institute to design and approve its review processes. Each module is supported by a detailed programme specification setting out clear learning outcomes and teaching and learning methods. We will share these when they are finalised.

New People

Our new Head of Education and Training, Daniel Okin, will be joining the Institute on 1 August. Daniel has a solid background in learning and training having worked for the Institute of Customer Services, RICS and Serco previously, all in senior training roles. He is also a Chief Inspector within the Metropolitan Special Constabulary and brings a rich background in management and leadership skills.

Daniel will manage the education and training department and will work closely with Chris Wilford as the other Head of Department in the Education and Academic Research Directorate.