Update: BASES Undergraduate Endorsement Scheme (BUES)

Further to the updates shared on 16 March 2020 and 17 June 2020, BASES is not encouraging Departments to insist on face-to-face practical sessions at this very dangerous time within the pandemic’s evolution. BASES would like to empower the Departments to arrive at their own solution for dealing with the revisions to their programme delivery to achieve their Programme Learning Outcomes, without the need to report back on their delivery changes.

As such, BASES is updating its previously issued statement:

BASES recognises that many institutions are faced with changing the delivery mode and assessment methodologies of their academic programmes as a result of COVID-19, and we would like to reassure you that this will not have an impact on your BUES endorsement. The scheme has been purposefully redesigned so that there are no individual compliance criteria, and that institutions need to demonstrate that ‘on balance’ their teaching strategies and programme activities meet the endorsement outcomes. The methods by which institutions currently deliver their curriculum and assess their students significantly varies, and it is expected that in order for students to be awarded their degree, any revisions would continue to meet the Programme Learning Outcomes, and by extension BASES endorsement. This includes the practical element of programmes designed to develop technical skills in students. Whilst it is desirable for these learning opportunities to be conducted face-to-face, with hands-on experience, this is not an essential requirement and in the current context is not advisory. Therefore BASES’ position for the current year is that on-campus practical activities are not mandatory to maintain BUES endorsement.