The University of Ulster has signed up to an unique educational partnership covering the awarding of degrees to students studying healthcare programmes online.

The UK Healthcare Education Partnership (UKHEP) involves UU, City University, London, the University of Leicester and the Royal College of Nursing.

The Senates of the three universities have agreed that the UKHEP has the power to make joint awards on their behalf to students completing healthcare related courses.

The partnership and pooling of degree awarding powers is unique to the UKHEP’s programmes and represents the culmination of three years’ preparation on the part of the three universities.

Students of UKHEP now benefit from receiving an award from the three prestigious universities for courses which are accredited by the Royal College of Nursing.

Professor Richard Barnett, Acting Vice Chancellor of the University of Ulster and the UKHEP Board Lead on the Academic Agreement, said: “The development of the academic agreement has involved the establishment of a robust standard and quality framework for UKHEP students which at the same time recognizes the responsibilities of the partner institutions and protects their autonomy in key areas.

“The fact that we have an agreement which has been approved by the Senates of three universities and the governing body of the RCN is, I believe, a considerable achievement”.

Alison Kitson, Executive Director Nursing at the RCN and Chairman of the UKHEP Board, said: “By exploiting the strength of genuine partnership working this unique agreement lays the foundation for world class delivery of e-learning to healthcare professionals”.

The UKHEP was established to offer online modules for post registration healthcare professionals.

The first intake of students was in April last year and UKHEP offers a range of online degree modules which can be studied as single modules or combined to earn a top-up BSc (Hons) in Health Sciences.

(MB/SP)