Curriculum Validation Procedures

An institution which wishes to have its programme validated must submit an application to APHEA summarising the ability of the programme to meet the Curriculum Validation criteria as outlined in the application documentation. The application is organised in such a way to aid the applicant through the use of templates. However, applicants may already have the requested information expressed in different formats. If all of the criteria are demonstrated these different formats will be accepted. Equally, existing but incomplete documentation, supplemented with additional required information, will also be accepted. The aim of the Curriculum Validation is focussed on assuring the quality of the programme and not to impose unnecessary workloads on the applicant.

A new application must be completed for each programme validated. If an applicant wishes to pursue Programme Accreditation, an individual Curriculum Validation is required for each programme seeking accreditation. For institutions seeking Institutional Accreditation, individual Curriculum Validations for all Master level public health programmes contained within the institution must be provided. Curriculum Validations are assessed by the APHEA Board of Accreditation before being passed over to the site teams and / or ratification by the APHEA Board of Directors.

A workflow diagram is available here or under the Validation Tab "Workflows"

The process for Curriculum Validation:

1. A formal, initial application is made to APHEA either for a standalone programme or through a programme or institution accreditation application (see how to apply in the relevant sections)
2. An application is completed and forwarded to the APHEA secretariat.
3. The Agency secretariat scrutinises the application to ensure that all parts are clear and present.
4. If the application is either unclear or incomplete the Agency secretariat will communicate with the programme until all parts are deemed complete.
5. A short report is generated and sent to two external reviewers.
6. Two external reviewers review the application based around a report template. For the case of Institutional and programme accreditation an attempt will be made for the two reviewers to be part of the on-site review team but will depend on the availability of reviewers.
7. A short report from external reviewers is submitted to the Board of Accreditation (BoA) which will include both Quality Assurance and Quality Improvement aspects.
8. The BoA will convene once every two months (or agreed specified time) to discuss the Validation applications made within the previous inter-review (2 month) period.
9. The BoA will make a Yes/No decision. Positive decisions allow for the programmes to receive an award and to pass through to the next stage of accreditation.
10. Unsuccessful applicants will be informed and are allowed one re-application after a 24 month period.
11. Successful applicants will receive a certificate from APHEA and publicised on APHEA web site.
12. APHEA's Conflict of Interest policy applies to decision making on validation.

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