The Establishment of Approved Support Center (ASC)

INTRODUCTION
The Distributed Learning courses of Newport University CED <<a licensed department (institution) of World Distributed University>> has been created by implementing the system founded by the Russian scientist Evreinov E.V. in 1954, the principle of the distributed processing of the information in various structures and the environments. This structure is the distributed learning equivalent of the highly successful, full-time courses, which has been offered by the university since its establishment in 2008. These courses are now being delivered in centers throughout the world.

The Newport University CED embarked upon a project to produce a set of manuals which would make it possible to offer its courses through Approved Support Center’s (ASC’s) around the world. Such centers have been established at Institute of Research and Professional Development Studies and United College of Aviation Science and Management in Bangladesh; International Engineering Business Academy in Egypt; Institute of Integrated Management & Technology in India; The Chartered Institute of Supply Chain Management in Ghana; Alpine College in United Kingdom; Manpower Development Consultants in Nigeria; Victorville International University and International Engineering Business Academy in United States of America. The manuals contain all of the material required (subject content, learning objectives, worked examples and sample examinations) to prepare students for paper based and online examinations leading to the award of the degrees the establishment of an approved support center to co-ordinate the activities of the students significantly enhances the quality of the learning experience for the student.

THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN APPROVED SUPPORT CENTER
The Newport University CED is keen to establish approved support centers around the world. Such centers provide students with an opportunity to study for the degrees offered by the university in their own country. The establishment of these centers also provides the institute with the opportunity to extend its network of educational partnerships throughout the world.

When the centers are being established the level of support provided by the Institute will depend upon variables, such as the technical and educational experiences of staff currently employed by the center and the infrastructure already in place. However, during the establishment of the center, the Newport University CED will provide support on issues, such as the recruitment and training of appropriate staff, management structure for the center and IT infrastructure requirements according to the Quality Assurance Services unit of the university to comply with the standards set on the requirements of ISO 9001:2008.

The role of the Approved Support Center in the delivery of the courses are: co-ordinating student recruitment; collecting information on student registration and examination requests; ensuring and co-ordinating adequate quality assurance procedures within the Approved Support Center consistent with the Quality Assurance Guidelines of the Awarding Body; organizing suitable examination facilities both paper based and online; Providing tutorial support for the Program as agreed within the application for Approved Support Center status; providing access for registered students to the Internet ; providing formative assessments; all non-academic matters in accordance with the procedures and regulation for the Approved Support Center; marketing the Programs.

The role of the Newport University CED is: to approve the Center and its Tutors for the Program; providing the course materials for each module; admission of students onto the Program; all academic matters related to the Program; maintenance of student records; issuing of results and transcripts of performance.

STRUCTURE AND CONTENT
The structure and content of the courses are almost identical to the full-time degrees. The discipline specific manuals contain all of the technical material required to prepare the student for the subject examinations. These manuals include a large number of exercises and a typical examination paper. All of the numerical exercises, and the sample examination, are accompanied by model answers. The research project provides an opportunity for the students to demonstrate their ability to produce a deep and comprehensive analysis of a specific problem. The content of the discipline specific modules is identical to that of the full-time degree courses although some changes to the syllabus have been made to accommodate continuous assessment exercises which the full-time students are required to undertake.

RESEARCH PROJECT
Each student is required to carry out a detailed investigation of some topic related to his/her research field. Subjects for projects may be suggested by the staff of the Institute, the student or by the industry, and can be based on experimental research, computer modeling and/or technical reviews of real problems. Assessment is by means of both dissertation and oral presentation.

Interested institutions around the world, who would like to be a ‘Approved Support Center’ to run the courses of Newport University CED, please Contact