1. London School of Media and Management (LSMM) is based in the United Kingdom as a registered learning, education and training provider, associated with partners institutions in further and higher education. We offer courses, programmes and training to students and learners from all walks of life. Its online blended learning, academic, non-academic and skills-based courses and programmes, provide wide-ranging awards and qualifications to learners, students, professionals and mature individuals both in UK and overseas markets.
Our aim with our management board, team and strategic partners, is to provide support and enable all students and learners to engage in education learning through courses, programmes and projects. Every student and learner on completion achieve their qualifications, certification and awards enabling them to progress and advance their life chances and careers. All our learners and students participate on programmes, courses and training on a blended teaching and learning basis which includes, online, centre based, placement and tutorial, which also includes distance learning on our learning platform. Amongst all our courses, programmes and projects, we specialise in academic and skills based teaching and learnng in creative media, radio/television production and EDTEC (education and technology).
Our vision is to make LONDON SCHOOL OF MEDIA AND MANAGEMENT as a place of choice for “academic, non-academic and vocational excellence” and where students and learners succeed and connect to their future ambitions. Our mission is to facilitate high quality education with recognised quality standards being maintained at affordable costs.
2. Mission Statement
LSMM aims to provide high quality education, to maximise the potential of students and learners and to promote and enhance individual education achievement at the highest level”
3. Vision
LSMM aspires to be the further and higher education learning institution of choice and success by engaging learners and creating lifelong educational relationships that will inspire and support all learners and students to increase their capacity for personal and professional development and growth.
4. Core Values
LSMM core values and beliefs are:
To place the interest of all learners, students and individuals at the centre of all activities
Create a challenging academic environment by dedicated teaching and productive outcomes with all the required support and guidance.
Adherence to common ethical and moral standards of diversity, equality and governance with community service
5. LSMM supporting values - Inclusiveness / Diversity / Entreprenuership / Innovation / Collaboration/ Partnerships / Excellence / Integrity / Communications / Leadership / Respect / Stewardship
6. LSMM strategic objective is to strive to maintain high quality of teaching and learning standards to promote excellence supported by continuous professional development, learning and teaching initiatives.
The main objectives are:
To provide better quality services.
To get the maximum engagement from staff
To promote and achieve targets in time.
To promote and support lifelong knowledge based learning
To maintain professional relationships with all internal and external stake holders
To ensure all learners and individuals achieve their aspirations
To promote and maintain a strong brand image for LSMM
7. Corporate Governance
7.1 The Directors and governing board are responsible for controlling the management and administration of all operations. They have responsibility for directing its affairs and for ensuring that it is solvent, maintained and delivering all outcomes to the benefit of the all learners and stakeholders.
Directors must ensure that they fully understand their duties as company directors. The duties of company directors are codified in sections 170 to 181 of the Companies Act 2006
The members of are the subscribers to its memorandum of association, and any other individuals permitted under its articles of association.
Their powers may include the authority to appoint other members. Members may have no financial liability to the
7.2 The Board of Directors and the appointed governors are LSMM’s governing body and, amongst other matters, it is responsible for the administration and management of the affairs of LSMM and is required to present financial statements for each financial year. LSMM is committed to best practice in corporate governance.
The Board of Directors is responsible for setting the strategic direction of LSMM, and for the finance, property, investments and general business of LSMM. The Board of Directors approves major developments and receives regular reports from Executive Committee on the day-to-day operations of its business.
The principal, academic and administrative officer of LSMM is LSMM Dean/CEO, who has general responsibility to the Board of Directors for maintaining and promoting the efficiency and good order of LSMM. The Dean/CEO chairs the Executive Committee that supervises all matters relating to the finance, accounts and financial regulations of LSMM, the investment of its funds, the receipt of its income and the expenditure thereof, and the management of its borrowings through the finance office.
Day-to-day management of LSMM is conducted through the Dean to consider the strategic and financial direction of LSMM The Board of Directors has memberships from LSMM Directors, Shareholders, non-executive directors, nominated professionals and the Dean/CEO
7.3 Board of Directors Responsibilities are as follows:
I. To make a contribution to and approve the mission, vision and strategic direction of LSMM subject to consultation with Executive Committee.
II. To delegate authority to the Dean/CEO as chief executive, for the academic, corporate, financial and personnel management of LSMM.
III. To ensure the establishment and monitoring of systems of control and accountability, including financial and operational controls and risk assessment. ’s internal control framework must have regard to:
coordinate the planning and budgeting processes;
applying discipline in financial management, including managing banking, debt and cash flow, with appropriate segregation of duties;
preparation of timely monthly management accounts, including income and expenditure reports on an accrual’s basis, cash flow forecasts and balance sheets as appropriate;
ensuring that delegated financial authorities are respected;
selection, planning and oversight of any capital projects; the propriety and regularity of financial transactions;
the management and oversight of assets;
the risk of fraud and theft; and ensuring efficiency and value for money in the organisation’s activities.
IV. To ensure the establishment and monitoring of procedures for handling internal grievances and for managing conflicts of interest.
V. To ensure processes are in place to monitor and evaluate the performance and effectiveness of LSMM against the plans.
VI. To safeguard and promote the good name and values of embracing the principles of corporate social responsibility.
VII. To be the principal financial and business authority of LSMM, to ensure that proper books of account are kept, to approve the annual budget and financial statements, to have overall responsibility for LSMM’s assets, property and to comply with the requirements of the sector regulators as defined periodically.
VIII. To be LSMM’s legal authority and, as such, to ensure that systems are in place for meeting LSMM’s legal obligations, including those arising from contracts and other legal commitments made in the name of LSMM
IX. To make such provision as it thinks fit for the general welfare of Students and Learners, in consultation with the Committee.
X. To ensure that it has adequate insurance cover. The board should determine its own level of cover but should include buildings and contents, business continuity, employer’s and public liability and any cover required for motor vehicles. This list is not exhaustive;
approve a set of accounting policies;
maintain proper accounts;
appoint a registered statutory auditor; and
prepare annual financial statements (accounts).
XI. To perform transactions which are outside the usual planned range of activities:
write-offs of unrecoverable debts or overpayments;
recognizing losses of stocks or other assets;
taking on liabilities by issuing specific guarantees, or providing a letter of comfort; or providing indemnities;
special payments (transactions outside the usual planned range); and
gifts or hospitality received or given.
8. Academic Governance and Management
8.1 Introduction
LSMM has been developing a devolved system of governance and management whereby Departments have a large amount of autonomy in working within an agreed regulatory and quality assurance framework which is set and monitored by the Academic Committee. The intention has been to maintain quality assurance that is embedded in day-to-day activity and that such a system is flexible, able to respond to changes in student numbers, while maintaining academic standards.
8.2 Academic Governance
LSMM is organized as a single multi-departmental online faculty dedicated to Higher Education and Further Education, respectively. LSMM’s governance is exercised through the Dean/CEO and the Executive Committee.
LSMM’s corporate governance, exercised through the LSMM Executive sets the planning, regulatory and quality assurance parameters within which the Programmes must work, and the role of management is to ensure that corporate objectives are relisted appropriately. LSMM aims to perpetuate a culture which sees quality assurance as a professional issue and not a management function. As professionals, all staff engages in the process of continuous reflection and self-assessment which informs the evaluation of academic programmes and contributes to the maintenance of their academic standards and the enhancement of the student learning experience. LSMM takes responsibility for maintaining a central overview of processes which enables it to identify and disseminate good practice, and to take effective action where necessary.
The Dean/CEO and the academic governing body of LSMM is the Executive Committee. The Executive has a wide range of responsibilities in the broad areas of human, physical and financial resources. The Executive Committee is responsible for defining policies, strategies and academic affairs of LSMM. The committee comprises of LSMM directors, senior management, academic staff and external advisors and is reporting to Board of Directors.
Reporting to the Executive Committee is the Academic and Administrative Committees, which are “the bodies responsible under delegated authority from the Executive Committee” for the regulation of the academic and administrative work of LSMM. Executive, Academic and Administrative Committees are responsible for all aspects of compliance with legislation, strategic planning, and the regulation of all academic and non-academic areas of LSMM’s work. The Academic Committee is assisted in its work by a sub-structure of committees which develop and monitor the majority of the policies and procedures governing the operation of the regulatory and quality assurance frameworks. The components of the management structure established by LSMM to assure and enhance academic quality are as follows:
Academic standards committee is responsible for the evaluation, review and enhancement of the quality and standards of teaching and learning. It also reviews student feedback and academic performance data and maintains LSMM academic regulations and procedures on assessment.
Quality Assurance Committee which is the responsible body providing LSMM level operation and scrutiny of quality assurance processes
8.3 The following roles and responsibilities exist within the management structure and these have been outlines in the beginning of this document for reference.
9. Academic Quality Assurance: Principles Oversight of all quality assurance procedures in LSMM lies within the remit of the Governing Board. Responsibility for aspects of this remit is delegated to a series of sub-committees at the LSMM and course level. Quality assurance procedures are also subject to the general policy statements of LSMM, which inform the development, validation, monitoring and review of programmes. The Quality assurance is proactive and forward-looking rather than retrospective and reactive; Quality assurance and quality enhancement in LSMM are seen as interrelated and reciprocal and all quality processes are intended to generate enhancement as well as providing assurance;
10. Summary
This framework describes LSMM’S approach to the establishment, maintenance, evaluation, and development of academic and non-academic quality assurance and standards. It is recognised that this is a continuously changing and evolving area; LSMM will take every opportunity to participate in relevant national consultations and discussions, and will monitor external developments to ensure that its policies and procedures remain informed by current best practice.