May 2025 Bulletin

1 May 2025

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Upcoming Deadlines and Key Dates
Durham University Board of Examiners (Overarching)
Annual Conference for Theological Educators 2025
Publicity/Website Guidance
Curriculum Updates
Common Awards Student Survey (CASS)
Library Access
Common Awards Webinar
Further Information

1. Upcoming Deadlines and Key Dates

8th May - Common Awards Management Board

23rd May - Deadline: TEIs to submit Curriculum Development requests for programme and module changes

30th May - Common Awards Student Survey closes

2. Board of Examiners (Overarching)

The Overarching Board of Examiners is due to be held on September 2nd (Summer) and December 2nd (Winter), 2025.

We therefore ask that TEIs hold their own Board of Examiners no later than 6th August 2025 (Summer) and 3^rd November 2025 (Winter). This allows the Common Awards Team enough time to process the data received from TEIs, and resolve any queries, before the Overarching Board of Examiners.

Action required: Submit TEI Board of Examiner's dates to the Common Awards team if you haven't already done so.

3. The Annual Conference of Theological Educators 2025

The 2025 Annual Conference for Theological Educators will be taking place on July 16th – 18th, at Durham University.

*Please note a change in venue*

The conference was originally advertised as taking place in College Court, Leicester. Unfortunately, we recently received notice that the venue was closing down in April, and all future bookings were cancelled.

We have secured an alternative venue at Durham University on the same dates. Due to the short notice, we may not be able to house all delegates within the same college and there may be some short walks (5–10 minutes) between accommodation/dining and teaching venues, but we will have transport available for those with mobility difficulties.

Bookings are open now. Please follow the link to book on to the conference:

Event Booking Details

This conference is FREE* to all Common Awards staff (all core and associate staff who are or expect to be involved in teaching, assessing or administering Common Awards programmes in the designated Common Awards TEIs).

*Travel expenses not included.

This year’s theme is Children, Youth and Theological Education

Our speakers will include

Melody Briggs, Sarah Strand and Hannah Wilkinson on approaches to the Bible in children’s and youth ministry;
Maggi Dawn on creating worship for young adults;
Carolyn Edwards, Meg Prowting and Sarah Holmes sharing perspectives on the current state of children and youth ministry in the UK;
Mark Griffiths on enabling student research projects in children's and youth ministry; and
Sara Taylor addressing how children’s and youth ministry is shaped by issues of race, class, and gender and the intersections between them.

For more information, please visit the Common Awards website conference page

4. Publicity/Website Guidance

TEIs are reminded that all published information for and associated with validated Common Awards programmes and the partnership with the University must be approved in advance by the Common Awards Management Board, on behalf of the University. TEIs are contractually obliged to share all publicity materials that reference Durham University, the Common Awards partnership and/or the Common Awards programmes.

We would kindly ask that TEIs check all published information of this nature to ensure that it takes into account the following, and that any new material is submitted to the University for approval:

That references to ‘Durham’ are in context. i.e. that it is clear that is it the ‘University of Durham’ or ‘Durham University’
That it is clear to students that they will receive a Durham University award.
The programmes (and modules) listed are accurate:
- that you have approval to deliver the programmes listed;
- that the name of the programmes are recognisable (e.g. CertHE in Theology, Ministry and Mission would be fine);
- that any programmes that have not yet been approved are listed as “subject to approval” or “subject to validation”
The correct terminology is used about the University and Common Awards
- the University offers a validation arrangement rather than an accreditation
- the awards are validated or awarded by Durham University, rather than Common Awards.
TEIs cannot advertise a Graduation or Congregation ceremony as students officially graduate from the University. Celebration events are fine.
Check any links to the University web pages are correct.

5. Curriculum Updates

At the beginning of 2025, a number of new modules were proposed by TEIs. All TEIs had the opportunity to comment on the proposals and the Continuing Implementation group has agreed should be added to the overall suite of modules on offer. If your TEI wishes to deliver any of the following modules for 2025-26, please submit this as part of a curriculum development request in May. Here are the new modules that TEIs can request approval to deliver on their programmes:

Code	Level	Credits	Title
TMM1757	4	10	Brief Introduction to the World Church
TMM1767	4	10	Philosophical Foundations
TMM1777	4	10	Conflict Transformation
TMM1781	4	20	Foundations in Chaplaincy Studies
TMM1797	4	10	Preparing for Public Ministry
TMM1801	4	10	Skills and Practice in Community Work
TMM1817	4	10	Values, Policy and Practice in Community Work
TMM1827	4	10	Introduction to Theological Anthropology and Culture
TMM2397	5	10	Introduction to Disability Theologies
TMM2091	5	20	Intermediate Biblical Hebrew (Extended)
TMM2101	5	20	Intermediate New Testament Greek (Extended)
TMM2817	5	10	Digital Theology and Ministry
TMM2827	5	10	Engaging with a Key Christian Figure
TMM2837	5	10	Exploring Biblical Theology
TMM2847	5	10	Exploring Mission Theology
TMM2857	5	10	Exploring Pastoral Care
TMM2867	5	10	Perspectives on the Spiritual Realm
TMM2877	5	10	Selected Topic in Church History
TMM3391	6	20	Communicating the Gospel in the Contemporary World
TMM3761	6	20	Intercultural Mission and Ministry
TMM3071	6	20	Advanced New Testament Greek (Extended)
TMM3081	6	20	Advanced Biblical Hebrew (Extended)
TMM3971	6	20	Pastoral Ministry in the Contemporary World
TMM48820	7	20	Medieval Christian Spirituality
TMM48920	7	20	Religion in a Changing Context
TMM49020	7	20	Advanced Missiology
TMM49120	7	20	Complex Issues in Pastoral Care
TMM49220	7	20	Advanced Study of a Text in Mission and Ministry
TMM49320	7	20	Healthcare, Wellbeing and Christian Spirituality

As a result of these new modules, some current modules have been amended to reflect changes to excluded combinations. These are

TMM2097

TMM2107

TMM2367

TMM2471

TMM2491

TMM3077

TMM3087

TMM3387

TMM3407

TMM3411

TMM3617

The following have been updated as a result of the new programmes and modules approved for delivery from 2025-26.

There are also 4 modules which have been amended

Module	Change
TMM2247	Minor- SSK amendment to first LO
TMM2311	Minor - Amendment made to second aim
TMM2387	Minor - Footnote added to the first aim
TMM42720	More extensive changes – all aims and content amended, SSK – second outcome, SSS - outcome and KS first outcome

6. Common Awards Student Survey (CASS)

The Common Awards Student Survey (CASS) was launched on 11 April 2025. Eligible students received a direct link to participate in the survey. As of now, the response rate stands at 8%. We encourage TEI staff and student representatives to promote the survey and motivate students to take part, as this will help ensure the collection of valuable and representative data.

The closing date is 30^th May 2025.

7. Library Access

We have been notified that, during the University's exam period (between 28 April to 23 May (inclusive)), access to the Bill Bryson Library is restricted to Durham University staff and students. Common Awards staff and students will have access during this time.

Whilst we do not anticipate any issues with access for TEI staff with a University campus card, staff are encouraged to contact the Common Awards team in advance if they plan on visiting the library, so we can ensure the library staff are informed.

8. Common Awards Webinar

Making ‘Reasonable Adjustments’ for Disabled Students

A webinar with Dr Stephen Campbell, Leeds Trinity University

Wednesday 4th June, 2.00pm – 3.30pm

Please use this link to join the webinar, which will be held on Microsoft Teams

About this event

This webinar will provide a chance for TEI staff to learn more about ‘reasonable adjustments’, exploring how our teaching, assessment, and student support can be adapted to provide a better experience for disabled students.

Dr Campbell is the author of Supporting Disabled Students in Higher Education: The Reasonable Adjustments Handbook (Routledge, 2023), an excellent guide to creative and practical responses to the needs of students with a wide range of disabilities. The webinar will provide an opportunity to hear about his work, and then to discuss with him how it might apply in the TEI context.

The webinar is open to teaching and administrative staff at any TEI offering Common Awards programmes. It will be recorded, and the recording made available to TEI staff after the event.

9. Further Information

The full 2024/2025 academic calendar is available here.

With thanks,

The Common Awards Team