Guidelines for overseas courses

* Derby University is pressing quality watchdogs to review its guidelines for overseas courses.

The university has a franchising arrangement with Israel's Council for Higher Education. Israel is insisting that Derby staff do at least 30 per cent of teaching and that certificates must be identical to those awarded in Britain.

Derby course organisers have met the first requirement. But the second is causing problems because it clashes with advice contained in the QAA's code of practice for overseas activities.

The code, which is under review, says certificates must state the country the course was taken in and the language of study - conditions Israelis do not accept.

Derby officials have suggested that the certificates could be identical but accompanied by a transcript providing all the details called for by the QAA.

Nicola Channon, QAA head of operations of institutional review, said the code was only a guide and "we are open to suggestions".

Geoffrey Alderman, head of academic development and quality assurance at Middlesex University, which has strong links in Israel, said this was an issue facing all institutions working in the country.