College Education Committee

Transcription

1 College Education Committee Meeting date 9 th October 2013 Minute CEC: 13/14: 1M reference Document type Minutes Status Unconfirmed Access Internal Special FOI release after one year provisions Minutes of the College Education Committee held at 3.00pm on Wednesday 9 October 2013 in the Old Committee Room, Strand Campus Attendance Chair Vice-Principal (Education) One member nominated by each School Arts and Humanities Biomedical Sciences Dentistry Law Medicine Natural and Mathematical Sciences Nursing and Midwifery Institute of Psychiatry Social Science and Public Policy Global Institutes Ex officio Director of King s Learning Institute Dean of Medical Education KCLSU President Director, Technology Enhanced Learning Chair of the College Assessment Board Director of the Graduate School KCLSU Vice President (Representation & Communications) KCLSU Vice-President (Academic Affairs) Head of Taught Postgraduate Studies Professor Karen O Brien Dr Sarah Cooper Dr Stuart Knight Dr Brian Millar (vice Professor Mark Woolford) Perry Keller Professor Anne Greenough Dr Mike Clode Andrea Cockett (vice Professor Stephen Tee) Professor Susan Lea Dr Alan James Dr Louise Tillin (vice Dr Andy Sumner) Professor Paul Blackmore Dr Stuart Carney Sebastiaan Debrouwere Dr Stylianos Hatzipanagos (vice Professor Mark Russell) Dr Ian McFadzean Professor Vaughan Robinson Anthony Shaw Areeb Ullah Dr Kim Wolff In attendance Senior Administrator (Quality Assurance) Lynne Barker Head of Postgraduate Policy & Operation Jennie Eldridge Director of Governance and Legal Affairs Peter Garrod Management Director of Library Services & Employability Robert Hall Director of Students and Education Support Anne Poulson Director of Student Services (Interim) Chris Shelley Head of Graduate School Strategic Keith White Projects (for item 5) 1/8

2 Secretary Trevor Pearce Apologies for absence were received from Professor Mark Russell, Dr Andy Sumner Professor Stephen Tee, and Professor Mark Woolford Part 1: Housekeeping 1. TERMS OF REFERENCE AND MEMBERSHIP 2013/ Received and Noted: The terms of reference and membership for the Committee for 2013/14. (CEC: 13/14: 1) Action 1.2 Noted: The Committee welcomed Dr Stuart Carney, Dean of Undergraduate Education within the School of Medicine and Trevor Pearce, Head of Quality and Academic Support and Secretary to the Committee. The Committee also congratulated Dr Ian McFadzean on his new role as Dean of Education in the School of Biomedical Sciences. 2. MINUTES 2.1 Approved: the minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 3 July (CEC: 13/14: 6M). 3. MATTERS ARISING 3.1 Received: a paper updating the Committee on matters arising from the minutes of the meeting of 3 July 2013 not considered elsewhere on the agenda. (CEC: 13/14: 2). 3.2 Noted: that paragraph 4 of the paper should be amended to read Currently course spaces in KEATS remain closed to those students not registered on the course. Part 2: Substantive Items 4. SCHEDULE OF WORK 2013/ Received: the proposed schedule of work for the Committee for 2013/14. (CEC: 13/14: 3). 4.2 Reported by the Chair: (i) That the Committee s main item of business for the year would be the development of the Education Strategy; (ii) that the Committee would also oversee the development of a revised King s Experience Survey, to support quality enhancement and act as an early warning survey for the National Student Survey; (iii) that a quinquennial review pilot would take place during the year, with a report back to the Committee once the pilots had taken place; (iv) that the College would begin preparations for the 2015/16 Higher Education Review during 2013/14; (v) that a new Collaborative Provision Officer had been appointed, who would support the College s work in this area; (vi) that a significant review of the College s Academic Regulations would take place during 2013/14. 2/8

3 5. EDUCATION STRATEGY Received: slides from a presentation from the Vice-Principal (Education) on the developing College Education Strategy (CEC: 13/14: 4) together with a discussion document concerning a proposed Strategy for Arts & Sciences (CEC: 13/14: 4a). 5.2 Reported by the Chair: That the emerging Education Strategy had been discussed at Academic Board and the Chairman s Committee, and had been forwarded to School Education Committee chairs for discussion within Schools. The Arts & Sciences strategy was being developed alongside the Education Strategy, and was intended to be an integrated Strategy for research, innovation, internationalisation and education. 5.3 Reported by the Representative from the School of Arts & Humanities: (i) That particular areas of interest for Arts and Sciences included the mix of discipline-specific and inter-disciplinary teaching; relationships with cultural organisations based in London; the management of collaborative programmes; and the need to undertake a structured review of the education portfolio to ensure a sustainable offering centred on the needs of students; (ii) that it was intended that the strategy would identify how the School planned to attract the very best students and achieve the School s widening participation objectives; (iii) that the objectives identified for learning and teaching included objectives relating to technology-enhanced learning and research-led teaching; (iv) that the strategy would also encompass preparation for Arts & Humanities students for life after study. 5.4 Noted: (i) (ii) (iii) (iv) (v) (vi) That the School of Social Sciences & Public Policy were at an early stage in the consideration of their future strategy; the School was focussing at this stage on academic governance structures; that the School of Law had now appointed a new Dean. The School had been focussing on support for teaching standards and online delivery in the early stages of their strategy development; that the School of Natural & Mathematical Sciences strategy was developing along similar lines to the Arts & Sciences strategy; a review of the School s programme portfolio would shortly be conducted, and modules with a technological focus, identified. It was also planned to review the School s quality assurance policies and practices; that the next stage of development for the College s strategies would be to discuss and provide further detail in the areas of research-led teaching and technology enhanced learning; that there were opportunities for all Schools for future development in collaboration with the Academic Health Sciences Centre; that the Strategy should emphasise consistent approaches to 3/8

4 (vii) (viii) (ix) (x) (xi) (xii) areas such as personal tutoring, teaching support and student engagement; that the Institute of Psychiatry was developing an overarching strategy together with a postgraduate taught student-specific strategy; the Committee recognised the importance of a strategic approach applicable to all students, including postgraduate taught and postgraduate research students. Applying different approaches at undergraduate and postgraduate level for technology enhanced learning would be considered as the support needs for students at the different levels were different; that the Institute of Dentistry was looking at its Education Strategy, in the context of its regulatory environment. The Institute had developed its practice for the use of KEATS as an online support system; that the School of Nursing and Midwifery was focussing on research-led teaching in the development of its strategy. It would also focus on service user involvement in the delivery of its curriculum, as required by health regulators; that the School of Medicine was developing its education strategy with a view to supporting its mission to education students to be ready to work in a medical environment. Part of the focus of the strategy was to align academic leadership and professional services support; that the School of Biomedical Sciences strategy was intended to focus on the distinctiveness of the King s offering in this area, and in particular supporting the culture of aligning teaching and research excellence. The NSS results showed the need to ensure that Schools focussed on detail in the development of supportive cultures for students; that in the development of individual School strategies it would be important to ensure cohesive structures and consistent presentation. 5.5 Reported by the Head of the Library Services and Employability: that the Library had undertaken a survey of academic skills support (defined as support for students in developing skills for learning) to identify gaps and overlaps in the provision offered by the College. One clear area for attention was numeracy support. 6. STUDENT SURVEYS NSS Received: a report on the College s response to the NSS 2013 results(cec: 13/14: 5). Reported by the Chair: that a suite of action plans had been finalised in response to the NSS results; the Principal s Central Team would review progress against these plans in November. 6.2 Reported by the Director of Students and Education: (i) That a group had been established to review the survey responses relating to organisation and management, and learning resources. The group had assessed the projects in these areas that had been taken forward since the Survey had 4/8

5 (ii) closed, and produced action plans on further short and medium term plans. Implementation of the plans would be assessed in November; that the majority of comments on organisation and management related to timetabling or general administration. One recommendation from the review would be for the timetabling unit to have greater responsibility for managing the use of the College estate. 6.3 Reported by the Director of Library Services and Employability: (i) That, the Library had implemented standardised library opening hours across the campus libraries. There would be further analysis of the requirements for nursing and midwifery examinations; (ii) that, where under 80% of students within a Department had expressed dissatisfaction with book stock, the Library would be reviewing stock in that area, and working with colleagues over the production of reading lists to ensure that expectations were appropriately managed as well as ensuring that the stock of books was up to date; (iii) that the Library would also be analysing its use of space and other environmental issues; (iv) that the Careers Services would be considering the provision of careers advise within BMS and the School of Medicine; the College would consider using the NSS optional bank of questions relating to careers advice for the 2014 survey. 6.4 Reported by the President of the Students Union: that the Students Union were analysing the reasons for the significant drop in satisfaction ratings during 2013, and particularly the provision for welfare support and careers support. The Union would take a focus group approach to attempt to improve results during Noted: that action plans would be circulated to Committee members for information. Director, Students & Education; Head QAS PTES Received: a report on the College s response to the 2013 Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey (CEC: 13/14: 6). 6.7 Reported by the Head of Taught Postgraduate Studies: That the PTES results had been broadly positive, with improvements in most areas. Results had been considered at school level, and a review of programme handbooks was underway to attempt to improve perceptions of communication by students. 6.8 Noted: that there would be a significant upgrade of information technology provision for students in 2013/14, including PC provision and wifi technology. This would encompass the offering at halls of residence. An important part of this project would be communications with students to demonstrate that survey responses were acted upon. 7 COLLEGE EDUCATION COMMITTEE REVIEW 5/8

6 7.1 Received: a proposal to review the Committee s structure and working methods. (CEC: 13/14: 7). 7.2 Noted: that the review would take place at the same time as the review of the Academic Board structures, although the Academic Board review would not be as comprehensive. The Head of Quality & Academic Support would liaise with the leader of the AthenaSwan project to ensure that the review was conducted in accordance with the principles of that project. 7.3 Approved: the proposed review of the Committee s structure and working methods. 8. COMMITTEE REPORTS 8.1 Received and Noted: the reports of the CEC Scrutiny Panel of 25 th September 2013 (CEC 13:14: 8); the Postgraduate Research Student Sub-Committee meetings of 17 th July 2013 and 11 th September 2013 (CEC 13/14: 9); the College Assessment Board meeting of 26 th June 2013 (CEC: 13/14: 10) and the Programme Development & Approval Committee meeting of 17 th September 2013 (CEC: 13/14: 11). 8.2 Received: the report of the Taught Postgraduate Sub-Committee meeting of 18 th September 2013 (CEC: 13/14: 12). 8.3 Approved: the recommendations of the sub-committee that the College: Consider how it encourages continuing students to accept a place on a PGT programme at King s; Consider how postgraduate taught programmes can properly promote PSRB accreditation as a value-added component of its provision; Undertake an audit of PSRB accredited programmes. 9. STUDENT BUSINESS 9.1 Received: a tabled document outlining the KCLSU plans for the year.(cec 13/14: 19). 9.2 Reported by the President of KCLSU: that the Union would be participating in projects relating to the hidden costs of study, international fees, lecture capture, pastoral care and mental health during the Autumn term 2013/ Noted: (i) (ii) That a policy on timetabling would be presented to the Committee shortly; that the Vice-President (Academic Affairs) would be participating on the assessment and feedback project and also a project on the attainment gap for students of different ethnic backgrounds. 10. STUDENT SERVICES 10.1 Received: an update from the Student Services unit. (CEC: 13/14: 13) 10.2 Reported by the Interim Director of Student Services: 6/8

7 (i) (ii) That the College had announced that it would not charge resit fees for students; re-take fees would continue to be charged; that guidance had been produced to Schools on the outcomes of the Student Voice project, both on the principles of student engagement and the need to ensure that outcomes of this engagement were properly fed back. The Union would be overseeing training for class representatives, which would focus particularly on the need to develop partnerships between the College and its student body Noted: that the Nightingale Student Council had produced an action planning document, identifying both problems experienced by students and their suggested resolutions; this was a model of good practice that might be adopted elsewhere in the College. 11. ANNUAL REPORTING 2012/ Received: A proposed annual reporting process for 2012/13 (CEC: 13/14: 14) Noted: that the timing of annual reports meant that there was a delay between delivery of programmes and reflections on this delivery; this would be reviewed on conjunction with the forthcoming review of the programme review process Approved: the Annual Reporting process for 2012/ ADMISSIONS AND CRIMINAL CONVICTION DISCLOSURE 12.1 Received and Approved: an updated Policy on the Declaration and Storage of Criminal Conviction Information and Disclosure and Barring Service disclosures for applicants to the College. (CEC: 13/14: 14a) Part 3: Other Matters 13. QUALITY ASSURANCE AGENCY MATTERS 13.1 Received and Noted: The College s formal responses to draft chapters of the QAA Quality Code on Setting & Maintaining Academic Standards; Programme Design & Approval; Assessment of Students & Recognition of Prior Learning; Programme Monitoring & Review; Recruitment and Admissions to Higher Education (CEC: 13/14: 15); (CEC: 13/14: 16) 14. STUDENT CONDUCT & APPEALS 14.1 Received and Noted: an update on the Student Conduct and Appeals Office operations, following their review in 2011 (CEC: 13/14: 17) 15. KING S LEARNING INSTITUTE MATTERS 15.1 Received and Noted: a report on funding opportunities and awards offered by the King s Learning Institute (CEC: 13/14: 18). 16. DATE OF MEETINGS FOR 2013/ Noted: Future meetings of the Committee would take place on 20 November December February March /8

8 9 April May July 2014 Secretary: Trevor Pearce Head of Quality & Academic Support 8/8