LTC: 12.01.10. H/02/25/02 Minutes of the meeting of Senatus Learning and Teaching Committee held on Tuesday, 12 January 2010 at 2.15 p.m. in the Chancellor s Board Room, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Little France Present: Professor Dai Hounsell (Convener) Vice Principal Academic Enhancement Mr Evan Beswick Vice President (Academic Affairs), EUSA Professor Jeremy Bradshaw Dean of Postgraduates (Taught), CMVM Dr Linda Bruce Academic Policy Manager, Academic Services Professor Allan Cumming Director of Undergraduate Teaching and Learning, CMVM Dr Morag Donaldson Dean of Undergraduate Studies, CHSS Dr Jonathan Hearn School of Social and Political Science Dr Nick Hulton Dean of Learning and Teaching, CSE Professor Carolin Kreber Director, TLA Centre Ms Nora Mogey Information Services Professor Colin Pulham School of Chemistry Dr Sue Rigby (Vice Convener) Assistant Principal, Taught Postgraduate Programmes Dr Will Hossack Associate Dean, (Quality Assurance) CSE & Institutional contact for Scottish Enhancement Theme In attendance: Ms Ruth Stewart Assistant Secretary (Academic Administration), CMVM Apologies: Dr Richard Williams Mrs Rio Watt Dean of Postgraduate Studies, CHSS Head of Registry Welcome The Convener welcomed to the meeting Nora Mogey, who was joining the Committee, and Ruth Stewart, attending for item 3. 1. Minutes of the previous meeting (previously circulated) The minutes of the previous meeting were approved as a correct record. 2. Matters arising There were no matters arising which were not covered elsewhere on the agenda. 1
3. Induction: College Perspectives and Student Induction Co ordination Group 3.1 College of Humanities and Social Science LTC 09/10 3 A The Dean of Undergraduate Studies presented Paper A, Perspectives on Student Induction in CHSS. Dr Donaldson highlighted that the College was participating fully in the University wide Student Induction Co ordination Group. A priority for University level discussion was the issue of compulsory, zero rated courses delivering transferable skills. 3.2 College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine LTC 09/10 3 B The College Director of Postgraduates emphasised the diverse nature of the College, including its geography and its several programme start dates throughout the academic year. Induction was also required for the College s on line courses, and this required further tailoring by central University services to the specific needs of distance students. The College Director of Undergraduate Teaching and Learning noted that undergraduate induction was currently aimed at the start of students programmes, but that the College wished to start the induction process before students arrived at the University and to continue it through the whole first year experience. The Committee heard that Dr Fred Pender of the Medical Teaching Organisation was running a project with MBChB students to explore the First Year Student Experience, including induction to the programme. Emerging issues included students wish to have fewer events in Freshers Week so that they could socialise with students from other Colleges; how to spread induction through Semester 1, and its overlap with Personal Development Planning and whether it would be valuable to ask students across the University for their views on induction as part of efforts to professionalise it. LTC 09/10 3 B2 3.3 College of Science and Engineering LTC 09/10 3 C The College Dean of Learning and Teaching highlighted as the main concern the issue of long term, or deep, induction. This took induction as a process which addressed the transition from school learning to being a responsible, independent learner in the context of the university discipline. The question was how to embed induction in Schools. One possibility was for 10 20 credits of subject content to be given up during the first year in favour of developing students as a learner in their discipline. The Innovative Learning Week offered potential for this approach. 2
3.4 Student Induction Co ordination Group LTC 09/10 3 D The co Convener of the Group outlined its strategic overview of induction across the University, and its aims of identifying what needed to be addressed in terms of quick wins and longer term objectives. Actions already undertaken included an induction website with a high number of hits, and a very constructive student induction event in December resulting in further cross University actions. Of particular interest was the focus on joint Freshers Week planning for 2010 and 2011, and the area of e Induction. Further work was earmarked on starting induction as part of the admissions process, particularly for postgraduate students, a review of current induction activity, and close liaison with the Internationalisation Strategy and the Institute for Academic Development. The Committee agreed that the Group s work was of great value to the University, and noted its success in moving issues forward. The Group was asked to send an annual report to the Committee, and to continue to transmit issues which would benefit from discussion in the Committee. Action: Linda Bruce to request reports from Student Induction Co ordination Group In discussion the Committee identified several key aspects of induction as part of the broader student experience: Students difficulty in establishing a sense of community relating to their programme within the current structure of the formal induction week The need for the University to identify what it wanted to achieve at the end of the induction process Induction could be seen as a continuous spine of development linked to academic study but also including enhancement aspects such as employability, 21 st Century graduate and Transkills Lack of community had several causes, including a hiatus between the effort put in during induction week and induction thereafter, and the impact of course structure The need for better understanding of students prior academic base The need to extend induction to all teaching of first year students, and to all contacts students had with the University during the first weeks of their programme. Action: Assistant Principal Rigby to take forward issues relating to the transcript and Innovative Learning Week 3
4. Strategy on taught postgraduate provision LTC 09/10 3 E The Committee received a tabled paper giving the University s results in the Higher Education Academy Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey for 2009. The Committee agreed that results from future PTES surveys should be disseminated to Deans, Schools, AP Taught Postgraduates and Senate Committees Conveners Forum as soon as available and for action as appropriate. It was also agreed that the survey results would be sent formally to Information Services in respect of positive responses on Library and IT provision. Action: Registry Academic Services The key features to emerge from the data analysis so far were: Feedback was a concern for postgraduate students The positive responses on Information Services provision Employability support was an area for further attention It was noted that the questionnaire was lengthy, and that this might have had fan effect on responses. Action: Assistant Principal Rigby to discuss with Director of Institute for Academic Development. Registry Academic Services to feed back to HEA group on length of questionnaire. In discussion of the University s strategy on taught postgraduate provision, as set out in Paper E, the Committee noted that the Quality Assurance Agency provided guiding principles in this area. With regard to the viability of current programmes and the impetus for development, it was noted that the NPRAS scheme could act as a hindrance to change. Action: Assistant Principal Rigby to raise where appropriate the impact of NPRAS on the development of taught postgraduate business. It was noted that Communications and Marketing was developing generic marketing support available to Programme Directors as a workshop and as material to download from the C&M website. Members agreed that a culture change was desirable whereby Schools embedded a cycle of programme review and subsequent decision making on programme viability and on new directions as an ongoing process. It was agreed that the Director of the Institute for Academic 4
Development should be invited to become a member of the Committee. Action: College Postgraduate Offices to include questions on marketing and support for existing Masters Programmes in Postgraduate Programme Reviews. Secretary to invite Director of Institute for Academic Development to join Committee membership. 5. Updates/Reports from Task Groups 5.1 Enhancing Feedback: draft University standards and guiding principles LTC 09/10 3 F The Committee endorsed the draft standards and guiding principles and agreed that they should be considered by Colleges and Senate during Semester 2. Action: Convener and College Undergraduate Deans/Directors of Learning & Teaching In discussion it was noted that several interlinked issues required further consideration, including the release of marks to students, the viewing of exam papers and the return of exam scripts to students, with a view to the possible release of a University statement. Action: Senate Committees Conveners Forum Secretary s Note: return of exam scripts to students is not currently permitted by the Assessment Regulations. [UG & PGT Assessment Regulation 11.1] 5.2 Academic and Pastoral Support for Students The Convener reported on work to date, including drafting a job specification for the coordination and championing of guidance and support for students. The task group was directed towards the report of the previous working group on the subject, which had provided both a baseline survey of the University s current system of student support and aspirations for its future shape. Should these aspirations not be feasible at present, a strong interim solution was commended to the task group. 5.3 Assessment Futures The task group would begin its work shortly. 6. Inspiring Teaching Conference and plans for 2010 LTC 09/10 3 G The Committee received a report on the successful inaugural conference in 2009 and noted that it was to be an annual event. Members suggested that more joint presentations by staff and students would be especially welcome. 5
7. EUSA report on Teaching Awards LTC 09/10 3 H Members noted the booklet on the 2009 awards. New categories for 2010 included e learning and best postgraduate tutor. It was suggested that the 2010 booklet should include photographs and summaries of the runners up. 8. Initial briefing on 21 st Century Graduate Enhancement LTC 09/10 3 I The Committee noted the strategy of building on work done on graduate attributes by the employability consultants. The next stage would be to add discipline specific content to the attributes in a number of areas and using these as exemplars for other disciplines. An assessment of the success of this approach would then be carried out. A wiki was available for comment on the development of the attributes. The longterm aim was that programmes and courses would articulate where specific attributes were being formed. The objective in the medium term was for attributes to form part of curriculum planning and programme specification, thus supporting student choice. Inclusion in the student transcript would also be essential. Members were encouraged to discuss development of attributes further with Dr Hossack. It was noted that some financial support was available. Action: Dr Hossack to ensure Transcripts Task Group aware of transcript implications of enhancement theme It was noted that the Quality Assurance Agency had congratulated the University on the Employability topic planned for the main Senate discussion in June 2010. 9. Update on Review of Support for Learning and Teaching for Staff and Students It was noted that the Director of the Institute for Academic Development was now in post. A public launch of the Institute would take place in September 2010. 10. Standing item: strategic priorities of Senate Committees Noted. 11. Any Other Business It was noted that procurement had been completed for an e portfolio package. The Committee requested a briefing on the package at its March meeting. Action: Nora Mogey to provide paper. 12. Date of next meeting: Tuesday, 23 March 2010 6