By Invitation: Mr J Costello, Professor B A Marples, Dr R B Wilcockson, Dr N F Doherty (for items 20 and 21), Professor T G Weyman-Jones (for item 22)
Apologies: Dr P D Dine
In Attendance: Mr R A Bowyer
CSC97-P11
The views of the Teaching and Learning Committee were noted.
The Sub-Committee considered proposals from IPTME for a new MSc programme to be offered in collaboration with the University of Nottingham (lead institution), the University of Hull and Sheffield Hallam University. This was to be funded in the first instance through the EPSRC's IGDS scheme.
It was noted that each University would offer three taught modules and supervise a proportion of student projects. Notwithstanding the statement in the proposals concerning the transfer of module credits between institutions, it was now anticipated that students would be registered throughout the programme as Nottingham students, the programme would be conducted under Nottingham regulations, and essentially lead to a Nottingham degree, except that Loughborough had requested that the names and logos of all the participating institutions should appear on the degree certificate. Income would be distributed on the basis of modular credit contributed. Quality assurance arrangements would be handled through a Management Committee and an Academic Board, on both of which all four universities would be represented.
It was noted that the programme would be run under a modular scheme with a credit tariff of 180 for a Master's degree. This was the common pattern in the other three institutions. The project would contribute one-third of the total credits, as it commonly did in Loughborough, but the Sub-Committee observed that this meant that each of the twelve taught modules was of less weight than a 10-credit module in the Loughborough system.
It was reported that there had been some discussion in the Science Faculty of the fact that Loughborough expertise in Surface Science had not been brought into play; it was acknowledged however that the other collaborating institutions were providing this. It was understood that electives in areas such as Modelling might be considered once the programme was established.
It was noted that the financial arrangements had been vetted by the Operations Sub-Committee. The four institutions were confident of meeting the intake targets to which EPSRC funding was attached and of exceeding these in due course.
The Sub-Committee RECOMMENDED to the Teaching and Learning Committee that the University's involvement in the IGDS MSc programme in Surface Engineering and Design be approved with effect from September 1997.
The Sub-Committee considered proposals from CHaRM, Business School, for the revision and re-titling of the existing MSc in Hazardous Waste Management.
Members noted that the module specifications were not generated from the University module database and, since few were entirely new, were concerned whether the versions being passed on to students matched those that had been formally approved in the past. The necessary information had been included in the specifications presented to the Sub-Committee, but there were a number of fields which did not feature in the standard template. It was queried whether more than one person should be named as Internal Examiner.
Subject to the Department entering details of the module specifications as presented to the Sub-Committee on to the module database and avoiding generating non-standard versions in future, it was RECOMMENDED to the Teaching and Learning Committee that the revised programme be approved for introduction in 1997/98.
The Sub-Committee considered proposals from the Business School for a new MSc programme in Management. It was noted that the programme was aimed at newly qualified graduates from other disciplines and was distinct from the MBA which assumed several years' work experience prior to entry.
The Sub-Committee was assured that the Business School was alert to the potential difficulties that might arise from teaching students from different disciplines and with different levels of exposure to management topics side by side with one another and would ensure that appropriate support mechanisms were in place. It was noted that the project work could be linked back to the discipline of the students' first degree.
It was noted that optional electives in the second semester were existing final year undergraduate options within the Business School. Different assessment criteria would be used for the MSc students.
It was noted that Operations Sub-Committee had requested that the programme be run on a self-financing basis.
It was requested that the distribution of lectures, tutorials, workshops, etc. and their relative loading be shown in the module specifications and that further information on coursework requirements be given under the Method of Teaching, Learning and Assessment (MTLA) field.
Subject to the above, it was RECOMMENDED to the Teaching and Learning Committee that approval be given to the introduction of an MSc programme in Management with effect from September 1997.
The Sub-Committee considered proposals from the Business School for the restructuring of the executive part-time MBA programme. The restructuring covered all three variants of the programme: Loughborough version, Peterborough version and Corporate version.
The changes were intended to enhance the marketability of the programme and ensure re-accreditation by the Association of MBAs (AMBA).
The revised programme would be composed of 10-credit modules plus a 30-credit project. The change from a variety of 15- and 5-credit modules had necessitated combining two different yet complementary disciplines from the same academic year of the programme.
It was requested that the distribution of lectures and workshops and their relative loading be shown in the module specifications, that further information on coursework requirements be given under the MTLA field, and that missing details of Internal Examiners and Reading Lists be addressed. It was also requested that the module specifications be entered on to the University module database.
Subject to the above, it was RECOMMENDED to the Teaching and Learning Committee that approval be given to the restructuring of the executive MBA with effect from September 1997.
The Sub-Committee considered proposals from the Department of Economics for the restructuring of its undergraduate programmes. The Sub-Committee was informed that there were three major reasons for the restructuring: preparation for TQA in 2000-01, to respond to feedback and enhance the attractiveness of the programmes, and to rationalise the delivery of material - a significant reduction in the number of modules would result. In the specific case of the Economics with Accounting programme, the proposed changes were in accordance with BAAEC accreditation requirements. It was noted that 'service modules' would be maintained.
It was proposed in the light of consultations within the Department that all the changes would take effect from the start of the 1997/98 session. The movement of material between Parts of the programme was minimal and no student would 'miss' any subject of significance by switching to the new syllabus. The proposal to discontinue the programme in Quantitative Economics would affect only one student who would be able to transfer to single honours Economics.
The Sub-Committee was informed that the Department was aware of the discussions concerning the possibility of the Year Abroad leading in future to a DPS rather than contributing to the final degree classification, and was prepared to incorporate this.
Attention was drawn to the statement written into certain module specifications that attendance at tutorials was compulsory. The Sub-Committee was not in favour of this requirement because of the lack of effective sanctions. It had no objection to a register of attendance being kept but was of the view that the Department's policy on attendance should be set out in the Departmental or Programme Handbook rather than the module specification. It was noted that one possible way of penalising non-attendance was to design assessment requirements that were difficult to achieve unless students attended.
It was queried whether some modules might be offered by other departments. The Sub-Committee was informed that there was an ongoing discussion with the Business School about the common purchase of Law modules, and there was discussion taking place about the scope for IT modules being offered on a Faculty-wide basis to SSH departments. However, Economics' needs in respect of Data Analysis, for example, were quite specific.
It was pointed out that the Programme Regulations for 1997/98 would require further amendment to remove references to grades, which would no longer feature in the post-AMPS version of GRUA/ARUA.
Subject to the above, and the input of amendments to module specifications to the database, it was RECOMMENDED to the Teaching and Learning Committee that approval be given to the restructuring of the undergraduate programmes in the Department of Economics, including the discontinuation of the programme in Quantitative Economics, with effect from September 1997.
The PVC(T) informed the Sub-Committee that following discussions with the College Principal the proposals had been withdrawn. The College had found difficulty in recruiting to the programmes and their viability was in serious doubt. Should the College wish to continue to offer either programme in 1997/98, the proposals would need to be revived. They were unsatisfactory as they stood and would need to be revised, but it was agreed that the Chair of the Sub-Committee and the PVC(T) as Chair of Teaching and Learning Committee should be authorised to act on behalf of the respective bodies, were it necessary to do so.
The Sub-Committee considered proposals from the Department of Chemistry for the introduction of new undergraduate programmes in:
* Chemistry with Environmental Science
* Chemistry with a European Language
* Chemistry with Information Studies
* Chemistry with Forensic Analysis
It was noted that the new programmes were intended to address the decline in the number of applications to the Department and improve the quality of the intake. No change in the existing quota was proposed. Only four new modules were involved, one of which was associated with the parallel reconfiguration of existing programmes. Negotiations had taken place with several other departments who would provide service teaching via existing modules. A consultation form was still awaited from Geography.
There was not expected to be any difficulty over accreditation by the Royal Society of Chemistry.
It was noted that the MChem and BSc in Chemistry with a European Language shared a common final academic year, the only difference between the programmes being the European Year on the MChem. The nature of the European Year was queried. It was felt important that it should result in the import of modular credits and be different from a European industrial placement, such as students might undertake on one of the other Chemistry programmes leading to a DIS award. Members of the Sub-Committee pointed out the difficulty, however, of MChem students achieving the high level of performance stipulated in the Programme Regulations during the European Year. It was agreed to ask the Department to confirm its intentions.
It was pointed out that the Programme Regulations would require further amendment to remove references to grades, which would no longer feature in the post-AMPS version of GRUA/ARUA. It was also pointed out that it was obligatory for the Department to offer the opportunity of re-assessment in Part C modules to MChem students.
It was noted that the proposals had not yet been presented to the Operations Sub-Committee. Members took the view that as new programmes, they represented a strategic development and should be endorsed by that committee.
Subject to the above, and the Department entering the new module specifications on to the database, it was RECOMMENDED to the Teaching and Learning Committee that approval be given to the introduction of the four new undergraduate programmes with effect from Session 1998/99.
The Sub-Committee considered proposals from the Department of Chemistry for the restructuring of its existing undergraduate programmes. The proposals did not substantially change the contents of the programmes but, in the first year especially, lectures, tutorials and laboratory practicals in particular areas of chemistry were combined into single modules to improve continuity of teaching.
Two new modules would be introduced.
It was pointed out that the Programme Regulations would require further amendment to remove references to grades, which would no longer feature in the post-AMPS version of GRUA/ARUA. It was also pointed out that it was obligatory for the Department to offer the opportunity of re-assessment in Part C modules to MChem students.
Members noted that the module specifications were not generated from the University module database and that there were a number of fields which did not feature in the standard template, in particular Other Prerequisites and Staff Involved.
Subject to the Department entering the module specifications on to the database and making amendments to the Programme Regulations, it was RECOMMENDED to the Teaching and Learning Committee that approval be given to the restructuring of the existing undergraduate programmes in the Department of Chemistry across all years with effect from September 1997.
The Sub-Committee considered proposals from the Department of Human Sciences for the revision of its undergraduate programmes. The changes were in part necessitated by recent staffing changes but were also intended to improve flexibility and student choice. BPS and Ergonomics Society approvals were not expected to be affected. The Sub-Committee was informed that changes in the semester of delivery did not impinge on any service teaching to other departments.
It was noted that specifications for two new modules were not yet available and would be submitted via the AD(T) for Science in due course.
Attention was drawn to the extensive stipulation of prerequisites in the module specifications. The Department was urged to ensure that the prerequisites were sufficiently available to students within the framework of the Programme Regulations.
It was pointed out that the Programme Regulations would require further amendment to remove references to grades, which would no longer feature in the post-AMPS version of GRUA/ARUA.
The Sub-Committee noted that, with one or two exceptions, the module specifications were not generated from the University module database.
Subject to the Department entering the module specifications on to the database and making amendments to the Programme Regulations, it was RECOMMENDED to the Teaching and Learning Committee that approval be given to the revision of the undergraduate programmes in the Department of Human Sciences across all years with effect from September 1997.
The Sub-Committee considered proposals from the Department of Information and Library Studies for revisions to the BLS programme.
A dissertation module would be introduced for the first time. In addition, two `introductory' modules not previously credit-bearing were brought into the programme: these were in English Language and Communication Skills. Some members of the Sub-Committee expressed doubts whether it was appropriate that such modules, which it was understood would be delivered largely by the English Language Support Unit, should contribute credit in the final year of an undergraduate programme. Assurances were given that the emphasis was on Communication and Study Skills for students who were used to a very different type of learning environment and needed guidance in adjusting to the different modes of study they encountered at Loughborough: the modules linked strongly to the appropriate subject domain.
It was requested that the Programme Regulations clarify whether the Dissertation was compulsory. It should also be made clear that students notionally entered the programme with 120 credits from degree level modules (or 240 credits including 120 at degree level).
Subject to the above, it was RECOMMENDED to the Teaching and Learning Committee that the revisions to the BLS programme be approved with effect from September 1997.
The Sub-Committee considered proposals from the Department of Information and Library Studies for the revision of the postgraduate programmes in Information Studies and Information and Library Studies. The main change was to remove a non credit-bearing module and incorporate its content into the Dissertation and Project modules.
It was pointed out that the revised Programme Regulations would require further tidying: a reference to the `Foundation' module was still included; references to grades had been changed to percentage marks whereas modular grades would still feature in GRMPA; and distinction was not available on the LPD.
Subject to the above and the Department entering the new module specifications on to the module database, it was RECOMMENDED to the Teaching and Learning Committee that the revisions to the postgraduate programmes in the Department of Information and Library Studies be approved with effect from September 1997.
* Tuesday 14 October 1997
* Tuesday 20 January 1998
* Tuesday 5 May 1998
all to begin at 2.15 pm.