Learning and Teaching Committee

 

LTC07-M3

Minutes of the Meeting of the Committee held on 8 November 2007

 

Members:  Morag Bell (in the Chair), Simon Austin, Paul Byrne, John Dickens, Sophie Driscoll (ab),
John Harper (ab), Barry Howarth (ab), Martin Harrison, Helen Jacques, Ruth Kinna (ab), Anne Mumford, Jennifer Nutkins, Jan Tennant, David Twigg, Andrew Wilson (ab)

 

Apologies:  Sophie Driscoll, John Harper, Barry Howarth, Ruth Kinna, Andy Wilson

                                                 

In attendance:  Robert Bowyer, Howard Jones (for M.56 and M.57)


 

07/47  Welcome to new members

The Chair welcomed Helen Jacques to her first meeting.  Barry Howarth and Sophie Driscoll had also joined the Committee for the first time though unable to be present.

 

07/48  Business of the meeting

            No items were unstarred.

                                       

07/49  Minutes

            LTC07-M2

The Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 7 June 2007 were confirmed.

 

07/50  Matters arising from the Minutes not otherwise appearing on the Agenda

 

Senate actions

It was noted that Senate had approved the recommendations of the Committee in the following matters:

 

(i)                 British University in Egypt (M.07/30)

(ii)                Loughborough College – Sports Performance FD (M.07/31)

(iii)              Sharing External Examiners’ reports with students (M.07/35)

(iv)              New programmes and strategic changes (M.07/39)

 

07/51  Terms of reference

LTC07-P39

The Committee considered its terms of reference, reflecting on

                        (i)         their fitness for purpose

                        (ii)        members’ responsibilities

It was agreed to add the BUE Validation Sub-Committee to the bodies listed in paragraph 8 and to add at the end of paragraph 9 ‘and from the Associate Dean (Teaching) BUE on matters concerning the University’s partnership with BUE within his area of responsibility’. 

It was noted that the place filled by the Director of Media Services had previously been allotted to the Director of DISS, who had nominated the Director of Media Services to serve on her behalf.  Following the dissolution of DISS, it had been agreed amongst the individuals concerned that the Director of Media Services should remain a member of the Committee ex officio and that the Librarian and the Director of IT should receive all papers and a standing invitation to attend for any items of business relating to the services they provided.  The Committee would nevertheless be pleased to have the Director of Media Services represent the interests of these other services as and when the Heads concerned wished her to so. 

 

07/52  Major issues for the Committee 2007/08

            LTC07-P40

            The Committee noted that the major issues for the Committee in 2007/08 were likely to flow from the Learning and Teaching Implementation Plan.  Priority areas for action were listed in the paper.  These were expanded upon by the PVC(T) and discussed by the Committee:

(i)                 Subject profile and student composition

Noted:

·         Intentions to broaden the subject profile, primarily in high demand subjects including History which it had been agreed to introduce in 2009; a major/minor structure was envisaged (with History as the major) which could provide scope for inputs from outside SSH 

·         Possibilities for new programmes complementary to the ETI

·         Initiation of a strategic review to look at the desired shape and composition of the University’s student population five years hence

·         Concerns within the Committee that organisational changes should not lessen the profile of Psychology within the University’s portfolio

(ii)               Curriculum design, programme delivery and learning opportunities

·         There was an emphasis on flexible approaches to programme design and delivery, especially at the PG level, which could contribute to Loughborough’s approach to employer engagement

·         The Powertrain Engineering Foundation Degree programme currently under discussion was also an employer engagement initiative; Foundation Degrees were not a strategic priority for the University but there was a strong case in this instance for strengthening and building on an existing industrial partnership

·         The Enterprise Office was leading the development of an employer engagement strategy which would bring together research, learning and teaching and enterprise; industry partners were most likely to be identified through the Enterprise Office or staff research links

·         The Graduate School would have a major part to play in the employer engagement strategy at PG level

·         An observation that flexible provision at PG level would typically have a high development cost and a short shelf-life

(iii)             Student support

·         A key development would be the creation of the proposed Student Hub to bring together activities rooted in a range of services, in support of student learning

·         The hub would have a web presence; some physical locations would also be identified with it

·         The Director of Media Services was invited to talk to Mary Morley and Wendy Llewellyn about proposals for the physical locations to see if she might be able to offer assistance

ACTION: AMM

(iv)             Quality assurance and enhancement

·         The creation of a Centre to support staff in their professional approach to learning was the most important development envisaged under this heading

·         The Centre would have a strong emphasis on quality enhancement and work with both individuals and departments

(v)               Staff recognition and reward

·         Discussions were taking place, primarily in the HR Working Group, to align recognition and reward mechanisms with the new University strategy

It was noted that a number of Key Performance Indicators were incorporated in the implementation plan.  Some of the relevant data, in areas such as student recruitment, for example, had been regularly reviewed, but in other areas data would need to be more systematically reviewed in the future than had been the case up to now.  It had yet to be decided how best to approach such discussions. 

 

It was noted that consideration would be given in the course of the year to the rules and regulations for reassessment, and their impact on departments. 

 

07/53  QAA Institutional Audit 2008

LTC07-P41

The Committee received a progress report on arrangements.  The discontinuation of the ‘discipline audit trails’ which had featured in the previous methodology was noted, as was their replacement by ‘sampling trails’ based on the University’s own periodic review procedures and units of review.  It was suggested that members of staff who might be considered likely to be invited to meet the audit team be alerted to the dates concerned.

ACTION: RAB

 

07/54  Learning and teaching spaces

            LTC07-P42

            The Committee considered a report from the Director of Media Services.

 

Attention was drawn to the loss of the EHB rooms for teaching because of careers fairs, once each semester.  The Committee agreed that both the teaching and the careers fair were important and was keen to see a solution found to avoid the competing claims on the same space.  Various suggestions were made and it was agreed to invite the Director of Media Services to explore possible options further with the Head of the Careers Centre.

ACTION: AMM

 

It was noted that increases in some large group sizes had started to come up against the capacity limits of the lecture rooms available. 

 

The development of more flexible types of programme would suggest a need to look at the sort of space that was provided as well as its allocation. 

 

Sophie Driscoll had drawn attention to issues concerning student access to suitable study space.  There were also issues concerning provision of informal space for student use, which had been highlighted in the student experience implementation plan.  It was RESOLVED that a small group be established covering both sets of issues, to comprise Jennifer Nutkins, Anne Mumford, Mary Morley, Phil Richards, Nick Slater, Sophie Driscoll and Sabrina Johnson.  It would need to make contact with Imago, Estates and the SDC.

ACTION: JCN

 

Favourable comments were passed on the improvements made to various foyers and entrances across the campus to create informal learning spaces.  It was felt that similar projects could be carried out in other buildings and the Director of Media Services was encouraged to undertake an audit of foyers and entrances to assess possibilities. 

ACTION: AMM

 

Attention was drawn to the lack of suitable learning spaces for staff, for example, for the probationary staff programme, and for continuing professional development generally.  It was suggested this be taken into consideration in the development of the Centre for learning and teaching.

 

07/55  Periodic Programme Reviews

The Committee considered the reports of Periodic Programme Reviews held in the summer of 2007 and the responses of the relevant departments:

 

            55.1     Business School

                        LTC07-P43

The PPR overall had been very positive and many features had been commended, including the Business School’s internal programme review procedures.  The response to the report had also been positive; actions would be followed up in the next APR. 

 

Attention was drawn to the space problems referred to in paragraph 11.16 of the report.  It was noted that the situation was getting worse.  Even minor percentage increases in the size of student groups meant that room capacities were being exceeded and fewer options were available.  

 

It was agreed to ask the Director of Media Services to use her good offices to have consideration given to the panel’s recommendation concerning possible use of accommodation at Holywell Park (13.9).

ACTION:  AMM

 

The Committee noted the concerns expressed by the panel regarding the time pressures under which the assessment process was operating and the impact on the work of the external examiners (13.10).  It noted the efforts made by the Business School to ease the situation and that the School was suggesting the reintroduction of Saturday examinations as a further measure.  The Committee agreed that this should be followed up by the Student Records & Examinations Office with a view to the possibility of using Saturdays for Business School examinations in semester 2 in the current session. 

ACTION:  CMG

 

It was agreed to draw the recommendation in 13.6 to the attention of Chris Backhouse as Director of Internationalisation Strategy and invite him to follow it up.

ACTION:  RAB, CJB

 

It was suggested that the AD(T) broker discussion between the Business School and the PVC(E) about the possibility of cultivating the Business School’s extensive list of industrial contacts (13.11).

ACTION:  PLB

 

            55.2     Chemistry

LTC07-P44

The panel had identified many positive features and examples of good practice.  Actions in response to the report would as usual be followed up in APR. 

Attention was drawn to the Head of Department’s suggestion that the University should explore again the possibility of central timetabling (14.2) and following discussion it was agreed to ask the Director of Media Services to bring forward a paper to the next meeting rehearsing the pros and cons of such a move. 

ACTION: AMM

It was queried whether there had been any comment within the panel about the volume of lab work, which might exacerbate some of the department’s capacity problems; the Committee was informed that there had been no criticism of this aspect of the programmes.  It was reported that the Head of Department had nevertheless recently set up a group to look at ways of streamlining programmes. 

It was suggested that the use of PhD students as mentors for first-year UGs (10.8) should be brought to the attention of Jenny Bell, Head of Counselling, who was working on mentoring schemes elsewhere on campus. 

ACTION: RAB, JB

 

07/56  English Language entry requirements

            LTC07-P45

The Committee considered amendments to English Language requirements for entry to postgraduate taught programmes.

           

It was noted that the paper came forward against a background of increasing concern amongst staff about standards of English amongst international students, and in discussion the Committee identified a number of issues requiring further consideration in relation to students who were admitted subject to attending a pre-sessional English language programme or who on paper met the English language requirements for entry to the University but were subsequently found to require further language support. 

 

It was reported that the Director of the Graduate School had queried why the proposals in the agenda paper were not being extended to postgraduate research students, as it would seem desirable to keep all PGs in step.  It was suggested he should pursue this issue with the Research Team.  It was noted that that there would need to be a mechanism for dealing with exceptional cases in the case of PGR students, which in the case of PGT students involved the approval of the ADTs.

ACTION:  JFH

 

It was RESOLVED to RECOMMEND the proposed amendments to Senate, with the addition of an appropriate amendment to the Appendix to Regulation XXI.

 

07/57  Widening Participation Strategy

            LTC07-P46

The Committee considered a revised and refocused widening participation strategy and supporting documentation, as endorsed by the Student Recruitment Team.  It was noted that it sat alongside the University’s Access Agreement with OFFA in which the University had set out various undertakings and objectives in this area.

 

There was an increasing emphasis on effectiveness and value for money in use of widening participation funding.  HEFCE had issued new targeting guidelines and there might be tighter constraints on use of funds received in future.  The University Widening Participation Office would be seeking more systematic feedback to help evaluate its work and working with Aimhigher East Midlands on data collection and tracking systems. 

 

It was noted that the University was performing very close to its benchmarks and Access Agreement milestones for socio-economic groups, but it was behind its milestone for mature student intake.

 

Attention was drawn to the new and developing themes for 2007/08 linked to student recruitment, including gifted and talented, sport, and looked-after children.  In the latter area, Loughborough had been granted a quality mark by the Frank Buttle Trust; it was able to offer students scholarships and bursaries from funds made available by the University Development Trust.

 

It was RESOLVED to ENDORSE the strategy and forward it to Senate.  It was suggested that the Student Recruitment Team give further consideration to ways of publicising more widely within the University the wide range of activities undertaken by the Widening Participation Office.

 

07/58  Assessment of students

            LTC07-P47

The Committee considered, on the advice of the Programme Quality Team, amendments to University assessment procedures as described in the AQPH.  These related to procedures for double marking and internal moderation, and followed from a review of the revised section of the Code of Practice on the Assessment of Students published by the QAA.  There had up to now been no stated requirement within the University for the internal moderation of coursework, and PQT considered it important that this issue was addressed. 

 

The import of the contents of paragraph (x) of the revised procedures was discussed and attention was drawn to the practical difficulties of acting on issues that did not manifest themselves until module marks were brought together in readiness for the programme board, such as where the marks for one module were found to be markedly out of line with the marks for other modules.  It was noted that student work marked by probationary staff would be covered by the sampling procedures in preceding paragraphs, and that scripts containing widely fluctuating marks were not out of the ordinary.

 

The threshold for internal moderation of pieces of coursework other than projects and dissertations in paragraph (ix) was also discussed. 

 

In the light of the discussions, it was RESOLVED to RECOMMEND to Senate that the revised procedures as set out in the agenda paper be approved, subject to

(a)               the addition of ‘and borderline cases’ at the end of paragraph (vii), and

(b)               the deletion of paragraph (x) in its entirety.

 

07/59  Curriculum Sub-Committee – 18 October 2007 (A)

LTC07-P48

It was RESOLVED to RECOMMEND to Senate on the advice of Curriculum Sub-Committee

(a)               revised terms of reference for the Sub-Committee

(b)               new programme proposals and other strategic changes. 

 

07/60  Procedures for the approval, monitoring and review of collaborative provision

            LTC07-P49

It was RESOLVED to RECOMMEND to Senate revised procedures, drawing together existing validation procedures and the code of practice for collaborative provision.

 

07/61  Code of Practice on Use of the OMR CAA Bureau Service for undergraduate and postgraduate examinations

            LTC07-P50

            It was RESOLVED to approve a revised version of the above code, with the associated service level statement.

 

07/62  Code of Practice on the use of Question Mark Perception for coursework testing

            LTC07-P51

            It was RESOLVED to approve a revised version of the above code.

 

07/63  Constitution and membership

            LTC07-P52

            The Committee noted its constitution and membership for 2007/08.

 

07/64  Curriculum Sub-Committee – 18 October 2007 (B)

LTC07-P53

Further discussions of the Sub-Committee were noted.

 

07/65  The British University in Egypt

            LTC07-P54

            The Committee noted developments since its previous meeting.

 

07/66  National Student Survey 2007

            LTC07-P55

The results of the 2007 NSS were noted.

 

07/67  ‘Beyond the Honours degree classification’. The final report of the Burgess Group

            The Committee noted the publication of the above, available at:

            http://bookshop.universitiesuk.ac.uk/downloads/Burgess_final.pdf

 

07/68  Dates of Meetings for the remainder of 2007/08

            14 February 2008

            5 June 2008

both meetings to begin at 9.30am.

 


Author – Robert Bowyer

Date – November 2007

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