Learning and Teaching
Committee
Subject: Annual Programme Reviews 2003-04
Origin: Associate Dean
(Teaching)
Summary notes of reviews conducted
in 2005
In
accordance with University Quality Procedures for annual review, a formal
meeting was held with the following departments.
Civil &
Building Engineering 20
January 2004
Chemical
Engineering 25
January 2005
Aeronautical
& Automotive Engineering 27
January 2005
Electrical
& Electronic Engineering had a Periodic Programme Review in 21 October 2004
delayed from the previous year due to Institutional Audit. The outcome of this has been reported
previously. It was agreed that the APR
would be delayed to later in the academic year to avoid duplication. The outcome will be reported at a later date.
The Wolfson
School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering had a Periodic Programme
Review on 13 May 2005. The report and
departmental response will be reported to the next Faculty Board meeting.
The
detailed quantitative and qualitative data produced for each programme is held
in the department for use in future reviews and external audits. This data was reviewed at the meetings. The review is based on 2003-04 data but
discussions were also influenced by what is happening during the current
academic year. The overall documentation
for the three departments showed many positive attributes. The summary below covers the issues raised at
the APR meetings.
Chemical
Engineering
1.
The
department has recruited additional technicians so the concern reported last
year on the shortage of support in laboratories has eased. However significant growth in PGT students
could cause problems
2.
Overall
progression rates are good but there was an increase in the number of
withdrawals reported at UG level in Part A.
The department has monitored these and the majority transferred within
the university. The data for 2005
indicates that this has not been repeated.
3.
The
department have introduced a limited number of year long 20 credit modules
which have cut down the number of semester 1 exams and this has been well
received by the students.
4.
The
MSc population is growing mainly due to success in overseas recruitment
particularly to the Advanced Processing programme. Other programmes that recruit fewer students
are sustainable because of shared modules between the programmes. This growth may cause problems due to the
size of the department’s MSc room.
5.
The
department reports that changes in staff have led to fewer staff being
available to deliver the teaching. This
has led to an increased individual teaching load, and increase in SSR from 14 to
18 and some shift in assessment from coursework to exams to reduce load.
6.
Very
positive external examiner’s reports
Aeronautical and Automotive
Engineering
1
The
issues raised at last years APR were discussed.
There are no outstanding issues.
2
The
department had a accreditation visit from the IMechE and the RAeroS.in January
2004 which produced a very positive report
3
Undergraduate
recruitment remains very strong.
4
External
examiners reports praise the quality and standard of the programmes.
5
The
department continues to monitor UG progression rates, there is some concern
over the numbers requiring resits but overall progression is satisfactory. The department has a number of mid-semester
tests to give an indication of students progress and potential failing students
are interviewed.
6
The
MEng numbers continue to grow and there are a large number of transfers from
BEng after part B. This leaves fewer of
the more able students on the BEng and low prospects for first class degrees
7
There
is evidence that the department takes actions on issues that are raised by UG
students through student feedback and staff/student committees. The students do not like the management
modules taken from the
8
The
MSc in Automotive Systems Engineering admissions increased for 2004-05. The graduation figures are good and the
external examiners report is very positive.
A full time version was introduced in 2003-04 which and this resulted in
some initial problems which focussed on inconsistencies between publicity
material and programme regulations, the pre-project module and project allocation. There was extensive consultation with the
students and a number of changes have been made to ensure that these problems
do not recur.
9
The
MSc in Risk & Reliability had 6 distinctions from 7 graduates, a quality
well motivated cohort. Recruitment
remains an issue
10
Both
MSc programmes have applied for accreditation from the IMechE.
Civil
& Building Engineering
1
The
issues raised at last years APR were discussed when the relevant programme came
up for discussion.
2 Civil
Engineering (BEng/MEng).
·
No
significant issues
·
Positive
External Examiners report. .
·
Applications
continue to grow for both the BEng & MEng and there was an increased
intake.
·
There
is still concern over progression in part B .
The department continues to monitor recent changes made to the structure
of the year which have included increased use in 20 credit modules and fewer
semester 1 exams.
·
Student
complaints relating to unsuitable lecture rooms (X401, R011 when used for
extended periods, and T103 for small groups) have been resolved as far as
practicable.
3 Construction Engineering Management
(CEM).
·
Applications,
intake numbers and quality remain stable.
·
One
module CVA005, again caused problems for students as reported last year. The module has been completely changed with a
new approach and different lectures for 2004-05. No problems are reported this
year.
·
Some
students raised concerns about PG students running tutorials. The department reported that the majority of
the limited number of instances where PG students are used for teaching have
been without problem. There is an issue
about the variability of different PG students tutoring quality and the
department monitors quality and will change tutors if a problem occurs.
·
External
Examiners report is very supportive.
Problems reported by students about some lecture rooms (see 2 above)
have been resolved.
4 Commercial
Management & Quantity Surveying (CMQS)
·
Applications,
intake numbers and quality remain stable.
·
Progression
on part B before resit remains low. The
resits are mainly in two modules one of which is being reviewed for next year.
·
There
were some problems on the part A communications module partly due to large
numbers. This module has been changed to
web-based delivery for 2004-05 in collaboration with the Engineering Education
Centre. The module is being well
received this year.
·
External
Examiners report is very positive.
5 Architectural Design Management (AEDM)
·
Applications,
intake and entry standard now stable.
·
The
problems with progression reported last year have gone. This can be attributed largely to improved
intake quality.
6
Transport
Management & Planning (TMP) & Air Transport management (ATM)
·
ATM
continues to be the more popular programme but intake fell in 2004
·
Staffing
for these programmes remains an issue.
Two experienced staff have been replaced by a probationer and a
Professor due to start in March. Two
further appointments have been delayed until the Professor takes up her post. This means high teaching loads continue but
this should ease when all posts have been filled.
·
The
external examiner raised concerns over the clarity of the second marking
process on major items of coursework.
The department has clear guidelines which will be applied.
·
Students
considered that coursework weightings on different module did not always
reflect the amount of effort required to do the work. The department is to review the coursework
balance on the programmes with reference to its established criteria relating
coursework weight to student effort.
7 Airport
Planning & Management (MSc).
·
This
was discontinued for 2004-05 because the department no longer had the staff to
deliver it following staff departures.
The remaining part-time students have an available route to complete the
MSc througth the modules on offer in 2004-05.
8 Construction
Management (CM) & Construction Project Management (MSc’s) (CPM)
·
Numbers
have been restricted (46 in 2004) and the increased English requirement of 6.5
IELTS has alleviated the problems reported last year.
·
There
is a better mix of nationalities on the programme which the students find a
benefit.
·
The
department is concerned that students can fail to progress on the pre-sessional
English course but still join the programme.
More communication on problem cases was requested.
·
The
students reported problems with the structural engineering content on the
CVP013. An external lecturer is now
being used on this module and no problems are reported.
·
Very
positive External Examiners report.
9
Building
Services (MSc).
·
Intake
numbers of 14 in 2003 have been maintained in 2004
·
The
programme tutor has been responsive to student feedback (e.g. changing the
construction management module to a more relevant project module.
·
Full-time
students report that they do not like block taught modules but this format has
to be retained whilst part-time students are registered.
10 Water Engineering Development Centre
(WEDC)
·
WEDC’s
suite of programmes has been rationalised leaving two conventionally taught
MScs and two taught by distance learning.
This reduction from the previous 8 programmes has improved student
numbers on each programme.
·
The
DL programmes have around 80 students with a member of staff to support them.
The first DL graduates are expected in the summer of 2005.
·
Progression
rates to award are good.