SSH98-M3
[Minutes]
The Minutes of Ordinary Meetings of the Faculty Board are also available on the Information Gateway for three years after the relevant date.
Professor I C Morison (Chair)
Dr C Antaki Dr M D W Mangan (ab)
Dr J Arnold (ab) Mr W P J Maunder
Dr J V Beaverstock (ab) Dr M E Nevill
Mr D J Bunker (ab) Dr E J Pentecost
Mr M F Collins Professor I Reid (ab)
Professor S J Cox Professor P H Roberts
Dr P D Dine (ab) Professor M Shaw (ab)
Mr L M Drake (ab) Professor P J Taylor
Ms N D Fenton Ms M Threlfall
Professor P Golding (ab) Dr J J Vagg
Professor A G Hargreaves (ab) Mr D R F Walker
Professor M R Hill (ab) Professor D J Wallace (ab)
Mr A R Hodgson(ab) Mr M Wallis
Ms K Hughes Professor T G Weyman-Jones (ab)
Mr T P Jones Dr P Wild (ab)
Mr P R King Ms H Woodward (ab)
In attendance: Ms P J Rouse
By invitation Ms W Clarke (for item 37)
Ms L Dutton
Mr T Kavanagh
Mr D Lilley (for item 36)
Apologies for Absence: Dr Arnold, Dr Beaverstock,
Mr Bunker, Dr Dine, Mr Drake
Professor Golding,
Professor Hargreaves,
Dr Mangan, Professor Reid
Professor Shaw, Professor Wallace,
Professor Weyman-Jones, Dr Wild,
Ms Woodward.
35.2 Report from the Associate Dean (Teaching)
(SSH98-P21 tabled)
(SSH98-P22)
The Board welcomed Mr D Lilley, Careers Advisor, who reported on the destination statistics for 1997 graduates from the Faculty. Summary data on this was noted. More detailed information providing a breakdown of the destinations of individual graduates was available in the Careers Service Annual Report and on the web.
Given the diverse nature of Departments within the Faculty, it was difficult to examine the Faculty data as a whole and this was best considered departmentally or by programme. Some trends could be clearly identified, however:
* an increase in those graduates going on to further study rather than into employment.
* an increase in those taking time out after completing their studies.
Mr Lilley reported that the graduate recruitment market was currently more buoyant than it had been for a number of years. There was a 30% increase in the number of advertisements for graduate posts, following an increase of 20% the previous year. There was, however, a 30% reduction in job applications this year from Loughborough graduates. The Careers Service was liaising with employers on effective methods of alerting students to the employment opportunities offered. The Careers Service did not operate a policy of persuading students to enter the employment market, even though this was regarded as a performance indicator. It was believed that students now faced greater academic pressures in their final year and that, coupled with the improved availability of vacancies, this resulted in students delaying job applications. Evidence suggested that delayed applications were a national trend although, as a higher than average number of Loughborough graduates normally entered employment, it was more noticeable here. To some extent employers were responding with a move to continuous recruitment and more recruitment over the summer in particular. Plenty of opportunities were available.
Members were reminded that the Careers Service adopted a pro-active approach, organising many workshops and events, including the very successful Spring Careers Fair, held on 29 April, which was one of the largest events of its kind. Approximately 1250 students had attended, including a high proportion from the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities. Overall very positive feedback had been received (although there was some concern at feedback from a significant minority of students who had failed to appreciate the breadth of opportunities available). A work-shadowing programme was now offered to second year students. The Careers Service Guide, published for the first time last year, was being distributed to all penultimate year students with spare copies available for postgraduates and finalists. It was noted that support from the Careers Service was also provided after graduation.
In response to a query it was noted that statistical data on employment destinations were collected after six months as it was becoming increasingly difficult to track graduates and gather the information after a longer elapse of time, even though more graduates might have reached a settled destination by then.
Appreciation of the pro-active support provided by the Careers Service was expressed and the Dean thanked Mr Lilley for his report.
(SSH98-P23)
The Board received a report from Ms W Clarke on arrangements for the University Open Day. It was noted that arrangements were being made to avoid congestion in the James France building, which would be a first stop for visitors before they proceeded to Departments. Thanks were expressed to Ms Clarke for the report.
(SSH98-P24)
The Board NOTED a summary of LUSAD programmes to be offered from October 1998, as considered by Curriculum Sub-Committee. Mr Kavanagh expressed thanks to Mr P Maunder and other colleagues who had been involved in the arrangements to modularise the programmes in such a short time and also to those putting relevant information onto the ORACLE database.
(SSH98-P26)
A minute of Research Committee concerning the role of Director of Research was considered. The following points emerged in discussion:
* Members were content with the title `Director of Research"
* There was a willingness to explore the responsibilities of the Director of Research, and in particular the boundaries between that role and the role of Supervisor.
* Panel meetings were regarded as a good mechanism for ensuring that appropriate monitoring was carried out.
* Co-supervision of research students was found useful by some, but was not regarded as essential.
* It was essential that arrangements were put in place, and formally documented, to ensure the continuity of supervision and direction of research when staff were away on study leave for example.
* It would be useful to identify and disseminate good practice in research direction and supervision arrangements.
It was RESOLVED to refer these points to Research Committee.
The Board NOTED that Geoffrey Frith Cohen has been elected as student representative to serve on Senate and the Faculty Board for the academic year 1998-99.
The Board NOTED decisions of Curriculum Sub-Committee in the following matters.
The Board NOTED that reports of Staff/Student Committee meetings had been deposited with the Secretary as follows:
Business School (Undergraduate) 12 March and 12 February 1998
Executive MBA (95/96 Cohort) 22 November 1997
Executive MBA (96/97 & 97/98 Cohorts) 26 November 1997
Executive MBA (97/98 Peterborough Cohort) 12 December 1997
Design and Technology 11 February 1998
Drama 9 March and 29 January 1998
European Studies 19 November 1997
English 4 March 1998, 10 December 1997 and
4 4 February 1998
MSc Management 19 November 1997
Professional Programmes in Management 3 February 1998
Social Sciences 11 March 1998
No items had been highlighted for the Board's attention.
The Board NOTED that the Minutes of the 318th (Ordinary) meeting of Senate held on 4 March 1998 are available as a web page.
The Board NOTED that reports of the following Committees are available as web pages:
46.1 Valediction
The Dean expressed warm thanks to Mr T Jones and Professor P Roberts for their contribution to the Faculty Board. Mr Jones would hand over the Headship of the Department of PE, SS & RM to Professor Evans, and the Headship of the Design and Technology Department would pass to Mr J Smith, with effect from 1 August 1998.
The Board NOTED the following provisional meeting dates:
(Closing date for receipt of Agenda items: Monday 12 October 1998)
Author - P J Rouse
June 1998
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