STAFFSTUDENT LIASON COMMITTEE- PGT
MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON
WEDNESDAY 8th November2017
15.00 – 16.30
EBS 1.1
PRESENT
Academic staff:Svetlana Warhurst (Director of Education / Chair), Ed Barratt (Programme Director, HRM),Pawan Adhikari (Programme Director, Accounting), Nikolas Vlastakis (Programme Director, Finance)
Marjana Johansson (Programme Director, M + M and OHRSM)
Course Reps:
MM Rep: Damilola Balogun
Accounting Reps: Bogdan Gugu, Mohammed Al Saadi
HRM Rep: Idaraobong Joshua
Finance Rep:
Professional Services, Bev Jackson (Student Services Manager), Lorcan Whitehead (Learning and Teaching Adviser),
Louise Purser(Student Services Advisor / minutes),Mahdi Ghuloom (Student Union Faculty Convenor)
1. APOLOGIES
Apologies were received from Becky Scott (Student Services Supervisor), Kim Wright (Academic Services Officer)
2. WELCOME:Svetlana (SW)opened the meeting with introductions.
3. MATTERS ARISING:
SW highlighted that it was important that course reps attend the SSLC meetings and thanked those who had attended today.
The minutes of the previous meeting held on 14th June 2017 were reviewed.
Update on the safety bus availability – as yet there had been no response .
It was noted that whilst there was no answer to this query as yet, the bigger issue was the speed in the SU response to queries and that a more formal reporting structure should be in place.
AP MG to follow this up and check who would answer such queries going forward.
Student Voice carried forward:If course reps have any ideas on how we can increase student engagement next year please contact Svetlana & Bev.
Heads of Groups to ensure that if a module is handed over to a colleague a detailed handover is given of course work, exam work, exam setting and marking scheme. SW advised that HOGs had been informed accordingly.
Action discharged.
4. COURSE REP ACTIVITY REPORT
The group discussed that course rep and feedback training had been delivered by the SU.
A discussion surrounding checking the percentage of plagiarism before submission of coursework occurred.
MJ confirmed that she had received a request to discuss and met with students regarding this. It was noted that once students have submitted they can see a % match on FASER – if this facility has been activated by the module leader. In the past there were thresholds but now this is assessed in bands from minor to severe. Guidance from academic staff to monitor this has been broadened. BJ commented that previously students could access turn it in via Moodle but this appears to have been removed from Moodle due to concern of the impact on coherence and cohesion in essays and the distraction it presented as students tend to focus on the percentage of plagiarism and not the assignment or referencing properly.
Each case is now assessed individually with no flat percentage. BJ suggested that students could check with the Talent Development Centre to see if there were any other mechanisms in place.
Some students feel that the requirements of assessment for BE475 (Human Resource Management) are difficult to cope with, there is too much reading given the time-frame, some students find this more of a challenge than others and could reading time be extended?
EB acknowledged their concerns regarding the pressures involved and would be happy to discuss this at teaching group meetings. However, it should be noted that any changes could potentially impact on the rest of the programme.
AP. EB to discuss with colleagues and feed back
MJ would welcome feedback from Marketing students following some redesigning of Marketing related seminars in the AU term. This was implemented following advice that some students were struggling with establishing a dissertation topic as they felt they didn’t have enough marketing knowledge yet. (BE965)
EB would welcome feedback on guest speakers as looking to propose some changes going forward.
5. STUDENT REPRESENTATIVES’ REPORTS
See above
6. GROUP REPORTS
NV: Nothing to report this time.
PA: Advised that BE166 (Accounting and Capital Markets) would not be delivered next term due to lack of resource.
One to one guidance will be offered for module BE967 (Business Reports) due to number of students taking this
SW: Svetlana informed the meeting that all first years in EBS are now using LEAP which they can access through My Essex. Pocket Essex access will be available soon.
Teaching Excellence Framework – Essex has been chosen as a subject level pilot for 2019. This will be for Business and Management.
National Student Survey (NSS) – Preparation will begin soon for next year’s survey.
Bloomberg- an Essex Bloomberg Journal Platform has recently been launched. Can students please try to make use of this great facility?
Periodic Review – Svetlana informed the group that this took place. We have received a report that contains areas that we are commended in as well as areas that we need to improve on both EBS and the University e.g. Fazer functionality. This will be published on the Student Voice Moodle pages.
MJ: Nothing to report at this time.
7. Points for discussion from students
See below
8. Points for discussion from Staff
BJ commented that there were too few PGT course reps and that further recruitment should take place. In the meantime could Module Leaders capture feedback at module level instead? Particularly for A & F students, this may be more informal but at least feedback would be captured.
MJ questioned whether there could be some way of PGT reps recording a video showcasing their experience as a course rep in order to encourage recruitment from the incoming students the following year.
AP. MG to investigate this with the SU.
Discussion occurred surrounding the timing of the SSLC meeting and was it too early in the term? If it were scheduled later in the term then that would allow more time to recruit more PGT course reps. If however it were too late in the term then that would not leave enough time to process action points.
9. EBS NEWS
Essex Business School meeting to be held Wednesday 15 November 2pm – 4pm
10. MEETING SCHEDULE
Next SSLC PGTMeeting: Wednesday 31st January 2018
11. ANY OTHER BUSINESS
The meeting closed at3.55pm