View
57
Download
0
Tags:
Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
www.aua.ac.uk inspiring professional higher education
The Two Year Degree:A Model for the Future?
AUA Midlands Regional Conference Wednesday 14 January 2015
www.aua.ac.uk inspiring professional higher education
Aims of Today:
• Learn more about differing models of two year degrees• Discuss and debate some of the wider issues around the
model• Think about the implications of the structure on your
own job• Consider which of the professional behaviours you think
are most needed in the structure
www.aua.ac.uk inspiring professional higher education
A bit about us first……
Nick Allen – Executive Officer, Office of the Vice-Chancellor,University of Northampton
Pearl Lewis – Quality Assurance Manager, University of Buckingham
www.aua.ac.uk inspiring professional higher education
A History of Buckingham
• An independent (alternative) provider.• Offers a traditional model of independence• UB unique amongst alternative providers.
– In existence for over 35 years– Degree Awarding Powers under Royal Charter– Two-year degree– Four term academic year – January-December– Small – 2000 students
www.aua.ac.uk inspiring professional higher education
A History of Northampton
• A post-1992 University;• University Status and Research Degree Awarding
Powers conferred in 2005; • Broad range of subjects offered; • Traditional September – June terms with some
exceptions (in health related courses);• Unique programmes (leather technology, waste
management and lift engineering).
www.aua.ac.uk inspiring professional higher education
The Two Year Model at Buckingham• Teach for 36 weeks teaching a
year, with four weeks of examination
• Multiple Entry Points -September, Jan, and July entries
• 180 credits a year for UG, as opposed to 120 for a three year model.
• Exams boards and marking take place in vacation.
WINTER TERM9 WEEKS OF TEACHING
2 WEEKS VACATION
SPRING TERM9 WEEKS TEACHING
2 WEEKS EXAMS
3 WEEKS VACATION (INC MARKING, EXAM BOARDS,
REGISTRATION)SUMMER TERM
9 WEEKS TEACHING
2 WEEKS VACATION (INC REGISTRATION)
AUTUMN TERM9 WEEKS TEACHING
2 WEEKS EXAMS
5 WEEKS VACATION (INC MARKING, EXAM BOARDS,
REGISTRATION)
www.aua.ac.uk inspiring professional higher education
The Two Year Model at Northampton
• Year 1 (September to June) – 120 Level 4 credits plus 20 level 5 credits
• Year 1 summer (June to September) – 40 Level 5 credits under supported distance learning
• Year 2 (September to June) – 60 Level 5 credits and 80 Level 6 credits
• Year 2 summer (June to September) – 40 Level 6 credits (dissertation)
www.aua.ac.uk inspiring professional higher education
StudentsQuicker• However, shorter holidays, more intensive degree, limited time for
part time job to support fee payments and living costs.Cheaper fees and saved living costs• Student loan system doesn’t reflect this and student self financing
needed. Employers like it• Work ethic instilled in students• HEA report shows employer bodies are in favour: standards, outputs
and QA processes more important than time spent• However - limited time for internships/work placements during
studying
www.aua.ac.uk inspiring professional higher education
StudentsMulti entry point at UB gives flexibility• However, continuous terms present difficulties for students resitting
exams, and on Tier 4 visas.Time for Sports and Societies• Some say this is reduced, but Buckingham still manages to offer a
wide range of activities.Student satisfaction• UB students like it, there is a market for it, and generally the students
cope well. • High staff student ratio at UB also helps support students through
two year system• There is little difference in satisfaction between standard and
intensive students at Northampton.
www.aua.ac.uk inspiring professional higher education
StudentsMixed mode of delivery at Northampton• Can be confusing for students, however, as a modular based
institution, this does not cause too many issues;Timetabling at Northampton• As there are few intensively delivered programmes, timetabling issues
have been resolved;
www.aua.ac.uk inspiring professional higher education
Administrative StaffChallenge of continuous movement at Buckingham • Quick change can be a good thing• However, little time for reviewing and taking stock, planning work,
making changesQuick turnaround time at Buckingham• Impact on marking, exams, registration, is a pressure. Modular structure at Northampton• Modular structure assists students through their programme and puts
little additional pressure on administrative staffForgotten few at Northampton• Intensive students can be overlooked when it comes to ceremonies
(as these are organised proactively).
www.aua.ac.uk inspiring professional higher education
Administrative StaffPathfinder Pilot (HEA 2007 Report)• Pathfinder project found difficulties with two year system in releasing
staff for training and development or to implement new systems• Leeds Met found that barriers to change were actually in entrenched
working practices, and not staff contracts. Realigning systems and processes is needed in two year system.
www.aua.ac.uk inspiring professional higher education
Academic StaffResearch • No long summer break for research/sabbatical at UB• But UB staff have one term study leave each year• At Northampton - supported distance learning (in year one) and
dissertation support (in year two summer) can be undertaken around research and scholarship leave.
Quick turnaround time at UB• Impact on marking, exams, registration, is a pressure. Staff Student Ratio/Access to Staff• Small staff student ratio at UB means staff get to know students
and support them – this is still very popular with students and satisfaction with academic staff support is high.
• Some impact on access to staff at Northampton during the summer, but increasing electronic contact.
www.aua.ac.uk inspiring professional higher education
Institutional Pressures Campus Renovation• Renovation work difficult during short holidays at UB• No impact at Northampton – summer works can continue but need to take
into account other ‘long’ delivery programmes (in health)
Sector Structures Favour Three Years Degrees• HEFCE/student loan funding doesn’t recognise it• NSS/HESA return – December finishers• NUS structures and support - still around 3 year/sabbatical officer structure
Time for Review• Changes/taking stock can be difficult in continuous terms.
Quality assurance processes• Continuous terms put pressure on some QA review activities at UB• Little impact on quality assurance processes at Northampton - save for the
review of intensive students at the end of the summer as opposed to before the summer.
www.aua.ac.uk inspiring professional higher education
Group Discussions – 10 minutesIssues, plus positives and negatives of the following
areas in relation to the two year degree:
• The research environment• The student workload
• The student life• The reputation of UK HE
www.aua.ac.uk inspiring professional higher education
Group DiscussionsResearch Environment
• Research grants part of university funding. Impact on this funding if two year model was adapted unknown.
• Balance of teaching and research would be altered.
• Financial savings made from increased efficiency would cover the gap from research funding.
• Research will always be an important factor for prospective students
• Diversification of sector to have some non-research institutions is a good thing – student profile and demand changing: rise of professional courses and degrees
www.aua.ac.uk inspiring professional higher education
Group DiscussionsStudent Workload
• Two year workload encourages students with hard working attitude studying for right reasons – good thing.
• But – degrees are same level taken in two or three years, still as difficult, just different pace
• Introduction of £9k fees has increased number of students with hard working attitude anyway – students are demanding more and working harder because they have paid more.
www.aua.ac.uk inspiring professional higher education
Group DiscussionsStudent Life
• Importance of extra curricular activities/wider education in student experience – enough time on two year programme?
• Students spend no less time at university – it is just spread over two years and not three.
• Less breaks allows more cooperation between students for these activities as no disruption by breaks.
www.aua.ac.uk inspiring professional higher education
Group DiscussionsReputation of UK HE• Two year degree recognised enough internationally?
• Two year degrees across all of UK would remove UK from Bologna completely? HEA Report 2007 found that accelerated programmes don’t contravene the principles of Bologna.
• House of Commons Education and Skills Committee agreed in 2007 that UK already has a global reputation for high quality.
• UK second only to the United States for attracting foreign students to study. US offers accelerated programmes in 250 institutions.
www.aua.ac.uk inspiring professional higher education
A Model for the Future?NO• Not likely to be adopted by established, research-focussed universities unless the
government adopts measures to support them. It would require a huge culture change• Staff contractual matters would need to change, and UCU are opposed • Huge cultural change would be needed, plus structural and working pattern upheaval• Government funding would have to change• Student demand for traditional three year still in place
YES• Being introduced increasingly by alternative providers (BPP and University of Law)• Strong place for it especially with higher fees – effective use of the full year to study• With the right support systems in place and a low staff student ratio, it works. • Quality of degree not impacted• Employers are overwhelmingly in favour• Student choice, profile, and demand is changing – diversification of sector is a good
thing.
www.aua.ac.uk inspiring professional higher education
Professional Development DiscussionsActivity 1• Find a partner and take it in turns to discuss the
potential/current implications of a two year degree for your own job
Activity 2• On the worksheet, try to prioritise the professional
behaviours in relation to those most relevant to working in a two year degree structure
www.aua.ac.uk inspiring professional higher education
More information at www.aua.ac.uk
Email: [email protected]
Call: 0161 275 2063
Association of University Administrators (AUA)@The_AUA