LONDON’S GLOBAL UNIVERSITY
Department of Mechanical Engineering
STAFF STUDENT CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE
Wednesday 29th October 2014
SUMMARY OF ACTIONS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES
Minute
Action required
20A.4
To raise first year concerns
regarding the workload on the IEP
DS
with the Departmental Teaching
Committee
Next DTC
20A.5
Speak to Transition Mentors about
concerns regarding work load and
RB and RJ
meeting deadlines and encourage
all first to do the same
Report to next SSCC
20A.7
Check that the website and
promotional material accurately
reflects that LSE is no longer
involved in teaching first year
modules on the Engineering with
Business Finance degrees.
Report to next SSCC
20B.2
Report leakage in basement cluster
AI
room to Peter Kelly.
20B.5
Report late feedback from work to
YV.
20E.1
Feedback concerns regarding T.As
Ongoing throughout
All student representatives.
to YV and WS if they should arise.
academic year.
21B.1
Report concerns about poor Wi-Fi
signal on the ground floor of the
Robert’s Building to YV.
21B.2
Recruit new student representative
WS
for postgraduate research courses.
22B.1
23A.1
Person(s) responsible
VK
Due date
Report to next SSCC
All student representatives
Ongoing throughout
to encourage colleagues to
academic year.
do this.
FB
Canvas student views on usage of
room 410 and also the standards of Student representatives
behaviour
Promote travel bursary for
DW
attendance at East Surrey College
Report to next SSCC
By next SSCC
Report to next SSCC
Before these laboratory
sessions begin.
23A.3
Determine how many hours are
Student representatives to
being spent on IEP work compared
Report to next SSCC
speak to colleagues
with strictly Mechanical modules
23B.1
Speak to IQR Panel if requested
Student representatives
March
23F
Meet with students to discuss
communications within the
department.
MR and Mechanical
Engineering Society
Report to next SSCC
STAFF STUDENT CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE
Wednesday 29 th October 2014
Roberts Building Room 428
DRAFT minutes
PRESENT:
Mr Rohil Bhargava, (Student Representative, 1 st year BEng Engineering, Mechanical with Business Finance)
[R.B]
Mr Francis Brako, (Student Representative, Postgraduate Research) [F.B]
Mr Leo Chung, (Student Representative, 2 nd year BEng Engineering with Business Finance) [L.C]
Miss Laure Durand (Student Representative for the Mechanical Engineering Society) [L.D]
Ms Angela Fattib ene (Senior Teaching and Learning Administrator) [A.F]
Dr Ben Hanson (Undergraduate Tutor) [B.H]
Mr Andres Igea (Student Representative, 2 nd year MEng Engineering with Business Finance) [A.I]
Miss Vicki Kimmins, (Undergraduate Teaching and Learning Administrator) [V.K]
Mr Richard Jung (Student Representative, 1 st year MEng Engineering, Mechanical) [R.J]
Mr Mykal Riley, (Senior Communications, Marketing and Events Officer) [M.R]
Ms Charlotte Reisch (Postgraduate Teaching and Learning Administrator) [C.R]
Mr Douglas Stridsb erg, (Student Representative, 3 rd Year MEng Mechanical Engineering) [D.S]
Dr William Suen, (Graduate Tutor, Research) [W.S]
Prof Yiannis Ventikos, (Head of Department)
Apologies for absence were received from Miss Gabrielle Bourret-Sicotte and Mr Paul Knoops.
Key to abbreviations
SSCC Staff Student Consultative Committee
RB (Mr Rohil Bhargava, Student Representative for 1 st year BEng Engineering, Mechanical with
Business Finance)
GBS (Miss Gabrielle Bourret-Sicotte, Student Representative for 3rd year MEng Mechanical
Engineering)
FB (Mr Francis Brako, Student Representative, Postgraduate Research)
LC (Mr Leo Cheung, Student Representative 2nd year BEng Mechanical with Business Finance)
LD (Miss Laure Durand, Student Representative for the Mechanical Engineering Society)
BH (Dr Ben Hanson, Undergraduate Tutor)
AI (Mr Andres Igea, Student Representative, 2nd year MEng Engineering with Business Finance)
IEP (Integrated Engineering Programme)
RJ (Mr Richard Jung, Student Representative, 1st year MEng Engineering, Mechanical)
VK (Miss Vicki Kimmins, Undergraduate Teaching and Learning Administrator)
MR (Mr Mykal Riley, Senior Communications, Marketing and Events Officer)
DS (Douglas Stridsberg, Student Representative, 3rd year MEng Mechanical Engineering)
WS (Dr William Suen, Graduate Tutor, Research)
YV (Prof Yiannis Ventikos, Head of Department)
Preliminary Business
17
2013-14 MEMBERSHIP; TERMS OF REFERENCE
Noted:
17.1
SSCC (13-14) the terms of reference and membership of the committee.
Reported:
17.2
The Chair welcomed the new first year representatives Rohil Bhargava and Richard
Jung.
18
MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF 12th June 2014
Confirmed:
18.1
The Minutes of the meeting of the SSCC held on 12th June 2014 [SSCC Mins.9-16,
12.06.14].
19
MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES
19A
11O.1 FB to arrange meeting with YV to discuss lack of office space and PCs for
research students (SSCC 12/06/14)
Noted:
19A.1 Item complete. The use of Hampstead Road has meant an increase in space and
PCs for research students.
19B
12A.1 and 12B.1 VC to speak to central room booking regarding inappropriate rooms
for examinations due to noise levels (SSCC 12/06/14)
Noted:
19B.1 Item ongoing. VC raised concerns regarding inappropriate rooming but problems of
double booking arose during Induction Week and issues with room booking will need
to be closely monitored.
19C
12B.2 Ensure exam creation process is correctly adhered to (SSCC 12/06/14)
Noted:
19C.1 Process will be reviewed for new exam period. A meeting between SH, AD and VK
Has been scheduled for 06/11/14 to address this.
19D
13B.2 FB to report all requests for PCs to YV (SSCC 12/06/14)
Noted:
19D.1 Item resolved. Additional space for Research Students has been allocated at
Hampstead Road.
19E
14A.1 NK to forward information on the GKN graduate scheme to MK for publicising
(SSCC 12/06/14)
Noted:
19E.1 Item complete. Opportunities such as this are recorded on the Student Handbook
and circulated to students by Mykal Riley. Tim Baker is also co-ordinating a
programme of Careers events.
19F
14C.2 Canvas student requests for the design of room 410 (SSCC 12/06/14)
Noted:
19F.1 Item completed. Room 410 has been redesigned taking into account student
feedback. Projectors and screens are being added and new PCs will be purchased.
19G
14C.4 Request swipe card access for room 410 (SSCC 12/06/14)
To note:
19G.1 Item ongoing. This should be in place when 410 is complete.
19H
15.1 Student representatives to put together a list of suggestions for monitoring
behaviour in room 410 (SSCC 12/06/14)
To note
19H.1 Item ongoing. Feedback to be reported to the SSCC. See agenda item 22.B.
19I
15.2 Investigate the possibility of Postgraduate and 4th year students having access
to the department at weekends (SSCC 12/06/14)
To note:
19I.1
Item ongoing
Business for Discussion
20
Issues raised by undergraduate students
Discussed:
20A
First Year Matters
20A.1 Concerns were raised regarding the Integrated Engineering Programme (IEP).
Students felt the content was not relevant to their development as Mechanical
Engineers as the course was perceived to be generic and the content was described
as too abstract. Students felt that not enough time was devoted to learning key
concepts of mechanical engineering as so much effort needed to be expended on the
IEP modules.
20A.2 The workload of the IEP modules was felt to be disproportionately heavy in
comparison to the Mechanical based modules. Exercises such as putting together a
video in a team were described as very time consuming.
20A.3 The spread of deadlines in the IEP programme was a cause for concern amongst
students as the workload did not seem to be evenly distributed. In contrast the
deadlines for the Mechanical modules were evenly spread throughout the term.
Action: First year student representatives to speak to their colleagues and determine how
many hours they are spending on IEP modules in comparison with Mechanical
modules and feed this back to the next SSCC.
20A.4 It was noted that the above issues were raised in a recent year co-ordinator meeting
and that they will be passed to the Departmental Teaching Committee (DTC) for
review.
Action: Douglas Stridsberg to raise these issues at the next Departmental Teaching
Committee.
20A.5 The design of Moodle pages was felt to be inconsistent, making it difficult to obtain
information on expectations of the course and deadlines. Design and Professional
Skills was praised for the clarity of the layout and course aims. Student
Representatives from other years noted the importance of independent study and
keeping up to date with deadlines and stressed that individual students must take
responsibility for familiarising themselves with impending deadlines. John Mitchell
has also been notified of concerns regarding a lack of clarity of deadlines and it is
hoped this will improve the situation.
Action: First year student representatives to raise concerns about time management and
deadlines with their transition mentors and encourage their colleagues to do the
same in order to obtain further support.
20A.6 Students have complained that they are unable to hear lecturers in many lecture
theatres because of problems with microphones. The Denys Holland Lecture
Theatre in Bentham House was of particular concern.
20A.7 Concerns were raised that LSE was still listed as teaching elements of the
Engineering with Business Finance degree programmes when first year students
submitted their UCAS applications.
Action: Vicki Kimmins to check that the website and promotional material accurately reflects
that LSE is no longer involved in teaching first year modules for these degree
programmes.
20B
Second Year Matters
20B.1 Stavroula Balabani does not have clear board markers for use in her lectures and
this is making it difficult to read what is written on the board. It was noted that these
have been ordered by the relevant Professional Services Staff and they are awaiting
delivery.
20B.2 There is some leakage in the Roberts Building basement computer rooms.
Action: Student representatives to report this to Peter Kelly for investigation.
20B.3 There is an ongoing problem with the air conditioning in the basement computer
rooms which has been reported to the Facilities Team.
20B.4 More Lecture Casts were requested.
20B.5 Feedback from the first year Materials Laboratory report has not been passed onto
all students. It was noted that feedback across many modules was rarely received
within the specified 4 week timeframe with Design being of particular concern.
Action: Student Representatives should encourage their colleagues to e-mail YV with
details of late feedback, giving precise details of the module and staff members
involved.
20C
Third Year Matters
20C.1 No concerns have been brought to the attention of the student representatives.
20D
Fourth Year Matters
20D.1 No fourth year representatives were present.
20E
Teaching and Support received from Teaching Assistants
20E.1 Maths tutorial sessions with Teaching Assistants (TAs) were praised.
Action: Student representatives were asked to feedback any concerns regarding TAs to
Yiannis Ventikos, with a copy to William Suen.
21
Issues raised by Postgraduate Students
Discussed:
21A
Postgraduate Taught Student Matters
21A.1 No student representatives for postgraduate taught courses were present.
21B
Postgraduate Research Student Matters
21B.1 There is a poor Wi-fi signal on the ground floor of the Roberts Building.
Action: FB to report this concern to YV so that it can be pursued with the Information
Systems Division (ISD).
21B.2 Francis Brako requested he be allowed to hand over his representational
responsibilities to a new student representative. It was noted that Hampstead Road
have three representatives who speak on behalf of students located there in key
matters and that this position should perhaps be offered to one of them.
Action: William Suen to recruit a new student representative and report this to VK.
22
Departmental Activities
Discussed:
22A
Notification of any Departmental changes to teaching, admissions, and
assessment
22A.1 The most significant change to teaching has been the IEP.
22A.2 Confirmation on the minimum requirement to allow a transfer from the BEng to the
MEng degree programme was requested. It was confirmed by Ben Hanson that
performance equivalent to a lower second class degree, i.e. a 50% average, was
required. It was noted that this is unlikely to change and that information on this and
related matters can be found in the regulations on the online Student Handbook.
22B
Behaviour in room 410 and rules for the use of the room
22B.1 Action: Student representatives were asked to canvas students for feedback on how
they wish the redesigned room to be used and to set rules for behaviour in this room.
Other Business for Approval or Information
23
ANY OTHER BUSINESS
Discussed:
23A
Travel costs for East Surrey College
23A.1 A travel bursary will be available to students to assist with travel costs when
attending laboratory sessions at East Surrey College in response to concerns raised
over funding this travel.
Action: David Wright to promote this in the relevant module.
23B
Explanation of IQR and the role of Student Representatives
23B.1 The Internal Quality Review is aimed at assessing the effectiveness of UCL’s quality
assurance processes. A team of internal UCL staff and external reviewers will visit
the Department. They will want to speak to students. YV requested that student
representatives make themselves available to speak to the reviewers.
Action: Student representatives to make themselves available to speak to the IQR team.
23C
BH reiterated sources of help that are available to students including Personal
Tutors, Year Co-ordinators, the Undergraduate Tutor and the online Student
Handbook.
23D
Mykal Riley reminded everyone that the first Mechanical Engineering Day will be
taking place in the Bloomsbury Theatre on the 5th November.
23E
First year students were asked if they were experiencing any problems with their email accounts as some recent correspondence to first year students did not seem to
have been received or responded to by this year group. It was noted that the link to
updates on Moodle forums can sometimes mean that students have a large amount
of e-mail correspondence which makes it difficult to keep on top of e-mails. Students
were advised to unenrol themselves from the option of receiving forum updates via email if this is proving a particular problem and to check the forums directly on a
regular basis for updates.
23F
Mykal Riley requested a meeting with students to discuss communications within the
department.
Action: MR and the Mechanical Engineering Society to work together to arrange this.
24
DATES OF NEXT MEETINGS
Noted:
24.1
The next meeting of the SSCC will be held on the 04/02/15. Further details to be
circulated by VK.
VICKI KIMMINS
Teaching and Learning Administrator (Undergraduate)
Department of Mechanical Engineering
[02031087178, EXT: 37178, v.kimmins@ucl.ac.uk]
30th October 2014