FACULTY OF HISTORICAL AND SOCIAL SCIENCES
Department of Economics
Departmental Staff-Student Consultative Committee (DSSCC) Meeting
Wednesday 12 November 2014 – Minutes
Student Members Present:
Arshia Hashemi (Economics, Year 1)
Kenneth Fung (Economics, Year 1)
Ahmed Khan (Economics, Year 2)
Victoria Kongoasa (Economics, Year 2)
Keshvi Gandesha (Economics, Year 3)
Zoe Constantinou (Economics, Year 3)
Sacha Paneda-Alvarez (Economics with a Year Abroad, Year 4)
Abdul Ilyas (Economics & Statistics, Year 1)
James Yan (Philosophy & Economics, Year 2)
Staff Members Present:
Viv Crockford (UG Studies Administrator)
Valerie Lechenne (BSc Director)
Paula Moore (Secretary)
Ian Preston (Deputy Head of Department)
Balli Sakaria (Teaching & Learning Administrator)
Christian Spielmann (Teaching Fellow)
Frank Witte (Chair)
Apologies: Martin Cripps (Deputy Head of Department); Emma Cai (Affiliate);
Alexandra Terizakis (Economics & Geography, Year 2)
1.
Welcome and Introduction
FW opened the meeting and members of the Committee introduced themselves.
2.
Minutes of the Meeting held on Wednesday 19 March 2014
The minutes of the meeting were approved.
3.
Matters Arising
3a & 3b – FW explained that health & safety was a concern regarding some of the
improvements requested for the UG Student Common Room (e.g. a microwave).
Finding adequate resource for other items requested was also an issue. Both points
will be raised again with the new Head of Department.
3c – The request for the use of B17 as a cluster room will be raised again with the
Departmental Administrator.
4.
StARs Scheme
KV reported that elections had gone well. The Committee thanked her and the
Economist’s Society for running a successful election and for their hard work involved
in appointing 8 new student members. It was clarified that training will be provided
by UCLU during Term 2.
5.
DEOLO
FW informed students about the Departmental Equal Opportunities Liaison Officer –
Nirusha Vigi.
6.
Chair’s Report – Board of Examiners – 2013-14
IP summarised the main points of the report circulated and invited comments.
It was suggested that the report could be published either on the website or made
accessible via Moodle. It was generally agreed this was desirable and that Moodle
was the preferred platform.
8. Student Matters
8a – Moodle exam feedback for 1st years
AH referenced results from an informal, student-run, student satisfaction survey
conducted across year 1. It was noted 50 students had responded to the survey.
Feedback suggested that students would prefer initial feedback on the mid-term
Moodle exam via Moodle and then further feedback in tutorial classes. CS confirmed
that the process had been designed to be representative of the final examinations
though it was noted that Moodle exams had been discontinued.
8b – New ECON1001 course structure and survey discussion
Survey results also indicated students were concerned that lectures in ECON1001
followed the e-book too closely, and that it was not clear how to relate to other
materials or how other more formal textbooks should be approached.
CS advised that the e-book should be considered as the textbook and recommended
that students discuss the e-book material thoroughly with tutors. He advised also
that wider readings could include news articles as well as textbooks.
VL explained the rationale behind the course structure and that the aim was to
introduce students to concepts in order to foster curiosity and appetite for learning
before presenting a more formalised approach in year 2 – which was sure to come.
SPA commented that from the year 4 perspective, the new ECON1001 structure
seemed a very desirable initiative.
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It was agreed that PowerPoint slides should be uploaded to Moodle a week prior to
the lecture.
8c – 1st Year Practical Lecture Structure
AH & KF cited ECON1003 &1004 as useful models in terms of the range of material
covered in each lecture. Discussion followed.
FW confirmed that there was no UCL policy requiring lectures to follow a particular
structure and this was a matter for individual lecturers to consider.
7. Undergraduate Review
VL explained the background and rationale behind the review and summarised the
main points of the report.
The main outcomes of the review were noted as follows:
 that there was a need to engage students of Economics in a different way:
Professor Wendy Carlin is leading on the development of a new Economics
syllabus;
 that material would be integrated across sequences and data sets would be
shared;
 that learning technology and feedback to students could be improved – more
sophisticated use of Moodle is beginning to address this.
VL explained that the review was an ongoing process and further improvements to
support learning, for example via the STATA lab, had been introduced.
VL invited students to forward feedback.
8. Student Matters continued ...
8d - 3rd year module selection issues
KV expressed the disappointment and frustration that many 3rd years had
experienced when choosing their modules. It was noted that this was likely to be
reflected in the results of student satisfaction surveys.
Discussion on how to improve the process followed. Ideas put forward included:
increased transparency on how many places are available on each module; an
information session at the end of year 2; a survey to gauge student interest in June
(end of year 2); clearer communication about re-enrolment times.
It was mentioned that there were restrictions and constraints with the administration
process, notably that building works throughout UCL impacted on available LT
bookings, and that it is necessary to secure room bookings during Term 2 of the
previous academic session.
It was noted also that, this session, there had been unprecedented demand for
ECON3007 (more than double the number in previous years) and, whilst a larger
lecture theatre had been sourced to accommodate some of the extra demand, the
department had been unable to accommodate all requests.
Action: FW to explore and investigate feasibility of suggestions.
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8e – Maths catch-up sessions and extra tutorial support – specifically for
joint-honours students
JP explained that joint-honours students felt at a disadvantage in comparison to
single-honours students regarding mathematical material and were particularly
concerned about examinations. ECON2003 was cited as an example where it was
assumed that students had covered material which was in fact not on their syllabus.
FW explained the department’s policy and noted that this was a recognised issue,
but that the nature of joint degrees meant it was not possible to cover material in the
same depth.
Discussion as to how joint-honours students could develop and maintain their maths
skills ensued. Suggestions put forward included: better use of Lecturecast, extra
problem sets and extra tutorials. FW indicated that some of these ideas may be held
back by resource constraints. Further clarification and discussion about lack of
resources in relation to higher student fees followed.
Action: FW to remind Year 2 lecturers about the level of mathematical material
covered by students following different programmes and look into feasibility of
suggestions.
8f – Mandatory 5 minute break for all 2-hour lectures
Student members of the Committee sought clarification as to whether breaks were
mandatory halfway through a 2-hour lecture. It was confirmed that this is not the
case. VC explained the background behind the introduction of the harmonised
lecture schedule and it was possible at some point in the future that lectures might
move away from the 2-hour model, although there were no known plans to do so at
this stage.
Student members of the Committee put forward the recommendation that all 2-hour
lectures include a mandatory break to aid concentration.
It was suggested that students should talk to individual lecturers for modules where
this was an issue.
8g – Lecture Casting Facilities
The importance and usefulness to students of recording lectures via the Lecturecast
system was highlighted by student members, particularly in cases where students
had a timetabled clash.
FW confirmed that it is departmental policy that academic staff is encouraged but
under no contractual obligation to use the Lecturecast system.
Meeting closed.
The Chair requested that any points relating to agenda items not covered should be
forwarded to him. It was suggested that the Committee meet twice during Term 2.
Date of the next scheduled meeting: 18 March 2015.
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