Unapproved
UNIVERSITY OF ESSEX
EDUCATION COMMITTEE
Wednesday 10 February 2016
2pm to 4.30pm
MINUTES
(Unreserved)
Chair
Professor Aletta Norval
Present
Dr Andrews, Eigaude Bertasiute, Karen Bush, Adrian Chira, Osei Downes,
Professor Hawkins, Professor Fox O’Mahony, Dr Luther, Andrew McIntosh,
Professor Main, Stephen McAuliffe, Professor Pevalin, Cathy Walsh
Apologies
Ruairi Hipkin, Dr Micklewright, Dr Penman, Professor Underwood
Secretary
Wendy Clifton-Sprigg
In
attendance
Nadine Cottrell, Claire Nixon, Paddy Reilly, Richard Stock, Eirini-Theodora
Varinou, Rachel Fletcher (for Items 1-7), Dave Stanbury (for Item 10)
BUSINESS TAKEN WITHOUT DISCUSSION
Approved
Without discussion, those items not already starred on the agenda or
indicated at the meeting
EC/01/16
MINUTES FROM THE MEETING HELD ON 9 DECEMBER 2015 (EC/16/01)
Noted
In response to a question on minute 229/15, the Chair confirmed that
the employability performance of female graduates was a national
trend. The University was taking a number of actions to address this.
EC/02/16
Resolved
That the minutes be approved subject to a minor correction to minute
221/15.
EC/03/16
MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES
Noted
EC/04/16
CHAIR’S VERBAL REPORT
Noted
Professor Norval welcomed Nadine Cottrell, Head of Graduate
Admissions, and Paddy Reilly, the newly appointed Director of
Student Life, who were both attending the meeting for the first time.
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EC/05/16
The Chair also welcomed Eirini-Theodora Varinou, a student on the
MA Management & Organisational Dynamics, who was observing the
meeting as part of her programme of study.
Change of Secretary
Wendy Clifton-Sprigg had taken over as secretary to Education
Committee. Richard Stock was attending the meeting in his new role.
CDT and DTP bids
The University had submitted two Centre for Doctoral Training bids on
New Forms of Data, and Bio-Social Data. The Chair thanked
Professor Pevalin for his work leading the bid submissions.
The large consortium bid for ESRC DTP funding, the South East
Network for Social Sciences, which the University was leading, would
be submitted on 18 February 2016. The outcome of the bid would be
announced in September 2016.
EC/06/16
EC/07/16
EC/08/16
EC/09/16
Update on Task and Finish Groups
The following areas were currently under review:
Academic Offences – under the leadership of Dr Luther the Group
would be bringing forward recommendations for light-touch changes to
the Procedure and to systems, and an increased focus on training and
information, for implementation from 2016-17.
EC/10/16
Anonymous Marking – under the leadership of Dr Luther the Group
was currently consulting internally and reviewing practice elsewhere.
EC/11/16
Integrated Masters – Terms of Reference for this Group, which would
be led by Dr Penman, were being finalised.
EC/12/16
Module Optionality – following the discussion at Senate, the Group
had made changes to its proposals and a consultation paper would be
discussed by Faculty Education Committees this term. Additional
modelling work was also being undertaken. There would be further
consultation with Directors of Education and revised proposals would
come to the June meeting of Education Committee.
EC/13/16
PGT Credit Framework – proposals would be discussed by Faculty
Education Committees this term, and come to the March meeting of
Education Committee.
EC/14/16
Attendance Monitoring Steering Group
The Attendance Monitoring Steering Group was currently reviewing
the Progress Procedures in the light of implementing them this year
and would be bringing forward recommendations for any changes for
2016-17 to the March meeting of Education Committee. The Group
would be focusing on how monitoring attendance supported the wider
student engagement agenda.
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EC/15/16
EDUCATION ACTION PLAN 2015-16: PROGRESS REPORT AND PROPOSED
PRIORITIES FOR 2016-17 ACTION PLAN (EC/16/02)
Received
A paper prepared by Bettina Mills (Deputy Director, Strategic Planning
and Change), which provided an update on the progress to date on
each of the action points contained in the Education Action Plan (EAP)
2015-16; and proposed key priorities for the EAP for 2016-17.
EC/16/16
Noted
In relation to the Progress Report, the Committee noted changes to
dates for reports to come to Education Committee under Mentoring
(A4) and Module Optionality (A1). During discussion, the role of
postgraduate students mentoring undergraduate students, which had
been a feature of the PSS, was raised. A paper on mentoring would
be discussed at the next meeting of Education Committee, and the
Head of Student Engagement offered to discuss this particular point
with the Students’ Union in advance.
EC/17/16
The Committee reviewed each proposed priority area of the EAP for
2016-17, noting that this provided an early opportunity to input to the
development of the plan ahead of its formal approval in June. The
plan contained fewer areas than the previous year’s plan, however,
the six proposed areas still represented large pieces of work. The
importance of embedding work from previous plans was noted and
that this represented significant work for departments and professional
services.
EC/18/16
The Committee was supportive of the proposed actions in the draft
plan. In discussion, it was noted that work was already underway
looking at Learning Analytics (A1), with a Jisc review of institutional
readiness completed and a consultant currently engaged to look at
options. This area linked to engagement, personal tutors, attendance
and the EBS pilot, and had the potential to deliver a step-change in
supporting students. During discussion, it was noted that IT Services
had started to engage students in discussing the project.
EC/19/16
There was support for the proposed work on Rules of Assessment
(A2) including simplifying our complex progression rules and removing
any unintended barriers to progression, along with undertaking a
comparison with other institutions. Additional areas for review were
proposed including benchmarking our postgraduate taught rules of
assessment and reviewing the significant number of variations to the
rules. It was agreed that the full scope of the work to review our rules
of assessment should be identified and planned over a number of
years.
EC/20/16
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In relation to Technology Enhanced Learning (A5), it was noted that a
pan-University working group, led by Professor Freyenhagen, had
completed a review of digital literacy. It was agreed that the group’s
report should be considered at the next meeting. In discussion, it was
confirmed that the University was currently evaluating Lynda.com in
order to determine whether it should purchase an extended licence.
EC/21/16
EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY ANALYSIS (EC/16/03)
Received
A paper prepared by Dr Richard Martin (Planning Analyst, Strategic
Planning and Change Section), Mr Clive Currey (Marketing and
Admissions Officer, Communications and External Relations) and
Bettina Mills (Deputy Director, Strategic Planning and Change
Section) providing analysis of data relating to equality and diversity
matters.
EC/22/16
Noted
The Committee considered the paper in detail and noted that it had
not been possible to make the enhancements to the data requested
last year, including the inclusion of benchmark data. This would be
available for next year’s report. Members were invited to confirm how
they would like the data presented in future.
EC/23/16
During the discussion, the following was noted and agreed:

In relation to the undergraduate admissions data on rejections by
department, a note should be added setting out where
departments had constraints on intake numbers that could result in
high levels of rejections.
EC/24/16

In relation to undergraduate admissions by age, more contextual
data needed to be provided including the total number of
applicants.
EC/25/16

A note should be added to the data on admissions by disability on
the number of students who declared a disability after registration,
which represented a significantly large group of students.
EC/26/16

Data on postgraduate students should be disaggregated for taught
and research students.
EC/27/16

In future analysis, ethnicity data should be presented in a more
granular way by specific ethnic group.
EC/28/16

The Dean of Postgraduate Research and Education to discuss
with SPCS how to incorporate and present data on postgraduate
research students.
EC/29/16
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
Concern was expressed about the engagement of mature
students. It was noted that there were a number of barriers to
mature and commuting students engaging in University life. The
Students’ Union reported on activities that it was undertaking to
support mature and postgraduate students.
EC/30/16

The presentation of data in Appendix C needed to be improved.
EC/31/16
The Committee was concerned that the current data and analysis
were insufficient to enable it to fulfil its remit to monitor equality and
diversity issues. In addition to the improvements to the data above,
the report needed more analysis so that issues and recommendations
were presented to Education Committee for consideration and
decision. The commentary should include information on targets in the
Access Agreement and include information on work that was already
underway.
EC/32/16
It was agreed that the Head of Equality and Diversity and the Head of
Student Engagement would work with the Deputy Director of Strategic
Planning and Change and the Dean of Postgraduate Research and
Education to develop a revised report addressing the issues above,
for consideration at the June meeting of Education Committee.
EC/33/16
CURRICULUM REVIEW: PROGRESS REPORT (EC/16/04)
Received
A paper prepared by Ms Carly Stanhope (Assistant Education
Manager) which provided an update on the implementation of
Curriculum Review, with the review now in its second year.
EC/34/16
Noted
The reported provided a helpful overview of departmental plans and
progress, with useful additional detail in the appendices. It was noted
that in relation to placement years, professional body constraints
prevented East 15 from offering a placement year; and that the
Department of Psychology did offer a placement year. The Librarian
reported that the Library was developing its support for academic and
information skills, and had started to work with Learning and
Development. In particular, this could support departments to prepare
students for the capstone project. It was agreed that the Librarian
should report on developments in this area to a future meeting of
Education Committee.
EC/35/16
The Committee noted that only one department had been identified as
specifically looking at issues related to equality and diversity. It was
agreed that the Head of Equality and Diversity would discuss making
the online Equality and Diversity training available to students with the
Director of Employability and the Deputy Deans Education.
EC/36/16
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TALENT DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME (EC/16/05)
Received
A paper prepared by Dr Maxwell Stevenson (Learning and
Development Manager) and Ms Liz Austin (TDC Director of Taught
Programmes), which provided an update on the activities of the Talent
Development Centre, specifically progress against delivering actions
in the EAP and seeking views on the continuation of the UROP and
Challenge Essex projects. The UROP programme had run
successfully for three years and Learning and Development was
seeking support for its continuation. Challenge Essex had run for one
year and while feedback from students who had taken part had been
very positive, the number of students had been small while supporting
the activity had been resource intensive.
EC/37/16
Noted
The Committee expressed strong support for the continuation of the
UROP programme, which supported research-led education and had
the potential to help ‘talent spot’ future research students. Challenge
Essex was less established but members expressed interest in
exploring its potential to support the capstone project.
EC/38/16
Resolved
That the Committee supported the continuation of the UROP
programme, subject to funding being allocated in the planning round.
Learning and Development should explore support for a modified
version of the Challenge Essex project with faculties.
EC/39/16
WORK-BASED LEARNING (EC/16/06)
Received
A paper prepared by Dave Stanbury (Director of Employability), which
provided an update on the implementation of the work of the Task and
Finish Group on Work-Based Learning (WBL), including curriculum, IT
systems and resources. An aspiration had been set of 10 per cent of
undergraduate students undertaking work-based learning. A further
update would be brought to the June meeting of Education
Committee.
EC/40/16
Noted
In discussion, it was noted that a flexible definition of work-based
learning had been agreed, which included international opportunities
and micro-internships, and could include working on a project for an
organisation. The plans to grow the activity from 31 students to 268
meant that systems and resources had to be in place to support the
activity.
EC/41/16
Resolved
That Employability and Careers Centre, and Learning and
Development develop a strategy for disseminating and embedding the
approved definition, principles, WBL policy framework and WBL
Toolkit/Knowledge Bank in wider academic enhancement processes,
for approval by the Chair.
EC/42/16
That Education Committee receive an annual report on Work Based
Learning and Career Development Learning at its December meeting.
EC/43/16
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SUPERVISORY TRAINING (EPIGEUM) PROJECT (EC/16/07)
Received
A paper prepared by Dr Matthew Reynolds (Learning and
Development Adviser), which provided an update on the development
of online training for doctoral supervisors, implementing actions
identified in the Education Action Plan. Good progress had been made
on implementing the project, with Moodle-based content created and
feedback received.
EC/44/16
Noted
The Committee was advised that it was planned to roll out the
modules to supervisors in the summer term 2016. It was agreed that
consideration should be given to including participation in the training
into the compulsory training statement for probationary academic staff.
EC/45/16
SUMMARY OF UNDERGRADUATE EXTERNAL EXAMINER AND
ANNUAL REVIEW OF COURSES REPORTS 2014-15 (EC/16/08)
Received
A paper prepared by Ms Liz Laws (Academic Standards and
Partnerships Manager) and Ms Emma Dollard (Academic Standards
and Quality Manager), which summarised undergraduate External
Examiner and Annual Review of Courses reports.
EC/46/16
Noted
The Committee supported the proposal that a Task and Finish Group
be convened to consider the provision of statistical information on
student performance to external examiners. It was agreed that Dr
Luther would chair the group, and that Essex Business School and the
Department of Mathematics should be represented. It was also agreed
that concerns regarding the review of extenuating circumstances
should be forwarded to Registry and ASPO.
EC/47/16
The Committee was pleased to note the examples of good practice
that had been identified and agreed that the report should be
circulated to members of Faculty Education Committees for
information; and that improving student representation should be
raised with Directors of Education.
EC/48/16
That a Task and Finish Group be constituted on the provision of
information to external examiners, with a remit as set out in EC/16/08.
EC/49/16
Resolved
REPORTS FROM EDUCATION COMMITTEE SUB-COMMITTEES
ACADEMIC QUALITY AND STANDARDS COMMITTEE (EC/16/09)
Noted
EC/50/16
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UPDATE ON CAREER DEVELOPMENT LEARNING (EC/16/10)
Noted
Resolved
EC/51/16
That the recommendations contained in paper EC/16/10 be approved.
EC/52/16
RESPONSE TO THE BIS GREEN PAPER ON HIGHER EDUCATION (EC/16/11)
Noted
EC/53/16
ANY OTHER BUSINESS
Noted
None
EC/54/16
Wendy Clifton-Sprigg
Deputy Director, Academic Services (Student Administration and Policy)
Secretary, Education Committee
Academic Section
12 February 2016
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