Teaching and Learning Committee
18.3.13
Enclosure I
PLYMOUTH UNIVERSITY
TEACHING AND LEARNING COMMITTEE
STUDENT ENGAGEMENT WITH THEIR PROGRAMME OF STUDY: UPDATE
FOR ALL HANDBOOKS
Please circulate to all programme and module managers for inclusion in programme and
module handbooks as appropriate, and information for academic staff. The statements
below represent good practice, which may be tailored for individual programs or modules.
Students should be made aware of the Plymouth approach to supporting student learning
through the student charter and the following paragraphs that should be a part of student
programme handbooks, induction events and notices:
Taking your learning seriously; it's a student-staff partnership.
Students
The University is committed to providing excellent learning opportunities for students to
develop their knowledge, skills and professional expertise to be outstanding and effective
Plymouth graduates.
We expect all Plymouth students to become effective independent learners, to be active
learners, making the most of the opportunities the University provides, working in partnership
with our academic and professional staff. We know that students who attend all classes are
more engaged and achieve higher results. Being involved in all aspects of your programme
will encourage you to achieve your ambitions.
We recognise that Higher Education is about taking responsibility for your own learning.
Engaging fully will help you to develop the independent working, self-confidence and
professional skills that characterise excellent University graduates and which employers
value. Attending and actively engaging with your tutor, in group work and support classes is
all part of the rich learning experience that Plymouth promotes.
As a University we take pastoral responsibility where that is relevant. We have obligations to
respond with information about students to external bodies and agencies on a prompt and
timely basis. These include government funding organisations such as the Student Loans
Company and Student Finance England, professional bodies, third party sponsors and the
UK Border Agency (UKBA).
Example Handbook entry:
Plymouth University expects all students will attend all scheduled classes, field trips and
other events that are part of their programme of study. All teaching is developed to give you
relevant, necessary experience. We know that students who do not attend perform less well.
If you are ill or otherwise unable to attend, you should send apologies to your tutor and
ensure that you have caught up with the work.
Programme leaders work very hard to make sure that teaching and assignments are well
designed, and that they support your learning. Where minimum attendance is required
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Teaching and Learning Committee
18.3.13
Enclosure I
before an assessment can be undertaken this will be clarified in the programme and module
handbook.
If you are an International student or on a programme that leads to professional body
qualifications please be aware that lack of attendance may lead to exclusion, or not
obtaining the qualification that you are seeking.
Staff
Schools must ensure that students on their programmes are aware of the principles above,
and stress the value of learning in partnership. We aim to provide excellent teaching
sessions and use our peer and student review processes to enhance them. Students must
be made aware of the Plymouth approach to supporting student learning through the student
charter and paragraphs above that should be a part of student programme handbooks,
induction meetings, and notices.
Personal tutors and module leaders have a role to play in creating the ethos of partnership
learning that is embodied in the University Strategy and Student Partnership. They must
advise students about the implications of non-attendance on performance.
Each School will use appropriate ‘touch points’ to check on student progress. These will vary
between programmes but may for example include:
 Timely completion of registration and module selection processes
 Communication with personal tutors (face to face or online)
 Module contributions (engagement with groupwork, project and dissertation
supervision)
 Active engagement in assignments, for example poster and oral presentations, timely
coursework submission, and examinations.
 Active engagement in online or virtual learning activities
See http://www1.plymouth.ac.uk/isas/Pages/Living.aspx For details of Plymouth
University’s process to meet its responsibilities to the UKBA.
Where a School perceives that a student is not actively engaged with their learning, is
struggling, or has personal circumstances that are preventing them from fully engaging with
their studies, the personal tutor is the first point of contact who will link the student with
School Faculty and University support processes.
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