SRHE Postgraduate Issues Network at 44 Bedford Row
Thursday 6 October 2011
Time: 11.00 – 4.00
Venue: SRHE Central London (venue address to be confirmed)
Issues in Taught Postgraduate Programmes
Assessment at Master’s level – Sally Brown
Good Master’s curriculum and assessment design is imperative to enhance recruitment and success
rates in a globally competitive environment, and authentic learning opportunities and assessment
tasks are highly prized by students and employers. However, little research exists to date on how
assessment is undertaken at Master’s level. This participative workshop will explore the initial
findings of the Assimilate project, a three year National Teaching Fellowship project which is seeking
examples of innovative assessment methods at M level which go beyond essays, exams and
dissertations. Interviews and discussions have been undertaken exploring practice principally in the
UK but also in Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Ireland, and Denmark and the Assimilate website
is building a set of case studies to illustrate outcomes from the project, examples of which will be
provided in the workshop.
Enhancing engagement with taught masters students – Pauline Kneale
A value for money degree excites and engages all our students. This session will address aspects of
the postgraduate experience seeking to differentiate the unique qualities of postgraduate learning.
Research informed teaching speaks to curriculum development which integrates world-class research
and scholarship into student learning. Action learning and problem-based learning approaches
involve the student in research and a greater appreciation of their own scholarship. How do we
encourage and challenge our master’s students to work on difficult things?
This interactive workshop will address a range of opportunities to engage and challenge students
from induction to graduation, actively developing their own scholarship and research skills. This
workshop will complement Sally Brown’s session on assessment, offering some opportunities for
embedding practice as well as engaging colleagues in a discussion about what drives and ensures
student engagement.
Biographies
Pauline Kneale was recently appointed Pro–Vice Chancellor, Learning and Teaching at the
University of Plymouth. She was previously Professor at the University of Leeds where she was
director of the White Rose Centre for Excellence in Teaching and Learning of Enterprise. She is
currently also director of the Higher Education Academy Subject Centre for Geography, Earth and
Environmental Science. Pauline has research interests in teaching and learning, particularly at
Masters level and in working with early career staff to developing understanding of all aspects of the
student experience, and students as researchers.
Sally Brown is Emeritus Professor, Leeds Metropolitan University;
Adjunct Professor, University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland. Originally trained as a classroom
teacher of English and therapeutic drama, she was previously Director of Membership Services for
the Institute for Learning and Teaching (now merged into the Higher Education Academy). Prior to
that she worked at the University of Northumbria at Newcastle for almost 20 years as a lecturer,
study-skills practitioner, educational developer and Head of Quality Enhancement
Event booking details
To reserve a place at this seminar please register at http://www.eventdotorg.co.uk/events.asp or
telephone +44 (0) 207 4472525. SRHE events are open to all and free to SRHE members as part of
their membership package. The delegate fee for non-members is £25 [full time students £20]. Nonmembers wishing to join the Society may do so at the time of registration and the delegate fee will be
waived. Please note that places must be booked in advance and that a £25 for non-attendance will
be charged if a place has been reserved but no notice of cancellation/non-attendance has been given
in advance.
Interested in joining the PIN Network-but not able to attend this event? To receive details of future
events in this series and to join the mailing list. Please email nmanches@srhe.ac.uk-