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UNIVERSITY OF ABERDEEN
CURRICULUM REFORM
STEERING GROUP
RECORD AND ACTION POINTS FROM THE MEETING ON 24 JANUARY 2008
Record and Action Points from Previous Meetings / Members’ Proposals for DebateStarters
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The Record and Action Points were approved subject to the correction of the
date in the heading and the insertion of the decision to forward Professor
Deans’s paper on tensions for the consideration of the Student Experience
Group. Cathy Macaslan
With regard to Chris Fynsk’s paper on Advising/Student Support, the Group
recognised the importance of its working alongside the recently convened Senate
Working Group on Advising. It was agreed that Cathy Macaslan should act as an
interface between the two Groups and that Bill Long, the Convenor of the Senate
Group, should be invited to a meeting of the Steering Group to discuss matters
further. It was further agreed that the Student Experience Group’s wider
discussions on Styles of Engagement would take account of the Advising paper.
Stephen Hill / Cathy Macaslan
The weblinks for the Scottish Government’s Skills and Economic Strategies
would be circulated to all members. Stephen Hill
The Group wished to invite Steve Cannon, Irene Bews and Eileen Schofield to a
future meeting to discuss with them the University’s strategic intentions, its
external environment and the challenges therein, league table metrics, main
sources of funding, and the importance of different types of student (e.g.
home/overseas/research etc.) therein. Stephen Hill
The report relating to breadth of student subjects of study would be developed
further – giving data at course rather than School level. Stephen Hill / Eileen
Schofield
It was stressed that it would be very important to finalise the list of consultees for
external hearings as soon as possible and to issue letters thereto by mid
February. Stephen Hill / Bryan MacGregor (in conjunction with SRAS, the
BIP Group and the SA)
Nuala Booth’s work on research-teaching linkages would be taken forward in
conjunction with the Research Group. Nuala Booth / Dominic Houlihan
Jenny Mordue would continue work on Core Modules. The papers from John
Hardey and Dominic Houlihan were at an advanced stage of preparation and that
from Cathy Macaslan would be discussed at the next meeting when Cathy would
be present.
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Debate-starter papers and topics, with a focus on those intended for early
consultation with colleagues (below) would be discussed in detail at the extended
meeting to be held at the Burn, Edzell. The 6 areas identified for initial
consultation were:
 Graduate Attributes
 Core Modules
 Advising/Student Support
 The Purpose of the University
 Student Contracts
 Broad structure of degrees
It was hoped that these papers could be finalised at the Commission meeting on
13 February 2008 with University-wide consultation (for which arrangements
could now begin to be made) beginning shortly thereafter. All members /
Stephen Hill
Broad Structure of Degrees
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The Group discussed the broad structure of degrees and considered many
issues such as:
 A desire to prepare students in their undergraduate studies for more
advanced research-based PG work
 Alignment with the Bologna principles
 Balance of government funding between UG and PG provision
 Multiple ‘honourable’ exit points
 Nomenclature of degrees
 International transferability of qualifications
 The level at which chartered status was accorded by professional
bodies
 Double marking
 Advanced entry
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The Group agreed to reflect upon these issues further before returning to
discussion at the next meeting. There was, however, a broad agreement on the
principle of a 5 year degree programme to Master’s level (i.e. what is known as
Level 5) being more fully explored.
The Group further agreed that it would invite Professor Chris Secombes to
discuss the thoughts the School of Biological Sciences had had regarding the
development of a 5 year MSci degree.
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Graduate Attributes
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The Group discussed the draft paper tabled by Bryan MacGregor in detail. A
number of edits were suggested, including prefacing the list with the statement
that “a University of Aberdeen education will give students the opportunity to
develop…”
Group members would continue to reflect on the paper and provide further
comments to Bryan MacGregor by start of business on Monday 28 January. The
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paper would then be finalised for discussion at the meeting of the Curriculum
Commission on 30 January. All Members / Bryan MacGregor
Other
 The speakers from the School of Education, Liz Curtis and Elaine Cowan, would
be invited back to the Group to continue discussions at a future meeting.
Stephen Hill
 A recent UCTL paper on the recognition in degree studies of non-academic
undertakings e.g. voluntary work would be acquired for the attention of the
Group. Stephen Hill
 Edwin vanTeijlingen, David Macdonald and Bill Neill would all be contacted to
follow up their expressions of interest in making a presentation. Stephen Hill
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