Programme Rep Conference 2011
In November we hosted the 2011 Programme Rep Conference at Kedleston Road. We invited all programme reps from across the University to come along and give us their input into a whole host of issues and projects. Reps also got the chance to grill the senior University managers at the panel debate and provide answers on some of the burning issues.
The day started with a number of workshop sessions aimed at getting feedback and input from students on a range of University issues. Notes for each session can be found below, detailing the key points of the discussion.
Students then attended the panel discussion (pdf file), where they could ask questions directly to senior University managers, including Vice Chancellor John Coyne. This was followed by faculty sessions, where reps could raise any faculty-specific issues that they had.
The day was a great success overall. 99 reps attended and feedback has been great from both staff and students. Thank you to all the reps who attended and we hope you enjoyed the day.
Keep an eye out for our 'You said it. We did it' webpage to see what changes we'll be making as a result of the conference at www.derby.ac.uk/YSIWDI.
If you have any questions or comments please email us at feedback@derby.ac.uk or contact Dom Anderson from UDSU at vpacademic@udsu.co.uk.
» The Debate
The Debate took place just like in Parliament with for and against arguments being discussed and questions being posed. The session was also attended by the National Union of Students' Vice President for Higher Education Usman Ali.
For more information on The Debate (pdf file), you can download detailed notes of the session.
» eSubmission - opinions and improvements
The move to electronic submission of assessed work throws up many challenges as well as many benifits for you, the students. How is the process being experienced by students? Is the student support being appropriately configured? How is electronic feedback best provided? How could it be improved?
For more information about eSubmission (pdf file), you can download details notes on the session.
» Learning and teaching spaces - what do you think?
In what environments do you learn best? In regimented lines or spaces more conductive to dialogue, activities, digital capture of interactions and electronic communication within a room and outside of the room? This workshop looked at some of the initial work going on in the University to make our classrooms genuine and vibrant learning spaces, and of course, we wanted to know what you think.
For more information about Learning and Teaching Spaces (pdf file), you can download detailed notes from the session.
» Whats makes students leave? What makes students stay?
Is your University supporting you? Is your course meeting your expectations? Do you feel part of a 'Derby Community'? JISC SETL is a one year old project taking place within the University that needs your help to understand why students might lose interest in their studies and student life.
We also want to know about your positive experiences and what makes you stay and get the most out of university. What makes you persist through any challenges to make you stay on the course?
The more we can understand about why students leave and why they stay, the more we can challenge and support you all as students to achieve your maximum potential.
For more information about what makes students leave or stay (pdf file), you can download detailed notes of the session.
» Exploring the National Student Survey and Feedback
The National Students Survey takes place across UK universities every year. The results give an indication of the experience of final year students on their course.
Results were made available to the reps giving them a chance to explore the survey and understand the questions asked. It also gave them the opportunity to discuss the other methods of feedback and explore the success of the methods used by the university to communicate its response to the feedback it receives.
For more information about NSS and Feedback (pdf file), you can download detailed notes of the session.
» University regulations, what do you think?
This year, we're doing a major review of the University's regulations, both in content and in format. They underpin everything about your studies, admission, thorugh assessment to issues like academic offences and retaking modules. We wanted to be sure that the regulations are easy and intuitive for students to use, so we got your reps to feedback to us.
For more information about the University regulations (pdf file), you can download detailed notes of the session.
» Taking the lead
This workshop allowed the reps to pratcically understand the different types of leadership skills and put these effective qualities into practice through an interactive workshop.
For more information about Taking the Lead (pdf file), you can download detailed notes of the session.
» What do you think of your online resources?
This workshop concentrated on enriching the experience for Derby students in their use of web technology. This workshop was designed to give feedback on the University's plans to improve the use of technology in your learning.
For more information regarding Online Resources (pdf file), you can download detailed notes of the session.
» Being a rep - enhance your employability
A time for reps to understand how they could use their experience to compete in the graduate job market, and then explore and determine how they could support you to secure positive graduate destinations. The session looked at how focussed students are on the career planning, and whether they are aware of employer requirements.
It looked into how knowledgable students are about the need to present and market themselves to future employers professionally and through professional social media.
For more information about Being a Rep (pdf file), you can download detailed notes of the session.
» How green should we be?
A quick overview and recap of the environmental situation today followed by discussions on:
- How to set up an environmental champion network among students
- What is it? Why is it necessary? Would there be training?
- How students can run it themselves. What sort of things they could do. How will that help the university? How will it help in their life after University? Could there be a career opportunity for them? Could this avenue of thought enhance their private life?
For more information about Going Green (pdf file), you can download detailed notes of the session.
» Timetabling - have your say
An introduction to us and how we work in the hope of building stronger working relationships for the future. We wanted to know what your biggest issues were surrounding timetables and where you think improvements and developments need to be made.
For more information about Timetabling (pdf file), you can download detailed notes of the session.
» Academic appeals and offences
The session comprised of two short presentations from the Assessment and Awards Unit on Academic Appeals and Offences, highlighting the process behind the two policies and then they are applicable to the student journey.
For more information regarding Academic Appeals and Offences (pdf file), you can download detailed notes of the session.
