Friday 19 September 2008
The sabbatical team, 08-09
Q, A, eh???
If you have been around my office over the past few weeks you will have heard me incessantly talking about an obscure acronym, the QAA.
Every four years the University is audited to measure the academic quality and standards by an independent body called the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA). The purpose of this is to safeguard the public interest in sound standards of higher education qualifications.
This audit will take place between the 29th April and the 1st May. Before then the QAA will be visiting the University to prepare. As part of the audit process the University submit a self-reflection document informing the QAA of what they think are their strengths and weaknesses. The Guild also make a submission, the student written submission, highlighting what students believe to be the University's strong and weak points. This is due in Febuary though it is our intention to complete a first draft in November so it can go to students for consultation.
You will be hearing more on this issue in the future...
Every four years the University is audited to measure the academic quality and standards by an independent body called the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA). The purpose of this is to safeguard the public interest in sound standards of higher education qualifications.
This audit will take place between the 29th April and the 1st May. Before then the QAA will be visiting the University to prepare. As part of the audit process the University submit a self-reflection document informing the QAA of what they think are their strengths and weaknesses. The Guild also make a submission, the student written submission, highlighting what students believe to be the University's strong and weak points. This is due in Febuary though it is our intention to complete a first draft in November so it can go to students for consultation.
You will be hearing more on this issue in the future...
Getting ready for freshers...
Tomorrow students start moving into university halls. For over a week Selly Oak has seemed increasingly busy, students are coming back and gearing up for the new academic year.
In the Guild a lot of preparation has, and still is, going on for Welcome Week. On Monday will be the Wellbeing fair which is your opportunity to find out about healthy living and sport. On Tuesday there will be the Community Fair where you will be able discover more about the area where you live. Also on Tuesday is the Change the World Fair where you can find out about the various campaigning opportunities in the Guild to make the world a better place. Wednesday sees the Volunteering Fair, the first opportunity student have to find out about the ways to get involved in volunteering. On Wednesday and Thursday there is the Jobs Fair, for students who think they will have to earn while they study. Also on Wednesday up at the Munrow Sports Centre is the Sports Fair.
On Tuesday and Wednesday is the Freshers Fair. This is your opportunity to pick up all the amazing freebies you think you need but may eventually throw away. There will be a range of local and national companies with amazing offers for various bars, nightclubs and entertainment. On Thursday and Friday is the Societies Fair. This is the big opportunity students have to see all the societies within the Guild, sign up for emails, and get involved! With over 160 societies there is something to suit everyone...
Whatever you do over the next week, make sure you pop along!
In the Guild a lot of preparation has, and still is, going on for Welcome Week. On Monday will be the Wellbeing fair which is your opportunity to find out about healthy living and sport. On Tuesday there will be the Community Fair where you will be able discover more about the area where you live. Also on Tuesday is the Change the World Fair where you can find out about the various campaigning opportunities in the Guild to make the world a better place. Wednesday sees the Volunteering Fair, the first opportunity student have to find out about the ways to get involved in volunteering. On Wednesday and Thursday there is the Jobs Fair, for students who think they will have to earn while they study. Also on Wednesday up at the Munrow Sports Centre is the Sports Fair.
On Tuesday and Wednesday is the Freshers Fair. This is your opportunity to pick up all the amazing freebies you think you need but may eventually throw away. There will be a range of local and national companies with amazing offers for various bars, nightclubs and entertainment. On Thursday and Friday is the Societies Fair. This is the big opportunity students have to see all the societies within the Guild, sign up for emails, and get involved! With over 160 societies there is something to suit everyone...
Whatever you do over the next week, make sure you pop along!
Wednesday 10 September 2008
HE funding: Broke and Broken
The NUS have produced a new report on the state of Higher Education funding in England and Wales. Entitled Broke and Broken, it is an damning inditement of the consequences of variable fees and the marketisation of HE. This report has been written in anticipation of the 2009 review of HE funding. It lays out the pitfalls in the various aguments that may be used by those who want to see the cap lifted.
Over the next few weeks I will write a series of blogs setting out the main themes of Broke and Broken. At some point over the next semester this issue will also be coming to Guild Council.
Over the next few weeks I will write a series of blogs setting out the main themes of Broke and Broken. At some point over the next semester this issue will also be coming to Guild Council.
Tuesday 2 September 2008
The most interesting part of my job so far...
...signing cheques. I have now personally seen off over £100,000.
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