Friday 24-07-2020 - 12:23

Update from David Evans, Sam Johnson-Audini and Kate McIntosh

In June, we worked with your academic reps to develop a proposal on what teaching should look like next year. This was in response to some draft principles for teaching created by the University. Among other things, the University’s proposals suggested that teaching could take place from 19:00-20:00 in some instances, to enable more face-to-face teaching. As your students’ union, we opened out our own proposal for consultation to all students, asking you to tell us what worked for you and where it could be improved.

This consultation closed at the end of June, and we set to work analysing and interpreting the responses. Throughout July, we have been using these responses to negotiate with the University and shape their policy according to students’ desires. Thank you to everyone who completed the consultation survey – it’s your responses that have enabled us to do this effectively!

Some 60% opposed extending the academic timetable to include 19:00-20:00 teaching, even where this was linked to enabling more face-to-face teaching. 65% agreed that the implementation of the SU’s proposal would result in quality teaching being delivered. You can read the full report into the consultation responses, which has been shared with the University, here.

We know there is still plenty of uncertainty about what teaching next year will ultimately look like. In all our interactions with the University, we have asked for and been given assurance that student voices are being taken into account at department, faculty and University-wide levels.

We have also agreed that some further FAQs will be developed in the coming weeks around timetabling and teaching structure. This will include specific clarity around any 19:00-20:00 teaching, which despite certain rumours, is not certain to take place yet, and would only ever take place as a last resort and in consultation with affected students.

We and the incoming SU officers will continue to work to secure the best educational experience for students. If you have any concerns about your department’s plans for teaching next year, please do talk to your course reps, faculty reps, or your SU Academic Officers.