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This course considers the development of the nervous system in a broad context. Topics include the establishment of a nervous system in the embryo, birth and migration of nerve cells, nerve growth and guidance mechanisms, cell recognition, synaptogenesis, development of the eye and the brain cortex. Plasticity in the adult nervous system covers aspects of stem cells, learning and memory, central and peripheral nerve and muscle regeneration following injury and some examples of disease states (e.g. neuropathies and myopathies, stroke and ageing). The course consists of 4 lectures per week and is examined by continuous assessment of a group presentation topic, an elective anatomy dissection, and a 2-hour written exam.
Course Organiser: Dr Ann M. Rajnicek ((43)7514) a.m.rajnicek@abdn.ac.uk
(Anatomy organiser: Dr Derek Scott (ext. 7566) d.scott@abdn.ac.uk)
Using the basics of central and peripheral nervous system function covered in Years 2 and 3, to consider the dynamics and the controls of how these systems become established from undifferentiated cells. Students will learn how nerves grow, how they move, how they transport materials over long distances, how nerves communicate, what environmental signals regulate these activities and how brain activity generates behaviour. Through the elective dissection, students will identify the tissue associations nerves have as they are distributed through the body.
Lecture Outline (and selected suggested reading)
PART 1: BUILDING THE CNS
1 & 2. Dr. A.M. Rajnicek - Nervous system induction.
The earliest stages in the process of nervous system formation will be discussed. The lectures describe experimental evidence that the nervous system arises by a series of induction events and identify roles for specific inducing signals.
3. Prof. C.D. McCaig - Neurogenesis/migration.
Nerve cells are born in sites distant from those that they finally occupy. The locations and controls of neuronal differentiation will be considered together with the mechanisms controlling neuronal migration. The consequences of disrupting normal migration of neurones are also considered.
Experientia 46, 882-899 (1990)
Curr. Opin. Neurobiol. 8, 45-54 (1998)
Trends in Neuroscience 23, 352-359 (2000)
4. Prof. C.D. McCaig - Neuronal motility and axonal transport.
How newborn neurons move to correct positions in the developing nervous system. How nerves transport materials intracellularly, axonal transport, the microstructure and function of the neuronal cytoskeleton. The postulated mechanisms controlling these events will be outlined.
Cell 84, 371-379 (1996)
J. Cell Biol. 141, 1-4 (1998)
Differentiation 70, 285-396 (2002)
J Neurobiol 58, 92-102 (2004)
Cell 67, 453-456 (1991)
Neuron 7, 521-533 (1991)
5. Dr A.M. Rajnicek - Electrical guidance cues.
The nervous system develops within a natural electric field generated by embryonic epithelia and the neural tube itself. The effects this may have on neuronal cell behaviour and the underlying mechanisms will be discussed.
Trends in Neurosciences 25, 354-359 (2002)
Physiological Reviews 85, 943-78 (2005)
J Cell Sci 119:1736-1745 (2206)
6. Prof. C.D. McCaig - Neurotrophic factors.
Nerve growth factor and the other members of the neurotrophin family of secreted proteins will be discussed. Their mechanism of action, functional significance, and their roles in neuronal survival, development and regeneration will be considered.
Cell 77, 627-638 (1994)
Trends in Neuroscience 17, 182-190 (1994)
Current Opin. Neurobiol 6, 64-70 (1996)
Nature 401, 918-921 (1999)
Neuron 42, 529-533 (2004)
PART 2: EYE DEVELOPMENT
7. Dr L. Erskine - Retina development
This lecture investigates how the retina (a specialized outpost of the forebrain) develops from a single sheet of uniform precursors into a complex 3-dimensional arrangement of differentiated, specialized neurons and glia, ready to transmit information to the visual centres of the brain.
8. Dr L. Erskine - Wiring the eye to the brain
Visual information is transmitted from the eye to the brain via the axon of retinal ganglion cells. The cellular and molecular mechanisms controlling the formation of these connections will be discussed.
Erskine L, Herrera E (2007). Dev Biol 308, 1-14.
PART 3: NEUROMUSCULAR TRANSMISSION
9. Dr G.S. Bewick - Exocytosis as the basis of quantal neurotransmitter release.
The process of exocytosis as the underlying mechanism of quantal transmitter release at synapses will be discussed, with particular reference to the NMJ. The lecture will also cover recent work, both on the NMJ and on other preparations, concerning the proteins and ion channels involved in exocytosis and their position within the nerve terminal.
10. Dr G.S. Bewick - Endocytosis and vesicle recycling.
Membrane lost from the vesicle pool during exocytosis is thought to be recaptured via endocytosis then repackaged with neurotransmitter, ready for re-release. This lecture will describe our current state of knowledge of these processes, especially recent studies of vesicle recycling kinetics using tracer molecules.
11. Dr G.S. Bewick - Modulation of transmitter release.
Neurotransmitter release can be modulated by a variety of factors. The effect of activity and naturally occurring modulators will be examined, together with the underlying presynaptic changes thought to bring these about.
PART 4: CNS PLASTICITY AND BEHAVIOUR
12. Dr M. Nakamoto – Topographic mapping
This lecture reviews the molecular mechanisms that establish the topographic order of visual projections in their target regions in the brain. We will discuss the patterning of the target regions, interactions between positional labels, and axon-axon interactions.
13. Dr M Nakamoto – Cortical development
In this lecture, we will review development and maldevelopment of the mammalian cereral cortex. We will discuss mechanisms that control cell fate, laminar and aeal patterning, and axonal connectivity.
Elective Anatomy Dissection
This part of the course requires you to prepare a dissection of an aspect of the nervous system and where many of the marks available will be for quality of the dissection prepared.
Code of Behaviour and Practice in the Dissecting Room (DR)
What follows is a code of practice for your work involving human material. READ IT AND REMEMBER IT – FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THIS CODE OF PRACTICE WILL RESULT IN YOU NOT BEING ALLOWED TO ATTEND PRACTICALS AND, THUS, YOU WILL FAIL TO OBTAIN A CLASS CERTIFICATE.
Much of the course work is carried out in the Dissection Room (DR) at Marischal College. You will need to provide and wear a clean white lab coat in the DR
YOU MUST ALWAYS WEAR YOUR LAB COAT WHEN IN THE DR.
You will be allocated a locker for your possessions but you will need to bring a padlock to secure it. Note that YOU CANNOT TAKE BAGS, COATS, ETC., INTO THE DR - they should be locked safely in your locker.
The Anatomy Act
All work carried out in Anatomy at the University of Aberdeen involving the use of human cadaveric material is carried out under The Anatomy Act 1984 as amended by The Human Tissue (Scotland) Act 2006 and its regulations.
Under The Act, human cadaveric material may only be used in premises that are licensed for the purpose and by people with an interest and need to study the material.
Under The Act, its Regulations and Code of Practice, and local rules, you are:
1.Not allowed to be in possession of human cadaveric material outside of premises licensed under The Act.
2.Not allowed to bring any friends/relatives into the Anatomy Department irrespective of their background and interests.
3.Not allowed to take photographs or any form of electronic images, including mobile phone images, of human cadaveric material or the layout of licensed premises.
4.Required to properly respect the human cadaveric material donated for your study.
You are advised that any breaches to the above will make you liable for University disciplinary procedures and, in addition, may be a criminal offence under The Act.
Respect for donated human material
Practical anatomy involves students in the examination of human subjects. This privileged opportunity relies on the generosity of local people who recognise the value to science and medicine that the practical study of human anatomy can provide, and generously make their bodies available for that purpose.
It is important that, at all times, you respect that generosity and behave accordingly.
Eating, smoking or drinking are not permitted in the Dissecting Room, Science Lab, Anatomy Museum or in any other area where anatomical specimens may be located.
Mobile phones must be switched off when you are in the Dissecting Room, Science Lab, Anatomy Museum or in any other area where anatomical specimens may be located – it is not sufficient to switch it to silent mode.
Photography, or other forms of image capture, are not permitted in the Dissecting Room, Science Lab, Anatomy Museum or in any other area where anatomical specimens may be located.
The wearing of baseball caps, “hoods” and other forms of casual headwear are considered disrespectful and are inappropriate in the Dissecting Room, Museum and other teaching areas.
PLEASE NOTE THAT NO ONE, OTHER THAN THOSE AUTHORISED TO DO SO, IS ALLOWED TO ENTER THE DR.
All students who study on Anatomy courses are expected to pay their respects to those who donated their bodies at the annual Memorial Service in King’s College Chapel on the first Thursday in May. There is a limit on the number of people who can attend as the chapel is usually full to capacity and courses which include only a small amount of Anatomy teaching using cadaveric material are normally represented by the course co-ordinator. Students on this course would normally have attended the service when they were in second year but any who were not available at the time, or who have joined the Anatomy course at level 3, should attend during the current academic year. You will be advised of the arrangements for the Memorial Service nearer the time.
Care of Cadavers
Preserved human material requires to be kept moist to save it from spoiling. Please follow instructions to protect this valuable material and cover the specimens after you have examined it – do not rely on others to do it for you.
DO:
•Wear a clean, white laboratory coat.
•Use gloves.
•Handle specimens with care and respect.
•Follow the ‘Care of Cadavers’ procedure.
•Work safely with regard to yourself and others.
•Cover the cadaveric material when you have finished.
•Leave your working area clean and tidy.
•Wash your hands before leaving the Dissecting Room.
DO NOT:
•Bring friends or relatives into the Dissecting Room.
•Smoke, eat or drink in the Dissecting Room.
•Handle specimens (including the articulated skeletons and anatomical models) roughly.
•Move material from one dissection table to another.
•Let the body cloths hang off the dissection tables.
•Remove anything from the Dissecting Room or from any other teaching location.
•Take your white lab coats from the Dissecting Room for use elsewhere.
•Use mobile phones within the Dissecting room, Museum, Science lab or any other licensed area.
•Take photographs, or any image capture on any device other than using the departmental camera AND under the specific authorisation and direction of a member of Anatomy staff. Such images are only to be downloaded onto the Anatomy graphics computer.
Safety and Security
Safety Guidance
The cadavers present no particular known health hazard and the levels in the atmosphere of toxic chemicals used in the embalming process of the cadavers is well within the limits set by Health and Safety regulations. Note, however, that the fluid provided to keep the cadavers in good condition is <1.0% formaldehyde in water. It is an irritant and if it splashes into your eyes, wash it out immediately with lots of cold water.
Spillage of fluid on to the DR floor represents a hazard. Any spillage should be wiped up at once; staff will direct you as necessary.
The door outside the entrance to the DR is an Emergency Exit. The corridor in front of this exit must be kept clear at all times. All your personal items must therefore be deposited in the locker room. Familiarise yourself with all routes of exit and the location of fire alarms.
Your course includes dissection activity which will involve the use of sharp instruments (scissors, scalpel etc). You will be advised about the correct procedure for fixing and removing scalpel blades from their holder, and their proper disposal in the “sharps bin”.
Sharp instruments must not be disposed of in the general waste bins or left lying around the work area.
When using sharp instruments use a technique which protects yourself from being cut. Be aware of your working surround and ensure no-one else is in your immediate vicinity: do not wave your hands about whilst holding a scalpel!
Tidy up after you have completed each class and ensure that all instruments are cleaned and safely packed away – you must not leave discarded scalpel blades or other sharp instruments lying around the work area.
Wash you hands before you leave the classroom.
Minor injuries should be washed immediately with soap and water and protected with an adhesive dressing. The latter are available from the DR office. Advice should be sought from departmental staff in the event of more serious injury. All injuries should be notified to a member of staff.
Security
STUDENTS MUST NOT REMOVE HUMAN MATERIAL (soft tissues and bones); ANATOMICAL MODELS OR ARTICULATED SKELETONS FROM THEIR LOCATION. All the models, bones and skeletons are security marked - should any go missing during the course of the year, the University will treat the matter as theft with all the consequences that implies. Students, as well as the staff, are responsible for ensuring the security of the learning resources.
Security of anatomical material does not only include its retention within the licensed areas but also the security of any photographic or digital images (including those captured by mobile phone). It is an offence under The Anatomy Act to capture an image without permission having been given by the donor – we do not have such permissions at the present time or under specially agreed guidelines requiring direct approval of the Licensed Teacher of Anatomy (currently Dr Ian Stewart). In any event, the identity of the donor must remain confidential with no identifying features being displayed – failure to ensure this confidentiality is in itself a breach of the Act irrespective of any permissions obtained.
In the same way, it is unacceptable to discuss activities in the dissecting room in public places (eg the bus going home). This lacks the respect due to donors as required under the Act and would make any such individual(s) liable to disciplinary procedures by the University, and under the Act.
Students are reminded that most of you will be going on to enter a profession in which there will be codes of conduct and practice which must be adhered to. Failure to adhere to those codes may well result in you being “struck off” and unable to carry on with your chosen profession. Proper respect for the requirements of The Anatomy Act must be regarded in the same way with any breaches which result in disciplinary action also potentially bringing your chosen career to an untimely end.
Work activity
Elective individual dissection
Prior to commencing this course you will have considered your elective dissection. The choice is yours but should be focused around one particular anatomical area or functional activity associated with the nervous system eg origin course and distribution of a division of the trigeminal nerve / origin, course and distribution of median nerve in the hand. (NB the origin course and distribution of the entire trigeminal nerve or the entire median nerve would be considered too extensive a task for the time available)
You are strongly encouraged to discuss your choices with the course co-ordinator and you should bear the following in mind:
-the topic will have to be approved by the course co-ordinator (this will largely be to ensure the choice is not over adventurous, or not adventurous enough)
-the availability of cadaveric material may impose limitations on topics
-the topic for this elective dissection is also the topic for the poster demonstration.
You are required to submit a 300 word description of your proposed elective dissection, for approval. This must be done before you start this dissection (you will not be provided with the material unless this statement is provided) and at the latest by the end of Week 1 of the course.
An optional (at the individual student’s discretion) 300 word statement may be provided for the assessors after the dissection is completed to explain any variation from the original plan eg due to presence of unpredicted anomaly/prosthesis in cadaveric tissue.
Your dissection will be judged on its quality – that includes the dissection being free from cuts/tears etc and with all relevant structures cleaned of unnecessary fascia. Marks will also be awarded on its overall appearance and presentation eg neat cut edges to the skin margins etc
You are required to attend for four x two hour dissection classes. Emphasis should be on care and precision. (If you do not finish the task within the allotted classes you can continue after the class time, subject to staff availability for supervision.)
Note: in these dissection classes you are responsible for clearing your work area which includes the removal and proper disposal of any sharps, the cleaning of instruments and their return to the instrument wrap, the spraying and covering of your specimen. Failure to properly tidy up will result in the loss of marks. Leaving unprotected sharps in your work area may result in you being denied continued access to the dissection activity with consequent severe loss of marks.
Preparation of electronic poster demonstration of individual dissection.
You are required to prepare an electronic poster illustrating the preparation of your elective dissection. Within the limitations of space (see assessment guidelines) there is no predetermined structure and you should feel free to present the material in the way that you feel best illustrates your work. However, it should be written for your target audience which in this case is a meeting of a national scientific/medical professional society.
At meetings of professional scientific and medical societies posters are usually mounted on a board and have to be readable from a metre away. In practice this means that any text should be in 14 point or above and any photographs (and labels) should be of sufficient size to easily illustrate the point(s) being made. Effectively, text should be presented as short statements or bullet points.
As a general guide, about half of the poster should be set aside for an illustration of how the dissection progressed.
You are expected to incorporate photographic illustrations of your work as it progressed. This should include a photograph of the cadaveric part before commencement of any dissection activity and also a labelled photograph of the final completed dissection. Great care should be taken to ensure that this latter illustration is correctly framed and taken from an angle which best displays the end product (more than one photograph may be required)
Warning: Under the Anatomy Act 1984 as amended by The Human Tissue (Scotland) Act 2006 you are not allowed to take photographs of donated cadaveric material for wider dissemination without the written permission of the donor.
Please note that none of the material we hold in the department at the present time has that permission and therefore any public dissemination of illustrations of cadaveric material is a breach of the Act ie a criminal offence.
In practice this means that all photographs will be taken using the department’s digital camera and images will be downloaded onto the departmental graphics computer under the guidance and control of Mr Ian Brown (Technician). Any labelling of this material must be done on this computer (it is loaded with Adobe Photoshop) and copies of images must not be downloaded, either onto disc or by emailing to yourself or a third party. Furthermore, the illustrations should include no identifiable features eg face, odd scars, tattoos, etc which could allow the source of the material to be identified. The ID tag should be tucked out of view or turned over so as not to show the number
As already stated, any breach of the above is a criminal offence and, in addition, will be reported to the University as a breach of discipline.
In order for everyone to comply with the above it will be necessary to complete this part of the work in good time and by regular consultation with Ian Brown to obtain his assistance, and user time on the computer. You should therefore aim to prepare your illustrations as you go along.
Assessment
This dissection exercise and poster will contribute 15% to the overall marks for the AN4301 course. (NB This element of the course is in lieu of the in-course essay for PY4302)
Individual elective dissection – 7.5%
For this part of the assessment, half of the marks will be awarded for effort and commitment to the task. Students who attend and commit themselves to dissecting as outlined above, in the section on course requirements, can expect to be awarded all available marks (2.5%) for this element. The remaining marks will be awarded in relation to the quality of the dissection carried out (2.5%), including the overall design of the dissection (2.5%).
Submission date: by 5pm last Friday of course
Poster presentation – 7.5%
This part of the assessment must be submitted on a CD which will be provided. The use of Powerpoint is required. You are limited to 10 slides to include all text, photographs, tables etc. One page is required for the title and your name and for any acknowledgements. Only one mark will be awarded but this will include an assessment of:
-Overall content
-Clarity of content
-Appropriate use of text
-Appropriate use of photographs, diagrams, tables etc
-Correct labelling of photographs, diagrams, tables etc
-neatness of presentation to include layout, font size, size of illustrations etc
Submission date: by 5pm last Friday of course
Group Presentations
During the first week of the course the class will be divided into 8 groups and during the 4th week of the course (see timetable) each group will research a topic and make one presentation. The exercise aims to promote confidence and self-directed research, so students are expected to work without direct participation by staff. However, a Tutor has been assigned nominally to each group in case there are issues that cannot be resolved within the group itself. ALL STUDENTS, INCLUDING THOSE NOT PRESENTING WILL ATTEND ALL PRESENTATIONS AND ARE EXPECTED TO JOIN IN THE DISCUSSION. THIS WORK IS EXAMINABLE!!!
The oral presentations themselves will not contribute to your course mark, HOWEVER each AN4301 student is required to prepare a written summary of their Group topic (see below for details), which should be handed in on Friday 30 November, 2012. The written 500 word summary contributes 10% of your AN4301 mark.
A list of Presentation Topics and References as well as guidelines for the written summary and tips for the presentation are found on the course website.
The first Group meeting is timetabled in the 1st week of the course. At the first meeting each Group should divide itself into subgroups, each taking responsibility for researching one key aspect of the topic. Decide amongst the Group how the presentation will be made, who will cover each part, who will do the talking, what visual aids will be used, and how much time will be spent presenting each part. For maximum benefit you will have to work together and discuss each other's findings.
The subgroup contributions should make a coherent story without repetition/overlap in the presentation as a whole. Therefore, in addition to 2 scheduled meetings the Group has been timetabled for a meeting in the 3rd week of the course. (Note: the timetabled Group meetings are suggestions. Groups are encouraged to meet as often as is agreed. The aims of the 3rd meeting are to 1) rehearse the presentation and 2) to make certain all Group members understand the whole topic (not just the small bit they researched!!) since each individual will write an assessed summary of the Group topic (see below).
Guidelines for written summary (all Groups):
This mark contributes 10% toward your continuous assessment
• This is to be prepared as an individual, but incorporates information from other group members, so you will need to share information and work cooperatively (this should happen naturally in the course of preparing the presentation)
• Think of this as an abstract- keep the writing snappy and to the point but avoid bullet points.
• It should represent the content of your group’s entire presentation, not just the part of the topic you were assigned to research.
• Strict 500 word limit- include a note of the word count at the end of the summary paragraph
• Include key references as if you were writing a short essay; (they aren’t included in word count).
THIS WORK IS EXAMINABLE (and yes, it has appeared on the exam in the past!); ALL STUDENTS SHOULD UNDERSTAND ALL TOPICS!!!
Students not presenting should have read the papers and will be expected to contribute to the discussion.
Group members will assess each other’s team participation. This includes attendance at group meetings/practice sessions and the final presentation as well as co-operation and successful completion of tasks agreed within the group. This part of the assessment will contribute 5% to the total mark for the course, therefore the group presentation as a whole contribute 15% toward the final mark (5% for team work and 10% for individual summary).
Elective Anatomy Dissection
This part of the course requires you to prepare a dissection of an aspect of the nervous system and where many of the marks available will be for quality of the dissection prepared.
There is a regular programme of seminars given throughout the academic year by invited specialists from within the broad field of biomedical research.
These are usually held in the IMS Building at Foresterhill (check the School or IMS websites for specific locations of seminars).
As you are studying within research-driven disciplines, we strongly feel that you should attend these whenever possible, with a view to broadening your appreciation of medical sciences. You will also be directed to attend any other relevant seminars when they arise.
The University has strict regulations on plagiarism. If you are unsure about what constitutes plagiarism read the University guide on plagiarism at http://www.abdn.ac.uk/writing
Copying or plagiarising another persons work, either from other students or published material in books or papers and submitted as your own for assessment is considered a form of cheating. This is considered by the University to be a serious offence and will be penalised according to the extent involved and whether it is decided there was an attempt at deliberate deception, or whether bad practice was involved. If you do use information or ideas obtained from textbooks or other published material you must give a precise reference to the source both at the appropriate point in your narrative and in a list of references at the end of your work. Direct quotations from published material should be indicated by quotation marks and referenced in the text as above.
a). Continuous assessment - 15% of the total assessment will be based on the elective dissection and associated poster presentation as described above.
b). Group Presentations – 15% of the total assessment will be based on the 500 word summary of the group presentation. See guidelines section above for details.
c). Examination This will take place in the summer diet, May/June. It will take the form of an essay-based examination, which will comprise 70% of the assessment for PY4302 DEVELOPMENTAL NEUROSCIENCE. It is likely to be a 2-hour exam in which 2 essays are attempted from a choice of at least 6. All assessments (continuous and examined) will be made using the University Common Assessment Scale (copy attached).
d) Satisfactory performance - Students are expected to attend all elements of the course and to complete all class exercises. The minimum performance acceptable for the granting of a class certificate is attendance at 75% of the course and presentation of all course work, written and oral.
Dr Guy Bewick
Dr Martin Collinson
Dr Stephen Davies
Prof Lynda Erskine
Prof Colin McCaig
Dr Masaru Nakamoto
Dr Ann Rajnicek
Dr Asha Venkatesh
Dr Derek Scott
If students have difficulties with any part of the course that they cannot cope with alone they should notify someone immediately. If the problem relates to the subject matter you may be best advised to contact the member of staff who is teaching that part of the course. Students with registered disabilities should contact either the IMS based School of Medical Sciences ((Miss Lyndsay McEwan l.mcewan@abdn.ac.uk) or the Old Aberdeen office associated with the teaching laboratories (Mrs Sheila Jones s.jones@abdn.ac.uk) to ensure that the appropriate facilities have been made available. Otherwise, you are strongly encouraged to contact any of the following as you see appropriate:
Course student representatives
Course co-ordinator, Dr Ann Rajnicek
Convenor of the student-staff liaison committee, Dr Gordon McEwan
Adviser of studies
Disabilities Co-ordinator, Dr Derryck Shewan
Staff are based at Foresterhill & IMS and we strongly encourage the use of email or telephone the School Office. You may be wasting your time to travel to Foresterhill only to find staff unavailable.
Support Available to Students
The University is keen to help you successfully complete your studies. If at any time you feel you need assistance, there is a range of support services available to help you. These include support to assist with unexpected and/or exceptional financial difficulty, support for disabled students and academic learning support through the Student Learning Service. Further details about all these services area available at http://www.abdn.ac.uk/studenthelpguide/.
We value students’ opinions in regard to enhancing the quality of teaching and its delivery; therefore in conjunction with the Students’ Association we support the operation of a Class Representative system.
The students within each course, year, or programme elect representatives by the end of the fourth week of teaching within each half-session. In this school we operate a system of course representatives. Any student registered within a course that wishes to represent a given group of students can stand for election as a class representative. You will be informed when the elections for class representative will take place.
What will it involve?
It will involve speaking to your fellow students about the course you represent. This can include any comments that they may have. You will attend a Staff-Student Liaison Committee and you should represent the views and concerns of the students within this meeting. As a representative you will also be able to contribute to the agenda. You will then feedback to the students after this meeting with any actions that are being taken.
Training
Training for class representatives will be run by the Students Association. Training will take place in the fourth or fifth week of teaching each half-session. For more information about the Class representative system visit www.ausa.org.uk or email the VP Education & Employability vped@abdn.ac.uk. Class representatives are also eligible to undertake the STAR (Students Taking Active Roles) Award, further information about the co-curricular award is available at: www.abdn.ac.uk/careers.
Monitoring Students' Progress
The University operates a system for monitoring students' progress to identify students who may be experiencing difficulties in a particular course and who may be at risk of losing their class certificate. If the Course Co-ordinator has concerns about your attendance and/or performance, the Registry will be informed. The Registry will then write to you (by e-mail in term-time) to ask you to contact their office in the first instance. Depending on your reason for absence the Registry will either deal directly with your case or will refer you to your Adviser of Studies or a relevant support service. This system is operated to provide support for students who may be experiencing difficulties with their studies. Students are required to attend such meetings with their Adviser of Studies in accordance with General Regulation 8.
Set criteria are used to determine when a student should be reported in the monitoring system. You will be asked to meet your Adviser if any of the following criteria apply for this course:-
either (i) if you are absent for a continuous period of two weeks or 25% of the course (whichever is less) without good cause being reported;
or (ii) if you are absent from two small group teaching sessions e.g. (laboratory/tutorial classes) without good cause;
or (iii) if you fail to submit a piece of summative or a substantial piece of formative in-course assessment by the stated deadline
If you fail to respond within the prescribed timescale (as set out in the e-mail or letter) you will be deemed to have withdrawn from the course concerned and will accordingly be ineligible to take the end of course assessment or to enter for the resit. The Registry will write to you (by e-mail in term-time) to inform you of this decision. If you wish consideration to be given to reinstating you in the course you will be required to meet the Convener of the Students' Progress Committee.
Students who attend and complete the work required for a course are considered to have been awarded a ‘Class Certificate’. Being in possession of a valid Class Certificate for a course entitles a student to sit degree examinations for that course. From 2010/11 class certificates will be valid for two years and permit a total of three attempts at the required assessment within that two year period i.e. the first attempt plus up to two resits.
You will receive a University e-mail account when you register with the University Computing Centre. The University will normally use e-mail to communicate with you during term-time. These e-mails will be sent to your University e-mail account, which you can access using Eudora or SquirrelMail.
It is your responsibility to check your e-mail on a regular (at least weekly) basis and to tidy the contents of your e-mail inbox to ensure that it does not go over quota (see http://www.abdn.ac.uk/diss/email/mailquota.hti for guidance on managing your e-mail quota). It is recommended that you use your University e-mail account to read and respond to University communications. If you already have a non-University e-mail account that you use for personal correspondence, it is possible to set up automatic forwarding of messages from your University e-mail account to your personal e-mail address (see http://www.abdn.ac.uk/local/mail.forward/) but, should you do so, it is your responsibility to ensure that this is done correctly. The University takes no responsibility for delivery of e-mails to non-University accounts.
You should note that failure to check your e-mail or failure to receive e-mail due to being over quota or due to non-delivery of an e-mail forwarded to a non-University e-mail account would not be accepted as a ground for appeal (for further information on appeals procedures, please refer to http://www.abdn.ac.uk/registry/quality/appendix5x17.hti).
Code of Behaviour and Practice in the Dissecting Room (DR)
What follows is a code of practice for your work involving human material. READ IT AND REMEMBER IT – FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THIS CODE OF PRACTICE WILL RESULT IN YOU NOT BEING ALLOWED TO ATTEND PRACTICALS AND, THUS, YOU WILL FAIL TO OBTAIN A CLASS CERTIFICATE.
Much of the course work is carried out in the Dissection Room (DR) at Marischal College. You will need to provide and wear a clean white lab coat in the DR
YOU MUST ALWAYS WEAR YOUR LAB COAT WHEN IN THE DR.
You will be allocated a locker for your possessions but you will need to bring a padlock to secure it. Note that YOU CANNOT TAKE BAGS, COATS, ETC., INTO THE DR - they should be locked safely in your locker.
The Anatomy Act
All work carried out in Anatomy at the University of Aberdeen involving the use of human cadaveric material is carried out under The Anatomy Act 1984 as amended by The Human Tissue (Scotland) Act 2006 and its regulations.
Under The Act, human cadaveric material may only be used in premises that are licensed for the purpose and by people with an interest and need to study the material.
Under The Act, its Regulations and Code of Practice, and local rules, you are:
1. Not allowed to be in possession of human cadaveric material outside of premises licensed under The Act.
2. Not allowed to bring any friends/relatives into the Anatomy Department irrespective of their background and interests.
3. Not allowed to take photographs or any form of electronic images, including mobile phone images, of human cadaveric material or the layout of licensed premises.
4. Required to properly respect the human cadaveric material donated for your study.
You are advised that any breaches to the above will make you liable for University disciplinary procedures and, in addition, may be a criminal offence under The Act.
Respect for donated human material
Practical anatomy involves students in the examination of human subjects. This privileged opportunity relies on the generosity of local people who recognise the value to science and medicine that the practical study of human anatomy can provide, and generously make their bodies available for that purpose.
It is important that, at all times, you respect that generosity and behave accordingly.
Eating, smoking or drinking are not permitted in the Dissecting Room, Science Lab, Anatomy Museum or in any other area where anatomical specimens may be located.
Mobile phones must be switched off when you are in the Dissecting Room, Science Lab, Anatomy Museum or in any other area where anatomical specimens may be located – it is not sufficient to switch it to silent mode.
Photography, or other forms of image capture, are not permitted in the Dissecting Room, Science Lab, Anatomy Museum or in any other area where anatomical specimens may be located.
The wearing of baseball caps, “hoods” and other forms of casual headwear are considered disrespectful and are inappropriate in the Dissecting Room, Museum and other teaching areas.
PLEASE NOTE THAT NO ONE, OTHER THAN THOSE AUTHORISED TO DO SO, IS ALLOWED TO ENTER THE DR.
All students who study on Anatomy courses are expected to pay their respects to those who donated their bodies at the annual Memorial Service in King’s College Chapel on the first Thursday in May. There is a limit on the number of people who can attend as the chapel is usually full to capacity and courses which include only a small amount of Anatomy teaching using cadaveric material are normally represented by the course co-ordinator. Students on this course would normally have attended the service when they were in second year but any who were not available at the time, or who have joined the Anatomy course at level 3, should attend during the current academic year. You will be advised of the arrangements for the Memorial Service nearer the time.
Care of Cadavers
Preserved human material requires to be kept moist to save it from spoiling. Please follow instructions to protect this valuable material and cover the specimens after you have examined it – do not rely on others to do it for you.
DO:
• Wear a clean, white laboratory coat.
• Use gloves.
• Handle specimens with care and respect.
• Follow the ‘Care of Cadavers’ procedure.
• Work safely with regard to yourself and others.
• Cover the cadaveric material when you have finished.
• Leave your working area clean and tidy.
• Wash your hands before leaving the Dissecting Room.
DO NOT:
• Bring friends or relatives into the Dissecting Room.
• Smoke, eat or drink in the Dissecting Room.
• Handle specimens (including the articulated skeletons and anatomical models) roughly.
• Move material from one dissection table to another.
• Let the body cloths hang off the dissection tables.
• Remove anything from the Dissecting Room or from any other teaching location.
• Take your white lab coats from the Dissecting Room for use elsewhere.
• Use mobile phones within the Dissecting room, Museum, Science lab or any other licensed area.
• Take photographs, or any image capture on any device other than using the departmental camera AND under the specific authorisation and direction of a member of Anatomy staff. Such images are only to be downloaded onto the Anatomy graphics computer.
Safety and Security
Safety Guidance
The cadavers present no particular known health hazard and the levels in the atmosphere of toxic chemicals used in the embalming process of the cadavers is well within the limits set by Health and Safety regulations. Note, however, that the fluid provided to keep the cadavers in good condition is <1.0% formaldehyde in water. It is an irritant and if it splashes into your eyes, wash it out immediately with lots of cold water.
Spillage of fluid on to the DR floor represents a hazard. Any spillage should be wiped up at once; staff will direct you as necessary.
The door outside the entrance to the DR is an Emergency Exit. The corridor in front of this exit must be kept clear at all times. All your personal items must therefore be deposited in the locker room. Familiarise yourself with all routes of exit and the location of fire alarms.
Your course includes dissection activity which will involve the use of sharp instruments (scissors, scalpel etc). You will be advised about the correct procedure for fixing and removing scalpel blades from their holder, and their proper disposal in the “sharps bin”.
Sharp instruments must not be disposed of in the general waste bins or left lying around the work area.
When using sharp instruments use a technique which protects yourself from being cut. Be aware of your working surround and ensure no-one else is in your immediate vicinity: do not wave your hands about whilst holding a scalpel!
Tidy up after you have completed each class and ensure that all instruments are cleaned and safely packed away – you must not leave discarded scalpel blades or other sharp instruments lying around the work area.
Wash you hands before you leave the classroom.
Minor injuries should be washed immediately with soap and water and protected with an adhesive dressing. The latter are available from the DR office. Advice should be sought from departmental staff in the event of more serious injury. All injuries should be notified to a member of staff.
Security
STUDENTS MUST NOT REMOVE HUMAN MATERIAL (soft tissues and bones); ANATOMICAL MODELS OR ARTICULATED SKELETONS FROM THEIR LOCATION. All the models, bones and skeletons are security marked - should any go missing during the course of the year, the University will treat the matter as theft with all the consequences that implies. Students, as well as the staff, are responsible for ensuring the security of the learning resources.
Security of anatomical material does not only include its retention within the licensed areas but also the security of any photographic or digital images (including those captured by mobile phone). It is an offence under The Anatomy Act to capture an image without permission having been given by the donor – we do not have such permissions at the present time or under specially agreed guidelines requiring direct approval of the Licensed Teacher of Anatomy (currently Dr Ian Stewart). In any event, the identity of the donor must remain confidential with no identifying features being displayed – failure to ensure this confidentiality is in itself a breach of the Act irrespective of any permissions obtained.
In the same way, it is unacceptable to discuss activities in the dissecting room in public places (eg the bus going home). This lacks the respect due to donors as required under the Act and would make any such individual(s) liable to disciplinary procedures by the University, and under the Act.
Students are reminded that most of you will be going on to enter a profession in which there will be codes of conduct and practice which must be adhered to. Failure to adhere to those codes may well result in you being “struck off” and unable to carry on with your chosen profession. Proper respect for the requirements of The Anatomy Act must be regarded in the same way with any breaches which result in disciplinary action also potentially bringing your chosen career to an untimely end.
Work activity
Elective individual dissection
Prior to commencing this course you will have considered your elective dissection. The choice is yours but should be focused around one particular anatomical area or functional activity associated with the nervous system eg origin course and distribution of a division of the trigeminal nerve / origin, course and distribution of median nerve in the hand. (NB the origin course and distribution of the entire trigeminal nerve or the entire median nerve would be considered too extensive a task for the time available)
You are strongly encouraged to discuss your choices with the course co-ordinator and you should bear the following in mind:
- the topic will have to be approved by the course co-ordinator (this will largely be to ensure the choice is not over adventurous, or not adventurous enough)
- the availability of cadaveric material may impose limitations on topics
- the topic for this elective dissection is also the topic for the poster demonstration.
You are required to submit a 300 word description of your proposed elective dissection, for approval. This must be done before you start this dissection (you will not be provided with the material unless this statement is provided) and at the latest by the end of Week 1 of the course.
An optional (at the individual student’s discretion) 300 word statement may be provided for the assessors after the dissection is completed to explain any variation from the original plan eg due to presence of unpredicted anomaly/prosthesis in cadaveric tissue.
Your dissection will be judged on its quality – that includes the dissection being free from cuts/tears etc and with all relevant structures cleaned of unnecessary fascia. Marks will also be awarded on its overall appearance and presentation eg neat cut edges to the skin margins etc
You are required to attend for four x two hour dissection classes. Emphasis should be on care and precision. (If you do not finish the task within the allotted classes you can continue after the class time, subject to staff availability for supervision.)
Note: in these dissection classes you are responsible for clearing your work area which includes the removal and proper disposal of any sharps, the cleaning of instruments and their return to the instrument wrap, the spraying and covering of your specimen. Failure to properly tidy up will result in the loss of marks. Leaving unprotected sharps in your work area may result in you being denied continued access to the dissection activity with consequent severe loss of marks.
Preparation of electronic poster demonstration of individual dissection.
You are required to prepare an electronic poster illustrating the preparation of your elective dissection. Within the limitations of space (see assessment guidelines) there is no predetermined structure and you should feel free to present the material in the way that you feel best illustrates your work. However, it should be written for your target audience which in this case is a meeting of a national scientific/medical professional society.
At meetings of professional scientific and medical societies posters are usually mounted on a board and have to be readable from a metre away. In practice this means that any text should be in 14 point or above and any photographs (and labels) should be of sufficient size to easily illustrate the point(s) being made. Effectively, text should be presented as short statements or bullet points.
As a general guide, about half of the poster should be set aside for an illustration of how the dissection progressed.
You are expected to incorporate photographic illustrations of your work as it progressed. This should include a photograph of the cadaveric part before commencement of any dissection activity and also a labelled photograph of the final completed dissection. Great care should be taken to ensure that this latter illustration is correctly framed and taken from an angle which best displays the end product (more than one photograph may be required)
Warning: Under the Anatomy Act 1984 as amended by The Human Tissue (Scotland) Act 2006 you are not allowed to take photographs of donated cadaveric material for wider dissemination without the written permission of the donor.
Please note that none of the material we hold in the department at the present time has that permission and therefore any public dissemination of illustrations of cadaveric material is a breach of the Act ie a criminal offence.
In practice this means that all photographs will be taken using the department’s digital camera and images will be downloaded onto the departmental graphics computer under the guidance and control of Mr Ian Brown (Technician). Any labelling of this material must be done on this computer (it is loaded with Adobe Photoshop) and copies of images must not be downloaded, either onto disc or by emailing to yourself or a third party. Furthermore, the illustrations should include no identifiable features eg face, odd scars, tattoos, etc which could allow the source of the material to be identified. The ID tag should be tucked out of view or turned over so as not to show the number
As already stated, any breach of the above is a criminal offence and, in addition, will be reported to the University as a breach of discipline.
In order for everyone to comply with the above it will be necessary to complete this part of the work in good time and by regular consultation with Ian Brown to obtain his assistance, and user time on the computer. You should therefore aim to prepare your illustrations as you go along.
Assessment
This dissection exercise and poster will contribute 15% to the overall marks for the AN4301 course. (NB This element of the course is in lieu of the in-course essay for PY4302)
Individual elective dissection – 7.5%
For this part of the assessment, half of the marks will be awarded for effort and commitment to the task. Students who attend and commit themselves to dissecting as outlined above, in the section on course requirements, can expect to be awarded all available marks (2.5%) for this element. The remaining marks will be awarded in relation to the quality of the dissection carried out (2.5%), including the overall design of the dissection (2.5%).
Submission date: by 5pm last Friday of course
Poster presentation – 7.5%
This part of the assessment must be submitted on a CD which will be provided. The use of Powerpoint is required. You are limited to 10 slides to include all text, photographs, tables etc. One page is required for the title and your name and for any acknowledgements. Only one mark will be awarded but this will include an assessment of:
-Overall content
-Clarity of content
-Appropriate use of text
-Appropriate use of photographs, diagrams, tables etc
-Correct labelling of photographs, diagrams, tables etc
-Neatness of presentation to include layout, font size, size of illustrations etc
Submission date: by 5pm last Friday of course
TurnitinUK
TurnitinUK is an online service which compares student assignments with online sources including web pages, databases of reference material, and content previously submitted by other users across the UK. The software makes no decision as to whether plagiarism has occurred; it is simply a tool which highlights sections of text that have been found in other sources thereby helping academic staff decide whether plagiarism has occurred.
As of Academic Year 2011/12, TurnitinUK will be accessed directly through MyAberdeen. Advice about avoiding plagiarism, the University’s Definition of Plagiarism, a Checklist for Students, Referencing and Citing guidance, and instructions for TurnitinUK, can be found in the following area of the Student Learning Service website www.abdn.ac.uk/sls/plagiarism/.
Requirements for the Award of an Honours Degree
All students who are admitted to an Honours programme, in or after 2004/05, will be required to achieve 480 credit points, including at least 180 at levels 3 and 4, of which at least 90 must be at level 4. This change to the requirements for the award of an Honours Degree was made by the Senate to ensure that Honours degrees are awarded in compliance with the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF). This is a common national Framework for all awards in Scotland. Further information is available at www.scqf.org.uk.
Accordingly, students failing to meet this credit requirement at the first attempt will require to make up this credit shortfall before graduating. General Regulation 21, as outlined below, sets out the procedures available to enable students to make up this credit shortfall.
In the case of a candidate who has failed to complete satisfactorily an element of Honours degree assessment at the time prescribed by Regulation 9.3, then the appropriate procedure from (a) to (e) below shall apply:
a) If, but only if, the failure is on account of illness or other good causes, the candidate shall be required to submit themselves for assessment at the next available opportunity, and shall be permitted to count the result of that assessment towards Honours classification.
b) If the failure is the result of absence or non-submission of any other cause, the candidate shall be awarded zero for the assessment concerned and shall be required to submit themselves for assessment at the next available opportunity, but shall not be permitted to count the result of that assessment towards Honours classification.
c) For courses at level 4 and above only, if the candidate has completed the assessment but been awarded a mark on the Common Assessment Scale between 6 and 8 inclusive, they shall be awarded the same amount of unnamed specific credit, not exceeding 30 credit points in total, at level 1.
d) If the candidate has completed the assessment, but the course is at level 3, or the course is at level 4 or above and the mark awarded on the Common Assessment Scale is less than 6, the candidate shall be required to submit themselves for assessment at the next available opportunity, but shall not be permitted to count the result of that assessment towards Honours classification. Alternatively, for courses at level 4 and above only, such candidates may elect to attend and submit themselves for assessment in another course of equivalent credit value, which may be at any level.
e) If any options (a), (b) or (d) above would normally apply, but medical advice indicates that it would be unreasonable to require a candidate to appear for assessment on a subsequent occasion, and if the candidate’s past record provides sufficient evidence that they would have obtained Honours, the examiners may recommend the award of an Aegrotat degree, but only after obtaining the consent of the candidate. The award of an Aegrotat degree will debar candidates from counting towards Honours degree assessment any result achieved thereafter.
Notes (i) For courses at level 4 and above, the timing and format of the assessment required under any of sub-sections (a), (b) or (d) above shall be determined by the Academic Standards Committee (Undergraduate) on the recommendation of the Head of the relevant School.
(ii) The options to achieve or be awarded credit under (b), (c) and (d) above shall be available to candidates who have accumulated less than 90 credit points at level 4 or who have failed to complete satisfactorily the assessment for a course which, on the recommendation of the Head of the relevant School, has been prescribed by the Academic Standards Committee (Undergraduate) as compulsory for the award of a degree with Honours. Such candidates will be able to qualify for a non-Honours degree only.
Further guidance is also available in the Guidance Note for Students who either Fail, or who Fail to Attend or Complete, and Element of Prescribed Degree Assessment which can be accessed at:
http://www.abdn.ac.uk/registry/quality/appendix7x6.pdf
Honours Degree Classification (Grade Spectrum)
All Honours Degrees are classified using the University’s Grade Spectrum which is available at http://www.abdn.ac.uk/registry/quality/appendix7x4.pdf. The Grade Spectrum, an extract of which is outlined below, is used to determine degree classification on the basis of the CAS mark awarded for each element of Honours Degree Assessment.
First: Marks at 18 or better in elements constituting half the total elements
and
Marks at 15 or better in elements constituting three quarters of the total elements
and
Normally marks at 12 or better in all elements
2i: Marks at 15 or better in elements constituting half the total elements
and
Marks at 12 or better in elements constituting three quarters of the total elements
and
Normally marks at 9 or better in all elements
2ii: Marks at 12 or better in elements constituting half the total elements
and
Marks at 9 or better in elements constituting three quarters of the total elements
Third:Marks at 9 or better in elements constituting three quarters of the total elements.
The Grade Spectrum defines the threshold standards against which the different classes of honours degree are awarded. The Examiners, however, have discretion (in the circumstances defined in Note 4 of the Grade Spectrum) to depart from this and may choose to award a higher degree than that indicated by the Grade Spectrum.
Transition into level 4 and beyond
As students progress through their degree programme, they will notice a change in the style and approach of teaching and the expectations upon them as learners. Expectations again change as students progress into Honours year, where they are expected to become more independent and self-directed in their learning. To help with this transition, a variety of activities will be planned to address any new challenges faced by students at level 4. The level 4 retention co-ordinator - Dr Steve Tucker (s.j.tucker@abdn.ac.uk; 01224 437491) will organise such events and is a point of contact for any level 4 SMS students facing any kind of difficulty. Regular activities and workshops will be designed around key issues faced by Honours students much in the same way as it was at level 3. In addition, Dr Tucker will hold regular, advertised drop-in surgeries for students to raise any issues face to face and all level 4 SMS students will have access to a MyAberdeen site that will offer information, feedback, guidance and discussion forums designed to ease students through to the completion of their degree.
Absence from Classes on Medical Grounds
Candidates who wish to establish that their academic performance has been adversely affected by their health are required to secure medical certificates relating to the relevant periods of ill health (see General Regulation 17.3).
The University’s policy on requiring certification for absence on medical grounds or other good cause can be accessed at:
www.abdn.ac.uk/registry/quality/appendix7x5.pdf
You are strongly advised to make yourself fully aware of your responsibilities if you are absent due to illness or other good cause. In particular, you are asked to note that self-certification of absence for periods of absence up to and including eleven weekdays is permissible. However, where absence has prevented attendance at an examination or where it may have affected your performance in an element of assessment or where you have been unable to attend a specified teaching session, you are strongly advised to provide medical certification (see section 3 of the Policy on Certification of Absence for Medical Reasons or Other Good Cause).
School of Medical Sciences - Guide to Citing and Referencing
This guide should be used to assist you when completing any work for disciplines in the School of Medical Sciences. All work should include citations at appropriate places in the text, with a complete reference list at the end of the assignment. If diagrams/ graphs/ tables are copied or adapted from other publications/ websites, the sources must also be cited in the legend for that item, and included in your reference list.
Good citing and referencing not only improves the quality of your work, but it gives credit to the authors of original work, and makes it less likely that you can be accused of plagiarism. Further guidance on writing and plagiarism may be found at http://www.abdn.ac.uk/writing/ . When you submit work for marking, you are declaring that YOU are the author, that you have not copied it or plagiarised any material from other sources, AND that all sources of information have been acknowledged in your text. Students may be penalised by the University if found guilty of plagiarism.
Students are warned to be careful if using websites as sources of information. These may be inaccurate and are often not peer-reviewed. You are strongly encouraged to use advanced textbooks, peer-reviewed papers or reviews as the sources of your information in your work. Students are also advised to avoid quoting chunks of text in their work. Just because you put quotation marks around some text does not mean that you have not plagiarised it. Try and explain ideas and concepts in your own words.
The referencing style used here is Harvard, similar to that recommended by the University Library (see their factsheet for further information on referencing). Students must use this style of citing and referencing for all work. Other styles are not acceptable. Marks may be deducted if students do not cite or reference properly (see specific marking schemes for details).
Citing references within the text
You must provide citations in the text at the appropriate places by putting the author’s surname and year of publication in round brackets immediately after the relevant text (author, date method).
Author, date method
Jones et al. (1999) has argued that….
Studies have produced conflicting results…..(Bloggs, 2000; MacDuff et al., 1993)
Smith stated (1990)…..and then later work confirmed this (2003)…..
Bloggs (2001) investigated…..
One author (Bloggs, 2000)
Two authors (Smith & Jones, 1982)
Three or more authors (Chesterfield et al., 1995)
If the same author(s) wrote two or more papers in the same year Thwaites et al. stated (1990a)…..and then provided further evidence (1990b)…..
N.B. “et al.” should be in italics, as should all other Latin words/phrases in your text (e.g. in vitro). There is also a full stop after “et al.”, since it is an abbreviation of “et alia” (“and others”).
Listing your references at the end of your work
Your list of references must place the surnames of the first authors in alphabetical order. List all authors of a piece of work unless there are a large number.
Format of references at the end of your work
Book - whole Rang, H.P., Dale, M.M., Ritter, J.M. & Flower, R.J. (2007) Pharmacology. 6th Ed. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone.
Book – article or chapter within Johnson, D. & Smart, J.S. (1983) Advanced techniques in measuring athletic performance. In: S. Roberts, ed., Sports Science in the Laboratory. London: Macmillan, pp. 3-28.
Journal – article within Furchgott, R.F., Zawadzki, J.V. (1980) The obligatory role of endothelial cells in the relaxation of arterial smooth muscle by acetylcholine. Nature. 288(5789), 373-6.
Website Department for Education and Employment (2000). Student loans: guidance on terms and conditions from April 2000. [online]. Available from: http://www.dfee.gov.uk/loan2000/index.html [Accessed 23rd March 2006]
Feedback Framework
Feedback on assessment:
The University recognises that the provision of timely and appropriate feedback on assessment plays a key part in students learning and teaching. The guiding principles for the provision of feedback within the University are detailed in the Institutional Framework for the Provision of Feedback on Assessment available at:
www.abdn.ac.uk/registry/quality/appendix7x8.pdf
Appeals and Complaints
The University’s appeals and complaints procedures provide students with a framework through which to formalise their concerns about aspects of their academic experience or to complain when they feel that standards of non-academic service have fallen short of that which they expected.
The process has been designed to make the appeals and complaints process as accessible and simple as possible and to provide a robust, fair mechanism through which to ensure that all appeals and complaints are considered in the appropriate way at the appropriate level.
A major feature of the process is the emphasis it places on early or informal resolution. All students should note that there is an expectation that they will take responsibility for seeking resolution of their academic or non-academic concerns by raising and discussing them at the earliest possible stage with the relevant individuals in an academic School or administrative Service.
Further details of the processes for making an appeal or complaint, including where to find further help and support in the process, is given at:
www.abdn.ac.uk/registry/appeals
Transcripts at Graduation
It is anticipated that students who commenced their studies in, or after, 2009/10, will receive a more detailed transcript of their studies on graduation. The increased details will include a record of all examination results attained. For students graduating in 2012/13 transcripts will show details of all CAS marks awarded, including marks which are fails. Where a resit has been required as a result of medical circumstances or other good cause (MC/GC) this will not be shown, but all other circumstances (i.e. No Paper ‘NP’) will be included.
MyAberdeen (the University of Aberdeen Virtual Learning Environment)
MyAberdeen replaces WebCT as students’ virtual learning environment. This is where you will find learning materials and resources associated with the courses you are studying.
MyAberdeen also provides direct access to TurnitinUK, the online originality checking service, through which you may be asked to submit completed assignments.
You can log in to MyAberdeen by going to www.abdn.ac.uk/myaberdeen and entering your University username and password (which you use to access the University network).
Further information on MyAberdeen including Quick Guides and video tutorials, along with information about TurnitinUK, can be found at: www.abdn.ac.uk/students/myaberdeen.php.
Information about academic writing and how to avoid plagiarism can be found at www.abdn.ac.uk/sls/plagiarism.
Aberdeen Graduate Attributes
Graduate Attributes are a wide-ranging set of qualities which students will develop during their time at Aberdeen in preparation for employment, further study and citizenship.
There are four main areas of the Graduate Attributes:
• Academic excellence
• Critical thinking and communication
• Learning and personal development
• Active citizenship
Students have many opportunities to develop and achieve these attributes. These include learning experiences on credit-bearing courses and co-curricular activities such as work placements, study abroad and volunteering. In accordance with the University’s commitment to Equality and Diversity, students can request support with any aspect of the Graduate Attributes framework.
The ACHIEVE website offers resources that enable students to assess and reflect upon their present skills and development needs. The website also contains resources to help students to improve their skills and links to a range of university services such as the Careers Service and the Student Learning Service. Students can access ACHIEVE from their MyAberdeen site in the ‘My Organisations’ section. More information about Aberdeen Graduate Attributes and ACHIEVE can be found at www.abdn.ac.uk/graduateattributes.
The Co-curriculum
The co-curriculum enhances a student’s employability and provides opportunities to develop and achieve Aberdeen Graduate Attributes. Co-curricular activities complement a student’s degree programme and include: work placements, study abroad, enterprise and entrepreneurship activities, the BP Student Tutoring Scheme, career mentoring and the STAR (Students Taking Active Roles) Award initiative. Below are examples of credit-bearing co-curricular activities. It is anticipated that these types of activity will be included on an enhanced transcript for students graduating in, or after, 2012/13
ERASMUS is an exchange programme funded by the European Commission which enables students to study or work in another European country as part of their degree programme. Eligible students will receive a grant to help with extra costs while abroad and a number of our partner institutions teach through English. For more information, visit www.abdn.ac.uk/erasmus/. The University also has opportunities for students to study in a non-European country as part of their degree through the International Exchange Programme. International partners include universities and colleges in North America, Hong Kong and Japan (www.abdn.ac.uk/undergraduate/international-exchange.php). The University aims to ensure full academic recognition for study periods abroad, therefore the credits gained from study abroad will count towards the Aberdeen degree programme for students participating in both ERASMUS and the International Exchange Programme.
Work placements can also form an integral part of a degree programme and attract academic credit. Placements are available locally, nationally and internationally, lasting from a few weeks to a full year and are generally paid. Visit the Careers Service website for further placement information and to find available work placements.
Further information about the co-curriculum is available at: www.abdn.ac.uk/careers
