University Education Committee (UEC)

University Education Committee (UEC)
Agenda

UNIVERSITY EDUCATION COMMITTEE (UEC)

A meeting of the University Educataion Committee will be held on Tuesday 29 August 2023 at 2.05pm  by way of Microsoft Teams.

Ms Isabella Fausti, Administrative Officer

(e-mail: isabella.fausti@abdn.ac.uk)

Agenda

FOR DISCUSSION

1. Approval of the minute of the meeting held on 16 May 2023 (UEC/290823/001)
2.  Matters Arising    (UEC/290823/002)
3. Remit and Composition (UEC/290823/003)
  Members of the Committee are invited to approve the remit and composition of the UEC for 2023/24.
4. Risk Register (UEC/290823/004)
  Members of the UEC are invited to discuss the Risk Register with regards to the specific risks associated with Education.  
5. Aberdeen 2040 Implementation Plan (UEC/290823/005)
  Members of the UEC are invited to discuss the Aberdeen 2040 Implementation Plan.
6. Future Academic Year Structure (UEC/290823/006)
  Members of the UEC are invited to approve the proposals for the Future Academic Year Structure for approval at Senate.
7. Policy and Procedures on Student Absence (UEC/290823/007)
  Members of the UEC are invited to discuss the amendments to the Policy and Procedures on Student Absence.
8. Quality Enhancement and Standards Review (QESR) Action Plan (UEC/290823/008)
  Members of the UEC are invited to approve the QESR Action Plan update.
9. Aberdeen 2040 Education Updates  
  (i) Decolonising the Curriculum Launch of Resources (UEC/290823/009)
  Members of the UEC are invited to discuss the Decolonising the Curriculum update in respect of the webpages and toolkit.
  (ii) Pastoral Review TFG update (UEC/290823/010)
  Members of the UEC are invited to note the progress of the Pastoral Review Task and Finish Group.
10. Dean for Educational Innovation Update (UEC/290823/011)
  Members of the UEC are invited to discuss the Dean for Educational Innovation Update.  
11. Education Data  
  (i) Graduate Outcomes Report 2023 (UEC/290823/012)
  Members of the UEC are invited to discuss the Graduate Outcomes report.
  (ii) Full-Time Undergraduate Non-Continuation Internal Data 2021/22 (UEC/290823/013)
  Members of the UEC are invited to discuss the report on Non-Continuation for 2021/22.
  (iii) National Student Survey (NSS) 2023 Report  
  Members of the UEC are invited to discuss the report on the NSS results 2023.  
12. Dates of Next Meeting  
  The next meeting of the Committee will be held on 10 October 2023 at 13:05, by way of Microsoft Teams..  
13. Items for Information – see below  
     

Any member of the Committee wishing an item for routine approval or for information to be brought forward for discussion may ask at the meeting for that to be done.  Any such item will be taken after item 1.

 

Declaration of interests: Any member and individual in attendance (including Officers) who has a clear interest in a matter on the agenda should declare that interest at the relevant meeting, whether or not that interest is already recorded in the Registry of Member’s interests.

 
     

13. FOR INFORMATION

13.1 Update Reports from the UEC sub-committees:  
  (i) Student Support and Experience Committee (SSEC) (UEC/290823/015)
13.2 Internal Teaching Review: Schedule to 2028 (UEC/290823/016)
  The Education Away Day has been postponed and will instead take place in either August or September (date to be agreed).
13.3 Student Monitoring, Absence and Engagement TFG update (UEC/290823/017)
  Members of the UEC are invited to note the progress made by the Student Monitoring, Absence and Engagement TFG.
13.4 Religion and Belief Policy  
  Members of the UEC are invited to note the new Religion and Belief Policy, available on Policy Zone.  
13.5 Enhancement Themes Year 3 Report (UEC/290823/018)
  Members of the UEC are invited to note the Year 3 Report submitted in relation to the Enhancement Themes.  
     
     
     
     

  

             

Previous Agendas

2022-2023

2021-2022
2020-2021

 

Previous Agendas for the former University Committee on Teaching and Learning

2019 - 2021

2021

2020

2019

2017 - 2019

2019

2018

2017

Minutes
Draft Minutes
2022/23
2021/22

 

Digest

UEC Digest

This digest provides a short summary of the outcome of the meeting of the University Education Committee (UEC) held on 16 May 2023. Staff can access the full agendas and papers on the University website.

Risk Register

The UEC noted the Risk Register with regards to the specific risks associated with Education.

Future Academic Year Structures

Members of the UAC discussed the Future Academic Year Structure.

Quality Enhancement and Standards Review (QESR)

Members of the UAC discussed outcomes of the Quality Enhancement and Standards Review in respect of:

  1. QESR Findings Report
  2. QESR Draft Action Plan

Final NSS Response Rate Update

The UEC noted the update on the final NSS response rate.

Decolonising the Curriculum Update

The UEC discussed the update on the Decolonising the Curriculum Steering Group work.

Institutional Plan for Upscaling Work-Based Learning Including Placements

The UEC discussed the institutional plan for upscaling work-based learning.

Tools for the Delivery of Education

The UEC discussed the tools piloted in AY 2022-23 (Authorship, IPAC, Respondus).

Artificial Intelligence and Academic Integrity Update

The UEC discussed the update on Artificial Intelligence and Academic Integrity.

Update Reports from The UEC Sub-Committees

Members of the UEC noted updates from the UEC Sub-Committees as follows:

  1. Employability and Entrepreneurship Committee (EEC)
  2. Student Support and Experience Committee (SSEC)

Education Awayday Update

The Education Away Day has been postponed and will be reorganised.

Any questions regarding the UEC digest should be sent to academicservices@abdn.ac.uk.

Previous Digests

2022-23

2021-22

 

Remit

Remit

(To be reviewed annually at last meeting of committee cycle and proposed changes considered by Senate for approval)

To be responsible to the Senatus Academicus for the strategic oversight of:

  1. education matters relating to undergraduate, postgraduate taught and taught elements of postgraduate research;
  2. the wider student experience relating to matters impacting on student success;
  3. the development of approaches to educational innovation.

The UEC shall:

  1. be responsible for the oversight, development and monitoring of the University’s strategic approach to educational provision, its associated operational plan and risk register, and the alignment of these with School plans and with Aberdeen 2040 and its associated operational plans;
  2. comment on draft education policy where input sought by the Quality Assurance Committee and drive forward its implementation working in partnership with School Education Committees;
  3. highlight to the Quality Assurance Committee where policy related issues are identified requiring consideration;
  4. be responsible for the innovation and ongoing enhancement of the quality of educational provision and for ensuring the effective dissemination of good practice including oversight of the University’s engagement with the QAA Enhancement Themes;
  5. Through its committees, be responsible for the development of actions at institutional level, and in Schools, based on analysis of national and internal data (e.g. National Student Survey, non-continuation, Graduate Outcomes, degree classifications and awarding gaps);
  6. Ensure that Education and the wider student experience is delivered inclusively;
  7. Through the Centre for Academic Development (CAD), develop, review and promote professional staff development opportunities in regard to the delivery of education, including assessment and feedback;
  8. Through the Centre for Academic Development, inform the support required by Schools for the development of educational innovations;
  9. consider recommendations from the Employability and Entrepreneurship Committee (EEC) in regard to the quality of provision of careers education, employability and the co-curriculum;
  10. consider recommendations from the Student Support & Experience Committee (SSEC) in regard to the quality of the delivery of effective, appropriate and consistent student support and the wider student experience;
  11. be responsible for the oversight of teaching-related credit-bearing activity related to student mobility;
  12. engage in horizon scanning to anticipate and prepare for new opportunities and likely future developments in education and the wider student experience.

Members’ Responsibilities:

Each member of the committee will contribute to discussions and feedback on these to their respective areas for comment and further input. School leads ensure that they use their School Education Committees and other School forums to inform feedback into UEC and to raise matters relevant to UEC or for referral onto QAC as appropriate.

Composition & Membership

Chair: Professor Ruth Taylor

Clerk: Emma Tough

Email: e.tough@abdn.ac.uk

Composition

Chair: Vice-Principal (Education)

Membership:

  • Student President of the Students’ Association (or nominee)
  • Vice-President for Education of the Students’ Association
  • School Directors of Education
  • Dean for Student Support
  • Dean for Educational Innovation
  • Dean for Employability and Entrepreneurship
  • Dean for Quality Assurance and Enhancement
  • Dean for Postgraduate Research School
  • Dean for the Qatar Campus
  • Dean for International Student Pathways
  • Dean for Widening Access, Articulation and Outreach
  • Dean for Portfolio Development and Programme Promotion
  • Two representatives nominated by Senate (2-year terms)
  • QAA Enhancement Theme Lead
  • Academic Representative of the Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity Committee

In attendance:

  • Director of Academic Services and Online Education
  • Head of Quality
  • Academic Registrar
  • Head of the Centre for Academic Development (CAD)
  • Head of the Careers and Employability Service
  • Head of Student Support
  • Head of the Language Centre
  • Director of Digital and Information Services (or nominee)
  • University Librarian
  • School Administration Manager
  • Students’ Association Staff Member

Quorum: 50%

Membership

Role

Name

Chair (Vice-Principal, Education)

Ruth Taylor

Student President of the Students’ Association (or nominee):

TBC

Vice-President for Education of the Students’ Association:

Akua Agyeman

School Directors of Education:

-

School of Biological Sciences

Michelle Pinard

Business School

David McCausland

School of Divinity, History, Philosophy and Art History

Ken Jeffrey

School of Education

Leigh Bjorkvoll

School of Engineering

Euan Bain

School of Geosciences

Josh Wright

School of Language, Literature, Music and Visual Culture

Shona Potts

School of Law

Susan Stokeld

School of Psychology

Helen Knight

School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition

Rona Patey

School of Natural and Computing Sciences

Bill Harrison

School of Social Science

Stuart Durkin

Representative nominated by the Senate:

Amudha Poobalan

Representative nominated by the Senate:

Afzal Waheed

Dean for Student Support:

Jason Bohan

Dean for Educational Innovation:

Kirsty Kiezebrink

Dean for Employability and Entrepreneurship:

John Barrow

Dean for Quality Assurance and Enhancement:

Steve Tucker

Dean of Postgraduate Research School:

Graeme Nixon

Director of Studies (Qatar):

Lyn Batchelor

Dean for International Student Pathways:

Harminder Battu

Dean for Widening Access, Articulation and Outreach:

Alison Jenkinson

Dean for Portfolio Development and Programme Promotion:

Ann Michelle Slater

QAA Enhancement Theme Lead:

tbc

Academic Representative of the EDI Committee:

tbc

In attendance:

 Role

Name

Director of Academic Services and Online Education:

Gillian Mackintosh

Academic Registrar:

tbc

Head of Quality tbc

Head of the Centre for Academic Development (CAD):

Patricia Spence

Head of the Careers and Employability Service

Tracey Innes

Head of Student Support

Nick Edwards

Head of the Language Centre

Julie Bray

Director of Digital and Information Services (or nominee):

Susan Halfpenny

University Librarian:

Simon Bains

School Administration Manager:

Fiona Ritchie

Student Mobility Representative

Louisa Stratton

Students’ Association Staff Member

Graeme Kirkpatrick/Scott Carle (shared role)

Clerk

Emma Tough

 

 

 

Attendance

Attendance Records

2022/23
2021/22
Previous Attendance Records 2020-21