Universities fail to meet student’s expectations from schools
Sessions: Thursday 26th June, 10:20 to 11:00 and Friday 27th June, 14:40 to 15:20
Room: ECG-26/27

University is not school, and university lecturers are not teachers. The transition from school to university is often difficult for students. For many university lecturers, there is an assumption that schools fail to prepare students for the transition to university with students struggling to work and think independently.

With increased university tuition fees comes the heightened expectations of students. With the school curriculum now characterised by active and collaborative learning and the use of technologies, is it really the case that it is the universities that are ill-prepared and fail to meet student’s heightened expectations?

Participants will hear from a school, college and university perspective on this controversial issue and the panel will be chaired by Pro-vice chancellor Ian Dunn.

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The University’s understanding and support of students is based on a view from 1984 and not from 2014
Sessions: Thursday 26th June, 11:10 to 11:40 and Friday 27th June, 11:00 to 11:30
Room: ECG-26/27

This panel debate aims to explore the changes in Higher Education from a student point of view. It will consider the past 30 years and whether University staff really understand the challenges facing students or base their perceptions on their own experiences from the past.

The session will reflect on the many changes that have affected students including the changes in course funding, the need to seek work part time work, new technologies, internationalisation and widening participation.

On the panel will be Officers from Coventry University Student Union, who will be able to address the realities of being a student in 2014.

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The lecture is dead
Sessions: Thursday 26th June, 14:00 to 14:40 and Friday 27th June, 13:50 to 14:30
Room: ECG-26/27

Is the lecture now a redundant mode of delivery that simply promotes student passivity?

The aim of the debate is to explore perceptions of the relevance of the lecture in contemporary higher education, given the University’s desire to move towards active learning and the increasing prevalence of technology. The debate will allow a number of different perspectives to be raised in a novel and exciting way to help conference participants recognise and discuss the issues.

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Internationalisation of the Curriculum: relevant to all or just a travelling few? Sessions: Thursday 26th June, 14:50 to 15:30 and Friday 27th June, 10:10 to 10:50
Room: ECG-26/27

A key measure of Coventry’s mission to become a global University is that by 2015 all UK students are to have an international experience of some kind in their programme of study. As a key element of the teaching and learning strategy, courses report on a range of dimensions of internationalising the curriculum including making use of diversity, student and staff mobility and language and cultural engagement by students. The preparation of students for global careers and the generation of knowledge relevant to global issues is a core element of the CU mission to attract both home and overseas students.

Despite internationalisation of the curriculum becoming a mainstream activity, many staff and students still see internationalisation of the curriculum as not relevant for them or their discipline. It is viewed as relevant only to those who travel abroad or to the incoming international students.

This debate will explore key questions relating to the internationalisation of the curriculum:

Is internationalisation really relevant for all courses and students and if so:

• How can we make sure that all students and staff and not just those that are already internationally-oriented, develop the intercultural and international skills and knowledge they need in a globalised society?
• What does it mean for staff development?
• How should course outcomes change?
• What are the implications for student assessment?

On the panel are David Pilsbury (PVC International), Don Finlay, Barbara Howell and David Ashall (Associate Deans International) and Peter Harrison, HR Lead for Internationalisation.

 

 

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