Elections Special
WesternEye March 2013
Vice President Education Vote Waller: A Demonstration of Education!
Christopher Waller
My priorities are to: Defend academic courses at UWE. Our courses provide a “value added” education in a popular city to students who may not otherwise have studied in this region, or at all. Courses under threat need investment and marketing to prospective students, not a demorMy name is Christopher Waller, a second alising winding down period and the year Architecture and Planning Student; loss of trust resulting from UCAS offers and I am currently seeking election as being withdrawn by the university. VP Education at UWESU. I am currently Focus on hidden course costs and the Student Rep for this course, which accommodation charges. Although allows me to relate course related is- the increase in tuition fees has been sues to the faculty. This role would allow highly publicised; for most students it me to raise your concerns at a greater is the ongoing costs associated with level. In addition I am a SCPS ambas- printing, books, compulsory field trips, sador, which shows the potential UWE materials, transport to placements, has for local students and within the and dissertations that are most probcommunity more generally. lematic. I propose a comprehensive
Bringing the WE back to UWE. I’m a dedicated student aspiring to teach after I finish my degree. I have worked in partnership with UWE Volunteering founding a scheme whereby Philosophy students teach their subject in schools. This idea is based on research which found early exposure to Philosophy improves IQ and GCSE grades. I am also a PAL leader.
Jack France
As a second-year Philosophy student who has come from a working-class background, I am conscious of issues
Let me be your voice. Hi my name is Jadeon Bascombe I am currently the chair of applied sciences forum and a member of the academic board. I was elected up to both of these positions because I try my hardest to find out what students want and focus on how to put that forward. I enjoy being part of the rep network and have experience speaking on behalf of my fellow students as well as raising issues when necessary.
Jadeon Bascombe
I was born and raised here in Bristol and started my life in a rough neighbourhood and have always tired
Made from you: Representing you: Working for you!
Joshua Plume
My name is Joshua Plume, and I’m submitting my candidacy to be your Vice-President of Education during the next academic year. Over the last two years UWE has provided me with a stellar quality of education that I’m proud to have had the opportunity to partake in. As such, I want to ensure that this quality is maintained and improved across the whole university whilst retaining the qualities that make UWE great.
surrounding individual circumstances. This, paired with a varied circle of friends, makes me conscious of different situations students face regarding background, sexuality and gender identity, as well as disability and ethnicity. One issue that I will address is the late announcement of exam timetables, which has caused international students economic hardship through missing out on cheaper flights home, forcing some to stay in Bristol over summer. Recently there has been talk of closing the Politics and IR department. This is based on management’s business strategy to transition back to a vocational university, which is intended to help the university specialise in
review of UWE’s accommodation strategy and surcharges. Faculties will be asked to account for differing policies regarding free printing and materials across their departments; and the university will be asked to confirm that no course changes will force a student to go on a field trip or placement not originally specified. Ensure key course dates are provided with greater notice. The university currently has targets regarding turnaround of marked exams and coursework, but students are still not given sufficient notice regarding exam dates and (in some cases) hand-in dates. Some universities will have their final exam timetables released by the time you read this, which would give you much more notice for travel.
Improve lecturer awareness and use of BlackBoard. We all know some lecturers are better than others at uploading materials, and I will ensure that student surveys ask quite specifically which modules this applies to so that agreements can be reached.
certain subjects, however they seem to be overlooking the strong humanities departments that exist at UWE. Another issue is that besides Russell Group universities, UWE is the only institution to offer degrees in Politics in the South West; UWE has a socio-economic responsibility to allow students from less privileged backgrounds to study a subject which has a direct impact on them. Currently the subjects that are at risk of being closed are assessed by criteria which the senior management dictate, but this criterion is not made widely available, and lecturers are unaware of how to protect their subject. If elected, I will work to make management reassess their current strategy for university development, and create greater transparency. I will do
this by not only publishing the criteria by which subjects are assessed, but also making the current ranking of subjects available, so at-risk courses can act to rectify any issues. Another issue is the inconsistency in word count policy – this issue stems from limited interaction between lecturers in some departments. If elected, I will work to introduce a page of everybody’s module handbook which is standardised to give this information, as well as other general information for the course. This will include information like the 24 hour window after a deadline to submit an essay, which has not been advertised sufficiently, costing some students a pass grade.
my hardest to present myself as how I hope others would want someone who is representing them to be. Those qualities include being a hard working individual who is dependable a confident speaker, open minded, and being an individual who strives for the best not just for himself but those around him.
I take great pride in being able to represent my fellow students I don’t want to put forward my own opinion on the students I do however want the students to give me your opinions and let that define me because I don’t know what you want. However you do and I want you to tell me so I can get you my fellow students the things that make your university experience the I have worked alongside the current best it can possibly be. I don’t believe VP of education and am proud to say so much in change as I do believe in this has given me a good grounding for students know what students want understanding the challenge ahead of allow me to be the provider of this. If me that I look forward to and hope you elected I can promise I will be a VP to my fellow students see the same way I do not only be proud of but also one who in that this is the chance to keep pushing does what the students need him to do on with the basics but also focusing on to better their university experience. I student lecturer communication as I feel look forward hearing from all of you. there is always room for improvement. I plan on doing this by acting on the following: engaged as they should do with their studies. What can we do to rectify this? 1. Raised fee’s = more available resources! First, I would encourage attendance in lectures by using more formats than The rising tuition fees have made univer- PowerPoint to make them more interacsity a more expensive, daunting prospect: tive, interesting and involving. Lets make how can we make it easier and cheaper? lectures unmissable! There are many courses that require extra finances beyond what you’ve already paid: Secondly, I would support the Peer Assisted Books, materials etc. which should be ad- Learning (PAL) office in their accomplishvertised as such and reimbursed! If other ments and expand this to more courses. PAL universities do it: so can we! leaders gain skills and employability while the first/second year students get more aca2. More hours, more credits, a more demic hours with their peers to interact with employable you! their course material! Lets try to justify the raising fees by giving students more! UWE has a high level of education, but with online hours being substituted into Finally, I would encourage healthy commore courses students might not feel as munication with module leaders and lec-
turers through the SU or student reps by remaining a constant presence. If you’re not happy with something about your course you’re probably not the only one! We’re here for you, we work for you, tell us what you want and we we’ll make it so! 3. Protecting our courses! The new age of tuition fees has ushered in cuts and put subjects up for review with many more to follow. I give you my guarantee that as much information as possible would be made transparent and that the Student Union would support any student and staff body that wants to protest and communicate their concerns and opinions. Thank you for your consideration.