Universities and their Unions: Podcast

At last…podcast is posted

Universities and Student Unions – even more to be said beyond the original Greatrix, Horton and Bell report.

In a crude attempt to cover all possible media platforms, there is now available an immensely stimulating podcast of a discussion involving self and Claire Horton facilitated splendidly by Tom Abbott.

First 17 minutes are about international student matters (and although interesting, you might want to come back to that bit later). You can find it at:

Warwick’s podcast site under ‘University relations with student organisations’.

See the Oxcheps site for the original report (it’s listed as Paper 28).

AUA Conference 2006: Queen’s University Belfast

One of the highlights for me of this year’s conference was the video link from the dinner venue – where the speakers were – to the Whitla Hall where around a third of delegates were seated (split dinners, generally a bad idea). Anyway, the scale of the whole thing just made it rather scary:

Blokes with beards

Follow-up to “Administrator” appointed New Chief Exec of HEFCE from Prole Art Threat

Looking at the HEFCE mugshots there are also at least three of his new colleagues who could double for him at a pinch:

link

“Administrator” appointed New Chief Exec of HEFCE

Writing about web page http://www.hefce.ac.uk/news/hefce/2006/ce/

So, David Eastwood is to replace Howard Newby.

Although he has a very credible academic record, I suspect he does not habitually describe himself as the Minister sees him:

Higher Education Minister Bill Rammell said: ‘I welcome Professor Eastwood to his new post. He has a distinguished record both as an academic and as a university administrator.

The value of benchmarking?

Writing about web page http://www.eubc.bham.ac.uk/

In recent years the Funding Council has chucked decent amounts of money at trying to encourage institutions to undertake more benchmarking. Lots of universities seem to be pretty keen on talking about it too – everyone is always ‘benchmarking ourselves against peer institutions in the UK and overseas’.

But it’s rubbish really. One glance at the now wonderfully out of date site of the ‘English Universities Benchmarking Club’ tells you all you need to know about this dynamic cutting edge activity. I particularly like this photo of ‘Members of the Data Collection Group – hard at work’.

Dead Interesting

Writing about web page http://chronicle.com/weekly/v52/i15/15a00601.htm

Intrigued by this in recent edition of the Chronicle (NB – you will need to login via Library to see full article):

Back on Campus, for Eternity By ERIN STROUT

The most loyal of college alumni would live and die by their alma maters. Recognizing an opportunity in that sentiment, some institutions are offering their graduates burial plots in campus cemeteries. Institutions like the University of Virginia have long had cemeteries where distinguished faculty members and administrators are laid to rest, but until recently the options for alumni were few.The University of Notre Dame has had a cemetery since 1843, and recently decided to expand it and sell burial options to its graduates. An alumni survey indicated “overwhelmingly strong interest” in such purchases. Hence the Coming Home Project was born. “So many people say that Notre Dame is like home to them and that they’d like to be buried here,” says the Rev. William D. Seetch, alumni chaplain. “But we’re still in the design phase of the project, so we’re encouraging everybody to wear the sunscreen and eat the oat bran, because we’re not ready for them yet.” Although Notre Dame needs several million dollars to expand its cemetery, officials don’t want to sell the plots too soon. “What if somebody buys a plot and then they die? We’d have no place to put them,” Father Seetch explains. “It’d be a public-relations disaster.”

I can’t believe we’ve not included this idea in the campus development plan.

Pseud or sound?

Is this a profound and meaningful job or just a load of guff? I find it difficult to decide! It is a ‘Learning and Progression Project Manager’ post at a neigbouring institution (OK, Birmingham)

Join our efforts to make Birmingham’s excellent curriculum accessible to those who have the innate ability to benefit from it, and to ensure that all students are supported academically to reach their full potential with us. We need someone who can develop, with input from academic colleagues, and evaluate initiatives that will identify and support those students who, for whatever reason, appear not to be achieving their full potential or in danger of discontinuing. You will have a professional insight into pedagogic approaches and knowledge of initiatives and research in this area. You will also be committed to evidence-based evaluation of student progression and capabilities.

It’s the final two sentences I find hardest to comprehend. Does it really mean that you should be an ex-teacher who prefers fact to fantasy? Or am I missing something?

Nanny state?

Writing about web page http://www.uni-nanny.com/index.html

This exciting new product is offered by a spinout from the University of Glamorgan and claims to offer massive benefits in terms of student retention

There may be some design issues causing customer confusion though…