1. Education Zone Meeting Thursday 29 September 2016

2. Education – What we tell students
The Union works throughout the year to improve the quality of your [students’]education.
This area of the Union's work is conducted by the Education Zone, led by the Vice President Education, supported by fifteen Education Representatives and the Education Representation & Policy Coordinator Co-ordinator, a full-time Union staff member.
Course Reps are key part of the Education Zone, representing you [students’] to the staff in your [their] department through the Staff Student Liaison Committee (SSLC) and giving the Zone vital information about what students think across Queen Mary. They attend regular Faculty Forums (which any student can also attend) where issues are raised with Union representatives.
Source:

3. But what is the Education Zone?
Bye-Law 8 - Student Representatives and Part-time Officers
Education Zone Committee
15 Members
VP Education Chairs meetings (Education Representation and Policy Coordinator as Secretary)
Motions and Amendments to Student Council

4. What does the Education Zone do?
Supports the work of the VP Education
Supports the work of individual members
Sets its own priorities for the year
Shares information and best practice from across the University
Action sheet style minutes (as per exec)

5. Barts and The London/Mile End Split
Barts and The London Faculty Representative
(Pre-Clinical)
Barts and The London Faculty Representative (Clinical)
Barts and The London Faculty Representative (Dental)
International Representative (Barts and The London)
Postgraduate Taught Representative (Barts and The London)
Postgraduate Research Representative (Barts and The London)
First Year Representative (Barts and The London)
Humanities and Social Science Faculty Representative (x2)
Science and Engineering Faculty Representative (x2)
International Representative (Mile End - Education)
Postgraduate Research Representative (Mile End)
Postgraduate Taught Representative (Mile End)
First Year Representative (Mile End)

6. Education Zone Members (ME)
Humanities and Social Science Faculty Representative (x2)
Science and Engineering Faculty Representative (x2)
International Representative (Mile End - Education)
Postgraduate Research Representative (Mile End)
Postgraduate Taught Representative (Mile End)
First Year Representative (Mile End)
Petros Petrikkos (M.I.B)
Chowdhury Albab Kadir
Hashim Mastan
Lewis Williams
Shamrin Quddus
Md Maksudur Rahman 'Maksud' Mazumder
tbc

7. Education Zone Members (BL)
Barts and The London Faculty Representative (Pre-Clinical)
Barts and The London Faculty Representative (Clinical)
Barts and The London Faculty Representative (Dental)
Postgraduate Taught Representative (Barts and The London)
Postgraduate Research Representative (Barts and The London)
First Year Representative (Barts and The London)
Ruari McGowan
Mahnur Khan
Kieran Nandhra
tbc
Arran Dokal and Emma Vilventhraraja

8. Meetings 2015-16 Education Zone Date/Time Venue Joint Meeting
Thursday 29 September
Matt Spencer Boardroom
Whitechapel
Tuesday 18 October
BLSA (room tbc)
Mile End
Thursday 20 October
Thursday 24 November
Tuesday 10 January
Thursday 12 January
Joint Meeting - as Education Awards Panel
Thursday 16 February
Tuesday 14 March
Thursday 16 March

9. Joint Meetings VP Education report back VP Education’s priorities
Education Zone Campaigns (Cross-campus)
Joint tasks

10. Joint Tasks Student Experience Survey
Decide topic and help to conduct research
Present findings at the Student Experience Seminar: Wednesday 8 March 2017 ( )
Past surveys have included:
Learning Resources (2011)
What Makes a Bad Lecture? (2012)
Should We Scrap Exams (2013) Diverse assessment methods
The Impossible Dream (2014) Postgraduate Study
Fed-up with Feedback (2015)
Education Awards - (Course Rep Awards and Teaching Awards)
Nominations sorted and long-listed by Education Representation and Policy Coordinator
Nominations shortlisted by Education Representation and Policy Coordinator against relevant criteria
Winners selected from shortlists by Education Zone Members
Education Awards Ceremony: Monday 20 March 2017
( )

11. Site Specific Meetings
Presentation of individual Officer’s plans and report back on progress
Site specific issues/campaigns
Collaborative working and action planning

12. Past Education Zone Campaigns
More than Just a Mark – Exam Feedback
Library Books – Increased Spend
Study Space – Space Audit
QReview – ‘Opt-out’ rather than ‘opt-in’
Library Opening Hours – 24/7
Friday Afternoons free for religious obligations
BL PGR Degree Certificates

13. A little bit about Course Reps
At ME Reps are elected for duration of course and go on to become Senior Reps, be selected as School Reps and Co-Chair SSLCs
At BL Reps are elected annually
At BL the Pre-clinical SSLC is chaired by the Pre-clinical Rep and the
Faculty Forums at ME are made up of School Reps and Faculty Staff and Co-chaired by the Faculty Reps
The Student Staff Conference at BL replaces the Faculty Forum

14. Resources
Education Zone Budget £3k – campaigns etc. (£1k ring-fenced for BL)
Course Rep Budget (includes Faculty Forums and social events)

15. Zone Support
Vice President Education Sumeera Ahmad
Education Representation and Policy Coordinator Brad Coales

16. Also introducing…
International Students Coordinator Sophia Macblain
Course Rep Development Administrator
Igor Gavran

17. VP Education’s Priorities
Study Spaces and Library Opening -The library often becomes overcrowded - I want to ensure that the list of alternative study spaces continues to be updated and that they are well advertised. Additionally, I want to ensure that we have 24 hour library opening throughout the whole exam period.
Higher Education Bill and changes to HE - I want to keep up to date with the ongoing changes to the HE system as a result of the HE Bill so that I can take a lead role in briefing the Executive Team, Student Council, and the wider student body. I will then seek their feedback so that I am able to voice their concerns and plan action accordingly.
Extenuating Circumstances - Regulations on extenuating circumstances continue to differ between the Schools and it can be difficult for students to find relevant information. I will work with the SU President to improve consistency and access to information.
Careers Information, Advice and Guidance - I want to ensure that all Schools are collaborating effectively with the Careers Service to provide well publicised events and information sessions.
Learning Resources (Online Resources and Study Packs) - Students face significant costs buying non-core texts. I want to increase the availability of ebooks, online resources and course packs. Book Fair - In order to help reduce costs for new students I want to work with the Faculty Reps and academic societies to arrange a book fair at the beginning of the 1st and 2nd semesters. Feedback and Assessment - Quality and speed of feedback on students' work continues to be an issue of concern. I will work with the Feedback task and Finish Group (to be established by the University at the beginning of the 1st Semester) to implement the recommendations made by QMSU after last year's Student Experience Survey. QReview - I will work with the SU President to continue the campaign to ensure that all Schools and lecturers are using QReview wherever possible. Faith Issues - I will continue the work begun last year on freeing time for students' religious obligations on Fridays. I will work with the (proposed) forum to be established to look at this and other faith-related issues. I will also continue to work on plans to secure adequate space for communal prayer on a Friday.

18. VP Education’s Priorities contd.
Exam Timetables - Exam timetables are often published very close to the examination period making it hard for students to plan their revision effectively. I will campaign for earlier publication.
Overcrowding - There is concern that increased recruitment of students on some courses may lead to overcrowding of teaching space, especially at the beginning of the academic year. Previous space usage audits have highlighted over booking and under utilisation of teaching space. I will monitor this situation and encourage the University to take action accordingly.

19. Faculty Reps on Education Quality Board (EQB) and Senate 2016-17
Name
Vote
Position BL
Mahnur Khan
286
Senate
Ruari McGowan
230
EQB
HSS
Chowdhury Albab Kadir
167.52
Petros Petrikkos
196.34
S&E
Hashim Mastan
206.67
Lewis Williams
186.8
Meeting Dates
Senate - Queens Building (Colette Bowe Room) EQB - Queens Building (Colette Bowe Room)
Thursday 13 October (15:00) Tuesday 20 September (14:00)
Thursday 15 December (15:00) Wednesday 16 November (14:00) Thursday 09 March (15:00) Wednesday 15 March (14:00) Thursday 08 June (15:00) Wednesday 17 May (14:00)

20. Members’ Roles - Generic to all
Support the Vice President Education in their duties and responsibilities.
Engage with the Queen Mary, University of London and other relevant organisations to achieve improvements in the academic experience for students.
Encourage more students to participate and engage with the Union

21. Members’ Roles – Faculty Reps
Seek feedback from and represent the interests of students and Course Representatives.
Co-chair the Faculty Forum.

22. Members’ Roles – First Year Rep (ME)
Seek feedback from and represent the interests of Mile End first year undergraduate students on academic and welfare issues.

23. Members’ Roles – PGR Rep (ME)
Seek feedback from and represent the interests of Mile End postgraduate research students on academic issues.

24. Members’ Roles – PGT Rep (ME)
Seek feedback from and represent the interests of Mile End postgraduate taught students on academic issues.

25. Members’ Roles – International Rep (ME)
Seek feedback from and represent the interests of international students studying on the Mile End campus on academic issues.
Convene and co-ordinate with the International Representative (Mile End - Welfare) and International Representative (Barts and The London) the Union’s International Students Campaign Group.

26. Members’ Roles – Pre-Clinical Rep (BL)
Seek feedback from and represent the interests of Barts and the London pre-clinical medical students and Course Representatives.
Co-chair the Medicine and Dentistry Faculty Forum.

27. Members’ Roles – Clinical Rep (BL)
Seek feedback from and represent the interests of Barts and The London clinical medical students and Course Representatives.
Co-chair the Medicine and Dentistry Faculty Forum.

28. Members’ Roles –Dental Rep (BL)
Seek feedback from and represent the interests of Barts and The London dental students and Course Representatives.
Co-chair the Medicine and Dentistry Faculty Forum.

29. Members’ Roles – First Year Rep (BL)
(i) Seek feedback from and represent the interests of Barts and The London first year undergraduate students on academic and welfare issues.

30. Members’ Roles – PGR Rep (BL)
Seek feedback from and represent the interests of Barts and The London postgraduate research students.

31. Members’ Roles – PGT Rep (BL)
Seek feedback from and represent the interests of Barts and The London postgraduate taught students.

32. Members’ Roles – International Rep (BL)
Seek feedback from and represent the interests of international students in the School of Medicine and Dentistry on academic and welfare issues.
Convene and co-ordinate with the International Representative (Mile End - Education) and International Representative (Mile End - Welfare) the Union’s International Students Campaign Group.
Liaise with the members of the relevant clubs, societies and student groups.

33. Role Descriptions
This year we will work with you to create Role Descriptions which build upon what is set out in the By-Laws and reflect what you actually do in your roles to fulfil your roles e.g.
Attend Faculty Board (Faculty Reps)
Co-chair Senior SSLC (Clinical Rep BL)
Co-chair Junior SSLC (Pre-clinical Rep BL)

34. Be more
rep

35. Members’ Priorities What motivated you to stand as a Rep?
What is your one key priority for this year?

36. Action Plans What is the problem What do you want to achieve?
How will you know when you have achieved it?

37. Action Plan Templates - Measure 1 - Measure 2 - Measure 3
Project / Task
Measure of success
Progress
Strat Obj/IOP
Colour
Short description of what you are planning on doing (what is the problem you want to fix?)
How are you going to know that you have completed the project or task? (actions to be completed)
- Measure 1 - Measure 2 - Measure 3
Short update on progress made to date
Provide reference to relevant objective or indicator of progress (where applicable) 0%
25%
50%
75%
100%

38. Exercise
Pick one problem you want to address (your number one priority)
Complete an action Plan Template
Feed-back to group

39. Meetings with QMSU
Brad and Sumeera will arrange 1-to-1 meetings with each Education Zone member over the next few weeks to work through your individual action plans