The Word on Education

Summer Progress

2007-08-30T05:57:00.000-07:00

Hello, and welcome to the continuing blog for the RUSU VP Education. I took over from Ryan in July and everyone here at RUSU HQ has been working tirelessly to make huge steps of progress over the summer.

We've got a jam packed year planned, campaigning on issues ranging from the hidden cost of your education, extending library hours, plagiarism awareness and improving processes, and ensuring a strong student voice is heard through the QAA Institutional Audit.

A research project has helped us to gather the views of hundreds of students, course reps and supporting staff about how we can improve the Course Rep Scheme. I'm currently working on fitting all this together into a five year strategy to push this forward in leaps and bounds. This will be fresh, bright and shiny for the new term!

If you have any questions about the plans for the year, how you get involved, or generally want to talk about some issues around your university life then feel free to get in touch! My email is p.jeffreys@reading.ac.uk office number is 0118 378 4130 or mobile 07980 697089

We may be moving our blogs onto www.rusu.co.uk - watch this space!

Moving on.......Part 1

2007-07-02T06:50:00.000-07:00

Email to Course Reps

Hi Everyone,

Just a quick email to thank you for all you hard work this year. I will be leaving the role of VP Education shortly. It has been a rollercoaster of a year with some highs and lows. The University is continually seeing the importance of student involvement and participation as key to developing the academic experience. Course Reps are the backbone of this which continues to grow year on year, your input is invaluable.

Next year will see more RUSU staff support towards the Course Rep Scheme and the continued development of the training. We have also elected a team of Education Reps, who will work at the Faculty Level ensuring student input at every level in the University.

If you need to contact anyone over the summer the details are:

Pete Jeffreys – VP Education 2007/8 – p.jeffreys@rdg.ac.uk or
Kath Davey – Advice Services Manager – k.davey@rdg.ac.uk

If you are leaving this year good luck, if you are continuing please stay involved. Next years team will email you with the plans for the future over the summer.

Thanks again for a brilliant year,

All the best

Ryan
r.j.e.bird@reading.ac.uk

more to follow.......

Exams over.....results time!

2007-06-17T10:36:00.000-07:00

Need someone to talk to?

RUSU provides a free, confidential, student-centred, advice service staffed by experienced advice workers. Our student advisors offer information, advice and support to the Reading University student community.

Our aim is to empower you, so you are able to deal with your issue and decide the best course of action - whatever the problem.We offer an independent service - RUSU is a separate organisation to the University. The advisors are not employed by the University. Your issue will be discussed in confidence and not shared with any university staff or any other person or organisation without your prior consent.

Visit www.rusu.co.uk and click on student advice service for more infomation

or email stu.adv@reading.ac.uk

Education Reps

2007-05-28T04:10:00.000-07:00

Hi all

Nominations for Education Reps have now closed. We have had a great response and you should be getting an email shortly to explain how voting works and who is standing in your faculty. Many candidates have started up facebook groups......just remember you can only vote for candidates in your faculty.

Not sure which faculty you are in - visit www.rusu.co.uk/edrep (at the bottom of the page)

Voting is all online - Friday 8th June - Monday 18th June.

As tony the tiger would say its going to be grrrrrrrrrrrrreat.

Ryan
r.j.e.bird@reading.ac.uk

Education Reps

2007-05-22T15:51:00.000-07:00

Hello! The search is on for next year’s team of Education Reps. These are crucial to making sure that students are at the heart of university decisions which directly affect you.

For the first time we will be running these elections entirely online – you won’t even have to leave your revision desk to make your voice heard!

Being an Education Rep will mean a few meetings each term to make sure that the best interests of students are at the heart of university discussions. Of course this experience will look fantastic on a CV, you can use it to count towards your MASIV accreditation, and you will benefit from top quality support and training.

Much more information, questions & answers, and contacts, are available at www.rusu.co.uk/edrep - with the nomination form being all online!

Nominations close Thursday 24th May

Voting start soon.......look out for more details.

Hidden Course Costs........

2007-05-11T16:45:00.000-07:00

Have you been hit by hidden course costs during your studies? Do you feel that hidden costs encountered through your course have had a direct impact on you gaining the full Reading University experience?

RUSU wants to know exactly what these costs are so that we can work to ensure the university provides greater assistance with these costs. We want to know the essential and optional costs you have encountered and what help, if any, you have received for these additional costs. After paying tuition fees are these costs unwelcome extras?

Let RUSU know now by filling out our 10 minute survey on the link below:

Take Survey

This first-hand research will ensure that we have a clearer idea of what extra financial burdens Reading University students currently face through their courses. RUSU aims to use this confidential information to carry out their mission to fight for greater financial and educational equality for you, its members.

Silent Students Happy Homes - SSHH

2007-04-21T09:17:00.000-07:00

Back during my first year in halls...2003, we had day and night porters, these people enforced the 'Quiet Period' which lasted throughout students exams. It is a stressfull time for many students, and the last thing we want is to be woken up @ 3 in the morning with people on their way home. Well when i returned to halls in my third year, night porters didnt exist, and therefore the 'Quiet Period' could not be monitored or enforced by any staff. This resulted in many stressed nights on the phone to security so i could get some sleep....the system which has gone from pro-active to re-active, isnt much help to students with a final year exam in the morning......anyway the moral of this story/rant is please respect others over these long and hard few weeks.

RUSU have launched a SSHH campaign, please check the website www.rusu.co.uk/sshh

Student life is vibrant, exciting and enjoyable for many people, and no-one would want to stop that. The objective of the SSHH campaign is to raise awareness of noise disturbances, which effect everyone from revising students to young families. It takes little effort to reduce the noise you make, but the affect on others is huge.

Exam Preparation Day

2007-04-21T08:55:00.000-07:00

Re: Vision
Exam preparation advice for all years
10.00 - 16.00 Wednesday April 25th 2007
All day workshops in Palmer 1.02 and drop-in advice in G.04

Visit the study support website for more details - click here

Good Luck

Ryan

r.j.e.bird@reading.ac.uk

Congratulations to the University Challenge Team 2007/8

2007-04-21T08:45:00.000-07:00

After a lengthy selection process, it was finally decided that five people below would represent The University of Reading in next years University Challenge.

Good Luck! If you want to keep track of how they are doing in the initial pre-TV stages visit their facebook group http://rdg.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2262599997

Some of the questions people faced in the selection process can be found here http://www.rusu.co.uk/DisplayPage.asp?pageid=21424

Enjoy

Ryan
r.j.e.bird@reading.ac.uk

VP Education next year.........

2007-03-03T14:05:00.000-08:00

Elected RUSU VP Education 2007/08

Pete Jeffreys

Good to see he has been keeping the bird theme going!

I still have four months left, with Pete officially starting at the beginning of July, although i am sure we will start the handover before....

It is an exciting time, next year will be a big one for VP Education, and i am sure Pete will be up for the challenge.

The other results can be found here

I am off to find a new job.....!

Teaching & Learning Awards 2006/07

2007-02-28T08:33:00.000-08:00

Student Awards for Outstanding Contributions to Teaching and Learning 2006/07

It’s your chance to reward the member of staff you feel has had the greatest impact on your learning. You can nominate lecturers and support staff such as technicians, postgraduate demonstrators, secretaries, librarians, study skills staff, careers and ITS support staff etc.

Fill in the online form and don’t forget to give specific examples of how the person you’re nominating has supported your learning and progress at University. Submit your nomination form and for the chance to be one of the lucky winners in our prize draw remember to give your contact details!

So who will you nominate? Click here to fill in the form

University Challenge

2007-02-21T11:51:00.000-08:00

The quest is on to find a tip top team to represent the University of Reading on University Challenge.

Please head to this link and sign up! http://www.rusu.co.uk/DisplayPage.asp?pageid=21424

Week 8 - Monday 5th March - 6.30pm in Mojos

If you know a brainy person send them the link!

Come on.....Challenge yourself...

Finalists Fayre

2007-02-08T10:07:00.000-08:00

Finalists Fayre....tips on exams, post grad courses, study support.....and thinking of life after Uni.... Week 9...more to follow

Watch this space.

Ryan
r.j.e.bird@reading.ac.uk

Course Rep Training

2007-02-05T05:08:00.000-08:00

Course Rep Training - Week 4 - Friday 9th Feb - 12-2 in Palmer G03

Course Reps are the backbone of RUSU, and those involved in student representation from lectures to students, support staff to senior management all have the same ultimate goal, that being to improve education here @ Reading.

Most Staff-Student Committees will meet shortly or already have. Check if you haven’t heard anything already.

Ryan

r.j.e.bird@reading.ac.uk

Swinging Library Doors

2007-02-02T09:37:00.000-08:00

The swinging doors.....or the doors of death as they have been called!

there are two facebook groups calling for the removal of the doors, one with over 1000 Reading Students in. This is something the student population feel very strongly about. Dave stated in a recent spotlight:

Ryan Bird, VP Education, has been working hard with the library this year to identifyissues which students feel could improve their experience of the service, this includes opening hours, PC access, social space and the doors of death at the bottom of the stairs.

After Ryan’s hard work and persistence, he was pleased to report to a recent Sabb meeting that the doors are under full review, its ‘high on the agenda’ and during the summer, as the refurbishment takes place, they will hopefully be removed."

The refurb in the summer will completely change the way students interact with faclilites on the groundfloor of the Library...and this will hopefully be without the doors of death!

ryan
r.j.e.bird@reading.ac.uk

Skills Online At Reading

2007-01-31T09:10:00.000-08:00

Skills Online At Reading - www.rdg.ac.uk/soar

Whether you are an undergraduate, postgraduate, international or home student, you will develop these transferable skills during your time at the University of Reading. SOAR is here to connect you to a wealth of opportunities to further develop your skills. Explore this website to find out how you can enhance your skills, both through your studies and extra curricular activities.

This site is great, both Emily and I have had a lot of input into this along with students across campus. This was an outcome of a Transferable skills review that finished last year. The core transferable skills you find on this website will be appearing in programme specifications over the next year and will be fully embedded into your studies. Its great that all this skills that you can gain in or outside your degree can now be found in one place!

www.rdg.ac.uk/soar - Let us know how you find it.

Also RU Ready training now has its Spring Term timetable ready...Presentation skills, time management, meeting skills, elections, CV writing and interview skills. visit www.rusu.co.uk/ruready or www.rdg.ac.uk/soar

Ryan

r.j.e.bird@reading.ac.uk

National Student Survey

2007-01-14T10:23:00.000-08:00

We fully support the NSS, giving students at Reading the opportunity to asses their degree experience against students against other Universities. Last year Reading University came 13th in the UK, and we have used the results to lobby for improvements within the University, particularly in the area of assessment and feedback.

The survey is for final year undergraduates ONLY, and if you lot want to do it now, you can at http://www.thestudentsurvey.com/survey.asp

The Union gets a chance to see the full results, with lots of comparative data, which for the 2006 Survey showed that younger students were more satisfied with their course than mature students, male students were happier than female students, that white students were more satisfied than black students, that the least satisfied students in the areas of Assessment and Feedback were Construction Management students and that Agriculture was seen as the best department in terms of personal development.

Please fill it in and make a difference for future students!

So whats been done since last year's survey? Click here to see the University press release of last years results

The press release above is all very good, but what it doesnt say is that the feedback & assesment results were dissapointing, as it was for most institutions....

.....so what is being done about this?

Well, the University has very quickly acted on this, the committee responsible for Exams and Assesment is currently collecting information from departments/schools of best practice and through the Course Rep system i have recieved feedback on good practice and some not so good practice! All this in turn will be fed into the planning and delivery of programmes.

Student feedback is vital to ongoing development of the student experience here @ Reading, the work done by your Students' Union and your sabbatical officers could not be done without it. Thats why our Course Rep system is so important, and why surveys like the National Student Survey are key to helping us and helping you!

For more information visit http://www.rusu.co.uk/DisplayPage.asp?pageid=21092

Ryan

r.j.e.bird@reading.ac.uk

Happy New Year!

2007-01-03T16:34:00.000-08:00

New year, new plans......well work in progress...back to work to start planning at least. More to follow.

I am 1/2 way through my sabb year, the time has flown by. When reflecting on last term i am pleased to say i enjoyed it even though tough at times...!

My personal highlights of the term include: The National Demo, training more course reps then ever before, Freshers week and seeing so many students support and help with the Save Physics Campaign - it was good to see students actively campaigning on what they felt so strongly about.

The term seen some great student activism with the demo and the physics campaign, i would certainly say the education portfolio at RUSU has been keeping educational matters high on the agenda - and rightly so - as i regularly get quoted in the office:

'We are all here for an education'

Some of the lower points for me: Walking out of the University Council meeting alone, to see physics students waiting outside for the result - having to tell them that despite a strong campaign physics would be no longer at Reading was pretty tough. But having said that i was so impressed with their passion and belief in the subject, they really are a great bunch. I still struggle to understand why such a fundamental and important science can be axed in such a way. I guess also the 60-70+ hour weeks (which i always said i would never do) mid term were also hard, people sometimes think student officers have it easy, well as much as the job is great it is certainly something that becomes your life! But i would recommend it to anyone - so much to gain to learn and to enjoy!

Despite the low points, the Autumn term has been great....with each and every day so different, bring on the spring term.

So after my short reflection thoughts - HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Here's to a great term, lots of laughs and more great work for students!

Ryan

r.j.e.bird@reading.ac.uk

Happy Christmas

2006-12-24T10:32:00.000-08:00

Happy Christmas!
Ryan x

Plagiarism

2006-12-21T15:07:00.000-08:00

Many students are anxious about plagiarism and correct referencing. Deliberate plagiarism is a serious acadmic offence. However, accidental plagiarism is usually due to poor academic practice. Click here for top tips and good practice that will help you understand that avoiding plagiarism is not a secret formula, but plain commonsense.

Is Guinness good for you?

2006-12-21T15:00:00.000-08:00

Hmm, i like a guinness....

found this article on the web - makes me feel better!!

Guinness is good for me - fact!

Last Wednesday Night @ the union....

2006-12-21T14:52:00.000-08:00

Last Wednesday of term = packed union = amazing night = another reason why i love my job!

Teaching & Learning Strategy

2006-12-12T15:19:00.000-08:00

Below is an article from Spark (24/11/06) on the Teaching and Learning Strategy. After reading the below.....It would be great if students could do a small survey to rate the values they feel underpin the teaching and learning experience here at Reading.

CLICK HERE TO DO SURVEY - it will take no more than 2 minutes.

These values will be compared to the staff results..! They will then go on to form part of the strategy. So have your say!

Thanks Ryan
r.j.e.bird@reading.ac.uk

Spark Article (24/11/06) - T & L

Students will get the opportunity to have their say on what they think about teaching and learning at the University of Reading in the next week.

Newly appointed Pro-Vice Chancellor for Teaching & Learning Professor Rob Robson is keen to update the current approach to how the university teaches and what the aims are for the future.

The Teaching and Learning Strategy is a document which outlines the direction of teaching and learning for the next five to six years making it extremely important for current and prospective students.

Professor Robson will be working with student officers, VP Education Ryan Bird and VP Development Emily Beardsmore and will next week be asking students and staff to rank the values that they think underpin teaching and learning at the university. For example, do you find it more important to have a stimulating lecture or how diverse the course is? The response will be worked into the new strategy which lasts until 2010.

Mr Bird is keen to emphasise the importance of this document even though it does not sound a particularly sexy topic. He said: 'Universities exist to produce knowledge, and students are a focal part of that existence, and the teaching & learning strategy puts students at the heart of this.”

Importance is placed on the skills needed by graduates to break into the job market after university. As a result the university wants to highlight the skills gained from students’ courses, and programmes outside the academic sphere. For example employers are looking for more graduates who have volunteered during their degree so as a result the university wants to improve this to enhance every Reading graduate to their full potential.

For those of you reading this dying to know more of this important and interesting strategy here are a few extracts from it. Under the title, Vision, it states: “Using our distinctive taught provision based upon the ‘Reading graduate’ and underpinned and informed by the research and scholarly activities of our staff, we will foster an increasingly diverse student population; enable them to achieve their learning ambitions through the flexibility of our delivery and the support of a strong learning and teaching community; and equip them with the academic and transferable skills necessary for them to succeed beyond graduation.”

By the time students graduate the document says you should have demonstrated scholarship appropriate to their level of award in their chosen discipline(s), demonstrated the ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing, acquired appropriate IT and information handling skills and the list goes on.

The university is one of the United Kingdom’s leading research intensive institutions of higher education and their mission? “Our mission is to promote the growth, transfer and application of knowledge.”

Rebecca Cain

If you want to read the current strategy go to www.rdg.ac.uk/vc/whatwedo/tandl.htm.

TAKE STUDENT SURVEY HERE

Feedback....

2006-12-10T06:52:00.000-08:00

Way back in August/September the a University Press Release on the National Student Survey (NSS) stated how well the University scored, but one area in which Reading could improve (as with many ofther Uni's) is Assesment and Feedback....

So i started asking myself some questions..

What is feedback?
How long should students wait for an essay to be returned?
Is generic group feedback is useful?
Do students read the comments on essays?
Are proforma sheets (tickbox) on essays good feedback?
Is the final percentage important?

Is this lower score a question of students not being aware of what feedback is....? or Academics not giving enough quality feedback? Currently we are gathering information from departments and schools about this, and shortly will be asking student....

This year's finalists will be asked to fill in the survey for 2006/7 after christmas...more will follow!

Any comments on this on please email me

Ryan
r.j.e.bird@reading.ac.uk

What have i been doing....? Overview of report sent to Education Committee

2006-12-08T08:14:00.000-08:00

Education Committee – 30/11/06
VP Education Report

This report is intended to give a brief overview of the things I have been up to recently, and also some of what my role entails. There are three sections, which I see as the key parts of the VP Education Role – Representation, Campaigning & Support.

Representing Students

The majority of my time is taken up in University meetings, I have listed most of them below to give you an idea of the range and quantity. Its great having the opportunity to input in to these meetings, ranging from very operation ones such at Timetabling through to strategic meetings such as the University Board for Teaching & Learning and up to the highest level meetings of Senate & Council. During these meetings I provide the student perspective, but also sitting on so many I also get a good insight of the structure and processes in the University, the student voice is vital, and can really steer change in the University. Course & Faculty Reps are also a major part of this representation, and considerable amounts of work has been done training and supporting them.

>Some of my Meetings & Committees

Careers Advisory Board, Centre for Excellence for Careers Management, Post Graduate, Information Security & Strategy, Welfare Support & Guidance, University Board for Teaching and Learning, University Board for Research, Teaching & Learning Facilities(T &L) , IT in T & L, Web Steering Group, Programme Management, Blackboard working groups, PDP, Teaching & Learning Strategy Review, University Council, University Senate, Bookshop Advisory Board, Student Union Liaison Committee, Group on Student Recruitment, Centre for Excellence in Undergraduate Research Skills, Examinations & Assessment, Failures Committee Review, CSV, Curators of the Library.....

Elected Chair of University Staff/Student Forum

>Conferences & Training I have attended

National Student Learner Programme (NSLP)
NUS Education Officer Training
Research Based learning in Higher Education.
Research Assesment Exersise (RAE) student consultation exercise
STADIA – Student Activites & Development (Course Reps)

Campaigning for Students

In terms of campaigning, this term has seen a mass of activity in the education zone. The National Demo was the first campaign, in which students joined a rally in London saying No to soaring levels of debt, No to any attempt to lift the cap, No to the marketisation of education & yes to a free education for all. The work around this really raised the issue and has students talking about it. This is part of a national long term campaign which is working towards keeping the cap in 2010. More work on this will carry on through the year.

The Physics Closure has been a real challenge, and also been the lowest point of my time at RUSU. The recommendation of the closure arrived late on Friday on the eve of Freshers Week and just before the biggest open day of the year (which I had worked hard on with the University) this was not an easy start to the year. The campaign was very strong, with good arguments and great support from students, staff and also raised issues at a national level. We worked closely with the Lectures Union (UCU) who all said how strong our campaign was. Unfortunately University Senate & Council voted for the closure, purely on financial reasons. Our focus now is on the future education of the students in the department, and I will be working closely with the University on this.

Supporting Students

There has been increased pressure on resources with a key member of staff leaving, the role is being reviewed and the position to be filled after Christmas, this support for Course Reps etc will continue through VP Education until then.

We are also working on a bid to the University for an Education Advisor. This role is to support the VP Education & Advice team in terms of academic appeals & complaints. This has taken a considerable amount of my time up, and this post is now top of the synergies agenda with the University. It has been approved at all levels, but were the money comes from is now up for consultation. This post will also support the work needed in regards to the QAA next year.

Course Rep Training – over 80 Course Reps trained, brings current number to 350+. Training sessions had excellent feedback, and has improved year on year.

Work on the Faculty Representation implementation group has continued, and a series of papers have now been completed for Students, Faculty Staff and Department/School staff. On going work includes the mapping of University Committees/meetings there function and membership.

I have been involved in the co-ordination and delivery of MASIV and the RUReady training sessions.

I have also helped set up the Mature Students Society, this is a real step forward and will help us to represent their views and issues to a higher standard.

Plans for the Future – notes on some of the ongoing work I will be doing.

• Continued work on the Demo
• Plagiarism Awareness – work starts next week.
• Improving Assessment & Feedback
• Post Grad society/representation group
• Further work on embedding the Course Rep system
• Course Rep training
• Lobbying for Educational Advisor
• Improved teaching & learning facilities at Bulmershe
• Working with the Library in relation to opening hours and the refurbishment of the ground floor.
• Review of Teaching & Learning strategy
• Pilots for Blackboard
• PDP
• Representing students at University Committees and meetings.
• The start of the QAA
• SE Weighting Campaign
• Finance Campaign/ Exam Stress

Physics Press Release

2006-12-08T08:08:00.000-08:00

PHYSICS STILL GETS THE AXE DESPITE STRONG OPPOSITION FROM STUDENTS AND STAFF

The controversial proposal to close Physics at Reading has been approved by the University Council. It comes with great disappointment to both students and lecturers, after weeks of strong campaigning. Huge support came locally, nationally and internationally, yet despite all this Reading is set to lose one of the most fundamental sciences in 2010.

Students and lecturers came together in solidarity both campaigning and voicing their concerns about the closure. Before the council meeting around 200 protesters marched through the university, and were addressed by several speakers including Sally Hunt, UCU joint secretary and Dave Lewis, RUSU President. Calls were made for a more detailed analysis of the department’s future, the implications of closure and the possibility of alternatives, these were pushed aside by Council, and the fate of Physics was sealed with 18 votes for the closure, 5 against and 1 abstention.

Dave Lewis, President and Ryan Bird, VP Education were at the lengthy meeting which was guarded by security. There was much discussion and support to keep Physics, yet the final decision was shadowed by lines from the corporate plan which included the need to invest into areas of excellence and to enhance the financial viability of the university, the Council decided not to keep Physics open on these grounds. With around 40% of Physics lectures attended by students outside physics, this closure will affect Maths, Meteorology, and Chemistry to name a few.

Dave Lewis, President said:

‘With Mechanical Engineering, Music, Sociology and now Physics all disappearing from the Reading portfolio in the past few years, people will be asking which subject is next.’

‘The University talk of their commitment to pure science, yet the closure of Physics does not echo this. With the loss of the Physics department goes lecturers, PhD students, laboratory equipment, collaboration with departments and choice for students.’

‘The financial position of the University dominated the discussion, whilst an important factor, wider issues seemed to be avoided including perception from the academic community, choice and demands of students, the Goverment agenda, the student experience and relationships with stakeholders'

Ryan Bird, VP Education added:

‘It comes with great frustration and disappointment that council voted for the closure, six months ago a review concluded that an important and strong, viable physics presence was in line with the corporate plan, yet since then physics has gone from important to only desirable. The only change is in the Universities finances, and that should not have been to the detriment of Physics’

‘To lose such a fundamental science in a research based institution, seems crazy, at a time when students are looking in more and more detail at universities, they will see a large gap in the science portfolio at Reading’

RUSU will be working closely with the university to ensure that the education of current Physics students is not disadvantaged by this decision, and that promises by senior management to keep a presence in physics at Reading including areas such as Nanoscience and Microscopy are followed up.

Ends

Notes to Editors

RUSU, independent from the University of Reading, represents the interests, diversity and needs of over 17,000 students. The Union is run for students by students, offering advice, services, support and welfare. They also run bars. The Students’ Union offers a variety of entertainments, events and campaigns for a diverse and demanding student population.

For more information contact: President, Dave Lewis d.c.lewis@rdg.ac.uk, 07973 503 401 or VP Education, Ryan Bird r.j.e.bird@rdg.ac.uk 07980 697 089

More info on the closure avaliable here

UCU Photos of the protest

National Demo

2006-12-08T08:06:00.000-08:00

Thanks for coming to the demo, and thank you for taking part in a campaigning, vibrant and active student community. The work on this has only just begun.........

We're only as strong as our weakest member, so its important that we work towards a Higher Education system which is properly funded and where students can make decisions based on quality not cost.

Pictures of the day can be found below...

http://www.rusu.co.uk/DisplayPage.asp?pageid=20131

Ryan x

Course Rep Training

2006-10-25T14:15:00.000-07:00

Emails have been flying out this week to academic staff about the course rep training which is taking place in week 4 - next week, yet it feels like Fresher's Week was only days ago. So much has happen though since....

This evening i have finished the first issue of the course rep newsletter, which will go out tomorrow - once my email decides to work again!

Below is a copy of the training details - don't forget, even if you did the training last year please come along, your experience and input will be excellent for those reps who are just starting out.

-------------

Training for Course Reps will take place during week 4. Please email volunteer@reading.ac.uk with your preferred sessions. Any student that sits on a Staff-Student Committee is welcome to come along, the sessions are interactive and informative. We had excellent feedback from last year.

Monday 30th Oct 6.30-8.30pm Palmer 106
Tuesday 31st Oct 12-2pm Palmer G05
Thursday 2nd Nov 12-2pm Palmer 107

Also this year we have Faculty Rep training

Friday 3rd Nov 12-2 Palmer G02

This will have RUSU and University input, and is an additional session to the Course Rep Training, providing more detailed sessions on meetings, minutes and communication.

We will re-run some extra sessions in week 7 for those who miss any of the above.

If you have any questions about the training or the scheme, please contact Ryan Bird r.j.e.bird@reading.ac.uk or visit www.rusu.co.uk/coursereps. Also I would be grateful if you could email me details of your new reps so I can add them to the RUSU Course Rep mailing list.

Many thanks

Ryan

r.j.e.bird@rdg.ac.uk

National Demo Tickets now on sale.......!

2006-10-17T07:43:00.000-07:00

Tickets are avaliable from the Box Office

£2 to secure your place on the coach, free breakfast @ rusu before the coaches leave, plus a ticket to the 'After Demo Debate' on Thursday Week 4.

Join us for our day out in London............

Our voice will be heard!

Ryan

www.rusu.co.uk/demo

National Demo

2006-10-13T10:24:00.000-07:00

With Just over two weeks to go, the Demo is fast upon us.

I have spent some time today updating the website www.rusu.co.uk/demo

and entering over half of the emails from the petition during freshers week.... guess what i will be doing with my sunday afternoon.....

Give it a go sessions will start next week, your chance to pop along to 3sixty @ lunchtimes to take part in some pre demo action. chants, letters to MPs, T-shirt printing.... and many more check the demo website for more information.

Tickets go on sale on monday from the box office, £2 to secure your place on the coach, plus a free breakfast, and ticket for the after demo debate in week 4 (more to follow).

Its going to be a great day out.... so keep sunday 29th October free in your diary.

Ryan

After a dissapointing Senate - We carry on the fight....

2006-10-13T10:08:00.000-07:00

The university press release about senate's comments on the Physics closure - found here

The unions response is below.

Friday 12th OctoberUniversity Management forcing through Physics closure

Following a tense and thorough examination of the University’s Senior Management’s recommendation to close the Physics department, University Senate, the Academic Governing body, voted in favour of the plans.

It what can only be seen as a blow to its reputation in the world of science, Reading University’s plans to close down Physics are only weeks away from final ascent.

Senior Management were quick to rubbish their own report from six months ago which promised to solve the future of Physics. Despite conceding that they had solved short term budget problems, Senior Management were persistent in trying to condemn Physics to the long list of departments they have axed over the years.

The Students’ Union were quick to identify the lack of any joined up thinking within the sector, due to Bill Rammell MP, Minister of State for Higher Education and Life Long Learning announcing his commitment on Tuesday to science at Higher Education with £18million worth of initiatives to create more demand from school pupils. The University were accused of hypocrisy and short-sightedness during Senate by Faculty Representatives.

It also emerged that the University of Reading had sought support from HEFCE before consulting staff, students and campus Unions. This blasé attitude to dealing with the issues left many wondering about the University’s commitment to the campus community.

Dave Lewis, RUSU President

"It was a shame that the VC had to blackmail academics to accept his plans, promising to cut posts and cut funding if they didn’t back him."

"Academics were overwhelming in their support for a Physics presence at Reading, and acknowledged that with the closure of Physics goes any credibility that Reading had towards physical sciences"

"We remain as committed as ever to a University that promotes diversity over narrowness and students over surplus"

Ryan Bird Vice-President Education

"The last few weeks have been incredible; students in Reading organising themselves to campaign against these plans. We have listened loud and clear to the views, opinions and values of both prospective and current students all wanting to see a Physics presence at Reading"

"Reading should be re-affirming their commitment to Science; with an increase in student numbers overall this year, the message should be clear, Reading is open for Science and that should include one of the fundamental science’s on which many others are based - Physics"

Strategy and Finance Committee, compromising of lay members of University Council and University Senior Management will meet early next week to make the final recommendations before they come to University Council, the University’s Governing Body, on November 20th.

The next few weeks will see an intensification of campaigning, with support coming from local MPs, media, national organisations, the Higher Education community and society, as everyone recognises the importance of a Physics department at Reading.

Academics and students around campus have been asking the Vice-Chancellor “Oh Dr Beecham, what have you done?”

ENDS

----

I remember watching Oh Dr Beecham on the TV with my nan..... the moral of the story clear in my mind.....maybe with the help of some film students we could start work on a new version...

"Oh Vice Chancellor what have you done".....

Ryan

Physics Forum

2006-10-08T15:09:00.000-07:00

Monday - 1pm Ditchburn Lecture Theatre, Physics

Your chance to hear the thoughts and views of Dave Lewis - RUSU President, Simon Stacey - Physics Society President, Prof John Blackman - Head of Physics, and also a member of Senior Management.

Followed by questions and a vote.

Ryan

Freshers Farye

2006-10-08T13:19:00.000-07:00

Wed, Thurs & Fri was Fresher's Farye, despite the wet weather all was a success.

I spent most of my time on the RUSU stall & the Training/Volunteering/MASIV/Course Reps stall. I really enjoyed the three days, after a crazy start to the week i remember why i do this job and how great it is!

The RUSU stall had three main points

> for students to meet the sabbatical officers and find out more about us
> highlight the terms campaigning activities

> raise awareness of the National Demo....

I think we achieved the above, but certainly the raising awareness of the National Demo. I am yet to count up how many people signed the petition but i am sure its well over 1000 - which is great! We also got over 300 photos for our photo petition - which will be about shortly, so keep your eyes peeled in the Union.

Visit www.rusu.co.uk/demo for more information

After a week in which i have spent more time in the Union than out of it, i used my day off very constructively..... stayed in bed till lunchtime, watched tv, popped to town and had a takeaway!

Highlights of my week - International Salsa evening, Freshers Farye, Scott Mills, Zane Lowe, GinaG, Wednesday & Saturday night and seeing the physics students taking an active lead in saving their department -passionate about their subject, angry with senior management and ready to be heard.

Low of the week - falling over in the mud after a crazy Wednesday night......

Ryan

hmmm....Why is it that no matter the colour of bubble bath you use the bubbles are always white....?

Freshers week is here!!

2006-10-02T11:45:00.000-07:00

Despite the physics news, Freshers week has got off to a flying start! Campus was busy, things were bussling in the union and its just brilliant!

The Queue for Scott Mills was from the Union to Palmer Building, the longest i have ever seen them! Spent most of the day out and about, chatting to people, managing queues and pointing the many many who were lost in the right direction.

'The box office queue before it even opened'

Always makes me laugh, your first day at Uni is spent in queues, from tickets to access cards, and your last day at uni is spent in a queue outside the Great Hall waiting from Graduation!

Right off to eat some dinner, then back to the union, for my first time on the RUSU bars!

Wish me luck!

Ryan

Physics Blog!

2006-10-02T02:02:00.000-07:00

http://physicsatreading.blogspot.com

University plans to dump Physics

2006-10-01T05:35:00.000-07:00

What a weekend!

By 3pm Friday i had cleared my inbox, intray and desk and was ready for International weekend and Freshers week, everything seemed to be going to plan.

4pm - Dave reads on the education guardian website that Reading University plans to close physics! The communication about this has been appalling, with many people in the University finding out the way we did.

On the first day of International weekend, the eve of the biggest open day of the year, and days before thousands of new students arrive, what was already set to be a hectic few weeks has just become even more hectic.

Our first press release can be found here.

Lots of emails from concerned students have started flooding in, these emails are not just Physics students, the whole student community is disappointed and concerned about these plans.

The Student Union opposes these plans, and more will follow shortly.

Saturday was Open Day, when 8000+ prospective students visited Reading, including many to look at Physics, people who we spoke to were angry and outraged at this sudden announcement.

Whilst i sit here in my office on a Sunday afternoon replying to concerned students, angry students and student who are ready to come together as a strong and active voice, it still baffles me how a University like Reading, can just dump a subject so key to the understanding of the world around us.

ryan

Plagiarism...

2006-09-15T13:21:00.000-07:00

One of the things i am keen on this year is highlighting issues before its too late, such as plagiarism, with the ever developing software to check essays for possible cheating it is vital to make sure people dont get caught out. In a recent article Wes Streeting NUS Vice President Education stated that

"We are coming across an increasing number of cases where students have been accused of plagiarism when it's not obvious that the accusation is justified,"

The article also suggests that cases are often dealt with informally in departments and students are encouraged not to appeal, this is crazy, every student has the right to appeal, and should do if accused of such a thing. An essay that is marked down or not graded can be the difference between a degree classification. At Reading this hasnt been an issue, and it should stay that way....

The problem appears to be that students are not being told what plagiarism is, or how to avoid it, it is written the course handbook you recieve when you arrive and thats about it!

During week 7 of the Autumn term and again the Spring term, the union will be raising awareness of this issue and assisting students in avoiding such problems.... interactive workshops, handouts, and useful diagrams will coming your way.

If you have any academic issues that you need support with, please dont hesitate to contact me or pop along to membership services at RUSU.

Anyway week 7 is a long way off yet, first Freshers week, South East Weighting Campaign, Admission Impossible Campaign, The National Demo, Money Week.....

more to follow

Ryan
r.j.e.bird@reading.ac.uk

National Demo - 29th October 2006

2006-09-11T10:01:00.000-07:00

Today i have been mostly thinking about the national demo.....

Freshers week is fast approaching, and with students arriving faced with the annual bills of £3,000, the fear of debt looms.... there are many arguments around top up fees, but what really stands out in my mind is that less students will come to university, top up fees are clearly creating injustice and inequality in education. How can the government be widening participation, when students from such non-traditional backgrounds will have to look at their bank balance rather than their ability and aspirations.

I worked all through my degree, at times saturday and sundays along with some weeknights, and i know this had an affect on my studies, this was under the old system, i know for a fact under the new system i wouldnt even be here at Reading. So £3,000 this year, and with the debate of lifting this cap on the table, we have to be strong and active in making sure this does not rise.

Alan Johnson (Secretary of State for Education and Skills) remarked that students will 'learn to love top-up fees'.... Learn to love three grand a year, inequailty, injustice and an increasingly polarised and tiered education system....? I think not, RUSU thinks not, NUS thinks not and if you think not then join us on the national demo - 29th October 2006!

Admission Impossible is the NUS Priority Campaign and is outlined below

NO to soaring levels of student debt

NO to any attempt to lift the cap

NO to the marketisation of education

YES to free education and access for all

We are working hard on this campaign at RUSU and more details will follow shortly, students of the past present and future need to stand up and fight for a fair system for tomorrow's students.

Watch this space...

Ryan

r.j.e.bird@reading.ac.uk

Who said being a sabbatical officer was easy.....?

2006-09-09T14:08:00.000-07:00

This evening i sat down after a hectic week of training, and reflected on the last two months. Its been alot busier and harder than i ever thought it would be, with in-house training, Action through Advocacy course in Chester for education and welfare officers, and my most recent course NSLP - National Student Learning Programme through which i was trained to be a trainer! These courses have been 3 or 4 days long and very intense, 'networking' with other student officers in the evening over a beer or two results in late nights followed by very early mornings, but they have all been worth it and i have learnt alot.

Around these courses, i have been been meeting the many many University staff that i need to get to know, along with preperations for this years campaigns, course reps, the MASIV scheme, the years training programme with emily, regional events, plans to improve representation the list goes on.....

Only being in role for a year, means soooooo much to learn in such little time, and with four out of five of my fellow sabbatical officers in there second term i have found myself feeling a little lost and 'new' at times, but there wealth of knowledge and experience provides me with great support and when out and about talking to other unions i realise what a brilliant team we have at RUSU.

The year ahead is an exciting one and i am looking forward to term starting, so as i prepare for the marathon from freshers to christmas i do with much excitment.... the year ahead is going to be a good one.

Ryan
r.j.e.bird@reading.ac.uk

Day to London... NUS HQ

2006-09-09T13:45:00.000-07:00

On Friday 1st September, Dave and I spent the day at NUS HQ in London discussing the NUS response to the Research Assesment Exercise (RAE) consultation. The consultation proposes changes to the way research is funded, this of course will have affects not only on research but teaching and learning. Reading is in the top 20 most research powerful universities in the UK, so it was great for us to be feeding directly in to the National Students Union response.

Discussing education policy doesnt sound the most thrilling way to spend a day in London, but the more you look in to it, and begin to understand it the more interesting it becomes.

We will be following this one and keep you posted.

Ryan
r.j.e.bird@reading.ac.uk

Student Representation, Libraries, National Student Survey and Clearing......

2006-08-23T12:29:00.000-07:00

Since returning from training ive been busy working on student representation within the university. Traditionally this has been excellent in some faculties and poor in others. One of my aims this year is to build on the Course Rep system and develop representation at a faculty level which will be more coherent and productive. We seem to be good at the department level (staff-student liaison committees) and at higher university level committees (attended by RUSU sabbatical officers) but not at the bits inbetween (Faculty level). So by creating a clear set of guidelines for departments, schools and faculties along with recruitment of more reps (you guys!) that are trained we will see a massive improvement in student representation.

***Course Rep Sales Pitch***

Representation is vital in the communication network of the university; it gives students the chance to feed back on a range of issues. In recent years there has been an increased drive for students to have a larger role in the way their institution is run; through the course rep scheme you can be part of this representation Â Please come and see me for more details.

******************************

Also this week the results of the National Student Survey have been announced. 87% of Reading students said they were happy with their course, Dave and I discussed the figures this afternoon and an area for improvement appears to be assessment and feedback, we will be talking to the university to see how this could be improved, including working towards anonymous marking, more contact time on your courses and better representation (mentioned above).

Other work this week includes working on the years campaigns - more to follow soon,Ii have also visited Bulmurshe Library on the university satellite campus to look at the issues they are facing and discussing the exciting changes to the ground floor in Whiteknights library this year.

Several times this week I have visited the clearing office , with top up fees coming in, recruitment and marketing is high on the university agenda. The clearing team have been working hard all week and with an allocation of extra student numbers it has certainly been a challenge. It has been great to see more students on campus, so if your thinking of coming to Reading pop into the union and see us!

Anyway im off to cook dinner!

Ryan
r.j.e.bird@reading.ac.uk

The first blog of Bird

2006-08-14T06:21:00.000-07:00

Hello,

Six weeks into my role as VP Education and i have finally managed to set up a blog, so I am now part of the 'e-revolution' of communication at RUSU. Working as a student representative during the time of year when there are so few students around has been an odd start, yet i have been extremely busy, with training, meeting union and university staff and planning my work the next year.

A bit of background about me…..

Well, I’m from Burnham-on-sea, Somerset, i joined Reading in 2003 after my gap year which i spent in Sri Lanka, i studied Human and Physical Geography which i absolutely loved, i was an ambassador through which i visited schools in the area to spread the word about Geography and The University of Reading, i also took part in the CSV Learning Together programme. In my second year i was elected as JCR Treasurer for St Georges Hall and then became joint president in my final year.

All these opportunities led to my involvement in the union, and then through attending student council i really started to understand how much the union does for students, and i wanted to be a part of that - and so one grilling at hustings, one cold election week outside campaigning and one set of final exams and here i am!

I will be posting more about my role and plans shortly, so come back soon.

Ryan