Agenda and Papers - University of Edinburgh

the student experience. The workshop will take place on 27 June, with participants
coming from across the higher education sector. The University is currently involved
in the one year HEA programme ‘Developing an Inclusive Culture in Higher
Education’ through the participation of Dr Tina Harrison, Mr Alan Ducklin and Ms
Sheila Williams, who are also taking forward the planning of the June workshop.
The workshop is one of two being organised by the HEA in Summer 2011 on specific
themes that have been identified by the sector.
HEA Project: Embedding an Inclusive Culture in Higher Education
The project team, comprising the Convener, Alan Ducklin, Sheila Williams and
Eleanor Carne (Disabled Students’ Action Group), attended a 2-day residential as
part of the HEA programme. The residential included a valuable ‘swap shop’ where
participants shared policies, practices and guidance information on embedding an
inclusive culture.
Teaching Quality Forum: Workshop on External Examining
The Convener facilitated a workshop jointly with Rowena Pelik (Edinburgh Napier
University) at the Teaching Quality Forum on 13 th May that discussed the challenges
and issues associated with the implementation of recommendations arising from the
UUK/GuildHE report on External Examining. The report makes 14 recommendations
including: a nationally agreed set of expectations covering the role of EE (to be
developed by QAA); nationally agreed criteria for appointment; and a nationally
agreed reporting form containing core elements. A national register of EE has not
been recommended. The Workshop focused on three themes arising from the
recommendations: expectations of external examiners and criteria for appointment;
induction, training and mentoring of external examiners; transparency and student
involvement. The report urges institutions to implement the recommendations by
2012/13.
Senate Committees Annual Away Day
The two committee-specific sessions from the Senate Committees’ Away Day held
on 6 May 2011 are summarised below.
Quality Assurance Committee: Review of the Year
• Major work undertaken in relation to the ELIR. Draft Reflective Analysis to be
received at the meeting of 25 May 2011 for approval.
• Two task groups were formed this year including a) collaborative provision
group and b) teachability/accessible learning group.
• Collaborative provision – hugely productive task group, documentation
substantially revised.
• Teachability – very effective task group re:embedding inclusivity into the
curriculum.
• Task groups from the previous year included a) review of internal subject
reviews b) quality assurance monitoring and reporting of postgraduate
research c) student support services and d) Quality Communications
Strategy.
• Discussion of EUSA representation and student role on the committee, the
substantial re-development of Quality web pages, the helpful introduction of
pre-meeting discussions.
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