June 2022 TLD Bulletin

1.  Staffing updates

We are pleased to welcome Jenny Gradwell as Teaching and Learning Manager (Appeals, Complaints and Discipline) and Sarah Williams as TEF Manager, who have both joined us the Teaching and Learning Delivery team this month

2.  Policy and Degree Apprenticeships

• New Policy on Student Representation

The original Principles and Guidance for Student Representation, first produced by the University and UMSU in 2013, have been updated and formed into a new Policy on Student Representation which was recently approved by Senate. The new Policy is to be implemented across the institution from September 2022, for the 2022/23 academic year onwards.

The Policy sets out the responsibilities of the Students’ Union and the University in terms of student representation. Staff members within Schools are asked to take note of the specific responsibilities of the University as laid out in paragraph 3.5.2 of the new Policy:

• Actively engage with students and the Students’ Union in this process;
• Provide the Students’ Union with accurate and up to date information relating to courses and student representatives;
• Ensure reps can communicate with their cohort;
• Support the administration of appropriate staff and student meetings; and
• Recognise and respond to student feedback through representatives (closing the feedback loop.

Staff members are asked to consider how best they can carry out these responsibilities from the next academic year, when the new Policy is implemented. Please contact studentreps@manchester.ac.uk if you have any questions.

• Changes to the Academic Malpractice Procedure, specifically relating to centrally arranged examinations

The Exams Teams (Division of Student Admissions and Administration) previously detected and gathered information for allegations of examination malpractice in centrally arranged examinations.  The SEP restructure has meant that the lead Authorised University Officer role (Director of Student Admissions and Administration) no longer exists in this area.  This area has become part of the new Division of Student and Academic Services where responsibility for both exams and appeals, complaints and discipline rest in the Teaching and Learning Delivery Team.

It has been agreed that the Scheduling Sub-Team (within Teaching and Learning Delivery) will continue to coordinate the detection and information gathering for allegations of examination malpractice in centrally arranged examinations.  However, any disciplinary panels (Summary / University (whichever is appropriate)) will be arranged by the Division of Campus Life (Advice and Response Team).  This will allow the Appeals, Complaints and Discipline Sub-Team (within Teaching and Learning Delivery) to keep a separation in its casework and continue to focus on disciplinary appeals.  The Student Conduct and Discipline Committee agreed at its May 2022 meeting to some minor updates to the Academic Malpractice Procedure (sections 4.3.2 and 5.3) to reflect these changes.

Where appropriate, the Scheduling Team and Advice and Response Team will still seek input from colleagues in Schools in relation to cases of examination malpractice (e.g. to inform the referral e.g. academic impact of penalties), may make requests for academic colleagues to sit on panels and will notify colleagues both of any referrals and final decisions made.

The Scheduling Team and Advice and Response Team are currently working together around the specific arrangements for this change, but it is hoped the transition will be smooth to ensure minimal disruption to timely case handling for semester two (2021/22). 

• Update on the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF)

The Office for Students (OfS) has provided the following summary of the current situation regarding the TEF:

“We recently invited consultation responses on a set of proposals for a future TEF. We are considering those responses and expect to communicate their decisions about the scheme in the summer. We will do so alongside our decisions relating to two other consultations: on a new approach to regulating student outcomes and on constructing student outcome and experience indicators for use in OfS regulation.

We have also been looking at the timetable for implementing the TEF. This has emerged as a key theme in responses to the consultation and we have therefore revised the proposed timetable.

Our current view is that:

• We would extend the timetable for students and providers to make their TEF submissions, with a deadline in early 2023.
• Assessments would then be carried out, with TEF outcomes available in time to inform prospective students for the 2024-25 recruitment cycle.

TEF next steps

• We expect to publish decisions about the TEF consultation proposals, including a final timetable for the implementation of the TEF, in the summer.”

3. Institute of Teaching and Learning (ITL) workshops

Following the success of the ITL's Focus on Teaching Week, we are thrilled to share details of the next tranche of workshops taking place in June and July. Ranging from assessment design to publishing and TEF, these sessions will be interactive, engaging and provide you with space to reflect on your teaching and learning practice. As always, they are open to all colleagues across the University so please do share the details with your networks. 

Events in June 

 Events in July 

We very much appreciate feedback and suggestions so if you have ideas around topics for future workshops, please contact the ITL Team.