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RAVENSBOURNE COLLEGE OF DESIGN AND COMMUNICATION
POSTGRADUATE BOARD OF STUDIES
Minutes from the Postgraduate Board of Studies held on 26 February at 11.00 in L1.
08.46 WELCOMES AND APOLOGIES
Present: Janthia Taylor Deputy Director – Strategic Development,
Innovation and Postgraduate Studies (Chair)
Peter Pilgrim Acting Head of Faculty of Design
Steve Bowman Director of Information Services
Dorota Watson Associate Subject Leader Fashion
Renate Divers Head of Registry
Joy McKee Communications Officer
Sinead Penn Marketing Officer
Paul Jeffery Quality Officer (Secretary)
Apologies Freddie Gaffney Subject Leader Broadcast Media Technology
& absences: Michelle Douglas Subject Leader Product and Interaction Design
Cathryn Smith Senior Quality Officer
Sharon Hocking Head of Student Support and Access
08.47 MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING
Approved: The minutes of the meeting held on 24 January 2008
(PBS08/05/02) were approved by the Board.
08.48 MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES
08.48.01 MA Student Bursaries (Min 08.38.01 – 24/01/08)
Received: Final PG scholarship and bursary information 2008-09. Members
felt that the main scholarship award was very attractive and that
the other bursaries were a significant addition to the provision
available.
08.48.02 PGTA Scheme (Min 08.38.03 – 24/01/08)
Discussed: A paper from the Quality Team on policy for employment of
Postgraduate Teaching Assistants.
Members supported the policy position set out in the paper and
discussed some issues related to pay and progression. There was
a question about the possibility of PGTAs being credited in some
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form for the teaching experience they gained. There were no such
plans at present, but the possibility of credit for teaching assistant
experience could be considered in future if it could be
demonstrated that a postgraduate teaching assistant who was
also following a teaching course could in practice meet all his/her
commitments.
In relation to pay, the appropriateness of the B rate was discussed
with respect to possible eventualities, such as appointments of
individuals with substantial teaching experience and existing
members of staff taking an MA/MSc at the College. It was
concluded that such eventualities could be dealt with on a case by
case basis, and that the B rate was appropriate in order to
maintain a distinction from technicians and technical tutors.
Alternatively, the establishment of a new C rate might be
considered, with progression to the B rate for PGTAs after
successful experience during a fixed initial period. On the matter of
supervision, it was felt that the straightforward approach, where
the relevant undergraduate course tutor was responsible for
allocating duties and for performance monitoring was right for an
institution of the size of Ravensbourne.
Agreed: i) The Associate Subject Leader for Fashion would provide
details of a City and Guilds teaching award for which PGTA
experience might provide credit.
ii) Quality Team would amend the paper as necessary and refer it
to HR for action as appropriate.
08.48.03 Internal Validation (Min 08.39 – 24/01/08)
Noted: Notes of the 10 January MA awayday had been circulated to Board
members.
08.48.04 MA Calendar (Min 08.44.01 – 24/01/08)
Noted: The finalised MA calendar was now available on the intranet.
08.49 EXTERNAL VALIDATION
Noted: Documentation on the MA/MSc Programmes has been sent to City
University and panel members in preparation for external
validation on 29 February.
08.50 MARKETING UPDATE
Discussed: Marketing Officers presented the initial findings from the
questionnaire survey completed by 65 students following the MA
Launch. Although the data was skewed by a very large attendance
from one undergraduate course, the early feedback was clearly
positive. The full findings would include information about students’
perceptions, and help to identify the specific professional needs
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that an MA could meet (e.g. CEng and RIBA) in order to develop
the marketing to internal candidates to the best effect. It was
agreed that the survey findings would be useful for External
Validation on 29th February.
In considering how to build on momentum of the launch, it was
suggested that presentation events be held for each MA
programme by Subject Leaders. Design for Interaction might be
seen as a priority, in the light of labour market conditions and
student recruitment issues in that discipline.
08.51 FINAL EXAMINATION BOARD REPORT 2006-2007
Received: Final Examination Board Report, Annexe A – Student
Achievements; Annexe B – External Examiner Action Plan; Annexe
C- Entrants Profile.
08.52 INTERNAL VALIDATION REPORT
Not received (to follow).
08.53 ANY OTHER BUSINESS
None received.
08.54 DATE AND TIME OF NEXT MEETING
Tuesday 29 April 2008 at 12.00 in the Boardroom
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