Announcement for postgraduates
Information on the new Head of School and more
I am writing to let you know that our new Head of School, Professor Leonardo Felli, will begin his appointment next week on Monday 2 April. I will finish my interim role this afternoon and am passing on the baton to Leonardo. I am sure that he will continue to keep you informed and will be as keen as I have been to learn about your views on how we can enhance our programmes and your learning experience.
Just to update you, the dispute between UUK and UCU over pensions is now at an important stage. Union members are being balloted next week on the latest proposal which would see a joint expert team appointed to examine the pension position and delay any changes until April 2019. If accepted, strike action would be called off. But there is still uncertainty about this and there is the possibility that further action might be planned for next term. We will keep you informed when we have new information.
The University has recently updated its guidance for students and the answers to frequently asked questions.
I’d like to reassure you that we have been communicating with course organisers of affected courses, and either you already have received, or will shortly receive, guidance on exams from coordinators. Exams delivered in May diet will not test you on content that has not been covered adequately due to the industrial action. Exam boards will be kept informed of the impact of both the industrial action and the snow closure on classes and assessments and can take account of these circumstances in determining marks. You do not need to use the special circumstances process to make the exam board aware of these issues and a letter confirming this will be sent out to you by the University next week. Boards of Examiners have been given the flexibility to allow students to begin work on their dissertations without waiting for full end of semester results, if that turns out to be necessary. Hence, even if further action does, go ahead, we are hopeful of minimal disruption to your studies.
Finally, please feel free to contact Carole-Anne Marshall, our Postgraduate Manager, Room G5, 30 Buccleuch Place or any other member of the School of Economics staff if you have questions, or you can contact our new Head of School at the e-mail address hos.economics@ed.ac.uk.
With kind regards,
Interim Head of School
School of Economics
University of Edinburgh
Room 1.03 30/31 Buccleuch Place