New project to improve teaching timetabling and course selection launches
A new project to improve the teaching timetabling and course selection for students has been approved by the University Executive.
Teaching Timetabling and Course Selection aims to deliver a stable, detailed and accurate timetable for students before they start the academic year. It is also working to ensure students choose from a suite of courses that are available to them within a reasonable set of parameters and that this is explained and transparent to all.
As a University we need to work in partnership across Colleges, Schools, Student Experience Services, Estates, HR and with our students to make the significant changes to improve. To do this successfully changes will be needed to: culture, policy, planning, process, organisational design and use of and appropriateness of space.
This project is one part of a University-wide commitment to rethink how we design and deliver our academic administration and support functions. This work is co-sponsored by Iain Gordon, Vice Principal and Head of College for Science and Engineering, and Lucy Evans, Deputy Secretary Students.
Improving our student experience
Many students tell us they often have last minute changes to their timetable which makes it difficult to plan their life around their studies. They have also told us they are presented with a wide range of course choices, including courses that aren’t in practice available to them, leaving them disappointed when expectations set can’t be met.
Benefits for staff
Our staff tell us that they are not happy with their experience of timetabling and course selection, as well as managing the dissatisfaction with students, this includes the staff that work directly to administer these activities.
The outcomes of this project will be to provide staff with a stable and accurate timetable to be able to plan their other University commitments. We will achieve improved proactive and effective working practices for staff in teaching administration, including consolidated and simpler processes, improved planning and reduction in urgent/complex resolutions to queries.
Next steps
The project will enter a phase of planning and analysis in January, which will involve wide engagement and consultation with staff and students. Details of how you can help shape the changes will be shared early in the new year.
The project’s information site will be updated regularly and includes information on how the project will be governed, and who to contact if you’d like to get involved.
