Ali/Judy
I agree with Judy's comments - we can all no doubt see
situations where a student will, sometimes for very good
reason and approved by the relevant School/Faculty etc, have
not got to final assessment for one individual module in
their programme of study. In some cases that will be taken
as an additional module in the following year, in others
maybe the student will proceed but for a 'lesser' award.
My reading of HEFCE's words on this is that such a student
would be classified as a non-completion, for all activity,
which clearly is problemmatic and probably (?) not their
intention.
Not sure how well HEFCE monitor this, but am copying this
to the HESES enquiry email and look forward to their
comment.
Patrick
On Thu, 2 Oct 2003 17:23:04 +0100 Ali Hartrey
<[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> Dear Judy,
>
> My reading of the paragraph was that students either have
> to undertake the final assessment for the module, or have
> been able to pass the module without taking the final
> assessment (cf paragraph 16: "We have changed the
> definition with effect from 2003-04 to recognise that some
> students may choose not to undergo final assessment on the
> basis that they have already met the academic criteria to
> pass the module").
>
> This reading would make a little more sense of the
> non-completion of module=non-completion of programme
> scenario.
>
> Regards,
>
> Ali Hartrey
> Assistant Registrar
> Head of Registry Systems
>
> Tel: 020 7074 5085
> Fax: 020 7074 5089
> Email:[log in to unmask]
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> Postal Address: Visiting Address:
> SOAS SOAS
> University of London Room V101
> Thornhaugh Street Vernon Square
> Russell Square Penton Rise
> LONDON WC1H 0XG LONDON WC1X 9EL
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Admin-student [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On
> Behalf Of Judy Evans
> Sent: 02 October 2003 16:39 To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: HESES 2003 and Non-completion
>
>
> Dear Colleagues,
>
> Whilst there are other pressures on us all at the moment, I
> am sure some of you will have already taken a preliminary
> look at the HESES Guidance for the 2003 return, and may
> have noted the changes made to the definition of, and
> terminology used for, non-completion in Annex D of these
> notes.
>
> In previous years, non-completion has been measured against
> the final assessment for the year of the programme of study
> "irrespective of the outcome of that assessment". Thus,
> provided a student got to the assessment point and
> undertook it, even if they failed that
> assessment (examination or whatever) they would be counted
> as a completion. If, however, they fell 'by the wayside'
> before the assessment point and therefore did not undertake
> it, they would be counted as a non-completion.
>
> For HESES 2003 there appears to be a change to this, in
> that the significantly revised wording of Annex D now
> states that "a student who fails to complete (that is
> undergo the final assessment of, OR PASS [my caps]) ... is
> to be returned as a non-completion ...". My
> interpretation of this is that even if they DO get to the
> assessment point but subsequently fail the assessment, they
> will now count as a non-completion. It seems to me that
> this is the opposite of the previous guidance therefore. Am
> I reading this correctly, or becoming unduly concerned?
>
> You will also note that I have " .... " all reference to
> 'modules' from the quoted statement above. The change of
> definition to "Non-completion is defined in terms of
> modular programmes of study. It applies to all
> institutions, including those that may not consider their
> programmes to be modular" is also one that is taxing me at
> the moment. I find the statement "A student who fails to
> complete ... any module within the year of programme of
> study is to be returned as a non-completion for ALL
> ACTIVITY [my caps] in that year" hard to comprehend. Given
> that the (current) HEFCE funding model does not fund
> institutions for 'non-completion' this definition on the
> face of it appears to suggest that we are now moving to a
> funding model whereby we will ONLY be funded if the student
> completes, AND passes, ALL elements of their
> programme within the year. Such a move seems to run
> counter to the Widening Participation agenda and the
> acknowledged difficulties associated with the recruitment
> of students from 'non-traditional' backgrounds, but could
> be taken as entirely in step with the Government's agenda
> to come down hard on poor progression rates!
>
> I would welcome comments/enlightenment!
>
> Judy
> -- Judy Evans
> Head of Management Information London Metropolitan
> University London North Campus
> 166-220 Holloway Road London N7 8DB
>
> tel: 020 7133 2006
> fax: 020 7133 2065 email: [log in to unmask]
--------------------------------------------------
Patrick Kennedy Tel (01392) 263315
Senior Assistant Registrar Fax (01392) 263108
University of Exeter
Northcote House
Queens Drive
Exeter EX4 4QJ
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