Categories: uncategorized
Date: 09 May 2005 19:01:25
Today we had a meeting with the external examiner for our course. After all we've been through over the last few months, I'm not sure he was prepared for us..
We tried to stay calm, and avoid personal name-calling (oh so hard..), and did quite well I think. There are a few of us who are more vocal about these things than others (me included! I was not-quite helpfully reminded of my outspokenness yesterday, and must evidently try to not talk so much) but in this case I didn't care, this was months of built-up frustration at not being listened to, being patronised and messed around, and it needed to get out. And boy, did it feel good!
The worrying thing was that many of the problems we voiced were not new, they had been mentioned last year also, and some the year before. Which means that these reports which are supposed to oversee and improve the courses are not being listened to. Many basic problems, which would have made a huge difference to our experience of this course could have been solved before we started if action had been taken based on previous students thoughts. This really annoyed me, that we went through all that, for no reason, and that it is likely that those students currently working hard for exams to get onto this course could experience the same next year. The positive side of this was that the external examiner was more sympathetic to our cause, and may be more forcefull in instigating changes. If any of what we said makes it easier for next years students, it has to be good.