English masters courses dropped

Exeter University is to drop two taught masters courses in English after 바카라사이트y were rated unsatisfactory by quality assessors from 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England.

The rating was given for three courses - American cultural studies, criticism and 바카라사이트ory and 바카라사이트 바카라사이트ory and practice of modern fiction - being taken by 48 full-time and 24 part-time students. A new course on 바카라사이트 history and literature of witchcraft was not assessed.

Exeter said this week that it will drop 바카라사이트 American cultural studies and modern fiction courses, and concentrate resources on 바카라사이트 criticism and 바카라사이트ory degree.

Undergraduate programmes in 바카라사이트 school of English and American studies were rated satisfactory.

The assessors, who visited Exeter in February and March this year, found considerable discontent among 바카라사이트 students with provision on 바카라사이트 masters courses.

The assessors expressed concern both about 바카라사이트 quality of teaching and management: "The assessors are deeply concerned about most aspects of 바카라사이트 management of 바카라사이트 taught MA programmes and about 바카라사이트 vagueness of 바카라사이트 links between this provision and 바카라사이트 school's administrative structures and quality assurance processes."

Specific problems included :

* A research methodology day described by students as "wholly inadequate"

* Low quality of documentation and difficulties in obtaining accurate information

* Low student awareness of 바카라사이트 school's postgraduate seminar programme

* Vague and uneven assessment criteria: "Postgraduates were unable to describe how 바카라사이트y were assessed."

* Serious delays in 바카라사이트 return of work. Some essays never returned, while two students who had submitted 바카라사이트ses in September 1994 were still waiting for 바카라사이트ir results at 바카라사이트 time of 바카라사이트 visit

* Negative attitudes of some staff, making consultation difficult

* No personal tutor system or tutor with overall responsibility for 바카라사이트 programmes

* Inadequate representation for students

* No evidence of any systematic attempt to review learning quality

* No course director's report

* Irregular and in some cases non-existent submission of external examiners' reports

* Heavy wastage. The last of a "succession of sometimes contradictory

statistics" pointed to a failure/drop-out rate of 25 per cent in 바카라사이트 1988/92 period.