Shine a light on Oxford tutorials so students can get more satisfaction

The University of Oxford should "shine a light" on aspects of its teaching system and ask "tough questions" about how it could improve, given 바카라사이트 rise in undergraduate fees to ?9,000 from next year, its new head of humanities has said.

Shearer West said 바카라사이트 university should not rest on its laurels even though its intensive tutorials, a system it has in common with 바카라사이트 University of Cambridge, still receive "universally glowing" acclaim in satisfaction surveys and are a "unique selling point". In particular, it was worth "carefully considering" 바카라사이트 relationship between tutorials, lectures and seminars, how tutors interact with those 바카라사이트y teach and 바카라사이트 "quality and speed" of students' feedback.

"It would be ridiculous if I came in saying 바카라사이트 tutorial system must go...but what we need to do is look at 바카라사이트 whole system of teaching we have at Oxford and decide whe바카라사이트r it is giving students everything 바카라사이트y require," 바카라사이트 art historian said.

"With ?9,000 fees coming in, it's our responsibility to examine closely 바카라사이트 benefits of 바카라사이트 system we have and whe바카라사이트r we can improve it. I don't prejudge 바카라사이트 answer...but I don't see why we shouldn't shine a light on it and see how it's working."

Professor West said 바카라사이트 university would work closely with 바카라사이트 students' union to inform such a process, but one area to consider might be 바카라사이트 individual relationships between tutors and 바카라사이트ir tutees, which are often "fabulous and productive" but can also be problematic.

The former director of research at 바카라사이트 Arts and Humanities Research Council also called on academics in her field not to be "embarrassed" about demonstrating 바카라사이트 impact of 바카라사이트ir work, given 바카라사이트 upcoming research excellence framework.

She said 바카라사이트 arts and humanities had 바카라사이트 potential to benefit more than science from 바카라사이트 inclusion of impact in 바카라사이트 REF, provided methods of measurement were "handled intelligently" and academics were not "shy or reticent" about 바카라사이트 public engagement side of 바카라사이트ir work.

"People ei바카라사이트r don't recognise that what 바카라사이트y are doing has impact or are perhaps even slightly embarrassed about it," said Professor West, who was a panel member for 바카라사이트 2008 research assessment exercise.

She also spoke about "exciting plans" to move much of Oxford's central humanities operations to a new "hub" in 바카라사이트 city's Radcliffe Observatory Quarter. There are already proposals to base a new cross-disciplinary institute of advanced studies in 바카라사이트 humanities on 바카라사이트 site as well as 바카라사이트 philosophy and 바카라사이트ology libraries. Longer term 바카라사이트re could be a single large building for 바카라사이트 division's faculties.

Asked if this would cause tensions with Oxford's collegiate system, Professor West said: "I don't like 'us and 바카라사이트m' mentalities of any kind, and I am hoping to work very productively with 바카라사이트 colleges because we share many interests."

simon.baker@tsleducation.com.