SCHOOL BOARD
Minutes of the Medway School of Pharmacy School Board held on Wednesday 7th December
2011
Present
Professor Iain Cumming
Head of School
Lynn Gallagher
Chief Technician
Dr Tara Ghafourian
Chair Staff/Student Liaison
Dr Gurprit Lall
Early Career Academic
Professor Alistair Mathie
Director of Research
Dr Ruth Rodgers
Head of Examinations and Assessments
Professor Yuri Ushkaryov
Research Representative
Student representatives
Emmanouil Glinos-MPharm 2
Rachna Lakhani-MPharm 3
Raffin Mazumder-MPharm 3
Faris Muqbill-MPharm 4
In attendance
Dr Cleopatra Branch
Dr Sarah Corlett
Catherine Dewsbury
Dr Shivaun Gammie
Dr Tarlochan Gill
Stuart Gill-Banham
Dr Andrew Hall
Min Keating
Linda Lucas
Minutes
Joanna Mowbray
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1. Apologies
Dr Buge Apampa
Debby Dixon
Min Keating
Trudy Thomas
Rosie Wood-FdPP1 student representative
2. Minutes of the school board 6th July 2011
The minutes were accepted as a true record of proceedings.
PART A Items for discussion
3. Myfolio/PDP/Employability
Dr Shivaun Gammie presented information regarding myfolio. Although the
presentation is focused towards first year student progression, Dr Gammie
reiterated myfolio application is for all Foundation Degree Pharmacy Practice
and MPharm students to use.
It is a way of looking forward, to plan for pre registration placements and
ultimately securing a job.
Students should create a URL link to send to their personal tutors ahead of their
meeting once a term. The final deadline for myfolio entries to be completed is the
end of term 2.
It was agreed that LRP2 module will cover myfolio.
Action; Andrea Manfrin to implement this into the module.
4. Professionalism and attitudes within Medway School of Pharmacy
Catherine Dewsbury presented an update on the professionalism and attitudes
questionnaire previously circulated to all students. The project has stemmed
from reports of poor attitudes amongst graduates and negative feedback from
placements.
A series of student and staff focus groups took place during November, facilitated
by an external consultant. The topics discussed were based around the
questionnaire giving students an opportunity to expand on their thoughts
regarding professionalism within the school.
The report is currently being completed but there have been some emerging
themes;
Students would like the teaching of professionalism to be more explicit
Clear expectations set by the school of what is expected of them
Students would like more support in securing work and pre reg placements
Students expressed concern with frequent changes-timetable and assessments
Students and staff would like to celebrate successes
A final copy of the report will be submitted by the end of the year.
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5. Assessments
The changes to the assessments have been communicated to all years. The key
drivers for the change were the first year attrition rates and the low percentage
of 1st/2.i awards. To deal with poor answered short questions in MPharm 1 & 2,
these questions will be replaced with MCQ’s-this will still ensure testing of a
broad range of module subjects.
It was agreed all tutors should meet their tutees in the New Year to discuss the
results of the December MCQ’s.
6. REF 2014
The Chair and AM met with MSoP staff during November to discuss their outputs
for the 2014 REF collection. The results of the meeting were presented to
University of Kent on 2nd December. The Pro-Vice Chancellor for research
concluded approximately 15 staff members could be REF returnable.
A pilot exercise will take place during 2012 and will mirror the exact dates for
2013.
There is one major area of concern regarding the submission, impact which
makes up 20% of the score. If the school uses this it must be published by
University of Kent. The current expectation is that the school will submit staff in
unit of assessment 3.
PART B: Items for noting
7 Draft minutes of the L&T committee 26th October 2011
The Chair of committee was not present to give an update.
8. Draft minutes of the SSLC 16th November 2011
The Chair reported items from the minutes 16th November;
Timing of lecture notes going onto Moodle
Students were concerned about the late availability of some lecture notes in Moodle.
There have been cases where the lecture notes were not available until morning of the
lecture or the night before and then students were expected to have them printed for
the lecture.
Staff response: The policy of the school is to make the notes accessible to students
through Moodle at least one week in advance of the lectures.
Printing Credits
Students queried why the lecture notes were not being printed as in previous years. A
request was made for guidance as to what is essential to print out etc, as some lecturers
have many pages of teaching material in Moodle and students are not sure what to print.
Staff response: The reason for not printing the notes is the huge cost to school when
many of the notes were being wasted and thrown away. Staff were aware of the
shortage of printing credits for all years. However, the printing credits were supposed
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to help with the cost of the printing and not cover all the printing costs for the academic
year.
Staff to provide further guidance to students as to what should be printed.
Breaks, Food and Drink in Lecture Theatre
Students often have 4 hours of lecture back to back and the breaks are not given in some
lectures. In some cases, two-hour lectures had been over running and continued for 10
minutes over time, without a break.
Staff response: There is to be no eating during a lecture as this is disruptive to the
lecturers and the students. A one hour lecture should last for 50 minutes followed by a
10 minutes break; alternatively, in a two-hour lecture the break can be given at the end,
but it should last for 20 minutes.
9. Draft minutes of the Research and Ethics (R&E) committee 2nd
November 2011.
The Chair of the R&E committee captured the main theme of the meeting in
item 6.
10. Draft minutes of the Graduate studies committee 16th November 2011
The Chair of committee was not present to give an update.
11. Draft minutes of the Health and Safety Committee 19th October.
The Chair of committee was not present to give an update.
AOB
The Chair will be putting together a working group to complete paperwork
ahead of the accreditation against the new education standards in the New Year.
Professor David Maguire-UoG Vice Chancellor will be visiting schools in the New
Year. He will meet with the schools senior team, staff and students.
Post meeting note; date confirmed at 19th January 2012
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