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Economics Programmes to be taught out, concessions made!

Wednesday 08-02-2017 - 00:07

My first School Board, on 28th September 2016, was definitely not one to forget, especially not with the proposals to close down a large number of programmes within Glasgow School for Business and Society (GSBS). With a large portion of University degrees being based on group coursework assessments, it was of little surprise that some of the programmes being proposed to close were those with very little student numbers.

Before these programme closure proposals had come to School Board, they had been to all relevant Programme Boards, which are the committees that the programme staff sit on. Proposals to close programmes would go to Programme Board, then School Board, then Academic Policy and Practice Committee and finally Senate. Therefore, I knew if I was against any programme closures then this would be a long process, and a long fight.

I have to say that I agreed with all programme closures, however I had real concerns over the proposition of the closure of the Economics suite. I strongly believe that the provision of Economics at a widening access university provides the opportunity for students to become economists with a unique experience and Common Good attributes. Moreover, staff on the Programme Board had voted against the closure of the programmes, although the process to close a programme basically states that this can be trumped at the committee that sits above it, i.e. School Board. I voiced these concerns at School Board, ensuring I made every case possible in an attempt to keep the Economics Programmes open. 

Unfortunately, the concerns I raised at School Board were narrowly out voted, meaning that the proposal to close these programmes was then taken to the next stage – Academic Policy Practice Committee. Again, students voiced concerns surrounding the closure of the Economics programmes, however we were out voted.

The last stage that the proposal to close these Economics programmes would have to go through was Senate. If approved at Senate, this would mean that every Economics Programme in the university would be closed, with current BA Economics students being taught out until the end, but no opportunity for people to enter the programme in the 2017 intake.

Speaking out at Senate, I was assisted by the Campus Trade Unions, who represent GCU staff, in making a case to keep these programmes open. Due to the absence of a critical piece of documentation, it was decided that the GSBS programme closures were to be carried over to an extraordinary Senate to discuss separately.

On Friday 27th February 2017, the Extraordinary Senate was held. Speaking out against the Economic Programme closures again, I was provided with many more answers than I had been given at an earlier date. The process had been longer than initially expected due to the missing piece of documentation, and dissatisfaction amongst some staff and GCU Students’ Association, therefore this had given more time for staff and GCU Students’ Association to be consulted.

Economics staff had been consulted, and have been given the opportunity to redesign a new Economics Programme. Moreover, the Dean, and Associate Dean for Learning and Teaching had stated that they would speak to current Economics students to reassure them that their degrees will be unaffected. Although this was far more progress than when the Economics Programme closure proposals had first come to School Board, it cannot be guaranteed that a new Economics Programme will be developed in future, or whether this would be accepted at all relevant committees. This led to our International Student Representative and myself continuing to object at Senate, as we could not endorse the closure of three Economics Programmes with nothing in its place. However, it should be clarified that Economics modules will still be taught within the school in other programmes.

It was so unfortunate that we lost our long fight, and were out voted at this Senate to close all Economics Programmes. However, at every level, student representatives voiced their dissatisfaction, and I’m so proud of everyone involved for their confidence. Also, the lessons that were learnt along the way were invaluable.  I genuinely believe that our collaborative approach with our Campus Trade Unions was so important, with staff and student representatives having the opportunity to work together in an attempt to protect staff and our future students.

Although we lost what we were fighting for, we will make sure that current BA Economics students will continue to receive the education and experience that they signed up for, and will make sure to continue lobbying the university to give future students the opportunity to become economists through developing a new programme.

Jodie Waite
Vice President Glasgow School for Business and Society

Categories:

Full Time Officer Blogs, GCU, Impact

Related Tags :

Course Closures,

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