SML Undergraduate Student Handbook 2010-11

Page 1

Undergraduate Student Handbook 2010 - 2011

School of Management and Languages



School of Management and Languages Undergraduate Student Handbook 2010-2011

School of Management and Languages Undergraduate Student Handbook 2010 – 2011 PART A: SCHOOL INFORMATION .................................................................................... III 1

SUMMARY OF KEY INFORMATION .................................................................... III

2

WELCOME AND INTRODUCTION ........................................................................ 1

3

GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE SCHOOL .............................................. 2

4

KEY STAFF AND OFFICE LOCATIONS ............................................................... 9

5

PROGRAMME OVERVIEW ................................................................................. 10

6

PROGRAMME STRUCTURE AND DELIVERY ................................................... 11

PART B: UNIVERSITY INFORMATION ............................................................................. 19 1

ACADEMIC SUPPORT ........................................................................................ 19

2

ENROLMENT, ATTENDANCE & PERIODS OF STUDY..................................... 21

3

GUIDANCE ON ASSESSMENT ........................................................................... 24

4

EXAMINATION AND RE-ASSESSMENT PROCEDURES .................................. 27

5

GRADING, AWARDS AND QUALIFICATIONS .................................................. 31

6

GRADUATION ...................................................................................................... 33

7

CONDUCT, DISCIPLINE & APPEALS ................................................................ 33

8

DEFERRED PROGRESSION, SUSPENSION AND WITHDRAWAL .................. 36

9

STUDENT FEES AND CHARGES ....................................................................... 37

10

STUDENT SERVICES .......................................................................................... 39

11

UNIVERSITY POLICY AND GUIDANCE ............................................................. 48

APPENDIX A: STUDENT GUIDE TO PLAGIARISM ......................................................... 49 APPENDIX B: SML STAFF DIRECTORY .......................................................................... 55 APPENDIX C: SML MENTORING ...................................................................................... 58

ii


School of Management and Languages Undergraduate Student Handbook 2010-2011

PART A: SCHOOL INFORMATION

1

Summary of Key Information

School Undergraduate Team Leader

Shona McIntyre

S.McIntyre@hw.ac.uk

School Undergraduate Office

Catherine Clephane Julia Hill Alison Wilson

ugoffice@sml.hw.ac.uk

Key Office Locations In the first instance all undergraduate queries should be directed to MB 1.23. Tel: 0131 451 3556 Fax: 0131 451 8237 Email: ugoffice@sml.hw.ac.uk

School Undergraduate Office Room 1.27 Mary Burton Building School of Management and Languages Heriot-Watt University Edinburgh, EH14 4AS Key Dates 2010-2011 Semester 1 teaching starts Semester 1 teaching finishes Semester 1 assessment

Monday 13th September 2010 Friday 3rd December 2010 Monday 6th December – Friday 17th December 2010

Christmas Break

Monday 20th December 2010 – Friday 7th January 2011

Semester 2 teaching starts Semester 2 teaching finishes

Monday 10th January 2011 Friday 1st April 2011

Easter Break

Monday 4th April – 22nd April 2011

Semester 2 assessment

Monday 25th April – Friday 20th May 2011

Graduation

Tuesday 21st – Friday 24th June 2011

Resit exams

Thursday 4th – Friday 12th August 2011

iii


School of Management and Languages Undergraduate Student Handbook 2010-2011

2

Welcome and Introduction

2.1

Welcome from the Principal of Heriot-Watt University I am delighted to welcome you as a student of Heriot-Watt University! Heriot-Watt University has a well earned reputation as Scotland's most international and outward-looking University. With three campuses in Scotland (attended by a high percentage of students from across the world), our new Campus in Dubai, and Learning Partner institutions across the world, we have a vibrant and diverse learning culture which is unique and unmatched by other universities in the United Kingdom. We are keen to give our students the opportunity to develop an international dimension to their studies which will enhance their opportunities for future growth. Students at all our campus locations are an important part of our global community and I very much hope you enjoy your time with us. Professor Steve Chapman Principal and Vice-Chancellor 2.2 Welcome from Head of School Welcome to the School of Management and Languages. The School is committed to providing its students with the education and personal development skills required by today’s graduate employers. We take pride in the achievements of both our past and present students and the role the School has played in their success. Your academic performance is directly related to the amount of effort you put into learning and studying. The more you put in, the more you will get out. This “student-centred� approach to learning places responsibility for how well you do into your own hands. However, university life is not solely about lectures and studying; take the chance to make new friends and perhaps participate in some of the many societies Heriot Watt has. Enjoy this beautiful campus and the city of Edinburgh. We have produced this handbook in order to answer many of the questions that students have during their studies here, including administrative procedures relating to the running of our undergraduate degree programmes, School and University policies, and support services available to you. We hope you will find this information useful. Professor Gillian Hogg Head of School

1


School of Management and Languages Undergraduate Student Handbook 2010-2011

3

General Information about the School

3.1

School Overview The School of Management and Languages has over 2000 full-time students, and over 100 members of academic staff. The School operates from the Edinburgh campus, with bases at both the Scottish Borders Campus in Galashiels, and the Dubai campus. We offer a diverse portfolio of degree programmes across a broad range of subjects at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Within the School there are three departments:

1. Accountancy, Economics, and Finance 2. Languages and Intercultural Studies (LINCS) 3. Business Management We have over 20 undergraduate degree programmes, many with a large degree of commonality in the early stages, allowing you to defer ultimate subject choice beyond first year and make the study choices most suited to your future career path. The flexibility of our undergraduate programmes reflects the importance we place upon student choice. There is also a strong international orientation within the School, we have active exchange programme and several of our degrees include the opportunity to spend a year studying abroad.

3.2

School Staff Contact details for all School of Management and Languages academic and support staff involved in undergraduate teaching and administration can be found in Appendix B at the end of this handbook. Staff details may also be viewed online at www.sml.hw.ac.uk/sml/staffprofiles

3.2.1

Office Hours for Academic Staff Most academic staff set aside certain hours each week when students may visit them in their offices without appointment. “Office hours” are normally displayed on the lecturer’s door or noticeboard. Alternatively, students may make an appointment to see a member of staff at another mutually convenient time.

2


School of Management and Languages Undergraduate Student Handbook 2010-2011

3.3

School Buildings Campus maps showing the location of academic buildings and student residences are available from University Main Reception, or online at www.hw.ac.uk/maps/detailed-campus-map.pdf The School of Management and Languages is located across three buildings at the western edge of the campus next to the University Library: Mary Burton Building Mary Burton is home to the Departments of Accountancy, Economics & Finance, and Business Management, as well as the School Office and the School Undergraduate Office. In addition there are three PC labs on the ground floor – G.11, G.22 and G.51. Building abbreviation:

MB

Henry Prais Building Henry Prais is home to the Department of Languages and Intercultural Studies. There is a PC lab in 1.20 and also a self-study Language laboratory in 1.17. The building is open to students from 8.30am to 5.30pm daily from Monday to Friday; between 5.30pm and 11.00pm entry is obtained via the digital lock. On Saturdays and Sundays entry is via the digital lock, which allows access from 8.30am to 11.00pm. Any student using the building after 5.30pm or at weekends must sign the out-of-hours book in the entrance hall; this requirement also extends to those already in the building at 5.30pm. There are 75 lockers on the ground floor of the building. These are available for use by students who are not resident on campus. More information on the use of these lockers will be provided to students during orientation Building abbreviation:

HP

Esmée Fairbairn Research Centre This building mainly houses staff involved in the School’s postgraduate programmes and the School Postgraduate Office (EF 11), as well as the School’s Finance Office (EF 1). The new computer study area in the Esmée Fairbairn building has been created by the School for its post graduate and final year undergraduate students. There is also an area for quiet group study for all students. During peak periods of the academic year (e.g. exam and re-sit periods) a booking service may be in operation. Building abbreviation:

EF

3


School of Management and Languages Undergraduate Student Handbook 2010-2011

Communications

3.4.1

Contact Details It is essential that the School and the University are kept informed of any changes to students’ contact details, particularly term-time and home addresses. It is the responsibility of the student to notify the School Undergraduate Office as soon as a change occurs (ugoffice@sml.hw.ac.uk). Please note that all results letters (June and August) are automatically sent to students’ home addresses therefore it is particularly important to ensure address details are kept up to date.

3.4.2

E-mail New students will be issued with instructions on how to set up their e-mail account during enrolment. Returning students will have continued access to their e-mail. Please note that students’ Heriot-Watt e-mail addresses are used by academic and administrative staff to send important information throughout the year. Students must either check their HW e-mail regularly, or redirect it to the e-mail account they wish to access it from. More information regarding Heriot-Watt’s I.T. facilities and regulations can be found in Part B: 10.5

3.4.3

Noticeboards The following noticeboards are currently located throughout the School * School Undergraduate Office School Office

opposite MB 1.23 outside MB G.20

Accountancy and Finance Economics Languages Business Management

outside MB G.42 outside MB 1.23 ground floor, Henry Prais outside MB 1.23

Timetables Noticeboard Examinations Noticeboard

down by MB G.20 opposite MB G.13

Students are expected to check the noticeboards relevant to them on a regular basis. * Please note, due to reallocation of SML office space, the location of the above noticeboards may be subject to change.

4


School of Management and Languages Undergraduate Student Handbook 2010-2011

3.5

Mentoring The School of Management and Languages operates a mentoring scheme, introduced in the summary below. Further details regarding SML’s mentoring scheme can be found in Part B: 1 and Appendix C of this handbook. Aims To assign each undergraduate student entering the School of Management and Languages (the mentee) to a member of academic staff in the School of Management and Languages (the mentor) who can be consulted on all aspects of the University and who will provide a mechanism whereby the progress of each undergraduate student in the School of Management and Languages is monitored and remedial action taken where appropriate. Objectives The mentees can expect that mentors will: 1. Normally provide the first point of contact when advice is required, whether of an academic or non-academic nature. 2. Be able to direct mentees to other sources of information and advice that are available centrally within the University. 3. Monitor each mentee’s academic progress. 4. Counsel mentees who fail a module and where possible ascertain the reasons for the failure. 5. Have an overview of the whole of each mentee’s University career and should be in a position to provide background information to other members of the University and to Examination Boards. 6. Give advice to the students regarding their Personal Development Plan. The aims of this plan are: a) Provide opportunities for the development of student self-confidence in identifying their own competence and the transferability of the skills they have developed and b) Provide opportunities for the development of guidance and information systems which enable students to monitor and record their own progress.

3.6

Student Feedback 3.6.1

Undergraduate Student-Staff Committee The School of Management and Languages Undergraduate Student–Staff Committee is a consultative body of student and staff representatives. It may discuss any matters that it considers relevant to the running of undergraduate degree programmes in the School, such as curricula, teaching and assessment methods. It is intended to provide a forum in which meaningful contributions can be made by students and staff alike. However, the Committee is not competent to deal with matters concerning individual students or members of staff, such as disciplinary matters, assessments, or appointments. Such matters must be raised using the appropriate Academic Concerns process as detailed in section 3.7.

5


School of Management and Languages Undergraduate Student Handbook 2010-2011

For further information on Undergraduate Student-Staff Committee, including student rep details, see: www.sml.hw.ac.uk/sml/committees/ugssc/

3.6.2

3.7

Course Evaluation At the end of each course you take you asked to complete a course evaluation questionnaire, normally through the University’s VLE known as VISION. Your views are important to us and the information gathered from these evaluations is analysed by the School and the resulting information is then fed into an annual review of each undergraduate programme.

Academic Concerns The School of Management and Languages endeavours to foster good working relationships between students and staff. During your course of study you may have concerns regarding your course or programme. Within the School there is an agreed procedure for raising these matters so that they can be dealt with quickly and efficiently (see Figure 1 on following page).

6


School of Management and Languages Undergraduate Student Handbook 2010-2011

Figure 1: Process for Raising an Academic Concern

Step 1

Raise concerns directly with the member of teaching staff concerned. Seek support of student representative/Departmental School Officer if needed. If matter is unresolved

Step 2

Discuss concerns with your mentor and with the course co-ordinator.

If matter is unresolved

Step 3

Inform the student representative/School officer for your department of your concerns If matter is unresolved Approach senior staff in this order:

Step 4

1. 2. 3. 4.

Programme Co-ordinator (as listed in student handbook) Departmental Director of Undergraduate Teaching Programme Head of Department Head of School If matter is unresolved

Step 5

Inform HWUSA of your concerns

7


School of Management and Languages Undergraduate Student Handbook 2010-2011

Step 1 First raise your concerns directly with the member of teaching staff concerned (this may be a class teacher, tutor or lecturer). You should not worry about raising any concern but if you do feel uneasy doing this yourself then can contact your student representative or School Officer for your department who can raise the matter on your behalf. Information on your class representative is posted online on the HWUSA website, the SML website, and on VISION. Information can also be found on the Undergraduate Student Staff Liaison committee notice board on the ground floor of the Mary Burton building just before the library entrance. You can also contact HWUSA directly for information on who are the student representative and School Officers for your year and department. Step 2 If the matter is not resolved then your next step is to discuss your concerns with your mentor and, if you have not already done so, with the course co-ordinator. Step 3 If the matter remains unresolved then you should inform the student representative/School officer for your department if you have not already done so. The School Officers and student representatives are members of the Undergraduate Student-Staff Liaison committee. This committee meets three times a year to discuss how programmes and courses are being run. The members of this committee work to resolve any matter that it considers relevant to the running of the undergraduate degree programmes in the School of Management and Languages, such as curricula, teaching and assessment methods. Committee members are able to bring student concerns to the attention of senior staff on your behalf. However, the Committee is not competent to deal with matters concerning individual students or members of staff, such as disciplinary matters, assessments, or appointments.

Step 4 If the matter remains unresolved you are able to approach senior staff directly in the order given in Figure 1. Step 5 If you still feel that the matter is unresolved you are able to raise your concerns through HWUSA. There is a sabbatical officer offering full time representation for Education and Welfare matters and they can be e-mailed at vpew@hwusa.org. Please note that HWUSA will ask if you have raised your concerns through the established procedures before they address your issues.

8


School of Management and Languages Undergraduate Student Handbook 2010-2011

4

Key staff and office locations

4.1

School Undergraduate Office Queries relating to the following undergraduate matters should in the first instance be directed to the School Undergraduate Office in MB 1.27 • • • • • • • • • • • •

4.2

Enrolment Course credits and examination results Change of course Change of address Certification letters Circumstances affecting attendance or performance Programme transfer Temporary suspension of studies Permanent voluntary withdrawal Transcripts Exchange Student Matters UK Visa Renewal Letters

School Office – MB 1.23 The School Office is located in 1.23 of the Mary Burton Building. Coursework for all SML courses must be submitted to this office. Weekly lists of all coursework submission deadlines for that week are posted around the School. All medical notes should be submitted to this office. School Office Opening Hours are as follows: Monday - Thursday Friday

4.3

9.30am - 12.30pm 9.30am - 12.30pm

& &

1.30pm - 4.45pm 1.30pm - 4.30pm

School Postgraduate Office – EF 11 The School Postgraduate Office is located in EF 11 of the Esmée Fairbairn Building. Queries relating to the following matters can be directed to this office: • Inter-Library Loan (ILL) vouchers • Postgraduate courses offered by SML

9


School of Management and Languages Undergraduate Student Handbook 2010-2011

5

Programme Overview The emphasis on student choice can be seen in the flexibility of the programmes offered in the School of Management and Languages. There are over 20 undergraduate programmes in total, many with a large degree of commonality in the early stages, allowing students to defer ultimate subject choice beyond first year and to tailor their degrees to suit their needs and aspirations.

5.1

`

Undergraduate Degree Programmes Available in the School Undergraduate Degree Programmes

Degree Co-ordinator

All Accountancy & Finance degrees Year 1 Co-ordinator Year 2 Co-ordinator Year 3 Co-ordinator Year 4 Co-ordinator

Mr Santhosh Abraham Dr Boulis Ibrahim Dr Moh Sherif Ms Audrey Jackson

All Economics degrees Year 1 Co-ordinator Year 2 Co-ordinator Year 3 Co-ordinator Year 4 Co-ordinator

Ms Valerie Dickie Dr Shumei Gao Dr Prabir Bhattacharya Dr Prabir Bhattacharya

Management Management with Business Law Management with Enterprise Management with Marketing Management with HRM Management with Operations Mgt

Ms Josephine Bisacre Ms Josephine Bisacre Dr Laura Galloway Dr Mark Davies Dr Nicolina Kamenou Dr Nigel Shaw

International Management

Queries to Exchange Co-ordinator, Ms Shona McIntyre

Foreign Languages and Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages International Management and Languages Applied Languages and Translating Languages (Interpreting and Translating)

Mr John Cleary Ms Ann McFall Dr Pablo La Porte Dr Pablo La Porte

BA Combined Studies

Undergraduate Office

Further information on all undergraduate degrees offered by the School can be found in the undergraduate section of the School website http://www.sml.hw.ac.uk/undergraduate Heriot-Watt University reserves the right to update materials from time to time and will ensure that advance notification concerning changes to materials is provided to students on the relevant section of the University website. It is the responsibility of students to check the website, particularly if they are returning to studies after a period during which their studies have been in abeyance. 10


School of Management and Languages Undergraduate Student Handbook 2010-2011

6

Programme Structure and Delivery The academic year is divided into two semesters, running for 30 weeks from midSeptember to the end of May. Each semester will include 12 weeks of classes, with time at the end for revision and assessment. For undergraduate programmes, students take four courses in each semester, making a total of eight courses per academic year. A summary of key dates for the academic year can be found on page iii of this handbook. This information is managed by the University and is located here: http://www.hw.ac.uk/student-life/how-to-apply/academic-calendar.htm

6.1

Programme Information Within each degree there are mandatory, optional, and elective courses. Mandatory courses form an integral part of the degree and are compulsory. Optional courses are chosen from an identified set of courses relevant to the degree subject. Elective courses can be chosen from a wide variety of subjects on offer across the University. The programme structure for each degree will list the mandatory courses, detail optional course choices available and indicate where elective courses are to be taken. Programme structures for all undergraduate degree programmes offered by the School are available on the School website at: www.sml.hw.ac.uk/undergraduate/

6.1.1

Change of Programme Students who wish to change degree programme, usually at the end of first year, must obtain the appropriate form from the School Undergraduate Office. Students should first submit the form to the co-ordinator for the degree they wish to transfer into, then to the co-ordinator of the degree they wish to transfer out of, and finally return the completed form to the School Undergraduate Office for processing. In order to be eligible to change programmes students must have successfully completed their studies up to the date of transfer. It should be noted there is no automatic right of transfer.

6.2

Course Information Course refers to a unit of study which spans a semester. All undergraduate modules are of equal length in terms of student effort. Students are expected to put in a total effort of 150 hours for each course. This 150 hours includes all lectures, tutorials, computing labs, workshops, background reading, writing up notes, coursework, revision and examination for the course. For further information on good study skills and effective time management see: www.sml.hw.ac.uk/undergraduate/studyskills At the end of each course an overall grade is awarded:

11


School of Management and Languages Undergraduate Student Handbook 2010-2011

Overall mark of approximately 70% or more Overall mark of approximately 60% to 69% Overall mark of approximately 50% to 59% Overall mark of approximately 40% to 49% Minimum requirement for the award of credit points but insufficient to continue study in that subject Performance below the minimum acceptable level for the award of credit points (FAIL)

A B C D E* F

* Accountancy and Finance students should note that Grade E is not recognised as a pass by the professional accountancy bodies such as ICAS, CIMA and ACCA.

6.2.1 Course Progression The School has approved a change to Progression Regulations for all its Edinburgh-based degree programmes (except for those with a mandatory 3rd year abroad) to set minimum requirements to permit progression to honours. This will be applied at the end of 2nd and 3rd year. The Policy takes effect from academic year 2011/12. i. ii.

iii.

iv.

v.

vi. vii.

Qualification for honours will apply to new 1st year students entering the School from September 2010, onwards. The level of performance required for continuation onto the honours route at the end of second year is at least four grade Cs in SCQF level 8 mandatory and/or optional modules at their first attempt; this is in addition to meeting any existing progression requirements (i.e. pre-requisite and credit requirements). The level of performance required for continuation onto honours at the end of third year (or for transfer back to honours from the ordinary stream) would be that a candidate obtains at least four grade Cs in SCQF level 9 mandatory and/or optional modules at their first attempt; this is in addition to meeting any existing progression requirements (i.e. pre-requisite requirements and credit requirements). Students who meet the minimum credit requirements to progress to stage 3, but not at the specified level for progression to the honours pathway, will transfer to the BA ordinary programme associated with the course. Students on the BA ordinary stream may be considered for transfer back onto the honours stream at the end of third year if their performance is consistent with the level of performance expected from honours students in third year. Students who choose not to transfer back, or have not performed at the appropriate level, will be eligible for the BA Ordinary degree (subject to meeting the stipulated requirements for the award of the BA ordinary). It is the responsibility of the student concerned to initiate a request to transfer back to honours before the relevant May Award Board associated with their 3rd year. Resit marks/grades will not be considered towards the progression requirement unless there are approved extenuating circumstances. The appeal process will be the normal University appeal process against a decision of the progression board of examiners. If you have any queries regarding this policy you should contact your mentor or Campbell Powrie, the School's Director of Administration (Student Services).

12


School of Management and Languages Undergraduate Student Handbook 2010-2011

6.2.2

Course Catalogue The School Undergraduate Course Catalogue is published on the School website at www.sml.hw.ac.uk/undergraduate The catalogue contains information on all courses, including aims, assessment methods and topics covered. Students should refer to this catalogue when selecting courses. More detailed information such as an introduction to the course subject, course objectives, teaching methods, tutorial arrangements, assessment, reading lists and a lecture synopsis is usually given out at the first lecture of the course. This is known as the course outline. No guarantee can be given that all the courses listed in the catalogue will be running, this is dependent on staffing requirements and on student demand. Entry to specialist third and fourth year classes is also restricted. It is the responsibility of each student to ensure that they have the correct pre-requisites for the courses they wish to study throughout their programme.

6.2.3

Course Past Papers Past papers are made available at the discretion of individual course coordinators. Where past papers have been released they will be available on the relevant course webpage. Course co-ordinators may also include past papers in their course handouts. Where a past paper is not available a specimen paper will be provided.

6.2.4

Course Mailboxes Mailboxes are located on the first floor in the Mary Burton building. Each semester mailboxes are allocated to SML courses taught in that term. (with the exception of Language courses – see Part A, section 6.5 for further information) These mailboxes are used to leave class information, further reading and handouts. Individual course co-ordinators will advise of whether or not they make use of this facility.

13


School of Management and Languages Undergraduate Student Handbook 2010-2011

6.2.5

Change of Course Students who wish to change any of their optional/elective courses must complete a Change of Course Form before the end of week 3 of the semester in which the course is offered. Forms are available from the School Office in MB 1.23. Students must ensure they have checked with the course co-ordinator for the new course they wish to study that they may be admitted to that course. Once this has been confirmed, students should complete the form and have it signed by their mentor. The completed form should then be returned to the MB 1.23 for processing. Please note that any changes made after the end of week 3 will be subject to a late change fee levied by the University. Failure to notify the School Undergraduate Office of a change in course may lead to a delay in the notification of examination results.

6.3

Timetable The School Undergraduate Timetable is published online at http://www.sml.hw.ac.uk/undergraduate/timetable Full copies of the timetable are also posted on the Timetables Noticeboards located in Mary Burton, and Henry Prais. Please note that Timetable is subject to change and students should regularly check the Timetables Noticeboards or the website for any updates, particularly at the beginning of each semester when changes are more likely.

6.4

Assessment 6.4.1

Coursework Course staff will advise students of the format of any coursework set (e.g. essay, MCQ test, oral presentation), the due date for submission of the coursework and the date set for returning the marked coursework. Any variation in the procedure outlined below will be notified to students by the relevant course co-ordinator. Submission Procedure Coursework must be submitted to the School Office (1.23, Mary Burton Building). Students must sign-in their coursework as this will act as receipt of submission. Coursework for all SML courses must be submitted to this office. Weekly lists of all coursework submission deadlines for that week are posted around the School. Submission dates for individual courses will be publicised on the coursework office noticeboard.

School Office Opening Hours Monday - Thursday 9.30am - 12.30pm & Friday 9.30am-12.30pm &

1.30pm - 4.45pm 1.30pm - 4.30pm

Coursework will not be accepted outside these hours.

14


School of Management and Languages Undergraduate Student Handbook 2010-2011

Late Submission Coursework submitted after the due date must also be submitted to the School Office (MB 1.23). A Late Coursework Submission Form must be completed and any medical certificates or supporting documentation should accompany the form. Students should retain the receipt, a copy of their coursework and supporting documentation. Coursework submitted after the due date for submission but prior to the date set for return of the coursework will be marked. However, it will be subject to a penalty deduction of 30% of the awarded mark. All Late Coursework Submission Forms will be reviewed at the appropriate Board of Examiners along with any medical certificates and supporting documentation. The Board will have discretion to reinstate the full mark or reduce the penalty in the light of circumstances. The Board has absolute discretion in this matter and prior opinions will not be available in any circumstances. Coursework not submitted by the date set for the return of marked coursework will not be marked.

Non-submission Non-submission of coursework must also be intimated to the School Office. Students will be asked to complete a form and supply any medical certificates or supporting documentation for non-submission. Plagiarism and Academic Misconduct The School of Management and Languages takes any breach of academic conduct very seriously. It is the responsibility of all Heriot Watt students to ensure that they read, understand and abide by all University regulations regarding academic misconduct. More information on academic misconduct (including plagiarism, copying, colluding and cheating in examinations and other assessments) is included in Section B: Part 7 of this handbook. This information is here to help you, make the most of your SML degree programme and includes advice on how to avoid making mistakes that could have a serious impact on your studies. Remember: this is your degree- earn it!

6.4.2

School Referencing Policy In order to further aide our students to submit correctly cited academic work, SML has adopted the Harvard Style as its standard mode of referencing. All assessed coursework should adhere to this style of referencing. Heriot Watt's Library has produced a comprehensive guide to the Harvard Style, which can be accessed here: http://www.hw.ac.uk/library/guides.html.

15


School of Management and Languages Undergraduate Student Handbook 2010-2011

The Library also runs a series of Workshops designed to help all students maximise their academic potential and get the most out of the University's extensive resources. It is strongly recommended to all SML students that they utilise the excellent Learning and Teaching support services provided by the Library. 6.4.3

Examinations Full-time students in attendance at the University are entered automatically, without fee, for the examinations of courses in which they are registered. Examination diets take place as follows: 6th December –17th December 2010 25th April 2011 – 20th May 2011 4th August – 12th August 2011

Semester 1 assessment Semester 2 assessment Resits

Students resitting an exam will be subject to an administration charge levied by the University Registry. 6.4.4

Examination Results Accountancy & Finance, Economics, Management Following each assessment diet provisional marks for School of Management and Languages courses are posted on the Examinations noticeboard (opposite MB G.13/G.14). Marks from semester 1 assessment will remain provisional until ratification by the Progression Board of Examiners following semester 2 assessment in May. LINCS At the start of semester 2 you will meet with your mentor who will give you your provisional marks for semester 1. Marks from semester 1 assessment will remain provisional until ratification by the Progression Board of Examiners following semester 2 assessment in May. Results Letters See Part B, Section 4 for further information on results letters and transcripts.

6.4.5

BP Prizes for Excellence in Accountancy & Finance, Economics, and Management The School of Management and Languages in partnership with BP is pleased to recognise students who have produced work of outstanding quality through a series of Prizes. The Prizes are awarded annually in recognition of the quality of major piece of work by SML undergraduates in the fields of Accountancy & Finance, Economics, or Management. More information on these prizes can be found at the following website: http://www.sml.hw.ac.uk/bp-prize/index.html

16


School of Management and Languages Undergraduate Student Handbook 2010-2011

6.4.6

Ill Health and Extenuating Circumstances If you are unable to sit an assessment through illness or other extenuating circumstances, or if you believe that your performance has been affected by these circumstances you should notify the School Undergraduate Office as soon as possible. In addition you must submit to the School Undergraduate Office a Medical Certificate, or other appropriate documentary evidence, before the meeting of the relevant Course Board. Please note that the University’s appeal procedure states that “medical or other matters which could have been brought to the attention of the Examiners or Board of Examiners prior to the disputed decision being taken shall not normally be considered at this stage the point of appeal”. Regulation 36, 4.1. In effect this means that if you submit an appeal against an examination board decision, based on circumstances that you opted not to disclose to the examination board at the time they arose, then the School would not consider this as a basis for appeal.

6.5 Resources for Languages degrees

6.5.1

Class Materials A charge may be payable towards the cost of providing class materials. More information will be provided to students at the beginning of their degree programme.

6.5.2

Programme Mailboxes Mailboxes for each of the four Languages degree programmes can be found on the ground floor of the Henry Prais building. When members of staff wish to contact students they will do so using these mailboxes. Students should check these mailboxes regularly and collect any mail addressed to them.

6.5.3

Self-study Language Laboratory Room 1.17 in the Henry Prais building is a self-study Language Laboratory, providing students with access to foreign language learning resources, including those prescribed for preparation, back-up and practice. More information regarding access to and proper use of the self-study Language Laboratory will be provided to students at the beginning of their degree programme.

Study Abroad 6.6.1

School Exchange Programme Studying abroad during third year is an integral part of the following degrees: LINT and ALT The year abroad is an integral, compulsory and vitally important part of the LINT and ALT programmes and has been part of the degree since its

17


School of Management and Languages Undergraduate Student Handbook 2010-2011

inception. Students spend two periods of five months each on placement at partner institutions with which the School has exchange agreements, moving from the first to the second placement in mid-February. FL-TESOL The year abroad also plays a special part in the FL-TESOL degree programme. Students spend an academic year in just one country, where the main language of study is spoken, participating in a teaching placement. This will enable the student to gain the necessary teaching practice to complete the degree requirements, and to gain the experience of living in the language environment of study. The placement will be as a teaching assistant normally organised through the Central Bureau for Educational Exchange, who have a long established track record in organising such placements, and supporting the students. International Management and Languages (IML) Whilst abroad, students attend appropriate classes in management subjects in the foreign language, as guided by LINCS staff, and take assessment in these courses. They also prepare a Management project, written in English, which forms another vital component of the year abroad, and familiarises students with topical business issues in their country of study. International Management Students spend the year studying abroad at one of our exchange partners who offer business and management courses taught in English. Partners include business schools and universities in Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, New Zealand, Poland, Sweden, and the USA. Students who are fluent in French, German or Spanish may study at our other European partners. Meetings and information sessions will be held throughout the second year for students who will be studying abroad during their third year. Further information is also available online at: www.sml.hw.ac.uk/undergraduate/internationalmanagement/

6.6.2

Outwith the School Exchange Programme Students wishing to study abroad outwith the School Exchange Programme must seek prior approval from the School, and the QESC well in advance of the planned period of study abroad. Only students with prior approval will have their studies abroad recognised by the School. Students will be required to provide information about the institution and their proposed programme of study. Application forms are available from the School Undergraduate Office. The deadline for applications is 28th January 2011.

END OF PART A

18


School of Management and Languages Undergraduate Student Handbook 2010-2011

PART B: UNIVERSITY INFORMATION The Academic Registry is responsible for producing Part B of the handbook to provide information and assistance on University policies and support services. Kathy Patterson is the Academic Registrar and Deputy Secretary. Students should contact the appropriate School/Institute in the first instance for any academic query or assistance. Please note that the following sections are standard sources of information provided to all students. However, certain aspects are programme-specific and students should refer to Part A where directed.

1

Academic Support

1.1

Mentoring Each student studying on a Heriot-Watt University programme will be assigned to a member of staff who will act as their mentor. Mentors can be consulted on all aspects of work, study and other areas of student life. Mentoring is a significant way for the University to ensure that students receive all the support and guidance that they need. The development of a good working relationship between mentor and mentee (the student) is essential for this to be achieved and all students are encouraged to engage with their mentors through regular meetings scheduled in advance. It is important that both student and mentor ensure that they are available for scheduled appointments. Mentors can provide constructive feedback on academic performance from the outset of study and authoritative guidance on academic progression. Examples of the support that mentors will typically provide to students might include: • • • •

acting as first point of contact where students require advice on academic and non-academic issues directing students to further sources of information and advice within the University monitoring students’ academic progress helping students to build a holistic view of how their University career is developing.

At all times students should keep their mentors informed of any changes in circumstances which may affect their academic progress. Where mentors are unable to resolve problems directly with a student, referrals to staff within the student’s School/Institute, the Students’ Association or an appropriate University Student Support Services can be made, a list of which appears later in this handbook. If for what ever reason you are not comfortable continuing with your assigned mentor, then you can ask to be assigned to a new mentor. 19


School of Management and Languages Undergraduate Student Handbook 2010-2011

Please refer to the programme-specific information in Part A of this handbook for further details on Mentoring. For further information, please refer to: http://www.hw.ac.uk/quality/studentsupport.htm http://www.hw.ac.uk/registry/enrolment.htm 1.2

Professional Development Planning Professional Development Planning (PDP) is a structured process to help students to reflect upon their own learning, performance and achievements. It has been designed to support the planning of a student’s personal, educational and career development. At Heriot-Watt University, (with the assistance of the Careers Advisory Service at the Edinburgh Campus) PDP is gradually being introduced to all study programmes PDP involves a process of thinking about what stage of development a student is currently at, where their interests lie, what their strengths are and what improvements they would like to achieve in order to get to where they want to be using the learning opportunities available to them. The ability to reflect on their achievements in areas of personal, academic and career development is an important precursor to planning the next step ahead. Please refer to the programme-specific information in Part A of this handbook for further details on Professional Development Planning. For further information, please refer to: http://www.hw.ac.uk/careers/pdp/index.php

1.3

Student Feedback There are a range of options open to students to communicate their views on programmes and courses to members of academic staff. Questionnaires are regularly issued for students to complete at the end of each course, allowing students to give feedback on the quality of the course and teaching. Students will also receive regular opportunities to speak with staff informally about any concerns or issues that they are facing and staff will always endeavour to resolve issues directly or will provide further guidance and suggestions for students to follow themselves. The Students Association facilitates Class Representatives in every class. You are encouraged to engage with your Class Rep, or stand for the position yourself. Class Reps are managed by School Officers. These students work to improve the academic experience of entire Schools and should be contacted if your Class Rep is unable to help or is unavailable. Finally, The Students Association has a

20


School of Management and Languages Undergraduate Student Handbook 2010-2011

number of elected sabbatical officers. They can be contacted at any time and are there to help you make changes within the University. For more information please call into the Students Union or contact president@hwusa.org Please refer to the programme-specific information in Part A of this handbook for further details on Student Feedback. For further information, please refer to: http://www.hw.ac.uk/quality/studentfeedback.htm http://www.hwusa.org 2

Enrolment, Attendance & Periods of Study

2.1

Enrolment Each student studying at Heriot-Watt is required to enrol with the University each Academic Year. An Enrolment Event is held at both the Edinburgh and Scottish Borders campus locations and is attended by a wide range of University services and the Students Association. Students will be advised of enrolment arrangements prior to the start of each Academic Year. Please refer to the programme-specific information in Part A of this handbook for further details on enrolment. Further information on all aspects of Enrolment is available in the Freshers Guide and online at: http://www.hw.ac.uk/registry/enrolment.htm

2.2

Amendment to Registration If an undergraduate student wishes to amend any of the following listed below, an ‘Amendment to Registration form’ should be completed and submitted to the appropriate Programme Director. The form should be used for the following purposes: • • •

to amend attendance pattern (full-time, part-time, etc.) to amend the study method (on-campus, distance learning) to apply for an extension to period of study (not exceeding one additional year from date of first enrolment)

Please refer to the following link to download the Amendment to Registration Form: www.hw.ac.uk/registry/studentrecords.htm

21


School of Management and Languages Undergraduate Student Handbook 2010-2011

2.3

Teaching Timetables Teaching timetables are available from the University’s timetabling website www.hw.ac.uk/timetabling From here you can also find a range of information regarding all aspects of timetabling, including building names and locations used on the timetables.

2.4

Attendance Students are required to attend all lectures, tutorials and laboratory sessions. Class work must be completed satisfactorily and examinations taken as prescribed for the programme of study. A student who does not meet the requirements for attendance or performance, or both, for a particular course may not be permitted to sit the examination for that course and may also be required to withdraw from the University if problems persist. The University has introduced a new policy on Student Attendance which also contains guidance on Compulsory Withdrawal in cases where a student’s attendance falls below acceptable standards. Students are encouraged to review the Policy on Student Attendance and the accompanying Withdrawal Procedures, which may be accessed at the following web links: http://www.hw.ac.uk/registry/resources/studentattendancepolicy.pdf http://www.hw.ac.uk/registry/resources/withdrawalprocedures.pdf For a period of incapacity to attend classes or perform work of four working days or less because of illness or accident, students should submit a self-certification form. These are available from the School Office. For a period of incapacity of five or more working days the student must provide the School with a doctor’s certificate. Certificates should be given to the appropriate member of staff within the School/Institute who will ensure that the appropriate course co-ordinators are informed. Students will be advised of the most appropriate member of staff. A doctor’s certificate is also required if the performance of a student has been affected by illness or if a student is prevented from sitting an examination through illness or accident, irrespective of the total length of the absence. Students who experience any difficulties with their studies due to illness are encouraged to talk to a member of staff about their situation, preferably their mentor, their programme director or any member of staff whom the student feels is best able to support them. Any member of staff will help students who are having problems but can only do so if they are aware of the situation. For further information please refer to the following Regulations: Regulation 1 – General Regulation, paragraph 6 Regulation 3 (new) – Modular First Degrees, paragraph 11 Regulation 4 – Postgraduate Diplomas and Graduate Diplomas, paragraph 12 Regulation 18 – Postgraduate Certificates and Graduate Certificates, paragraph 12 available at http://www.hw.ac.uk/ordinances/regulations.pdf

22


School of Management and Languages Undergraduate Student Handbook 2010-2011

2.5

Student Personal Information In accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998, Heriot-Watt University is registered as the Data Controller for personal data that is held about students. The University will process student personal data in accordance with the University Data Protection Policy, the UK Data Protection Act 1998 and other applicable laws. For further information, please refer to: www.hw.ac.uk/students/data_protection_policy.pdf

2.6

Change of Address Students must notify the School/Institute of any change in address or other contact details during the programme of their studies at Heriot-Watt University. Failure to do so may lead to important information being misdirected, for example assessment results. Please refer to the programme-specific information in Part A of this handbook for further details on change of address. A “Change of Address” form can be obtained from: www.hw.ac.uk/registry/studentrecords.htm

2.7

Periods of Study Students are normally expected to follow the normal periods of study as described within the University’s Regulations. Students may extend their period of study up to a maximum period, again as described in the University’s Regulations. These time periods are as follows: Type of Award being studied

Recommended period

Maximum Period*

Graduate Certificate (f/t)

6 months

2 years

Graduate Certificate (p/t)

12 months

4 years

Graduate Diploma (f/t)

9 months

2 years

Graduate Diploma (p/t)

15 months

4 years

4 years

Undergraduate Degree (Ord.) (f/t) Undergraduate Degree (Ord.) (p/t)

3 years

Up to 10 years 5 years

Undergraduate Degree (Hons.) (f/t) 23

4 years


School of Management and Languages Undergraduate Student Handbook 2010-2011

Up to 10 years Undergraduate Degree (Hons.) (p/t)

6 years

Undergraduate Masters Degree (f/t) Undergraduate Masters Degree (p/t)

5 years

Up to 10 years

*Undergraduate Studies Committee, acting on behalf of Senate, can extend these periods in extraordinary circumstances. Further information on this issue can be found at: Regulation 3 (new) – Modular First Degrees, paragraph 5 Regulation 4 – Postgraduate Diplomas and Graduate Diplomas, paragraph 10 Regulation 18 – Postgraduate Certificates and Graduate Certificates, paragraph 10 available at http://www.hw.ac.uk/ordinances/regulations.pdf 2.8

Accreditation of Prior Learning Students may be able to obtain accreditation of prior learning for undergraduate and taught postgraduate programmes of study through submission of acceptable evidence. The criteria for admission and exemption based on accreditation of prior learning shall be as specified in the programme structure for each programme of study. For further information, please refer to: Regulation 46 – Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL): http://www.hw.ac.uk/ordinances/regulations.pdf

3

Guidance on Assessment

3.1

Common Assessment and Progression System (CAPS) The University operates an integrated Common Assessment and Progression System (CAPS) for all undergraduate students. The main features of this system include a common allocation of course results in the form of grades and clear assessment, re-assessment and progression guidelines. Further information on CAPS – Information for Undergraduate Students is available at: http://www.hw.ac.uk/registry/policies.htm

3.2

Assessment Some courses are assessed by 100% examination, some by 100% assessed work and many have a combination of both assessed work and examination.

24


School of Management and Languages Undergraduate Student Handbook 2010-2011

Students should ensure that they know and understand the method of assessment for each course that they take. At the end of a course students will be awarded a provisional grade for that course in accordance with CAPS guidance. If students do not gain the required grade (in some cases a pass requires a student to re-sit) for a course at the first attempt they will normally be permitted an opportunity to re-sit that course during the re-sit diet of exams. In each year or stage of Undergraduate study a total of 8 courses are normally taken. Each course is worth 15 Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) credits, equivalent to 7.5 credits under the European Credit Transfer Scheme (ECTS). Therefore, this equates to a total credit value of 120 SCQF credits taken each year. To progress to the next year or stage of a programme, Undergraduate students need to have satisfied both of the following criteria: (a) A minimum number of credit points must be obtained in order to proceed (note that Schools set their own criteria regarding minimum credit levels and you should consult relevant areas of this programme handbook for further details) and, (b) A minimum of Grade D is required in all courses which are pre-requisites for courses taken in subsequent stages and also in courses which have been designated as requiring a minimum of Grade D. Any courses designated as requiring Grade D will be clearly identified through course summaries (known as descriptors) and confirmed by staff members. If an Undergraduate student does not obtain at least a Grade D following reassessment in a course which is a pre-requisite or has been designated as requiring a minimum of Grade D s/he will not be permitted to progress to the next stage of the programme but may be permitted one opportunity to repeat the course, or to change programme. If an undergraduate student does not obtain at least a Grade E following reassessment in a course which is not a pre-requisite or designated as requiring a minimum of Grade D s/he may be permitted to progress to the second or third stage of the programme with one opportunity to repeat the course. Students may be permitted to repeat up to a maximum of three courses during each of these years or stages of study, although not more than one in each semester. Students are required to pay for each repeated course (see section on Student Fees and Charges below for details). Undergraduate students who do not satisfy the requirements for progression or who are required to repeat courses in the next year of the programme will be advised by the School/Institute Administrator of available opportunities for further study. Please refer to the programme-specific information in Part A of this handbook for further details on assessment.

25


School of Management and Languages Undergraduate Student Handbook 2010-2011

Further information on Assessment issues can be found on information sheets contained within Enrolment Packs. Further information can also be found in the following regulations: Regulation 3 (new) – Modular First Degrees, paragraphs 13 -19 Regulation 4 – Postgraduate Diplomas and Graduate Diplomas, paragraphs 13 – 19 Regulation 18 – Postgraduate Certificates and Graduate Certificates, paragraphs 13 - 19 available at http://www.hw.ac.uk/ordinances/regulations.pdf 3.3

Ill Health and Extenuating Circumstances - Assessment A student who is prevented from sitting an assessment through illness or other extenuating circumstances or who believes that their performance has been affected by these circumstances should notify their School/Institute Administrator as soon as possible. In addition students must also submit to the School a medical certificate, or other documentary evidence, as appropriate, before the relevant Course Board meets. For further information on this issue please refer to: Regulation 1 – General Regulation, paragraph 6 Regulation 3 (new) – Modular First Degrees, paragraph 11, 16, 26 Regulation 4 – Postgraduate Diplomas and Graduate Diplomas, paragraph 12, 17, 21 Regulation 18 – Postgraduate Certificates and Graduate Certificates, paragraph 12, 17, 21 available at http://www.hw.ac.uk/ordinances/regulations.pdf

3.4

Submission of Assessment Assessed work for all degree programmes must be submitted to the School/Institute Office by the stipulated deadline, which the School/Institute will confirm with students. Work submitted will be logged by the School/Institute Office and students may be issued with a receipt. Students are strongly advised to retain a copy of their submitted work as well as any other documentation. All late submissions will be reviewed by the relevant Assessment Board, along with any supporting documentation. The Board will have the option to adjust the mark and to reduce the penalty in the light of the circumstances. The Board has absolute discretion in this matter and the outcome will be notified to students only after the meeting of the Board. Please refer to the programme-specific information in Part A of this handbook for further details on submission of assessment.

26


School of Management and Languages Undergraduate Student Handbook 2010-2011

3.5

Extension to Assessment Deadlines The University has introduced a Late Submission policy which contains detailed guidance on late submission of assessments and dissertations. Please refer to the Academic Registry web site for further information on: http://www.hw.ac.uk/registry Please refer to the programme-specific information in Part A of this handbook for further details regarding penalties for late submission.

3.6

Non-Submission of Assessments Non-submission of assessed work must also be intimated to the School/Institute Office. The student will be asked to supply any medical certificates or supporting documentation relating to the non-submission. Any variation in the School/Institute procedure for the submission of assessed work will be communicated to students by their course co-ordinator or another appropriate member of staff. Please refer to the programme-specific information in Part A of this handbook for further details on non-submission of assessments.

4

Examination and Re-assessment Procedures

4.1

Examinations Full-time students in attendance at the University are entered automatically, without fee, for the initial examinations of courses for which they are enrolled. Reexamination attempts in any course for which a student is enrolled will normally incur a fee. It is important that students ensure that they have notified any change in course to the School Office no later than the end of Week 3 of the relevant semester. Failure to notify the School Office of a change in course may lead to a delay in notification of examination results and a possible fine. Please note that the University may prevent a student taking an assessment if University fees and/or charges are outstanding. Please refer to the Policy on Student Fees and Charges for further details, available at the following link: http://www.hw.ac.uk/policy/student_fees.pdf Please refer to the programme-specific information in Part A of this handbook for further details on examinations. Further information on Examinations is available at: Ordinance 2 – Fees, Charges, Fines and Debts available at http://www.hw.ac.uk/ordinances/ordinances.pdf

4.2

Examination Diets The dates for examination diets will be confirmed by the students’ School/Institute at the start of each new academic session.

27


School of Management and Languages Undergraduate Student Handbook 2010-2011

Students are strongly advised not to make any arrangements to travel away from their campus location any earlier than the day after the last day of each examination diet in order to avoid any unnecessary problems with examination dates. Please note that the dates of the April/May 2011 Exam Diet may change. It is essential that you check the dates with your School/Institute prior to making any other arrangements around this time Please refer to the programme-specific information in Part A of this handbook for further details on examinations diets. Further information on Examination diets can be found in the student Enrolment Packs http://www.hw.ac.uk/registry/enrolment.htm or on the Examinations web pages: http://www.hw.ac.uk/registry/examinations.htm 4.3

Examination Timetables Examination timetables are prepared by the Academic Registry and are displayed on the University Examinations Noticeboard (located opposite the main entrance to the Lord Balerno Building) and on appropriate School noticeboards by the following dates in each academic session (correct at time of publication): December diet Spring diet (final year students) Spring diet (continuing students) Re-sit diet

31 October 28 February 12 March 24 July

Students must check these timetables carefully as it is their responsibility to ensure that they have the correct time and location for any examinations that they are sitting. Draft timetables are posted a week prior to these dates and it is also students’ responsibility to check for any examination clashes and inform the Academic Registry immediately if a problem is discovered. All timetables are published subject to necessary alteration. Please refer to the programme-specific information in Part A of this handbook for further details on examination timetables. Further information on Examination Diets and Examination Timetables is available at: http://www.hw.ac.uk/registry/examinations/timetable.htm 4.4

Assessment Results Provisional results are not normally made available after the examination diet as they are subject to ratification. However, students may receive feedback on their performance via their mentor or course leader. Examination results will normally

28


School of Management and Languages Undergraduate Student Handbook 2010-2011

be posted on School noticeboards and will be presented in order of student identity number only. Any direct communication of examination results will be done face-to-face with staff and students only. Information will not be relayed over the telephone or via email. Letters confirming results and decisions on students’ performance in each course by grade, and giving a progression decision (for example, Re-assessment, PassProceed, etc.) are sent out by the Academic Registry at the end of the academic year and following re-sits where these are required. Students should ensure that they keep the copy of their transcript safe. Please refer to the programme-specific information in Part A of this handbook for further details on assessment results. Further information on the publication of results can be obtained at: http://www.hw.ac.uk/registry/examinations.htm 4.5

Discretionary Credits In cases where an Undergraduate student has satisfied the overall requirements for the programme or for progression to the next stage of the programme, but does not have the required number of credit points, the Progression Board may award 'discretionary credits', granted in a maximum of two courses or 30 credits (3 courses or 45 credits for combined studies students), so that the student is eligible to receive the final award or to progress to the next stage. ‘Discretionary credits’ are not given automatically to students who do not have sufficient credit points, but are applied only after consideration by the Progression Board. For further information on this issue please refer to: Regulation 3 – Modular First Degrees, paragraph 23 Regulation 4 – Postgraduate Diplomas and Graduate Diplomas, paragraph 20 Regulation 18 – Postgraduate Certificates and Graduate Certificates, paragraph 20 available at http://www.hw.ac.uk/ordinances/regulations.pdf

4.6

Re-assessment It is the responsibility of the student to ensure that they are able to take any re-sit examinations. If a student does not perform sufficiently well in examinations during the year, they must ensure that they are able to attend re-sit sessions. The School/Institute will be able to provide relevant information to individual students where required. Students will be formally notified of any re-sit requirements and opportunities when their progression decision and final grades are made available at the end of the academic year. The Academic Registry will mail a Re-assessment Application Form to those students who have not gained the minimum grade

29


School of Management and Languages Undergraduate Student Handbook 2010-2011

requirements for progression. It is therefore important that students maintain up to date contact details with their School/Institute. If a re-sit is allowed, students must enrol and pay the appropriate fee for all forms of reassessment, including re-sit examinations, resubmission of assessed work or project work and any remedial work. Students will be notified of the relevant fee and any deadline for enrolling when they receive their reassessment application form. See also section on Student Fees and Charges below for details. Normally re-sit examinations must be taken on campus. However, in certain circumstances, the University may consider applications from students to re-sit examinations overseas. It should be noted that ALL expenses incurred by the University in arranging this are required to be met by the student, which may be extensive in some cases. Whilst the University makes every effort to accommodate practice in countries across the world, there may be occasions when this is not possible. If a student studying on campus has been involved in a disciplinary matter relating to examinations or assessments, they may not be allowed to undertake re-assessments off-campus. Please refer to the programme-specific information in Part A of this handbook for further details on re-assessment. Further information and Reassessment Application Forms can be found at: http://www.hw.ac.uk/registry/examinations/reassessmentprocedures.htm 4.7

Use of Calculators and Dictionaries in Examinations In examinations, where calculators are permitted by the Head of School (or nominee) and where there is a restriction on the model to be used, one of the following University approved models should be used: • • • • •

Casio fx-85WA Casio fx-85MS Casio fx-85ES Casio fx-83MS Casio fx-83ES

In examinations, where calculators are permitted and where a Head of School (or nominee) has agreed that there should be no restriction on the model of calculators used, any restrictions on text storage and retrieval facilities must be imposed by the Head of School (or nominee) setting the examination. Students should note that if a Head of School (or nominee) has informed the Academic Registry that there is a restriction on the model to be used in an examination, invigilators have been instructed to confiscate any calculators which are not the University approved models. Academic Registry do not supply calculators for student use in examinations.

30


School of Management and Languages Undergraduate Student Handbook 2010-2011

Dictionaries A candidate shall not be permitted to introduce printed or other materials such as dictionaries including electronic dictionaries into the examination room except such as may be authorised by the Head of School. Mobile telephones and other electronic equipment shall be switched off and shall be deposited with other personal items in an area designated by an invigilator. Further information on the use of Calculators and Dictionaries in examinations can be found at the following web link: http://www.hw.ac.uk/registry/policies.htm and at: Regulation 9 (New) – Assessments and Examinations, paragraph 8 available at http://www.hw.ac.uk/ordinances/regulations.pdf 4.8

Ill Health and Extenuating Circumstances - Examinations If a student is prevented from sitting an examination through illness or other extenuating circumstances, or believes that their performance has been affected by these circumstances then they should notify the School/Institute as soon as they are able to do so. In addition students must submit to the School a medical certificate, or other documentary evidence, as appropriate, before the relevant Examination Board meets. Students should refer to the programme-specific information in Part A of this handbook for related procedures in Schools. Further information on this issue can be found at: Regulation 1 – General Regulation, paragraph 6 Regulation 9 (New) – Assessments and Examinations, paragraphs 9 and 12 available at http://www.hw.ac.uk/ordinances/regulations.pdf

5

Grading, Awards and Qualifications

5.1

Intermediate Awards Intermediate Awards are University awards which may be conferred on any eligible Undergraduate student wishing to apply for one as they progress through each stage of their programme, on the condition that they have obtained sufficient credits. For example, an Undergraduate degree student may be eligible to apply for a Certificate of Higher Education at the end of their first year of studies, provided they have acquired 120 credits. Applications for Intermediate Awards are made to the Academic Registry along with a payment for the appropriate fee as detailed on the fees sheet within students’ Enrolment Packs.

31


School of Management and Languages Undergraduate Student Handbook 2010-2011

Further information on Undergraduate Intermediate awards can be found at: http://www.hw.ac.uk/registry/awards/intermediateawards.htm 5.2

Honours Classification and Grading Honours classification is determined by the weighted average, rounded to the nearest whole number of marks attained in qualifying courses as follows:

Award First Class Honours

Grade Grade A

Second Class Honours (Upper)

Grade B

Second Class Honours (Lower)

Grade C

Third Class Honours

Grade D

Bachelors (Ordinary)

Grade E

Minimum Criteria Either overall performance in qualifying courses at Grade A, or equivalent average percentage mark, or the majority of passes in qualifying courses at Grade A and none less than Grade D Either overall performance in qualifying courses at Grade B, or equivalent average percentage mark, or the majority of passes in qualifying courses at Grade B and none less than Grade D Either overall performance in qualifying courses at Grade C, or equivalent average percentage mark, or the majority of passes in qualifying courses at Grade C and none less than Grade D Either overall performance in qualifying courses at Grade D, or equivalent average percentage mark, or the majority of passes in qualifying courses at Grade D normally a minimum of Grade D in prerequisites and in courses designated as requiring a Grade D minimum

Where the weighted average indicates a borderline case (i.e. D/E, C/D or B/C), the Progression Board may give further consideration on a case by case basis. Students should refer to the programme-specific information in Part A of this handbook on award criteria. For further information regarding the qualifying courses used to determine honours classifications, please refer to: Regulation 3 (new) – Modular First Degrees, paragraph 15 Further information on credit levels relating to degree awards can be found at: Regulation 3 (new) – Modular First Degrees, paragraph 21 both of which are available at http://www.hw.ac.uk/ordinances/regulations.pdf

32


School of Management and Languages Undergraduate Student Handbook 2010-2011

6

Graduation

6.1

Graduation Guidelines The Academic Registry is responsible for organising Graduation ceremonies which take place each year in June and November. This is an important day in the University diary where students, parents, other guests and staff celebrate the achievements of the year together. Graduation ceremonies for those graduating from the Edinburgh campus in both June and November, for those graduating from the Orkney campus and for those from the Scottish Borders campus graduating in November only takes place at the Edinburgh campus. Ceremonies for all students graduating from the Scottish Borders campus in June take place in the Old Parish and St Paul’s Church in Galashiels. Further information on Graduation events is issued annually by the Academic Registry and is available at: http://www.hw.ac.uk/registry/graduation.htm

7

Conduct, Discipline & Appeals The University publishes detailed Guidelines for Students and Staff on Student Discipline Procedures, a copy of which may be accessed at the following web link: http://www.hw.ac.uk/registry/resources/discguidelines.pdf For further information on all areas of Academic Conduct (including copying, plagiarism and collusion) within the following section, please refer to: Ordinance 9 – Student Discipline Regulation 9 (New) – Assessment and Examinations, Paragraph 8 Regulation 50 – Student Discipline available at http://www.hw.ac.uk/ordinances.htm Please also refer to University guidelines on Plagiarism at: http://www.hw.ac.uk/registry/discipline/plagiarism.htm

7.1

Use of Mobile Telephones Mobile telephones should be used around the University with consideration for others. During lectures, tutorials and examinations, mobile telephones should be switched off. Failure to follow these requirements may result in disciplinary action being taken by the University.

33


School of Management and Languages Undergraduate Student Handbook 2010-2011

7.2

Academic Misconduct The School/Institute takes all academic misconduct extremely seriously and investigates all alleged offences of cheating in assessed work and examinations. Students suspected of misconduct are dealt with accordingly through the University’s Student Discipline Procedures. Academic misconduct during examinations includes: • • •

the act of bringing unauthorised material (written, printed or in any other format) into the examination room communicating with, receiving assistance from, copying from or providing assistance to another candidate during an examination removing examination books or worksheets from the examination room.

If the University finds a student to be in breach of discipline by having cheated in assessed work and/or examinations, it has the discretion to apply a range of penalties, ranging from nullification of course results up to suspension or expulsion from the University. The standard penalty applied is to make null and void all assessments undertaken during the relevant diet. The University understands that students may not be fully aware of the issues surrounding academic misconduct and they may also find that guidance provided at Heriot-Watt differs from advice previously given, perhaps compared to that given within their home country or through other experiences. It is therefore important that students inform themselves of these issues and seek the advice of staff in their School/Institute or in a University support service as soon as any problems arise. The consequences of misconduct in examinations and all other forms of assessment are severe and may result in all assessments undertaken at the relevant diet being made null and void. 7.3

Copying Copying the work of others, including that of other students in the class or group, is an indication of unfair means whereby one person gains credit for the work undertaken by another. Where an element of reproduction is a desirable element of an assessment, as might be the case in a group project or presentation, the instructions for the assessed work will specify the extent to which such reproduction is permissible. The extent of legitimate reproduction must be acknowledged by a student within their work. In any work submitted, students must make clear any permitted reproduction which has been carried out. Students are advised to check the rest of their work to ensure that it is their own. Working with other students in informal study groups is a desirable part of the academic experience but students must ensure that the work that is finally submitted is theirs and not that of anyone else. Students should keep copies of material such as working notes, or sketches of diagrams or drafts of essays that show that the work and its source has been acknowledged and identified.

7.4

Plagiarism As the consequences of misconduct in examinations and all other forms of assessment are severe, the Student Guide to Plagiarism (link below) is 34


School of Management and Languages Undergraduate Student Handbook 2010-2011

embedded into this handbook, please refer to Appendix A or download electronic copies at the following links: For an English language version, please refer to http://www.hw.ac.uk/registry/resources/plagiarismguide.pdf For the Chinese language version, please refer to http://www.hw.ac.uk/registry/resources/plagiarismguidechinese.pdf For the Arabic language version, please refer to http://www.hw.ac.uk/registry/resources/plagiarismguidearabic.pdf Note on Detection of Plagiarism Heriot Watt University may require student work to be submitted for checking using plagiarism detection software. This is intended to assist students in identifying possible plagiarism in programme work being submitted for assessment which could otherwise result in disciplinary action being taken against students by the University in accordance with Ordinance 9 (Student Discipline). For further information, please refer to: http://www.hw.ac.uk/registry/discipline.htm http://www.hw.ac.uk/registry/resources/plagiarismjiscnote.pdf 7.5

Collusion Collusion involves an agreement to deceive. This means that more than one person is involved in the deception. An accusation of collusion may be added to an accusation of copying if there is clear evidence of the involvement of each party. Students should be extremely careful about lending their completed work to other persons. Students may think that they are helping others to meet a deadline in lending their work to others but it may result in problems if other students copy a student’s work without informing them. What starts out as a supportive action may carry the risk of an accusation of collusion.

7.6

Appeals Where students experience difficulties with issues of misconduct, including those set out above, they have the right to appeal against any decisions made regarding their conduct whilst studying at the University. Appeals may relate to course results, progression or awards. In each case, there are clear and established procedures which students can follow. For further information on student appeals please refer to: Regulation 36 – Student Appeals available at http://www.hw.ac.uk/ordinances/regulations.pdf

35


School of Management and Languages Undergraduate Student Handbook 2010-2011

8

Deferred Progression, Suspension and Withdrawal Students may wish to suspend or withdraw from their studies for many reasons, which should be discussed with a mentor or other member of academic staff as soon as possible. These discussions can help students to consider all available options and perhaps identify a way where the student can continue with their studies at a more suitable stage. Should the student decide to withdraw permanently from their studies, further advice can be given to ensure that this transition is completed efficiently.

8.1

Deferred Progression An undergraduate student who has satisfied the requirements for progress and who wishes to suspend studies prior to continued enrolment may be permitted by the Head of School to defer proceedings for one academic year in the first instance. In this case students should complete the 'Amendment to Registration’ Form (Approval by School)’ which is available at: www.hw.ac.uk/registry/studentrecords.htm

8.2

Suspension A student who has satisfied the requirements for progress and who wishes to suspend studies prior to continued enrolment may be permitted by the Head of School/Institute to defer proceedings for one academic year in the first instance. In this case students should complete the 'Amendment to Registration Form (Approval by School/Institute)’ which is available at: www.hw.ac.uk/registry/studentrecords.htm In exceptional circumstances, during the programme of the academic year, where applicable, a candidate for an undergraduate award may be permitted to suspend studies temporarily for a specified period of time. In this case students should complete the 'Student Appeal Form’ (Approval by Undergraduate Studies Committee) which is available at: www.hw.ac.uk/registry/studentrecords.htm Students are advised to consult with their Mentor and/or their Programme Director in the first instance. In addition, any relevant medical certificates or other supporting documentation must also be submitted before the relevant Examination Board meets. For further information on Suspension please refer to: Regulation 3 (new) – Modular First Degrees, paragraph 20 Regulation 4 – Postgraduate Diplomas and Graduate Diplomas, paragraph 10 Regulation 18 – Postgraduate Certificates and Graduate Certificates, paragraph 10 available at http://www.hw.ac.uk/ordinances/regulations.pdf

36


School of Management and Languages Undergraduate Student Handbook 2010-2011

8.3

Withdrawal Any student wishing to withdraw from the University should inform their appropriate School/Institute in writing of the date of their withdrawal and the reasons for withdrawing, using the approved ‘Withdrawal from the University’ pro forma which is available at: http://www.hw.ac.uk/registry/studentrecords.htm Before making any decision to withdraw, students are strongly advised to speak to their mentor or other trusted member of staff to discuss the situation fully.

8.4

Exit Awards If you choose to leave the University part way through your programme, you may have acquired enough credits to be eligible for the award of Certificate of Higher Education (120 credits), Diploma or Higher Education (240 credits) or Bachelors Degree (360 credits). The Academic Registry will notify you of your eligibility for an award, inviting you to complete the application form and return it, together with the appropriate fee, to receive your award certificate.

9

Student Fees and Charges

9.1

Student Fees and Charges Policy All students are advised to refer to the Policy on Student Fees and Charges which provides detailed advice on the following issues: • • • • •

Types of Fees and Fees Status* Payment Arrangements Late Payments and Penalties Appeals Processes Help and Support with Payments

* Students who are about to begin a programme and are unsure whether their fees status should be 'home' or 'overseas' should fill in a Fees Status Enquiry Form. Please note that fees status classification remains the same for the duration of the programme except in exceptional cases as outlined in the guidelines at the end of the form. Students experiencing financial difficulties are strongly encouraged to contact Student Welfare Services or the Students Association for support, as well as informing their School/Institute. Further information on Student Fees is available at: www.hw.ac.uk/student-life/scholarships/tuition-fees.htm A copy of the Policy on Student Fees and Charges is available at: http://www.hw.ac.uk/policy/student_fees.pdf Further information on Fees Status and a copy of the Fees Status Enquiry form is available at:

37


School of Management and Languages Undergraduate Student Handbook 2010-2011

www.hw.ac.uk/student-life/scholarships/tuition-fees.htm 9.2

Charges for Transcripts, Certifications, Late Enrolment and Student Identity Cards The following items will attract a charge for which students are normally liable. Further details of each item can be found at www.hw.ac.uk/registry Re-assessment Fees Where reassessment is allowed students applying to re-sit courses and examinations must pay a set fee for each reassessed course or examination, using a prescribed form available from the Academic Registry. Further information on re-assessment is available at: http://www.hw.ac.uk/registry/examinations/reassessmentprocedures.htm Repeated Courses Should a student not satisfy the minimum progression criteria for a particular course and be permitted to repeat a course, the standard course fee will be payable by the student in advance of commencing the repeated course. Students should refer to the University Additional Courses Policy at the following web link: http://www.hw.ac.uk/students/AdditionalCoursesPolicy.pdf Please refer to the programme-specific information in Part A of this handbook for further details on repeating courses. Academic Transcripts Should a student require a replacement transcript for any reason a charge is levied by the School/Institute to issue a duplicate transcript. Certification Students may receive one free certification per academic year during the enrolment process. Further certifications, confirming their status as a student of Heriot-Watt University, may be issued but a charge will be levied by the relevant School/Institute Office. Late Enrolment Students who have not enrolled with the University by the appropriate date will be charged a late enrolment fee of £30 to cover administration costs. Exemption from the fee may only considered in certain cases. Late Course Enrolment Where a student is able to enrol for optional or elective courses, a late course enrolment fee will be applied by the Academic Registry to students who enrol on a course after the end of week 3 of the semester in which the course is taught. Replacement Student Identity Card A fee is charged by the Academic Registry to replace a student’s identity card unless an official police report is produced confirming that their identity card has been stolen.

38


School of Management and Languages Undergraduate Student Handbook 2010-2011

Details of all of the charges highlighted in this section can be accessed by following the ‘Additional Notes on Fees’ link at: http://www.hw.ac.uk/registry/tuitionfees.htm Students can also refer to the following University ordinance for more information: Ordinance 2 – Fees, Charges, Fines and Debts available at http://www.hw.ac.uk/ordinances/ordinances.pdf Students should also refer to the Policy on Student Fees and Charges is available at: http://www.hw.ac.uk/policy/student_fees.pdf 10

Student Services Much of this handbook has been designed to provide guidance on the academic operations of a complex institution like Heriot-Watt University. However, as well as producing well-informed students, the University also hopes to ensure that students are happy members of a vibrant community. What follows describes a range of services aimed at helping students to get the most out of their time here and to remedy any problems they experience along the way. The main student support services are summarised below. A detailed Guide to Student Services can be found in the Student Enrolment packs and at the following web location: www.hw.ac.uk/students/

10.1

Academic Registry The Academic Registry forms a central part of the wider range of Support Services offered to students, together with Student Welfare Services and Careers Advisory Service. The Academic Registry is responsible for a range of academic administrative services in relation to undergraduate and postgraduate students, staff and programmes at all campuses of the University. The Academic Registry is responsible for the administrative aspects of: • • • • • • • • •

Enrolment Student Records Tuition Fees Part-time Fee Waiver Scheme Undergraduate and Postgraduate Studies International Student Advice (see below) Exchange Programmes Examinations and Assessments Intermediate Awards

39


School of Management and Languages Undergraduate Student Handbook 2010-2011

• • • • • • • • • • • •

Graduation Prizes and Medals Distance Learning Quality Assurance and Enhancement Student-related statistical returns Academic Committee Secretariat Ordinances and Regulations Common Assessment & Progression System (CAPS). Accreditation of Prior Learning Student Complaints Student Discipline Student Appeals to Senate

Further information on the Academic Registry is available in the Freshers Guide and at the following web link: http://www.hw.ac.uk/registry In addition, the International Student Advisers’ Office is an important service based in the Academic Registry. The Advisers’ main areas of support and advice are: • • • • •

Immigration and Visas General Advice for International Students Foundation English Programme Student support International Exchange Programmes Fees Status enquiries

Further information on the International Student Advisers office can also be found in the Pre-arrival Guide for International Students, the Freshers Guide and at: http://www.hw.ac.uk/support/isao/ We would welcome feedback from students on the service provided by Academic Registry and would appreciate if you would take the time to complete our feedback questionnaire and return it to the Academic Registry. The forms are available at the Academic Registry office location in the Lord Balerno building or at the following web link: http://www.hw.ac.uk/registry/resources/studentfeedback.doc 10.2

Careers Advisory Service The University Careers Advisory Service is part of the Office of Student Services and offers a range of core services aimed at helping students to develop the skills required to make and implement their career choice including the ability to market themselves successfully in the graduate selection process. This work is delivered via School based workshops, one-to-one guidance, a comprehensive information room and a website which includes details of parttime, vacation and permanent work.

40


School of Management and Languages Undergraduate Student Handbook 2010-2011

Further information on the Careers Advisory Service is available in the Guide to Students Services provided in Student Enrolment packs and on the Careers Advisory Service’s website located at: www.hw.ac.uk/careers The Academic Counselling and Skills Coaching Service, Part of the Careers Advisory Service, this service helps students to develop skills and become effective learners, to improve the way they study, to achieve greater academic success at university and to acquire transferable skills which are highly valued by employers. Confidential one-to-one sessions or group seminars are available by arrangement and students will also be referred to other university services wherever helpful. Further information on the Academic Counselling and Skills Coaching Service is provided within the Guide to Student Services and is available via the internet at: www.hw.ac.uk/sbc/library/academic_skills/index.htm 10.3

Centre for Sport and Exercise The sport and exercise facilities and opportunities available at Heriot-Watt University are amongst the best in the country, designed to provide a comprehensive and high quality range of indoor and outdoor facilities. Facilities and services available at the Edinburgh campus include: • • • • • • • • •

Two Sports Halls including an indoor climbing wall A fixed resistance suite, an air-conditioned cardiovascular suite and a strength and conditioning centre Eight squash courts including a Championship court incorporating a glass front wall and seating front and back Three floodlit synthetic grass tennis courts Comprehensive Exercise Programme incorporating classes, workshops, advisories and inductions Comprehensive campus sports programme offering a competitive sports programme Football Academy in association with Heart of Midlothian Golf Academy for indoor driving, chipping, bunker and putting practice Sport and Exercise Science and Medicine Centre providing services available to all students.

Facilities at the Scottish Borders Campus, Galashiels Students at the Scottish Borders Campus have the opportunity to join in the activities on the main Edinburgh campus or involve themselves in the expanding programme at Galashiels managed by a dedicated Sport and Exercise Development Co-ordinator located in a modern campus facility. Facilities include a Hall for exercise classes or badminton, cardiovascular, conditioning and free weights suites as well as studios for spin and small exercise sessions. Further information on Sport and Exercise Services is available in the Guide to Student Services provided in Enrolment Packs and at:

41


School of Management and Languages Undergraduate Student Handbook 2010-2011

http://www.hw.ac.uk/sports/ 10.4

Chaplaincy The University Chaplaincy is led by the University Chaplain and offers a wide range of services to all students across the University, including: •

• • • •

• •

A social meal every Wednesday at 6:00pm providing a focus for lasting friendships for many students from all over the world and of any religion or none. Regular day and weekend trips into the Scottish countryside Social and meeting space open to all Catholic Vigil Mass (Saturday 6:00pm) and a non-denominational Service (Sunday 11:30am) Confidential pastoral and welfare sessions are available with the Chaplain or Honorary Chaplains (representing different denominations) are available Tuesday lunchtime soup and rolls for staff and students from 12:30pm Friday lunchtime Wives Group for wives and children of overseas staff and postgraduates who are feeling a need to learn more of foreign culture and make new friends from across the world.

Anyone of any religion or none is welcome to attend any of the Chaplaincy’s activities. A leaflet providing contact details for members of the Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Sikh or Buddhist faiths is available from the Chaplaincy. For students at the Scottish Borders campus in Galashiels, an Honorary Chaplain (Church of Scotland) makes regular visits. Further information on the University Chaplaincy Service, including opening hours and contact numbers can be accessed at: http://www.hw.ac.uk/chaplaincy/ 10.5

Computing Services Information Technology (IT) provides computing facilities for all students in the University at it’s Edinburgh campus and in partnership with Borders College ICT at it’s Scottish Borders campus. Students are strongly advised to read Regulation 29 ‘Use of Computing Facilities’ for further guidance on using these facilities. This is available at the following location: http://www.hw.ac.uk/it/Rules_%20Regulations/index.html Service Desk The IT Service Desk offers friendly help and support. There is drop-in access, contact via email or telephone. This includes the provision of online information through help pages, FAQ's, documentation, fact sheets and the sale of laser print quota. The Helpdesk can be contacted on 4045. Student Desktop The main student service is the University common University Desktop Service, a network of over 700 PCs operating Windows XP and Office 2007. A common

42


School of Management and Languages Undergraduate Student Handbook 2010-2011

range of general use and specialist software is also available from this service. New students may self enrol for the service from any connected PC and they will be provided with instructions to do this at Enrolment. The University Desktop Service workstations are available in labs throughout Schools as well as in the Library. Freewire The University provides an “always on” data/internet connection and telephone access via a pre-paid billing scheme directly into every student bedroom on the Edinburgh campus. Students may use this connection to access their email and the internet via their own PC. Further information on Freewire, including user manuals can be accessed at the following location: http://www.freewiretv.com/hw Further information on computing facilities is available in the Guide to Student Services provided in Enrolment Packs and at: http://www.hw.ac.uk/it/ 10.6

Information Security Keep your information secure by taking the following steps: • Protect your own personal information – it’s valuable. • Keep your passport and other important personal documents safely locked away. If you have to make an electronic copy of a document that could be used for identity theft always ensure it is securely protected e.g. in encrypted format. • Don’t keep your only copy of your work on a memory stick. Always back up your work to your University account • Protect confidential electronic documents with strong passwords combining letters and numbers • Lock your computer screen or log out when you are leaving your desk • Protect your passwords and don’t share them with others. • When handling someone else’s personal information, consider: if this was your personal data, would you be happy for everyone else to see it? Take control of your communications: • • • • •

If you use web 2.0/social networking technologies, activate the privacy settings before you or other users share personal and confidential data. Check that you don’t surrender IPR to the service provider. Keep back up copies of your work as external services can and do disappear without notice. If you have to send confidential information by email, encrypt or password protect the data. Don’t respond to email requests for your password or bank details Be cautious about opening email attachments – if in doubt scan for viruses.

To find out more about what the University does with your personal data please contact the FOI and Data Protection Office:

43


School of Management and Languages Undergraduate Student Handbook 2010-2011

Email: foi@hw.ac.uk Tel: +44 (0)131 3219/3274 10.7

Development & Alumni Office Heriot-Watt University is the home of The Watt Club, the UK’s oldest Graduate Association, founded in 1854. This association provides a number of services to more than 75,000 graduates around the world. With a network of local branches and Ambassadors around the world, The Watt Club provides a great opportunity to meet fellow graduates and re-connect with friends. Our graduates have developed successful careers in a variety of industries across the world. The University takes great pride in the achievements of its graduates and the role the Schools and Support Services have played in their success. The Development and Alumni Office administers The Watt Club and through fundraising, provides a number of scholarships and an Alumni Fund from which student groups and individuals can apply for project funding. You can visit the alumni website and learn more at: www.hw.ac.uk/wattclub

10.8

Equality & Diversity Service The Equality and Diversity Team work to promote good practice in equal access and non-discrimination for all students, ensuring that relevant legislation and best practice is interpreted and implemented effectively across the University. Further information can be obtained by visiting the Equality and Diversity Service notice board which is situated along the main corridor between the University reception in the James Watt Centre and the refectory located in the Hugh Nisbet building, or at the following web page: http://www.hw.ac.uk/equality/

10.9

Finance Office The Finance Office is an important point of contact for students who need to make payments to the University and seek advice on financial issues. Students can visit the Finance Office Customer Service desk, situated on the ground floor of the Lord Balerno Building, should they wish to: • •

pay tuition fees, accommodation charges and other ad-hoc charges elect to pay these fees and accommodation charges by direct debit

Students can contact the Finance Office via e-mail at Finance@hw.ac.uk and can access student finance information online at http://www.hw.ac.uk/student-life/scholarships-fees.htm

44


School of Management and Languages Undergraduate Student Handbook 2010-2011

10.10 Heriot Watt University Students’ Union Your Students Union champions student views and ensures that the interests of students are central to the University’s decision making. All students automatically become members upon joining the University, although students may opt out of this if they wish to. Your Union is entirely student-led, with professional staff employed to ensure continuity and provide expert advice. It offers its members a variety of opportunities to become involved in running its affairs, through election to office-holding positions or on a voluntary basis. Your Union is an independent organisation and represents student affairs at all levels across all issues. Your Union has representatives on practically every decision making body across the University. An Advice and Support Centre (The Hub) provides advice on a wide range of issues and can provide support and guidance to any student who approaches The Hub. Once engaged, Your Union will support students during University hearings, such as academic appeals, disciplinary cases. The Hub also operates the valued C:Card service, providing free condoms and safe sex products. Your Union is a constituent member of the National Union of Students, lobbying and campaigning at a national level. It adheres to a strict set of constitutional principals, celebrating diversity and championing equality. Your Union building is a safe space for all students, with zero tolerance on discrimination. The Students Union maintains and develops a network of Class Representatives and School Officers through whom students can provide feedback on life at Heriot-Watt. Student and Academic Voice events provide an open forum to discuss any student issue, from the services your Union offers to campus life and wider concerns In addition, your Union supports some 40 clubs and societies as well as other leisure activities. Some of these groups have both a social and liberation focus, such as LGBT and Disabled Students, whilst others are based on a shared interest such as Motorsports, Drama or Music. New societies are simple to startup and your Union provides funding to support societies. Your Union facilitates the activities that take place in all halls on campus from grass roots representation, hall newsletters, sport competitions and social events. All students are automatically a member of a hall (regardless if they live on campus or not) The Students Union has an office at the Scottish Borders Campus. The VicePresident (SBC) provides access to representation, student activity, advice & support (including the C:Card service offering free contraception) and the Student Representative Council organise social events throughout the year at Your Union at SBC and at the Edinburgh Campus. Further information on the Students’ Union is available in the Guide to Student Services provided in Enrolment Packs and at: hwusa@hw.ac.uk www.hwusa.org

45


School of Management and Languages Undergraduate Student Handbook 2010-2011

10.11 Sports Union The Sports Union exists to ensure that all student sporting activity is run by students and wherever possible to aid the funding of sporting activities. The Union is supported by a dedicated team of elected officers and administrative staff. Further information about the Sports Union is available at: http://hwu-sports.co.uk/ 10.12 Library Heriot-Watt University has two libraries, on the Edinburgh Campus and on the Scottish Borders Campus in Galashiels. In both libraries there are a wide range of services, facilities and materials available to help students with their studies including: • • • • • • • • • •

copies of all the textbooks contained within recommended reading lists, including multiple copies of the most popular ones more advanced books for people doing research specialist academic information available over the internet newspapers, magazines and journals, CD-ROMs, videos etc. an Enquiry Service to assist you to find information for your studies Subject Librarians who are experts in the information resources in their area individual and group study areas PCs connected to the campus network photocopying facilities special equipment for people with visual impairments

Students are enrolled as library borrowers upon enrolment with the University. A student’s ID card is also his/her Library card. All students entering the University are offered a half-hour introduction to the library during the first few weeks of semester. Timetables for these visits are made available to students via the School/Institute and are posted in the Library. Further information is available on the Library’s web pages at: www.hw.ac.uk/library 10.13 Student Support and Accommodation Student Support and Accommodation combine with the Careers Advisory Service and the Academic Registry to form the wider Office of Student Services, under the directorship of the Academic Registrar and Deputy Secretary. Student Support and Accommodation provides all students with an open and supportive service, providing advice, information and guidance to all students who are experiencing personal difficulties which have an impact on their academic course of study. We provide a service at both Edinburgh and Scottish Borders Campuses. The main areas of support provided can be grouped as follows: •

Funding Advice – including Hardship Funds

46


School of Management and Languages Undergraduate Student Handbook 2010-2011

• • • •

Counselling and Support Advice and Information Disability Assessment, Advice and Support Accommodation on and off campus

Further information on Student Support and Accommodation is available in the Guide to Student Services provided in Enrolment Packs and at: www.hw.ac.uk/support studentsupport@hw.ac.uk 10.14 University Health Service The University Health Service provides the full range of General Medical and Dental Services under the National Health Service. The Service is located in a purpose built Health Centre which is sited on the main Avenue. The Department has a full complement of medical, dental, nursing and administrative staff: in addition Community Staff provide services such as Psychiatric Nursing, Midwifery, Health Visiting and District Nursing on a sessional basis. There is also a private (non NHS) physiotherapy service. Heriot-Watt has had a University Health Service since 1973, and continues to expand its range of service provision. A Practice booklet providing full information on the service is given to patients on enrolment with the Practice. Services provided Full NHS General Practitioner service, plus; • • • • • • • • • •

Occupational Health Health/Lifestyle Promotion programmes Chronic illness care, e.g. diabetes, asthma, epilepsy, etc. Contraception and Women’s Health Advice Minor surgery Counselling for a range of student mental health problems A full Travel Health Clinic Services ancillary to medicine, e.g. Physiotherapy, Dietetics etc Emergency care - 24 hour service Sick Bay provision

Scottish Borders Campus Students are advised to enrol with one of the local General Practices at the time of matriculation. Further information on the University Health Service can be found at: http://www.hw.ac.uk/health 10.15 Wider Access Unit The Wider Access Unit works to encourage students from under-represented groups to access university. Although we are mainly involved in outreach activities that aim to support students prior to entering the University, we operate an ‘open door policy’ for former college students, mature students and students

47


School of Management and Languages Undergraduate Student Handbook 2010-2011

who participated in the LEAPS programme and who are studying at the University and are looking for advice or support. Further information on the Wider Access Unit can be accessed at: http://www.undergraduate.hw.ac.uk/wider-access/ 11

University Policy and Guidance The University publishes many policies and reference information on its website that may be of use and of interest to students through the programme of their studies at Heriot-Watt University Wherever practicable, University policy is designed to include all members of the University’s community, both within and outwith the main campus environments. Policies of specific interest and relevance to students can be accessed via: www.hw.ac.uk/registry and, Freshers’ Guide http://www.hw.ac.uk/registry/resources/freshersguide.pdf

48


School of Management and Languages Undergraduate Student Handbook 2010-2011

APPENDIX A: STUDENT GUIDE TO PLAGIARISM 1 Plagiarism is intellectual theft and is a major offence which the University takes seriously in all cases. Students must therefore avoid committing acts of plagiarism by following these guidelines and speaking to academic staff if they are uncertain about what plagiarism means. Those who are found to have plagiarised will be subject to the University’s disciplinary procedures, which may result in penalties ranging from the deduction of credits and courses already achieved by students to compulsory termination of studies. Students are advised to refer to Regulation 50 at http://www.hw.ac.uk/ordinances/regulations.pdf and to the Guidelines for Staff and Students on Discipline at http://www.hw.ac.uk/registry/discipline.htm for further details of how the University deals with all acts of plagiarism.

1

Introduction

1.1

This guide is intended to provide students at Heriot-Watt University with a clear definition of plagiarism and examples of how to avoid it.

1.2

The guide may also be of use to members of staff who seek to advise students on the various issues outlined below.

2

Definition

2.1

Plagiarism involves the act of taking the ideas, writings or inventions of another person and using these as if they were one’s own, whether intentionally or not. Plagiarism occurs where there is no acknowledgement that the writings or ideas belong to or have come from another source.

2.2

Most academic writing involves building on the work of others and this is acceptable as long as their contribution is identified and fully acknowledged. It is not wrong in itself to use the ideas, writings or inventions of others, provided that whoever does so is honest about acknowledging the source of that information. Many aspects of plagiarism can be simply avoided through proper referencing. However, plagiarism extends beyond minor errors in referencing the work of others and also includes the reproduction of an entire paper or passage of work or of the ideas and views contained in such pieces of work.

3 3.1

Good Practice Academic work is almost always drawn from other published information supplemented by the writer’s own ideas, results or findings. Thus drawing from other work is entirely acceptable, but it is unacceptable not to acknowledge such work. Conventions or methods for making acknowledgements can vary slightly from subject to subject, and students should seek the advice of staff in their own School/Institute about ways of doing this. Generally, referencing systems fall into the Harvard (where the text citation is by author and date) and numeric (where the text citation is by using a number). Both systems refer

1 The author acknowledges the following sources of information used in preparing this guide to Plagiarism: “Plagiarism – A Good Practice Guide”, Carroll, J and Appleton, J (2001) and various extracts from Student/Programme Handbooks 2004/2005, Schools and Institutes at Heriot-Watt University

49


School of Management and Languages Undergraduate Student Handbook 2010-2011

readers to a list at the end of the piece of work where sufficient information is provided to enable the reader to locate the source for themselves. 3.2

3.3

When a student undertakes a piece of work that involves drawing on the writings or ideas of others, they must ensure that they acknowledge each contribution in the following manner: •

Citations: when a direct quotation, a figure, a general idea or other piece of information is taken from another source, the work and its source must be acknowledged and identified where it occurs in the text;

Quotations: inverted commas must always be used to identify direct quotations, and the source of the quotation must be cited;

References: the full details of all references and other sources must be listed in a section at the end of any piece of work, such as an essay, together with the full publication details. This is normally referred to as a “List of References” and it must include details of any and all sources of information that the student has referred to in producing their work. (This is slightly different to a Bibliography, which may also contain references and sources which, although not directly referred to in your work, you consulted in producing your work).

Students may wish to refer to the following examples which illustrate the basic principles of plagiarism and how students might avoid it in their work by using some very simple techniques: 3.3.1

Example 1: A Clear Case of Plagiarism Examine the following example in which a student has simply inserted a passage of text (in italics) into their work directly from a book they have read: University and college managers should consider implementing strategic frameworks if they wish to embrace good management standards. One of the key problems in setting a strategic framework for a college or university is that the individual institution has both positive and negative constraints placed upon its freedom of action. Managers are employed to resolve these issues effectively. This is an example of bad practice as the student makes no attempt to distinguish the passage they have inserted from their own work. Thus, this constitutes a clear case of plagiarism. Simply changing a few key words in such a passage of text (e.g. replace ‘problems’ with ‘difficulties’) does not make it the student’s work and it is still considered to be an act of plagiarism.

3.4

What follows are examples of the measures that students should employ in order to correctly cite the words, thought or ideas of others that have influenced their work: 3.4.1

Example 2: Quoting the work of others

50


School of Management and Languages Undergraduate Student Handbook 2010-2011

If a student wishes to cite a passage of text in order to support their own work, the correct way of doing so is to use quotation marks (e.g. “ “) to show that the passage is someone else’s work, as follows: “One of the key problems in setting a strategic framework for a college or university is that the individual institution has both positive and negative constraints placed upon its freedom of action”.

3.4.2

Example 3: Referencing the work of others In addition to using quotation marks as above, students must also use a text citation. If the work being cited is a book, page numbers would also normally be required. Thus, using the Harvard system for a book: “One of the key problems in setting a strategic framework for a college or university is that the individual institution has both positive and negative constraints placed upon its freedom of action” (Jones, 2001, p121). The same reference could also be made to a book using the numeric system: “One of the key problems in setting a strategic framework for a college or university is that the individual institution has both positive and negative constraints placed upon its freedom of action” (Ref.1, p121). More often, a piece of work will have multiple references and this serves to show an examiner that the student is drawing from a number of sources. For example, articles by Brown and by Smith may be cited as follows in the Harvard system “It has been asserted that Higher Education in the United Kingdom continued to be poorly funded during the 1980’s [Brown, 1991], whereas more modern writers [Smith, 2002] argue that the HE sector actually received, in real terms, more funding during this period than the thirty year period immediately preceding it”. or as follows using the numeric system: “It has been asserted that Higher Education in the United Kingdom continued to be poorly funded during the 1980’s [Ref 1], whereas more modern writers [Ref 2] argue that the HE sector actually received, in real terms, more funding during this period than the thirty year period immediately preceding it”.

3.4.3

Example 4: Use of reference lists Whichever system is used, a list must be included at the end, which allows the reader to locate the works cited for themselves. The Internet is also an increasingly popular source of information for students and details must

51


School of Management and Languages Undergraduate Student Handbook 2010-2011

again be provided. You should adhere to the following guidelines in all cases where you reference the work of others: If the source is a book, the required information is as follows: • • • •

• • •

Author’s name(s) Year of Publication Title of Book Place of Publication

Publishers Name All Page Numbers cited Edition (if more than one, e.g. 3rd edition, 2001)

If the source is an article in a journal or periodical, the required information is as follows: • • •

• •

Author’s name(s) Year of Publication Title of Journal

Volume and part number Page numbers for the article

If the source is from the Internet, the required information is as follows: • • •

Author’s or Institution’s name (“Anon”, if not known) Title of Document Date last accessed by student

• •

Full URL (e.g. http://www.lib.utk.edu /instruction/plagiarism/) Affiliation of author, if given (e.g. University of Tennessee)

The way in which the information is organised can vary, and there are some types of work (for example edited volumes and conference proceedings) where the required information is slightly different. Essentially, though, it is your responsibility to make it clear where you are citing references within your work and what the source is within your reference list. Failure to do so is an act of plagiarism. 3.5

Students may find the following examples2 of common plagiarism mistakes made by other students useful when reflecting on their own work: • • • • • • • •

“I thought it would be okay as long as I included the source in my bibliography” [without indicating a quotation had been used in the text] “I made lots of notes for my essay and couldn't remember where I found the information” “I thought it would be okay to use material that I had purchased online” “I thought it would be okay to copy the text if I changed some of the words into my own” “I thought that plagiarism only applied to essays, I didn't know that it also applies to oral presentations/group projects etc” “I thought it would be okay just to use my tutor's notes” “I didn't think that you needed to reference material found on the web” “I left it too late and just didn't have time to reference my sources”

2

Extract from ‘Plagiarism at the University of Essex’ advice copyrighted and published by the Learning, Teaching and Quality Unit at the University of Essex (http://www.essex.ac.uk/plagiarism/pages/reasons.htm), reproduced with kind permission.

52


School of Management and Languages Undergraduate Student Handbook 2010-2011

None of the above are acceptable reasons for failing to acknowledge the use of others’ work and thereby constitute plagiarism. 3.6

4 4.1

Students are encouraged to use a style of acknowledgement that is appropriate to their own academic discipline and should seek advice from their mentor, programme leader or other appropriate member of academic staff. There are also many reference sources available in the University Library which will provide useful guidance on referencing styles. Managing Plagiarism Students, supervisors and institutions have a joint role in ensuring that plagiarism is avoided in all areas of academic activity. Each role is outlined below as follows: How you can ensure that you avoid plagiarism in your work: • •

Take responsibility for applying the above principles of best practice and integrity within all of your work Be aware that your written work will be checked for plagiarism and that all incidents of plagiarism, if found, are likely to result in severe disciplinary action by the University. The standard penalty is to annul all assessments taken in the same diet of examinations (for details please refer to Regulation 50 at http://www.hw.ac.uk/ordinances/regulations.pdf and to the Guidelines for Staff and Students on Discipline at http://www.hw.ac.uk/registry/discipline.htm).

How your School/Institute will help you to avoid plagiarism: • •

Highlight written guidance on how you can avoid plagiarism and provide you with supplementary, verbal guidance wherever appropriate Regularly check student work to ensure that plagiarism has not taken place (this may involve both manual and electronic methods of checking, an example of the latter being use of the Joint Information Standards Committee (JISC) “TurnitIn” plagiarism detection software). Alert you to the procedures that will apply should you be found to have committed or be suspected of having committed an act of plagiarism and explain how further action will be taken in accordance with University policy and procedures.

How the University will endeavour to reduce student plagiarism: • • • •

Provide clear written guidance on what constitutes plagiarism and how to avoid it directly to your School/Institute and to you Alert you and staff in your School/Institute to the penalties employed when dealing with plagiarism cases Take steps to ensure that a consistent approach is applied when dealing with cases of suspected plagiarism across the institution Take the issue of academic dishonesty very seriously and routinely investigate cases where students have plagiarised and apply appropriate penalties in all proven cases.

53


School of Management and Languages Undergraduate Student Handbook 2010-2011

For information on plagiarism-detection software used across the University, please refer to: www.hw.ac.uk/registry/resources/plagiarismjiscnote.pdf

54


School of Management and Languages Undergraduate Student Handbook 2010-2011

APPENDIX B: SML STAFF DIRECTORY The list is correct as at 3rd August 2010. Due to reallocation of SML Office Space, room locations may be subject to change. A full list of all SML staff is available on the School’s website at www.sml.hw.ac.uk/sml/staffprofiles

HEAD OF SCHOOL Name

Room

Designation

Professor Gillian Hogg

EF 21

Head of School

ACCOUNTANCY, ECONOMICS, AND FINANCE Name

Room

Designation

Professor John Sawkins

MB 1.09

Head of Accountancy, Economics & Finance

Dr Santhosh Abraham Dr Victoria Amador Dr Prabir Bhattacharya Dr Janusz Brzeszczynski Dr Atanas Christev Ms Kate Clements Professor David Cobham Ms Valerie Dickie Dr Julian Fennema Dr Shumei Gao Dr Boulis Ibrahim Ms Audrey Jackson Mr Bill Jackson Dr Philippe LeMay Boucher Dr John-Paul Marney Professor Claire Marston Professor Jacques Melitz Dr Robbie Mochrie Mr Nick Paisey Professor Robin Roslender Professor Mark Schaffer Dr Moh Sherif

MB 1.65 MB 1.02b MB 1.01 MB 1.26 MB 1.02a MB G.36 MB 1.08 MB 1.11 MB 1.67 MB 1.03 MB 1.68 MB 1.51 MB 1.69 MB 1.16 MB G.52 MB 1.54 MB 1.07 MB 1.15 MB 1.60 MB 1.67 MB 1.10 MB G.09

Lecturer Teaching Fellow Senior Lecturer Senior Lecturer Lecturer Teaching Fellow Professor of Economics Lecturer Lecturer Lecturer Lecturer Lecturer Lecturer Lecturer Lecturer Professor of Accountancy Visiting Professor Senior Lecturer Senior Lecturer Professor of Accounting Professor Lecturer

Mr Paul Gordon Professor Paul Hare

MB 1.66 MB 1.04

Senior Teaching Fellow (part-time) Professor (part-time)

55


School of Management and Languages Undergraduate Student Handbook 2010-2011

LANGUAGES AND INTERCULTURAL STUDIES (LINCS) Name

Room

Designation

Dr Chris Tinker

HP 1.04

Head of LINCS

Ms Olwyn Alexander Professor Ursula Boser Ms Fanny Chouc Mr John Cleary Ms Charlene Constable Dr Raquel de Pedro Ricoy Mr Jim Halliday Dr Ronak Husni Dr Pablo La Porte Ms Michelle Liao Ms Ann McFall Dr Yvonne McLaren-Hankin Dr Bernadette O’Rourke Professor Isabelle Perez Dr Maggie Sargeant Professor Graham Turner Ms Christine Wilson Dr Marion Winters

HP 2.03 HP 2.08 HP 1.02 HP 2.15 HP 2.12 HP 2.07 HP 2.14 HP 1.10 HP 2.20 HP 2.13 HP 2.19 EF 4 HP 2.06 HP 1.24 HP 2.16 HP 1.10 HP 1.11 HP 2.17

EAP Teaching Fellow Professor of Languages Teaching Fellow in French Teaching Fellow Teaching Fellow Lecturer in Spanish Senior Lecturer in Russian Senior Lecturer in Arabic Lecturer in Spanish Teaching Fellow in Chinese Studies Lecturer in Spanish Lecturer in French Lecturer in Spanish Professor in Languages Lecturer in German Professor of Translation Studies Lecturer in English/French Lecturer in German

Ms Sharon Castaneda Mrs Brigitte Guenier Ms Yajaira Rodriguez Ms Karen Shearer Ms Liz Thoday

MB G.34 HP 1.03 HP 1.03 HP 1.03 HP 1.23

Lecturer (part-time) Lecturer (part-time) Lecturer (part-time) Lecturer (part-time) Teaching Fellow (part-time)

Name

Room

Designation

Dr Colin Turner

MB 1.45

Acting Head of Management

Mr Geoff Arnold Ms Geraldine Bell Ms Josephine Bisacre Dr Mark Davies Dr Pierre de Gioia-Carabellese Dr Chris Dodd Dr Laura Galloway Mr Robert Graham Mr Amos Haniff Dr Louise Hassan Professor Gillian Hogg Dr Nicolina Kamenou Professor Alan McKinnon Ms Yvonne McLaren Mr Clive Marchant Dr Abigail Marks

MB G.32 MB 1.32 MB 1.33 MB 1.44 MB 1.38 EF 22 MB 1.42 MB 1.37 MB 1.49 EF18 EF 21 MB 1.41 EF 27 MB G.35 EF 29 MB 1.34

Teaching Fellow Teaching Fellow Lecturer Senior Lecturer Lecturer Lecturer Lecturer Lecturer Teaching Fellow Senior Lecturer Professor of Marketing Lecturer Professor Lecturer Senior Teaching Fellow Reader

MANAGEMENT

56


School of Management and Languages Undergraduate Student Handbook 2010-2011

MANAGEMENT (cont.) Name

Room

Designation

Ms Patsy Perry Mr James Richards Dr John Sanders Dr Dong-Wook Song Dr Neil Towers Dr Kathy Waite

EF 17 MB G.42 MB G.39 EF 28 EF 22 MB 1.35

Lecturer Lecturer Lecturer Reader Senior Lecturer Lecturer

Professor John Fernie Mrs Caroline Marchant Dr Nigel Shaw Ms Jill Stirling Ms Cathie Wright

EF 23 MB 1.43 MB 1.40 MB G.35 MB 1.43

Professor Lecturer (part-time) Senior Lecturer (part-time) Lecturer (part-time) Lecturer (part-time)

Mr Campbell Powrie

MB 1.38

Director of Administration- Student Services

Room MB 1.23 MB 1.23

Designation Clerical Officer Clerical Officer

Name

Room

Designation

Undergraduate Administrators Ms Shona McIntyre

MB 1.26

Administrative Officer (Admissions/Exchange)

Undergraduate Office Mrs Catherine Clephane Mrs Julia Hill Mrs Alison Wilson

MB 1.27 MB 1.27 MB 1.28

Undergraduate Secretary Undergraduate Secretary (part-time) Undergraduate Secretary

Room HP G.09

Designation Undergraduate Secretary

Room EF 11 EF 11

Designation Postgraduate Secretary Postgraduate Secretary

SCHOOL OFFICE Name Mr Peter Gerrard Ms Yuka Scott

UNDERGRADUATE OFFICE

LINCS OFFICE Name Ms Sheila Hodder

POSTGRADUATE OFFICE Name Roseanna Barnes-Brett Leila Dacher

57


School of Management and Languages Undergraduate Student Handbook 2010-2011

APPENDIX C: SML MENTORING 1. Aims and Objectives Aims To assign each undergraduate student entering the School of Management and Languages (the mentee) to a member of academic staff in the School of Management and Languages (the mentor) who can be consulted on all aspects of the University and who will provide a mechanism whereby the progress of each undergraduate student in the School of Management and Languages is monitored and remedial action taken where appropriate. Objectives The mentees can expect that mentors will: i. ii. iii. iv. v.

vi.

Normally provide the first point of contact when advice is required, whether of an academic or non-academic nature. Be able to direct mentees to other sources of information and advice that are available centrally within the University. Monitor each mentee’s academic progress. Counsel mentees who fail a module and where possible ascertain the reasons for the failure. Have an overview of the whole of each mentee’s University career and should be in a position to provide background information to other members of the University and to Examination Boards. Give advice to the students regarding their Personal Development Plan. The aims of this plan are: a) Provide opportunities for the development of student self-confidence in identifying their own competence and the transferability of the skills they have developed and b) Provide opportunities for the development of guidance and information systems which enable students to monitor and record their own progress.

2. Formal and Informal Meetings Formal meetings All mentees will meet with their mentors formally: First-Year Students Week 1.1, Weeks 1.5-1.6 and Weeks 2.4-2.5 (following publication of Semester 1 marks). Second, Third and Fourth-Year Students Week 1.1 and Weeks 2.4-2.5 (following publication of Semester 1 marks). Informal meetings All mentees will have the opportunity to meet with their mentors informally at other times by appointment.

58


School of Management and Languages Undergraduate Student Handbook 2010-2011

3. Procedures i.

ii. iii. iv.

v.

vi. vii.

viii.

All students entering the School of Management and Languages will be assigned to a mentor. This will be the responsibility of the Admissions Officer/Registration Officer (dependant on Department). The Admissions Officer/Registration Officer (as appropriate) will be responsible for informing undergraduate students who their mentor is. The Admissions Officer/Registration Officer (as appropriate) will be responsible for arranging pre-registration formal meetings. In the week before the period in which second and subsequent formal meetings normally take place (see paragraph 2.1), the School Undergraduate Office will be responsible for ensuring that mentees are reminded to make appointments with their mentors. Mentors will be responsible for organising an appointments system for formal meetings. (This will normally be in the form of a notice located at the mentor’s office indicating the mentor’s available dates and times which can be signed by mentees). Mentors will be responsible for informing the School Undergraduate Office when a mentee fails to attend a formal meeting. Mentors will be responsible for arranging informal meetings with mentees when requested. The School of Management and Languages General Offices should be provided with information of the mentor’s availability. At each meeting, formal or informal, a record of the meeting will be made by the mentor and a copy of the record will be forwarded to the School’s Undergraduate Office for lodging in student files. Confidential information should not be included in the record of the meeting.

4. Duties of Mentors Mentors will be responsible for: i. ii. iii. iv. v.

vi. vii.

Organising an appointments system for formal meetings with mentees. Taking a caring interest in their mentees. Offering advice, or directing mentees to support services better able to provide advice, on all aspects of the student’s life at the University. Offering advice to mentees regarding their Personal Development Plan. Monitoring the progress of each mentee, counselling any mentee who has failed a course, where possible ascertaining the reasons for the failure, taking appropriate follow up action. Making arrangements to see mentees informally when necessary. Completing a record of formal and informal meetings with their mentees. A copy of the record should be forwarded to the School Undergraduate Office

59


School of Management and Languages Undergraduate Student Handbook 2010-2011

5. Duties of Mentees All mentees should: i. ii. iii.

Make an appointment and attend formal meetings with their mentor at the agreed time. Keep their mentor informed of any changes in their circumstances which may affect their academic progress. Inform their mentor of any approved changes to their programme of study.

6. Duties of SML Admission / Enrolment Officers (as appropriate) Responsible for: i. ii.

Allocating all mentees to their mentor, informing mentors and mentees and keeping an up to date records. Arranging any pre-registration formal meetings.

7. Duties of the SML Undergraduate Office The School Undergraduate Office will be responsible for: i.

ii. iii. iv. v.

Reminding mentees in the week before the period in which second and subsequent formal meetings normally take place, to make an appointment with their mentor. Contacting undergraduate students who fail to attend a formal meeting with their mentor. Keeping a copy of the record of each meeting (see Appendix 1) and maintaining individual student files. Keeping mentors informed of any changes in their mentees’ circumstances which may affect academic progress. Keeping mentors informed of any changes to either the mentor scheme or the sources of information and advice which are available centrally within the University.

8. Change of Mentor The Admission/Registration Officers (as appropriate) may change a student’s mentor following a request from the student to do so, or for other reasons, e.g. where the mentee changes degree programme or when the mentor is on leave of absence.

9. Monitoring of the Mentor Scheme The School Director of Learning and Teaching will be responsible for monitoring the mentor scheme and for reporting to the University Undergraduate Studies Committee on the operation of the scheme.

60


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.