UEA's NEW INDEPENDENT STUDENT
Issue ONE,
NEWSPAPER
WEDNESDAY 22ND JANUARY 1992,
FREE
inside NEWS Labour candidate and Dean ofBIO finds out how much pasta you can buy on a student grant UEA Students have the same employment chances as Cambridge graduates. according to recent statistics UEA students owe Norwich council £95,000 for Poll
Tax.
FEATURES What to do with condoms? You•d be surprised! The issue of Sexual Harassment rears its head at UEA.
ARTS Exclusive interview with Stefan Dennis, alias Paul from Neighbours. Film. music and other arts reviews and listings. Competition prizes to be won.
SPORT They're big, bad and tough. It's the Women's Rugby Team who don't mind getting muddy.
1993 is the date set for the tw-o setnester year at UEA. I.-....
by John Barton
A New course structure based on the American semester system will be introduced at UEA in the Autumn of 1993. Implementation, already delayed a year, will mean undergraduates will have a two semester year and assessment based on the Credit Accumulation and Transfer Scheme (CATS). The new system will involve: self contained modules and in effect, an end to the dreaded Finals. Such a prospect is seen by many as a step forward, but its critics have already pointed out the difficulties of a common structure in relation to different courses. Law, for example, will have difficulty in tailoring its course to the specific time limits. hnplementors of the system en visage it on ana tional scale, with a view of enabling students to transfer easily from place to place, leading to easier integration with European and American Universities. Since the 'Strategic Plan' was offered, UEA has been working "to enhance its
reputation within the national and international community". The plan includes a review of examinations, course assessment and the timetabling system. It also questions the role of the Arts Preliminaries; and examines the possibility of direct entry into UEA at different stages of a degree. The Senate behind the Plan have instigated most of the developments in the last two years. On 13th November 1991, they arrived at a series of recommendations: the adoption of a two semester system and the Council for National Academic Award's (CNAA) system of credits, which was accepted. Allegations that the Union of UEA Students were not brought into consultation until the decision had been made to go ahead with the scheme, were confirmed by Nicola Sainsbury, Education Officer. She said that they were only allowed to join the working party to make suggestions, such as condemning the proposals for lectures continuing until9pm.
"My recommendations are being taken into consideration, but they aren't necessarily going to do that much." She went on to say that if wehadbeenconsulted. "We probably would have opJX>sed it, but its too late now." The schools of study were asked to submit their new course structure by the end of last term, for the inclusion of the 1993 prospectus. Or John Ashworth, the senior adviser in EAS explained, "At the end of every term we will have exams on the term's work, thus dividing the course into completely seLf-contained units or modules" . He also commented, "I am basically in favour of the changes .. as senior adviser, I can see the problems Finals can bring." However, Or Roger Virgoe, a history lecturer, has some reservations, "I am concerned about the possible fragmentation that may result from these changes. As opJX>sed to a coherent degree programme we will be left with a series of bits and pieces with no overall qualification."
Term Hols Assess Read Term Hols Term Read Exam Hols 12
3
3
1
6
4
6
1
Composition of typical year in weeks
3
12
? • Radio One et For Norwich
The Watertront IT was announced last week that Norwich has been picked out of a number of other cities to host Soundcity '92 in April. The Waterfront is rejoicing because the one week music festival will be based at their venue. This is only months after the Waterfront was saved from financial problems by the Norwich City Council. The prestigious event will be hosted by Radio One who will have a live transmission every night.
The exact list of events is yet to be released but it looks to include both up and coming Norwich bands as well as nationally recognised groups. The news has created a huge reaction from Norwich venues who will all benefit from the recognition of Norwich as a culturally developing city, rather than the image of an East Anglian back-water. For an analysis of the effect that it will have on Norwich turn to our centre page Arts Special pages 10-11.