Adapting the First Year Curriculum the UU Approach

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Adapting the First Year Curriculum the UU
Approach

• Prof Kate Greenan
• Ronnie Patton

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Background to FDTL 5 project

• Quality in Business Education (QuBE)
• Partners City University (Cass), Winchester,
  Oxford Brookes, Leeds Metropolitan, Nottingham
  Trent, UU
• Excellence Agenda

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UUs contribution

• Prompted by issues in National Student Survey and
  concerns expressed at ABS etc
• Diverse range of students and learning scenarios
• Case studies on excellence in Student Support

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UU BSc (Hons) Accounting

• Successful programme running since early 70s
• Strong vocational focus, maximising professional
  exemptions
• Traditional student intake
• 300 UCAS points including BB at A level (now
  320 points, AB at A level)

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UU BSc (Hons) Accounting

• Revalidation took place in 2004/05
• Critical evaluation of evidence on student needs,
  based on
• Retention data, especially transition year
• Evidence on secondary curriculum
• Research on changing external environment for
  accounting
• Employer feedback
• Student feedback (course university level)
• Staff views
• Graduate destination data

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Support needs identified

• Study skills
• Career choice information
• Greater emphasis on transferable skills
• Communication
• Team working
• Presentation
• Interview techniques
• Independent learning

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Broad curriculum changes

• Balance between transferable technical skills
• Career personal development planning (PDP)

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First year changes

• Acknowledgement of transition year
• Insights into role of accountant
• Cumulative formative assessment
• Introduction of long thin modules (history
  repeating itself?)
• Attendance monitoring

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Former Year 1

• Semester 1
• Accounting 1
• Bus Economics
• QA

• Semester 2
• Accounting 2
• Bus Co. Law
• Option module

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New Year 1

• Semester 1
• Accounting 1
• Accountancy Today

• Semester 2
• Accounting 2
• Co. Law
• Costing

Economics for Business Quantitative Analysis
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Issues for Accountancy Today

• Uninformed choices
• Attendance
• Student approaches

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Objectives

• Increase student involvement
• Encourage holistic view of accounting
• Improve retention
• active learning
• study skills

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Content

• Accounting roles
• Professionalism / ethics
• Non-technical skills
• Presentation skills
• Personal development
• study skills
• time management
• setting objectives

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Evidence of success

• Increase in module pass rates
• Accounting 1 81 to 93
• Accountancy Today 94
• Law 70 to 85
• Fewer poor performers
• Overall progression 98 to 96
• Increased communication
• Increased participation

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Further Changes

• Greater emphasis on study skills
• Formal exam in January a necessity
• Student Achievement Officer to provide support
  for students

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Key Success Factors

• Understanding acceptance of the need for change
  
• Staff collaboration enthusiasm for change
• Senior staff support
• Assessment strategy
• Visiting speakers

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The Future

• The policy agenda
• BMAF subject centre