Over 300 colleagues join Principal Andrea Nolan on Wednesday
8 March for her first Principal’s View of 2023.
Following Andrea’s presentation, the University Leadership
Team were on hand for a live Q&A, answering a number of questions from
colleagues.
If you missed it or would like a refresh, you can watch the
entire session again here and
find the questions answered in the Q&A chat, below.
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Question
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Answer
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Is SFC likely
to adjust controlled targets in future to reflect declining sector trends if
these are identified across the board, so we aren't penalized?
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We are
proactively engaging with the SFC on our student number targets and the SFC
are aware of the varying pressures impacting the sector.
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In terms of
college applicants, could there perhaps be some brief feedback given to
unsuccessful college educated applicants, such that unsuccessful candidates
could learn what the issue was and thereby improve their skills/application
for the following year? This could be
really important and useful feedback where applications are multistage eg.
application>portfolio>interview>decision.
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Across the
University, 63% of direct entry applications from Scotland's colleges receive
an offer, although there are some pressure points for particular programmes
(such as Sport & Exercise Science). The student's academic profile is key
in terms of receiving an offer. The Admissions Team do provide feedback to
unsuccessful applicants on request, and where decisions are devolved to the
School for interviews (such as Nursing) or portfolio reviews (SACI) the
Admissions Team will reach out to selectors for feedback. Our College
Outreach Team in IO&SR alongside academic colleagues in our Schools work
closely with our college partners to advise students on the application
process.
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The new Check
In system is giving incorrect student attendance data – often 25-75% less
students in class that those reported as “checked in”. Lower attendance gives us early warning for
student retention. Is the system going
to record location data to ensure students can’t send the check in codes to
their non-attending friends? Otherwise we’re having to manually check in
students – adding a staff pain point.
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The Check In
App does now record location as determining whether a check in is verified or
not. A reporting tool is currently being developed by IS to enable this data
to be acted upon appropriately.
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