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3.5
3.6
Members also felt that the lack of an external examiner made it difficult for the standard of the courses to be judged objectively and would suggest that the external examiner system be adopted.
Members felt that there was an attempt to do far too much with the resources in terms of both staff numbers and range of specialisation available. Unless this can be solved they would suggest that a very considerably reduced programme is offered to students wishing to follow the course in Business Management.
4.1
4.2
4.3
4.4
4.5
MEETING WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF SECRETARIAL MANAGEMENT
Members had a most interesting and valuable discussion with staff in the Department of Secretarial Management. They learned that the staff had been in post for some time and were highly committed to the College. Although the level of 'A' level grades was lower on average on entry than that in the Polytechnic it was considered that in terms of skills they achieved the same standard at the end of the programme.
The aim of the programme was described as teaching basic skills in order to obtain a secretarial post but also to educate students in such a way that they could move into intermediate administrative posts within a short period of time. The particular choice of additional study programmes had been made as a result of feedback from employers. English was felt to be particularly important but the staff also defended vigorously the inclusion of economics and accounting. They had considered the possibility of putting in a third language but the major constraint here lay with limited resources in the Languages Department.
About 140 students apply for the Secretarial Management Diploma but the maximum intake is only about 30, all students being interviewed so that their motivation and previous work experience can be judged. Many students had gained work experience prior to entering the course and many were also encouraged to find summer employment.
All students had experience of electric typewriters of which 12 were available and field trips were arranged which enabled students to see modern technology in operation, e.g. at I.B.M.
The Honours Diploma seemed to Members to be rather unusual in that students were able to do courses without prerequisites and there seemed no clear progression from Year 1 of the senior programme to the Honours Year. However, they were re-assured by the staff who told them
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