University of Westminster - Student Protest!

Westminster_Uni_Student

On Wednesday 25th March students gathered outside a meeting between the academic authorities at the university and a student representative. They were protesting against the exam timetable which has massively reduced our revision time, and put our exams, coursework and dissertations all into a very short space of time.

We have a whole two months less to revise than previous years had but still have to learn the same volume of information!

This is happening because the university vice-chancellor wants to free up more time in the summer for lucrative summer courses to make more money. This university is run like a business and the students are missing the ones who are missing out. We already had our tuition fees raised this year and our term time cut. The way we are treated is outrageous.

All students who care about their education and want to make a difference should join us for a protest at Regent Street on Monday 30th March at 12noon.

If you are busy with revision still turn up, and bring a friend – explain the situation. If we take action we can make a difference. We can at least force through more changes for next year to make sure this does not happen again. Do you want to me going through this stress again in 2010?

If students do not speak up then you cannot make a difference, the university will treat you as badly as they want within their profit making mentality.

The_One_Who

Why would anyone who is not a student at that university want to protest about it?

Jennifer_Jane

Whilst I certainly believe that university fees should be free, I would not attend this protest, as I managed to get two full-time 3-year college diplomas whilst full-time working in very busy and consuming jobs. If I can do it part-time, then a reduced academic year should just mean concentrating your effort more.

In addition, cost cutting is what is going on in the business world - so welcome to what the rest of us are going through.

dmg24

Westminster_Uni_Student wrote: »

We have a whole two months less to revise than previous years had but still have to learn the same volume of information!

...

If you are busy with revision still turn up

'Sorry Mr Lecturer Sir, I failed my exams because I used my revision time to protest at the lack of revision time.'

:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

Westminster_Uni_Student

Jennifer_Jane wrote: »

Whilst I certainly believe that university fees should be free, I would not attend this protest, as I managed to get two full-time 3-year college diplomas whilst full-time working in very busy and consuming jobs. If I can do it part-time, then a reduced academic year should just mean concentrating your effort more.

In addition, cost cutting is what is going on in the business world - so welcome to what the rest of us are going through.

I'm glad you achieved all you wanted to achieve. Our problem is that many of us have had to complete 11 pieces of coursework between Oct-March whilst learning/revising and then only have 4 weeks to consolidate 8 modules worth of material.

It will reflect badly on the institution if we perform badly - therefore it is not well-thought out decision and future students should know exactly what they are signing up for... 2 months less time to learn that most other universities.

The_One_Who

Well Oxford and Cambridge students seem to manage fine with their really short terms. You just need to manage your time better. Reading should be being done throughout the year, not in a massive cram close to exam time. Revision time is for refreshing your knowledge, not for learning what you 'need to know'.

Westminster_Uni_Student

The_One_Who wrote: »

Well Oxford and Cambridge students seem to manage fine with their really short terms. You just need to manage your time better. Reading should be being done throughout the year, not in a massive cram close to exam time. Revision time is for refreshing your knowledge, not for learning what you 'need to know'.

Thanks, but that's rather simplistic advice.

The_One_Who

Sometimes the best advice is simple.

Last year my exams were only a couple of weeks after a compulsory (and very intense) field trip. They were actually before the official exam period started. We hit the books and got on with it rather than wasting valuable time complaining about it. This year I have just had to hand in four different assignments on the one day, start the data collection process for my dissertation, prepare for a field trip and go on it for the week, revise for exams as well as going to work. I've had to plan my time carefully.

Westminster_Uni_Student

The_One_Who wrote: »

Sometimes the best advice is simple.

Last year my exams were only a couple of weeks after a compulsory (and very intense) field trip. They were actually before the official exam period started. We hit the books and got on with it rather than wasting valuable time complaining about it. This year I have just had to hand in four different assignments on the one day, start the data collection process for my dissertation, prepare for a field trip and go on it for the week, revise for exams as well as going to work. I've had to plan my time carefully.

If you don't mind me asking, has this impacted upon your grades?

dmg24

WUS,

Could I suggest that the time you are spending on MSE would be better spent revising?

Perhaps you need to look up the word procrastination?

Oldernotwiser

Eleven pieces of coursework in 5/6 months! And then four weeks revision! You are joking?