Page 21 - UWI QUALITY CIRCLE Vol.19 May 2017

THE UNIVERSITY OF THE WEST INDIES ORIENS EX OCCIDENTE LUX
In one instance, a student who had previously studied in a different educational system, noted that the “Heavy weighting towards exams has been quite dif cult to adapt to – I am accustomed to being thoroughly tested on the basis of researched papers.”
The issue of inadequate facilities and/or university services should be noted as areas of concern mentioned by the student respondents: “example, where we are nutrition and dietetics students and nutritional science students and we don’t have a metabolic lab to conduct labs and stuff to measure like ... calories burnt, ... basal metabolic rate, stuff like that. Another student mentioned, “lack of facilities for students in my degree programme”.
One student noted that the mechanism for group work is unhelpful: “Group work where there is no good way to make sure that everybody in the group does what they are supposed to do, and no way to stop one or two members from bringing down the group mark without having to do most of the work yourself; I guess it helps you to grow in a way and learn how to deal with dif cult people, but man, it’s frustrating and you can lose marks easily.”
Ways in which The University could contribute further to Student Success
Student responses also highlight the problems that may be associated with inadequate information at various levels; they recommend that The University continue to work towards enhancing all areas of information dissemination as a key strategy to improve student success. One student advised, “Give proper academic advice from the start. Help students realize what they want to do as quickly as possible so they don’t waste time and money.” Another student called for continued and enhanced emphasis on having “well trained staff to interface with students when it comes to advising and imparting information. .... Departments need to communicate more [in] relation to student matters and queries and provide timely feedback to students”.
The importance of strategic gender awareness in recruitment planning was also mentioned: the University was advised to “Design and implement programmes geared towards males to get them to understand the importance of always striving for excellence regardless of their circumstances by developing their own gifts and talents”.
Other Interview contributions:
Pamela Dottin Ph.D. (QAU – Open Campus) Sandra Gift Ph.D. (QAU – St Augustine Campus) Anna Perkins Ph.D. (QAU – Mona Campus)
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