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RAVENSBOURNE COLLEGE OF DESIGN AND COMMUNICATION

BA (HONS) INTERIOR DESIGN ENVIRONMENT ARCHITECTURES COURSE

COMMITTEE

Minutes from the BA (Hons) Interior Design Environment Architectures Course Committee
held on Thursday 31 January 2008 at 12.00pm in the Boardroom.

8.16 WELCOMES AND APOLOGIES

Present: Layton Reid Subject Leader – IDEA (Chair)

Greg Epps Associate Senior Lecturer – IDEA
Dawn Fitzgerald Information Services Officer
James Norman Business Support Officer
Dawn Jackson Business Support Assistant
Hamed Folarin IT Support Officer
Hege Vetaas Level 1 Student Representative
Helen Keeves Level 1 Student Representative
Ciaron Mullarkey Level 2 Student Representative
Kate Church Level 3 Student Representative
Patricia Scott Level 3 Student Representative
Elisa Simone Assistant Quality Officer (Secretary)

Apologies: Peter Pilgrim Head of Faculty Communication Media

Sophie Johnson Associate Senior Lecturer – IDEA
Ryan Thomas Level 2 Student Representative

8.17 MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING

Approved: The minutes of the last meeting held on 1 November 2007 were
approved by the Committee (IDEACC08/02/02) subject to the
following change; 08.08 m) E-resources dissertation be changed
to E-learning Lecture.

8.18 MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES

8.18.1 Course Experience Questionnaire and Snowballs (min 08.07

– 01/11/07)

Noted: It was noted that the issue of student concerns over access to
Green ICT had been dealt with by the Subject Leader.

8.18.2 Student feedback (min 08.08 – 01/11/07)

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Received: An update from ICT on the issue of training a student on the

reloading of paper on the large format printers was received by
the Committee.

Noted: It was noted that the microwave in the CAVE staff kitchen had
been replaced, but was in need of PAT testing.

8.19 FEEDBACK FROM STUDENT COURSE REPRESENTATIVES

Received: Feedback from the Student Course Representatives was received

by the Committee.

a) Level 1 student mentioned that the trip to Barcelona had been

really good and that there was a lot of positive feedback. The
students wished to thank the Subject Leader and the Associate
Senior Lecturer. It was noted that Alan Philips gave a series of
lectures during the trip. It was mentioned that the Health and
Safety support during the trip was very good. Students were
requesting a breakdown of the cost of the trip. The Subject
Leader to speak to the Business Support Officer about returning
the money to the students that did not have the visas. It was
noted that the locations for trips were not random as they linked
with the course, but the Course Team would take into
consideration student suggestions for alternative locations.

b) Students noted that Christian from the workshop was very helpful.

c) Students were happy with their course.

d) Students noted that there had been problems with the drawing
boards as the Workshop Supervisor had been off ill. Students
were advised to use the T-Squares in the meantime. It was noted
that there was not a lot of space to use these and that the studio
would be re-arranged in the future.

e) Level 2 students mentioned that they had good feedback and that
they were happy with the course.

f) Students noted that although more base stations had been added
in the CAVE area they continued to have problems accessing the
wireless network.

g) It was noted that the technical tutor was in the process of being
trained on the rapid prototyping and could only help students
once he had finished.

h) Level 2 and 3 students mentioned that they were looking forward

to the trip to Amsterdam in Easter.

Agreed: i) The Subject Leader to speak to the Business Support Officer

about returning the money to the students that did not have the
visas.
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8.20 EXTERNAL EXAMINERS

Received: An update to the External Examiner Action Plans for BA (Hons)

Interior Design Environment Architectures (IDEACC08/02/03) was
received by the Committee.

Noted: It was noted that next academic year there would be a large
cohort in the third level and that the Course Team were reviewing
their teaching strategy in order to maintain the scope for one to
one tutoring. It was mentioned that the Course Team were
looking into using the space effectively. The Subject Leader
would like to thank ICT in allowing student’s to print during
weekends. It was noted that students had won many external
awards and that the employment rate was at 85%. The Good
Practice was noted.

8.21 ANNUAL COURSE MONITORING LOGS

Received: Updates and progress from Annual Course Monitoring Logs for
BA (Hons) Interior Design Environment Architectures
(IDEACC08/02/04) was received by the Committee.

Noted: It was noted that the Subject Leader attended UCAS events and
that the course was marketed as Interior Design rather than
Interior Design Environment Architectures so there will be a
negative knock on effect on recruitment for the course. It was
noted that the Associate Senior Lecturers would be working
closely with the Marketing Department. It was noted that the
College would be submitting to RIBA approval and that the target
date for this would be moved because of the MA Validations
taking place. It was mentioned that the plasma screen had been
purchased and was awaiting to be fixed to the wall. It was noted
that there would be a number of staff absences when staff would
have to go for training and that others would fill in.

8.22 COURSE UPDATE

Received: An update on any student awards, achievements and notable

projects undertaken during the term as well as an update from the
Subject Leader on course use of the VLE and e-learning projects
was received by the Committee.

Noted: It was noted that the Course was hoping to take part in a major
annual award VETA Award. It was mentioned that hopefully
students would be taken to Frankfurt for the KNA Award. It was
commented that there was the XIDEAS Award where alumni took
part. It was noted that soon there would be the RSA Awards
taking place. It was noted that the Barcelona trip went very well
and that the visiting Lecturer took part in three lectures a day. It
was mentioned that the visiting Lecturer wanted to discuss
potential sponsorship and future events with the Subject Leader.
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It was noted that Moodle was in development and that Level 3

students were being encouraged to create their own website
space with the help of Level 1 and 2 students.

8.23 POSTGRADUATE DEVELOPMENT

Received: The draft programme specifications for the current postgraduate

developments relevant to the course – MA Environment Design
(IDEACC08/02/05) was received by the Committee.

Noted: It was noted that the College was developing a postgraduate

profile ready for when we move to Greenwich. It was noted that
the College would be validating this postgraduate profile through
City University rather than University of Sussex. It was mentioned
that an MA Architecture course was still in the development stage
and that it would hopefully go through validation in September.

8.24 ANY OTHER BUSINESS

Noted: a) The National Student Survey commenced on the 7 of January

and is due to finish at the end of April 2008. The survey is for final
year undergraduates and they can receive a £5 print credit when
completing the survey online and taking the proof of completion to
Finance. Students are encouraged to complete this survey.

b) It was noted that the LRC still had money on the book budget and
students were advised to contact the LRC with a list of books they
wanted.

c) It was noted that the Information Services Officer was leaving the
College to go to the University of Kent. The Subject Leader
mentioned how much she meant to the course and wished to
thank her for all she had done in developing the course. He also
wished her all the best for the future.

8.25 DATE AND TIME OF NEXT MEETING

The next meeting of the Committee will be held on Thursday 1 May 2008 at
12.00pm in the Boardroom.

Quality Team Unconfirmed

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