Six Hour Week is a “Wonderful Learning Experience” says Gilbert

Vice-Chancellor Alan Gilbert has defended rock-bottom contact hour levels on University of Manchester courses.

Photo: Mike Kyle

But speaking at a question and answer session with students, Gilbert conceded that learning conditions had become “unacceptable” at the university.

He claimed however that academic research undertaken by staff was important in boosting the University’s standing in league tables and providing students with “a degree that is credible”.

Around 30 students turned up to the session held in the Council Chambers last Thursday. Gilbert spoke for around 30 minutes before Academic Affairs Officer Chris Jenkinson, who chaired the event, invited members of the audience to ask questions.

Gilbert, who enjoys a bumper £291,000 pay packet in his role as Vice-Chancellor and University President, emphasised the importance of the ongoing Undergraduate Education Review, saying: “It is an important part of the process of making a Manchester degree more valuable and it will increase the employability of Manchester graduates.” He said the University was working to supply booklets that would provide future students with a “contract” detailing the precise nature of individual course modules.

The Vice-Chancellor addressed the recent furore over proposed lecture cuts for Law students saying: “I opposed the proposal of the Law School to make these changes and they will not now be introduced. We need a clear, demonstrable improvement in the quality of learning, but I would ask students not to go out and blindly demand changes.”

He also addressed the effects of the recession on students and pledged opposition to the proposed increase in tuition fees branding it a “strange and foolish decision”.

“The increase should not go ahead… as we don’t know what the capacity of students and their families is to deal with future financial pressures.”

Questions included criticism of Gilbert’s pay packet and his assertion that increased online resources for students was compatible with more “personalised” learning.  Gilbert pledged that future increases in online resources “will be in addition, not at the expense of, face-to-face [learning]”.

The Vice-Chancellor said that there “could be” a reduction in his pay, adding that pay rises for senior staff were currently being frozen.