Transcript Document

Welcome to the Department of History
Alan Booth and Kristofer Allerfeldt
March 2014
Overview of today’s welcome talk
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The University of Exeter
History on Exeter’s Penryn Campus
Meet [some of] our historians
What do our degree programmes look like?
Study Abroad
Student perspectives
Your prospects
History at Exeter
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Exeter ranked 10th in The Complete University Guide
(2014)
College of Humanities ranked 65th in World Rankings
(Times Higher Education)
Ranked 6th for History by The Times and Sunday Times
league table
Ranked 8th for History in The Complete University Guide
In the top 20 for research in History in the UK, with 60% of
research classed as world leading or of international
standard
Our Students Opinions:
Cornwall Campus has been in the top 3 NSS scores
for History every year since our first cohort
In NSS 2013 97% of final year students satisfied or
very satisfied by their programmes
Amongst Russell Group universities, 3rd most
‘intellectually stimulating’ History programme in the
UK
Our aim
To produce high quality graduates…
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...who have enjoyed the Cornwall-Exeter
experience
...who have been stimulated and challenged
throughout their studies
...who are equipped for life after university,
whether in further study or employment
What do we offer?
History of landscape and environmental politics,
history of science and technology
Community, museology, and oral history
Crime and violence in US history
Beyond Europe – Japan, Middle East, US, Canada
Twentieth century conflict, esp. First World War
British political history since 1850
‘Critical Futures’
Everyday life in Stalin’s Russia
Our Distinctiveness
Informality, approachability and regular contact
An Oxbridge-style tutorial education
Innovative teaching, assessments and programmes
A public history element in which our students work
with outside organisations thus developing
employability skills
A collective of leading historians who use history to
reflect on past, present, and future issues
The Syllabus (SH History)
Year 1: Basic (History Foundation); Intro to Public
History; Broadening (World History & People’s
History)
Year 2: Project work; 3 Option module
Year 3: Dissertation; 3 Research-based modules
New modules under development
every year
Modularity each year
How
We
Teach
What’s special about History at
Lectures, seminars, projects and work placements
Exeter?
Collaborative projects with external stakeholders
• Assessment
Structure – Notvaried
just stand-alone
‘modules’, –
degree
has on
coherence
and innovative
based
exams,
from years
1 to 3 presentations, workshops, reports and
essays,
wikis,
more…
• Breadth & depth – Survey courses, detailed subjects, projects
Transferable skills embedded in every module
• Choice – 50 staff across two campuses, specializing in Political,
Dedicated work placements officer
Religious, Economic, Social, Cultural, Military, Naval, Medical &
Our students get involved and have a voice!
Scientific histories
Workload (1)
Year 1: 4 modules. A typical module may involve:
• 6 x 750 word portfolio assignments (e.g. critical review, quantitative exercise, annotated
bibliography, primary source analysis)
• 2 x 2,000 word essays
• 1 x 30 minute group presentation
• 1 x 2 hour exam
• Lecture/seminar preparation
Year 2: Independent Project (c.10,000 words); 3 Option modules. A typical
option may involve:
• 1 x 3,000 word portfolio (e.g. critical review, source analysis)
• 1 x 3,000 word research essay
• 1 x assessed group presentation
• 1 x 2 hour exam
• Lecture/seminar preparation, unassessed work.
Workload (2)
Year 3: Dissertation (c. 10,000 words + unassessed drafts);
3 Research-based modules.
A typical research-based module may involve:
• 1 x 3,000 word research essay
• 1 x assessed presentation and portfolio
• 1 x 2 hour exam
• Two un-assessed presentations
• Extensive seminar preparation and
student-leadership of sessions.
Public History – a unique opportunity
to get hands-on experience
• Available at Level 1 and 2
• Practical application of academic ideas, debates and
theories
• Work placements as part
of the assessment
• Links with US MA programme
including field visits
• Industry relevant skills
Past placements include:
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Royal Air Force
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The National Trust
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Imperial War Museums
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The National Archives
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Royal Cornwall Museum •
V&A
Falmouth Exeter Plus
The British Postal Museum
& Archive
National Museum Wales
English Heritage
Cornwall Council
Helston Museum
Porthcurno Telegraph
Museum
Study Abroad
One semester abroad OR one year
Europe OR International options
• Number of International Partner Universities
including - USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand,
Japan
• Erasmus placements including - Germany, Spain,
Italy, France, Malta, Turkey, Switzerland
A student shares a few reasons to go abroad...
• Experiencing a different learning environment
• Meeting many new people from all over the world
• Being able to choose completely different modules
• Travelling
• Working hard, but having lots of fun!
Student Perspectives - Studying
• Studying at the Penryn Campus is an academically stimulating
experience
• Excellent academic support, with the benefit of one-to-one
supervision when needed
• If you ever have a problem, someone will be there to help you
solve it!
• Academics are experts in their field and make the modules
enjoyable and thought-provoking
• New resources.
• Employability and Career Zone talks.
Not that it is all work
• University of Exeter has the highest level of student engagement in
the UK – through clubs and societies, volunteering, and our two
students’ unions.
• At the Cornwall Campus students can join 86 sports clubs and
societies. The more you put in, the more you get out: so we
encourage students to get involved, whether in sport, society or
the University
• Cornwall offers unparalleled opportunities for sport in the
community, and especially beside and on the water.
• Students are involved in all key University decision-making. We
see student opinions as a way of improving our performance –
which perhaps explains our NSS scores
Student Life (when not studying...)
• Variety of activities available,
including various societies, sports
clubs and most importantlyHistory Society.
• Student friendly town – loads to do
and a night out doesn’t break the
bank!
• Nothing beats a relaxing day on
the beach surfing, kayaking or
paddle boarding, especially after
exams (or a night out...)
Your Prospects as an Exeter History
Graduate
• Employability is embedded in every year of our degree
programme
• Careers in heritage, education, media, consultancy and
research sector
• Transferable skills for other career routes (business,
charity, publishing, anything!)
• Conversion courses esp. law
• PhD and MA further study
• 75% Cornwall History graduates in graduate
destinations 12 months after graduation (DLHE, 2011)
What do our students do?
• Journalism, media studies, media research
• Recruiting, financial services, armed forces, tourism
• Further professional study - teaching, law conversion
• Further study – MA, PhD
According to an employment
insider, Law or History graduates
are desirable recruits because
“both disciplines taught the
careful analysis of evidence and
placed very high value on
presentational skills.”
Thank You
We hope to have the opportunity to get to know you all
over the next three years
Please complete your feedback forms!
Questions?
Got questions when you get home?
Email: [email protected]