Read the latest Common Awards student bulletin
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1. Introduction
Welcome to the second edition of the Common Awards student bulletin, put together by the Common Awards team within Durham University.
Please do provide feedback on whether you find this useful and what else you might like to hear about.
2. Student Conference – Mental Health in Ministry: The Theology and Psychology of Depression and Hearing Voices: 9 July 2024
*NEW SLOTS RELEASED FOR STUDENTS NOT REGISTERED ON COMMON AWARDS PROGRAMMES*
Any student associated with a Common Awards TEI may now register for a place at the above event, as we have been able to secure more space for the conference. We would be grateful if TEIs could pass this onto all students registered at their TEI.
Students can register via the form: https://forms.office.com/e/0pj6seLRNM
Students will come away from this FREE* day-conference with a deeper understanding of how to wisely and faithfully engage with matters of mental health. This conference focuses on two areas that have a rich tradition of study both in psychology and in the long history of Christian practice: hearing voices and depression. Our speakers will address, in each case, contemporary clinical understandings of these two experiences, their various theological interpretations, and also speak to the benefits and short-comings of each. Students will also have the opportunity to see the cathedral, the grounds of Durham University, and to meet students from other TEIs.
Download the full timetable here: Mental Health in Ministry Student Conference Programme.
Speakers will include:
Rev’d Prof. Chris Cook, former Director of the Centre for Spirituality, Theology & Health (retired in 2022), qualified doctor, former Professor of Psychology, and ordained in the Church of England.
Dr Tasia Scrutton, Associate Professor in the School Philosophy, Religion, and History of Science at Leeds University and author of Christianity and Depression.
*Travel expenses not included.
For more information, please visit the Common Awards website Events for Students page
3. Student Conference – Jesus, the Spirit, and the Hope of the World: A Day with N.T. Wright
The above student event, which took place at St. Paul’s Cathedral on 26th April 2024, was well-attended by students from 13 Common Awards TEIs. The event was recorded, and the videos will be added to the Common Awards Hub in due course.
Those who registered will have received an email with a link to a questionnaire, we would appreciate your views of the event and the planning of future events.
4. Student Feedback to the Management Board
Common Awards students at all TEIs may provide feedback to the Management Board at any time, via either your own TEI student representatives, or via the Common Awards Student Representatives. The Board takes the issue of anonymity very seriously; individual students will not be named in any student feedback considered by the Board, and any identifying information will be removed before feedback is considered.
The next meeting of the Management Board will take place in October. If you would like to contact the Common Awards student representatives for 2024/25 their details are as follows:
Examples of the types of student feedback that it would be appropriate to be raised at the level of the Management Board:
o For example: do students feel there is a sufficient range and depth of modules available? Are the assessment methods balanced and appropriate and is it clear what is expected of students for each assessment type? Do students feel the programmes allow them to develop the necessary skills and subject knowledge?
o For example: are these processes clear and unambiguous to follow? Is sufficient information provided?
o For example: what things do students feel are going well and are there any areas that could be improved? Are there any areas of good practice that they wish to highlight?
We wouldn’t expect to take student feedback to the overarching Management Board regarding TEI-specific issues, such as issues relating to the resources, staffing or programme delivery at any individual TEI. These types of issues should be considered at TEI Management Committees.
5. Student Feedback – Common Awards Student Survey (CASS)
As part of the Common Awards partnership, Durham University runs an annual survey for all students currently registered on any of the Common Awards programmes which it validates. The survey provides you with the opportunity to provide anonymous feedback to your TEI. The results of the survey are shared with TEIs to help enhance the student experience.
The survey includes questions on the learning and teaching experience, academic and pastoral support, the learning resources available, and the student voice. You will also have the opportunity to provide free-text comments on your overall experience at the TEI.
The 2023/24 Survey is now open to complete until 31st May 2024. Unless you have opted out of receiving the Survey, you should have received an email (through Jisc Online Surveys) containing the link to complete the Survey (please do check your junk folder just in case the email has arrived there). We would be grateful if you could spare the time to provide us with your valuable feedback. You can opt out of completing the survey at any time without your responses being included in the dataset.
For further information on the Survey, please see the relevant Common Awards webpage.
6. Common Awards Student Guide
In 2023/24 we produced our first ‘Welcome to Durham University’ Student Guide for students starting new programmes with TEIs.
This guide has been created in response to the Common Awards Student Survey feedback, to help improve students’ understanding of the Common Awards partnership, the relationship between their TEI and the University, the role of the University in their time as a Common Awards student, and any key information they may find useful. The guide is intended to complement induction information already shared by TEIs.
7. Further Information
The Common Awards website contains a section aimed at students which you may find useful, particularly the pages on what Common Awards can provide to you as a student, and what your TEI can provide.
If you would like to contact the Common Awards team you may do so via your TEI’s ‘key contact’, or by emailing us directly on common.awards@durham.ac.uk
Thank you,
The Common Awards Team
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