Floored by flawed audit

Andy Ross appears still to be in denial over the 1998 QAA report that was accepted in its entirety by the academic staff of TVU as well as by the board of governors.

The misnamed new learning environment (NLE) concept emanated from the v-c's office early in 1996. The transfer of administrators in early 1997 in order to launch the NLE in September of the same year did contribute to the "unravelling" of "old" assessment systems over the summer of 1997. To suggest the NLE was introduced later as a solution to the crisis is fantasy.

The QAA was concerned that the academic board ordered the fixing of student assignments at 1,500 words university-wide not just because it appeared incredible, but because it reflected on a seriously flawed structure of governance that permitted management by decree.

As an ex-manager, Ross understandably may find it very challenging to accept the essential truth of the QAA findings and the fact that the university wishes to move on to sensible academic deliberation, a new strategy and a new future, rather than pick over "inadequacies of procedure".

Geoff Goddin, Secretary, Association of University Teachers, TVU. Geoff Hobson, President, AUT, TVU. Stuart Goodden, Secretary, Natfhe, TVU. John Connolly, Chair, Natfhe, TVU.