This project aims transform the timetabling experience for students and staff and ensure that all teaching is undertaken in a space that is good quality and fit for purpose.Â
- What happened in Phase 1
Phase 1 of the project ran in mid-2018. This phase focussed on documenting the current timetabling lifecycle including the processes, the roles involved and ways of working.
By mapping out the timetabling lifecycle we now have a better understanding of the critical paths and key dependencies (for example Academic Review) that impact on a successful delivery of a roomed timetable and on our ability to improve staff and student satisfaction.Â
We also ran a ProcessFix workshop to consider how the timetabling process could be further refined. This resulted in some changes to, and positive feedback regarding, the process ahead of 2019/20.
- The plan for Phase 2
The Project Board has been reconvened under the co-sponsorship of two members of SMT – Professor Ivan Parkin (Dean, Faculty of Mathematical and Physical Sciences) and Professor Becky Francis (Director, Institute of Education).
This phase will build upon the work completed in Phase 1 to investigate how we could:
- Introduce a new policy framework to cover our timetabling priorities, staff availability to teach, accessibility and inclusion and how to resolve conflicts
- Agree roles, responsibilities and accountabilities of those identified within the timetabling lifecycle
- Deliver process improvements to provide an optimised timetable for students and staff
- Define a Teaching Spaces Strategy and Standard to inform our future investment and space ownership
- Develop a deeper understanding of the timetabling lifecycle including the critical paths and interdependencies
- Further improve our MI and reporting systems
In addition to considering how we can deliver operational improvements, Estate Management Committee (EMC) recently approved £2m from the Interim Capital Fund to supplement a £0.5m planned spend on upgrading our existing teaching estate this year.Â
With this funding, °×С½ãÂÛ̳ Estates will deliver light touch improvements across some of our existing teaching estate, focusing on painting, re-carpeting, new furniture and room facilities.