Two words- TUTORIAL ENROLMENT. The two words that will make any university students heart stop, goose-bumps start and all the panic set in. Timetabling is defined as “any schedule or plan designating the times at or within which certain things occur or are scheduled to occur” I have chosen to dive into the topic of University processes and procedures, in particular the tutorial enrolment system and how this important operation effects the student experience here at University of Wollongong. Any UOW student knows the struggle and stress of the current tutorial enrolment system, simply having a bad internet connection can ruin the timetable for the approaching semester and result in less days off for students that have jobs/ other commitments/ long commuting times etc. What I would like to achieve from this research is to find what students’ opinions are of the enrolment process and how they affect the student experience.
Of just a small amount of research the opinions are already present regarding the tutorial enrolment system– this is not only the UOW experience but what seems to be most universities. Junkee posted a VERY related blog in 2017 that shared the seven stages that university students are faced with selecting their timetable. A quick search on twitter revealed the dooms day of tutorial enrolment wasn’t really one that students looked forward to.
Even on the UOW help page, the frequently asked questions are mostly based on timetabling and students ability to balance university and work etc.
Unfortunately, there isn’t many academic articles about tutorial enrolment system as it is very specific to UOW. However, there was a study conducted on the University of Brisbane, in regard to the positives and negatives of university life, this included successes and frustrations with university service, attempts to over- come the obstacles of university life, and what students expect from their relation- ship to the university. The study found that “many students from all areas reported experiencing their most significant obstacles and hassles as surrounding administrative procedures regarding enrolments, timetabling, or course changes, which they described as being unnecessarily time-consuming, confusing, unreliable, and inconsiderate of the students’ perspective.” (Lindahl et al, p. 673). This study highlighted the stress of the universities systems, a system that will ultimately affect the student’s entire semester. The lack of help and instruction causes the whole process to be ‘unnecessarily time-consuming and confusing’ (Lindahl et al, p.673) Through my research I would like to give students the opportunity to have their say about they universities processes and procedures and how changes can be implemented to enhance the student experience at UOW.
Another academic journal researched university timetabling from an operational, tactical and strategical timetabling which is more of a universities point of view. It looked at resourcing problems such as lack of teachers, rooms and teaching periods and the impact son the university. “These management decisions have a high impact on the cost of running a university and also on how good the resulting timetables will be.”(Brenders et al, p. 43) Understanding this point of view is important to come to a happy medium that makes both students happy but is also time effect and cost effective for the university.
The main reason I am interested in researching this topic is because it is extremely relatable and relevant to all students currently enrolled or have been enrolled in university. It is something that has to happen in order for the semester to commence and is a process that most university students dread. Through my study I wish to understand further what students’ opinions are of the tutorial enrolment process and what can be done to further enhance student experience at UOW.
REFERENCES
- Brenders, D., Hope, P. and Ninnan, A. (1999). A SYSTEMIC, STUDENT-CENTERED STUDY OF UNIVERSITY SERVICE. Research in Higher Education, [online] 40(6), pp.665-685. Available at: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1023/A:1018760830549 [Accessed 22 Mar. 2019].
- dictionary.com. (2019). the definition of timetable. [online] Available at: https://www.dictionary.com/browse/timetable [Accessed 22 Mar. 2019].
- Lindahl, M., Mason, A., Stidsen, T. and Sørensen, M. (2017). A strategic view of University timetabling. European Journal of Operational Research, [online] 266(1), pp.35-45. Available at: https://ac-els-cdn-com.ezproxy.uow.edu.au/S0377221717308433/1-s2.0-S0377221717308433-main.pdf?_tid=a64ca8f9-44f4-42ac-8e06-e40f80d211a7&acdnat=1553147661_b6315d8ba2f9973e7301aa7f554f9696 [Accessed 22 Mar. 2019].
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