3rd Year Undergraduate Wrap-up meeting

Present: Dr Graham Roberts (Departmental Tutor), Jill Saunders and three 3rd year students (of which two were BSc finalists and one MEng 3rd year)

1. Coursework marking and return 
It was noted that coursework from 3005 Operating Systems had not been returned in time for the exams. ACTION: Department

2. Project Workload (BSc students)
The workload was felt to be particularly high in the 3rd year of the BSc. We discussed whether it would be better to bring the Project hand-in date forward to the end of Term 2. On one hand, this would mean that students could then concentrate on revision for taught course exams, but on the other hand it might lead to undue pressure leading up to Easter. Perhaps instead, supervisors should be asked to push their students to finish coding earlier so that the bulk of the writing-up could be finished in good time. It was also felt important that 2nd years must sort out their projects and supervisor arrangements before leaving for the summer, so as not to waste the first few weeks of the 3rd year.

3. Group Project Workload
For many students, the group project workload had proved completely overwhelming, to the detriment of other courses.  Some students were working 120 hours a week at the most busy times.

4. Computational Complexity
It was suggested that this course could benefit from more problem classes. At present there are just two, but one a week would be more appropriate so that students could build up their skills.

5. Option courses
Those present had in the main opted for courses from the Computer Graphics and Image Processing group and had found them very interesting.