An investigation is underway into how 90% of students on an architecture course failed their final exams.
** updated ** - tektlab, Archinect member and failing student from this particular class, offers some insight (read comments)
The course at the University of Central England, Birmingham, has been suspended while the investigation takes place.
Thirty students due to start in September will now have to find places at another university.
The university's authorities have chosen an independent adviser to examine the high failure rate, with 54 out of 60 undergraduates failing.
Those who failed are being offered support as they face the prospect of autumn re-sits.
Pro-vice chancellor Professor Phil Walkling said students obliged to work full-time at the same time as studying as well as unfinished coursework contributed to the appalling pass rate.
He was quoted by the Birmingham Post as saying: "I have never come across a situation where so many students failed before. It's unheard of.
"There is no one reason why so many students failed. It is a whole spectrum of things.
"Some have completed their final coursework and others have been working almost full time due to financial pressures."
A university spokeswoman added: "In response to this exceptional circumstance, the decision has been made to not recruit to either the full or part time course in BA Architecture in September 2004.
"The university will help students who had already accepted places to find places at comparable courses in other universities."
From the BBC
4 Comments
Being one of the students that failed i feel i can add insight into the multitude of things that caused such a catastrophic result:
Firstly a massive and total lack of quality teaching, a chaotic flux of a timetable, and a lack of commitment from the full time staff to invest their time in the students (this is of course not all the staff (Nikki you were amazing)).
Secondly and probably the cause of the above, a widespread engrained and depressed philosophy, both the students and the teachers lacked the motivation to carry out there work.
Thirdly the culmination of three years of 'just not getting it', whether this was the teachers or the pupils i am still not sure, many did not read on their subject, many did not contribute to debate, many did not understand architecture beyond the aesthetic, and that understanding of aesthetic was not nearly elevated enough.
There are many more than that though, and this doesn't cover the students that were amazing, there is a student that failed that has a first in mathematics from sheffield university, how did he fail? His work is worthy of a bronze medal. It is the university failing him, not him failing the university.
I would like to point out my experience, which i believe to be unique from the other students (do tell me if you think otherwise).
I began the first half of the second year getting firsts in all of the projects i handed in, i then proceeded to take part in an Erasmus program in Austria. The Erasmus co-ordinater had no clue what i was to expect, or what i was to do over there, i was merely instructed that "it didn't matter, it would be alright". When i got back, the grades could not be converted, and half a years work had to be re-done while in my third year.
During my time in the third year, i was not given any hint that i had passed my second year. I was nervous as fuck.
The work eventually got done and handed in, but by that time depression was beginning to set in. By the start of my final project i had damaged my hand while at work as a waiter in Birmingham (of which i had to do to be able to financially sustain myself). The damage was so considerable that it was put in a splint and i was ordered by a consultant surgeon not to use it for 10 weeks. I was unable to draw, and barely able to use a mouse.
By the time this period was over, i was already behind and desperately trying to catch up. I spent 3 nights without sleep before having my final crit, the work was awful and i deservedly failed the crit. The work was to be then completed for portfolio hand in, my last chance to pass the year. I couldn't. I couldn't touch it. I couldn't cope with the course. I was later diagnosed with manic depression by psychiatrists at Solihull hospital. I am now devastated. I have to resit by september, but am still not mentally capable of doing it. Instead i work my waiters job and read when i can (Rem Koolhaas' Content, and Architecture: a reader in cultural theory by neil leach are proving enlightening).
I will eventually re start my third year. Hopefully this will go better.
Sorry about the grammer in the above, i kinda let it all gush out.
Hang in there. You happened in the way of too many unfortunate events and circumstances, a serious time-out is certainly the right thing.
You're still reading about arch. so you don't seem to be put off by the subject; that sounds good (or alarming). Anyway, I hope you still find the time to enjoy the summer.
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