Mismatches between student expectations and reality: a problem for student engagement

contributors | abstract | biographies | paper

Contributors

Cherry James, John Koo and Mike Rodney (London South Bank University (LSBU))

Format

Presentation followed by discussion

Abstract

The theme of this presentation is that in the specific context of a law degree at an inner London, post 1992 university, there are probably significant mismatches between student and staff expectations and reality, and also with the expectations of the legal profession. It is suggested that such mismatches work against student engagement in a multitude of ways. Given the significance of good student engagement for success in higher education, the implications for universities such as LSBU must be examined. Particular focus was given to the mismatches between staff and student expectations and those of the legal profession which a majority of students profess they wish to enter but which statistics show only a minority will. This is of particular significance given the increasing rate of change in the structure and modus operandi of the legal profession, and the fact that law degrees at institutions such as LSBU are increasingly marketed on the basis of their emphasis on vocational skills and ‘employability’. Not for the first time, questions are raised as to the ultimate purpose and therefore appropriate content and structure of a law degree. It is suggested that without expectations on the part of all interested parties being more clearly focused and explicit, it is wishful thinking to expect meaningful student engagement, and that our responsibility to facilitate and enable this as best possible may require a fundamental rethink about the contents and structure of a law degree.

The particular and unusual position of LSBU was explained: an inner London former polytechnic situated in an unfashionable though extremely convenient location, with large numbers of mature students, where ethnic minorities constitute the majority, and where there are many international students attracted by the ‘Dick Whittington’ factor of the word ‘London’ and often from more privileged backgrounds than domestic students; where there is, moreover, significant competition for students owing to the plethora of relatively similar institutions at no great distance. Numbers studying for law degrees increase year on year and staff sometimes struggle to be sure of their responsibilities as teachers, as pastoral assistants and as gatekeepers to a rapidly changing profession. Reference was made to a detailed survey of all students in the law department which was taken recently, and where appropriate, data from that survey was used to illustrate points made in the presentation.

It was intended that there would be discussion about various ideas either already executed or contemplated which may improve student engagement, some of which may draw on the findings of the survey referred to above. As part of this, it was anticipated that consideration would be given to how the undergraduate law degree can be delivered in a way that relates more obviously to the diverse and often disrupted lives led by many of our students.

Short biographies of panel members

Cherry James is a Senior Lecturer in the Law Department at London South Bank University (LSBU). She teaches English Legal System, Legal Skills and EU law and runs the LLB Induction Programme. She is also involved with an Erasmus programme on EU Criminal and Migration Law. She has taught law for ten years and has been teaching at London South Bank University since 2005. Cherry is a solicitor and spent eight years working in two large London solicitors’ firms, where she specialised in litigation.

John Koo is a lecturer in EU law at the LSBU. He is a member of departmental and university quality and enhancement committees. He has participated in a number of curriculum reviews. He is a member of the Law Department Scholarship Group which pursues research interests relating to teaching and learning in law.

Mike Rodney is a Senior Lecturer in the Law Department at the LSBU where he has been teaching since 1994 in the areas of Public Law, Legal Theory and Civil Litigation. Before that he was in practice as a solicitor specialising in civil litigation related to social welfare and human rights law. He is also an associate lecturer with the Open University where he teaches Public and Criminal Law. He has a doctorate having undertaken his research thesis in the field of legal theory. His current areas of research are public law, legal theory and aspects of legal pedagogy and the student experience.

Last Modified: 1 March 2011