’VARSITY COMMISSION

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 12195, 21 July 1925, Page 7

’VARSITY COMMISSION

EVIDENCE AT DUNEDIN DECLINE IN MEDICAL STUDENTS EXAMINATION SYSTEM ATTACKED \ Per Press Association. DUNEDIN, July 20. Mr Jj. ,D. Ritchie, treasurer to the University of Otago, submitted estimates of the normal income and expenditure ror the current year as follow: — Income £55,750, and expenditure £56,588. There would be a definite increase in the expenditure next year in upkeep and assistance and certain new appointments were in contemplation. Last year £5547 was transferred from the arts arid general account. For the deficit on the dental, medical and mining schools and museum, very heavy transfers' in the same direction were required annually. There was a falling-off in the entrants to the medical school which would mean a marked decrease in revenue, but no mateiial saving in expenditure. Financial aid was required in respect to the mining school which was founded in 1877 at the direct invitation of the Government, and which had won world-wide reputation. The question of. salaries for assistants and provision for research' was in serious need of attention. Understaffing in the arts and science faculties placed unduly heavy burdens on the.staff regarding teaching and research was practically out of the question. The provision limiting the superannuation of professors to £3OO appeared to be a blot on the honesty or cotqmon sense of the legislature and the redaction in salaries under the publio Expenditure- Adjustment Act should ocase to operate. The scholarships made available by the Government were not of sufficient value to letsin suitable students. SALARIES OF PROFESSORS Mr Ritchie said that a practice prevailed whereby professors were paid a nominal salary and allowed students’ fees. That applied to three professors and the Council was trying to .eradicate that practice, and in some oases bad departed from it paying professors , a fixed sum. Owing to the lack of finance the Council had increased tho fees all round some years ago. It was contended that the deficit on any - of the special schools should be made good by the Government as the institutions were not run merely for the benefit of the people of the province, hut were conducted in the interests of the Dominions generally. It was felt that they could not - have progress and efficiency'lf they had to be going cap in hand to. the Government continually. Next year, when, the new dental school was established, there would be An expenditure of £SOO or £6OO for- janitor, .lighting, etc., iquite Apart from the academic side. - t.Referring to the decrease, in- the number of medical students, Mr RU- ■ chie said he thought there was a feeling that the number of doctors would be more tham the country needed. This possibly, was partly due to the fact that the course had been extended from five years to six years.- In some cases- that really meant a course ot seven years if they had to live within their income, and he thought it would lead to-the closing down of the school or there would certainly he no progress. BETTER STUDENTS RETARDED Dr Inglis gave evidence with reference to B.A. and B.So. degrees. He stated that the standard in certain subjects was lower than it should be, owing Gbiefly to the want of homogeneity in the calibre -of students, many of whom, on entering the university, had only fulfilled the bare, requirements* of tho matriculation examination. The better students were retarded in their progress by the presence of so many relatively weak members in the university classes. The admission to tKe university examination. of students who were exempted from attendance, at. lectures also, tended to lower the standard. This, however, tras not of vital as the number of\such students was relatively small. A more serious defect was that many students, who were in the majority in 6ome classes, were attempting to carry on a course of study for a degree examination along with a full-time training college course..' The standard under any purely external system tended to be .low because the examiner was reluctant to fail a candidate on the evidence of one exannnaThe present system of examination for advanced and honours grades was* purely external. Pass degree examinations were also still largely external. From both the teachers’ and the students’ point of view ther external system had serious defects, as under it the student and the public were apt to regard the universitv teacher as a mere coach, and to judge s hia efficiency by examination results. DRAWBACK OF SYSTEM It should be recognised that the uni, versity teacher should be free to de vclop his subject as his experience and study suggested. It was impossible un dor a purely or mainly external system because the teacher had to keep m view the interpretation which the external examiner might set on tee syllabus Under this system the student was often at a disadvantage because the work of his whole course was assessed on the result of a single examination This was peculiarly unfair in case of honours students. Another drawback of the present system was that the highest awards in moder> languages and experimental science were made on the result of on examination which did not include oral or practical test. . . The best.system of degree examining was one in which each university teacher shared with the external examiner the preparation of all degree examination papers, both in pass and honour, and the assessing of tho merits rf the candidates. Messrs P. S. Cabot, C. B. Baijowclough, and J. A. Macdonald submitted a statement in support of student representation on the Qtogo University Council. It was ftated that the utmost good feeling and cordiality existed between tho Students’ Association and the Council. It had been unanimously decided that student representation on the University Council was highly desirable and that a representative or representatives be selected b.v the executive of the Students’ Association.

In support of. the claim, the statement referred to the appointment of four representatives by the Court of Convocation, and stated that it waß evident that, owing t.o the force of circumstances and other interests, graduate* who elected representatives wore people whose direct personal interest in student affairs must necessarily be noglicrible. •Kir Harry Reichel commented or» the

fact that the statement was a very straightforward one, and would carrj a great deal of Weight with the commission. Mr Tate: Do they give representation on high schools boards to pupils attending high schools. Mr Barrowclough said that he thought that position was very different. As far as the students were concerned the Students’ Association was not recognised in the University statutes. CAUSE FOR DISSATISFACTION Professor ,1 ack stated that the Professorial. Board was unanimously of opinion ‘there were grave causes or dissatisfaction with the present university system. The Board of Studies should consist of all teaohers, but under tho present system such nn arrangement Was impossible. There was a very grave objection to the delay oaused by the Senate having to refer business back, and there had been serious cases of trouble recently owing to the lack of proper supervision in regard to examinations. Delay m publication of results, miscarriage of ex amination papers, and errors in results were frequent causes of trouble. Insufficient value was attached to prao tical work and training. A system of examination whioh left out the kind of practical work done was very defective. There was a distinct cleavage here on the question of four separate universi ties. The medical and dental faculties were almost wholly against it, and the arts and science faculty and the home science faculty almost "wholly in favour of it. There was a division of opinion in the other faculties. In Otago tho students in the various faculties were: Arts and science 423, mining 24, agriculture 2, medicine 267, dentistry 113, home science 75, law 76, and commerce 116. Next year there would be a larger lead in arts and science, owing to a smaller number entering some of the other faculties. It had been said that if there were four separate universities the cost of examinations and general administratiqh would bo much greater. The cost last' year was £23,000, _ but surely the cost, with four universities would not be more than £5760 each. With four separate universities thejre would be no difficulties in regard to distance cost or time for consultation, arid there" would be continuous opportunities for the discussion of improvements. A HEALTHY RIVALRY With four universities there would be healthy rivalry between the centres, but each would develop its own character. There Were four universities in Scotland long before its population wtas equal to that of New Zealand, and that at a time when the percentage attending the university was much smaller. It was felt by all faculties that the number of special sohools must he limited as the country could not support special schools of all kinds in the’ four centres. There was great need, for radical ohanges in the constitution of the council of the university so as to utilise the services of men of high academic standing who were at present excluded. ' COURT OF GOVERNORS POWERS The powers of the Court of Governors should be restricted to a general policy of finance and responsibility*, to the public and Parliament for efficiency and the professorial board would become the Senate. If the change were effected its powers would be as at present iri addition to the following of all purely academic questions, the appointment of examiners, approval of the syllabus and control of the standard and conduct of examinations. It was suggested that there should he freedom to appoint a principal, and if desired freedom from Government con-' trol in academic matters, and a more assured basis of finance were greatly, stressed. It could safely be said that the staffing in the -arts faculty was worse than in any other arts faculty in any university in the British Empire, and the result was that the standard of work was lower than the profeserars desired. There was a rapidly growing number of students capable of doing good research work.. Additional fellowships and scholarship would enable good students to remain at .the university. The establishment of a research fund was highly desirable. There was no provision for,leave of absence, but it was essential to allow professors and lecturers to visit Britain and America from time to time.