Minutes from Digital Media and Society Program Meeting 22 jan 2014

1. Program Meeting
Digital Media and Society
22/1 2014
16.15-17.40
Room F332
Introduction
The meeting started with coffee and Program Director (PD - Jakob Svensson) giving some information
The students and PD agreed that Program Meetings should be held twice a year and every student should be
invited, but it shouldn't be mandatory to attend. Students should also be allowed to influence the agenda and
come with suggestions what should be discussed.
The PD shared some thoughts about:
a) having two teachers involved in each course in order for one to be informed if the other drops
out. The students agreed that this was a good idea.
b) the need for elective courses on masters level. The students agreed.
c) the possibility for research internship at the department.
The students raised a number of issues that could be improved. I have grouped these three areas
1) lack of communication
2) content of the program and courses
3) introduce an introduction week for all students
Lack of communication
a) Schedule and reading lists are not communicated enough in advance (some examples of them being
communicated the same week)
b) Slow, or no replying on e-mails
c) When something happens, like Ylvas sick leave, no information on why – just ”you got a new supervisor”
d) Information about registration to courses are not communicated in advance. Courses are supposed appear on
Studentportalen and when this fails, there is no help. An e-mail should be sent out to all students when
registration period starts, with clear information when it ends
e) A general reluctancy of communication from the department. When students wanted to co-organize a
Christmas party, the answer was a short no.

2. Content of the program and courses
a) In some courses there was feeling the so called “red thread” was missing/ lacking. This in combination that
learning outcomes were not communicated in advance made some courses hard to grasp
b) Some teachers were unprepared and seemed to improvise their lectures
c) There was a general feeling that teachers use the argument that the student groups was so diverse to lower the
standard. A suggestion was made that the Program should list a couple of readings that students should be
expected to be familiar with before starting the program. The PD agreed this was a good idea
d) There was a suggestion to change one of the core course (one of the two first that seemed to overlap) and
perhaps give a course in media and development given the resources at the department. The PD thought this was
a good idea
e) First year students liked the methods courses whereas second year students though they were too many and
repetitive. The PD shared that currently there are discussions of how to continue the collaboration of Master
Program in Social Sciences at the faculty. Some students (especially second year students) were of the opinion
that department should give the program independently.
f) Some students wished – if the program is remade- that the elective courses/ internship is during a full semester
and not half time.
Introduce an introduction week for all students
Students discussed how to greet new students and feel welcomed to the program as well as laying a foundation.
The PD shared experiences from Karlstad uni with an overnight with second year students taking care of the first
year students with teachers taking part in afternoon activities and lectures and then leaving the students ti enjoy
themselves during the evening.
Conclusion
In order for this not be just a meeting for the sake of the meeting, it was decided that the minutes should be
circulated among the students and that the PD should discuss how he has worked with these issues during the
next Program Meeting.
It was also discussed to invite the Student Union to the next meeting.
Minutes taken by Jakob Svensson (PD)