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Department of Phonetics and Linguistics
ANNUAL REPORT 1996
Introduction
In 1996 we continued our commitment to top-quality teaching and research in a wide range of areas in phonetics and linguistics.
One major concern during the year was was the twin assessments to which we were subjected by the Higher Education Funding Council for England: one into teaching, and one into research.
First came the Assessment of Quality of Education. A team from HEFCE spent a week with us in March. This is the first time we have been subjected to inspection by an outside body, and we were naturally somewhat apprehensive of the outcome. Our fears proved unfounded. We were delighted to be accorded 22 marks out of a possible 24, and particularly pleased that we scored top marks for Teaching, Learning and Assessment. We have always taken pride in the quality of our lecturing and other teaching, and have endeavoured to be open to the new ideas being propagated under the Enterprise initiative. Of the 21 teaching sessions observed by the HEFCE assessors, all save one received the very highest grade. The detailed results are in HEFCE Quality Assessment Report Q226/96, and a national overview, Quality Assessment of Linguistics, in QO 6/96.
The second was the Research Assessment Exercise (last held in 1992). As well as assorted statistical indicators, we were required to list the four best publications for each member of academic staff, and to provide a statement of the department's research achievements (read it here). The outcome was a 5 rating. With this rating we were not surpassed by any other Linguistics department in the country, although we were disappointed not to receive the highest possible rating of 5*. A national overview is given in HEFCE circular RAE96 1/96.
John Wells
Head of Department