Author
Archiving of Bilda
KTH Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) is terminating its Bilda system agreement with Ping Pong. The termination comes into effect on 31 Dec 2017. To replace Bilda, KTH is implementing Canvas. The School of Industrial Engineering and Management (ITM) holds courses in this. If you have any questions, please contact Anna Jerbrant, director of first-cycle courses and study programmes (GA).
A public authority such as KTH has a responsibility to archive various types of documents/outcomes. There are also rules on how long it is before such materials can be disposed of.
KTH has now procured an archive licence. As this gives all of us access to the materials for three years, we have more time to analyse what has been saved in Bilda and if it needs to be archived for a longer period. The items that have to be saved for a long period are detailed in KTH’s document management plan. Unless otherwise stated, this latter constitutes the public authority’s decision on disposal.
We will be returning to this subject when we have received more information from KTH/University Administration (UF).
Examination rules at KTH
Background
In 2013, KTH implemented scanning of examination papers. Ahead of this, there had been a general mapping out of the examination situation at KTH’s course-giving units. This mapping out showed: wide variations in examination administration; various interpretations of the examination regulations; and, differences in examination invigilators’ implementation and practical handling of written examinations. Around 100,000 students a year sit examination papers at KTH. There are also several partial examinations that have the same format as standard examinations and are handled in the same way.
As the steering documents did not meet the need for clear guidance in the various situations that arise in current written examination sittings, the need for a review of examination rules at KTH was palpable. Proposals for new examination rules were finalised in March 2017 and were then circulated for comment to the GA group and the education committee. The issue was prepared in the education committee on 8 Mar 2017 and 10 May 2017. Statements from the education committee have been taken into consideration in the new proposal currently under consideration.
In the autumn 2017 semester, ITM will be implementing examination rules developed in line with the above. The school’s director of studies group will be supplementing KTH’s examination rules from an ITM perspective.
We will be returning with more information on this in the autumn 2017 semester.
I wish you all a wonderful, sunny summer!
/Christina Carlsson, Head of administration
Author
Finally we have reached the end of the spring semester after a very intense period. The last couple of weeks my time has been filled with both examination, research conferences and the graduation ceremony for masters, masters of engineering and architects in the City Hall. The graduation ceremony was a new experience for me, and during this ceremony the presentation of the diplomas to each graduate was mixed with musical entertainment by the KTH academic orchestra conducted by director musices Gunnar Julin and the student choir. It was a very impressive and an incredible nice arrangement, I really appreciated the opportunity to present and congratulate all of ITMs graduates 🙂
But I have also, as probably most of you, put a lot of time the last couple of weeks on grading, for example master thesis projects. I really think supervising master thesis projects is a rewarding teaching effort, since these students are almost finished with their education and therefore are ready to apply all parts of it. It’s thrilling to be able to see the students execute this in a satisfactory way.
Finally, some educational issues being discussed at KTH tight now. For instance; there is a lot of discussions on how to enhance the quality assurance process (course evaluations and analyses), what the content of the program analysis should be, and off course the shift from Bilda till Canvas. Hope you all have attended a workshop and feel prepared for teaching with the help of Canvas as of this fall semester.
But before we all start to think about the fall I want to wish you all a Glad Midsommar and hope you have a nice vacation.
/ Anna Jerbrant, GA
Author
On Thursday June 15 at 13.00 the ITM School has a joint Faculty Club and Summer celebration in M1. The main focus of the Faculty Club is to discuss the first draft of the KTH Development plan 2018-2023. You all have the draft now attached to the calendar invitation in your e-calendar. By the way, this seems like a good time to remind us all about a previously announced ITM policy:
- All employees should use the Outlook calendar for planning time, and the calendar should be open (for time slots, but not content) within ITM.
As we all know, KTH is currently subject to a quite substantial reorganization and the first reports are as earlier announced available here . In the case of integrating CSC, ICT and EES the first report outlines two different solutions, one of which implies a transition to two schools rather than the proposed one-school alternative. It seems however that our president will go for the one-school solution.
During the spring, an up-to-date slide presentation of the ITM-school has been prepared. It is available for all to download here. After the summer it will be complemented by short department presentations as well.
Summer is approaching and times are hectic in terms of correcting exams, reporting results, performing course analyses and graduating PhDs. After this hectic period I would like to wish all ITM co-workers a nice summer and relaxing holidays.
On Thursday June 15 at 13.00 (starting with the Faculty Club) we will celebrate our efforts with some prize ceremonies, some School information and certainly mingle and refreshments!
/Jan Wikander, Dean of School
Author
A very intense week is about to be completed, since the term is about to end. Time to summarize all P4 courses and complete the work of writing and correcting all the examination. But this week has also offered other exciting and interesting education-focused events. For instance, yesterday (on Wednesday) all the schools GA & PA had a rally discussing both the program analysis, that all schools recently have developed, as well as different prioritized development inquiries, performed during the spring. It was interesting to note that there are several common progress areas where we can benefit from networking and collaboration. For instance, lots of the presentations discussed the need for increased sustainability, gender equality and quality assurance in several of the educations.
Next week we can look forward to having a dialogue focused on educational quality with e.g. the President Sigbritt Karlsson and also the vice dean of faculty Per Berglund (who is responsible for the education at Bachelor’s, Master’s and PhD levels). It will give us the possibility to describe and discuss the strengths and opportunities, as well as threats, for all of our education on 1st, 2nd and 3rd cycle level at the school. Hopefully it will be rewarding.
But for now, let’s enjoy the coming summer weather and bring e.g. the master thesis reading with us outdoors.
/ Anna Jerbrant, GA
Author
The Dean of the School has set up two new projects to define what needs there are with regard to
- The school’s MSc programmes as regards the producer side. Caroline Ahlstedt has been appointed project manager. The project is already underway.
- The school’s centres of excellence. Sarah Golibari has been appointed project manager. The project is already underway.
The projects will be run in project form beginning with a round of interviews concerning needs and wishes that exist at the school. A reference group has been appointed.
Computer workstations
Work is going on at KTH to coordinate IT operations and support with the aim of minimising work duplication and using KTH’s resources more efficiently. A further aim is to reduce the total cost of activities such as investments, operation and development in local platforms at KTH. Five of KTH’s schools are already in this environment.
The Dean of School has decided to transfer the school’s IT services to KTH’s IT department. The process for this is as follows:
- Prerequisites and scope
- Inventorying and mapping
- Implementation of requirements/needs
- Design of services
- Introduction projects
- Administration
The school has appointed a reference group. The project is being run by KTH’s IT department under the management of Hans Wolfarth.
Service centre
ITM’s newly set up service centre is now up to speed and cases are dropping into our new case management system. At present we’re working hard to adapt quickly to demand. If you have questions or suggestions for improvements, don’t hesitate to contact:
Annika Lilja, anlil.kth.se
Christina Carlsson, chrisinta.carlsson.itm.kth.se
We really need your views and comments to be able to offer the basic services we have set up.
Yours sincerely
Christina Carlsson, Head of Adminstration
