[SSC] Meeting on 10th September 2011

Fri Sep 9 14:28:29 UTC 2011

Mike,
I think i will be able to attend from about 12. Is the place near the station?

Many thanks
Sara
________________________________________
From: ssc-bounces at lists.aktivix.org [ssc-bounces at lists.aktivix.org] On Behalf Of Richard Hall [RHall1 at dmu.ac.uk]
Sent: 09 September 2011 15:20
To: ssc at lists.aktivix.org
Subject: Re: [SSC] Meeting on 10th September 2011

This is nicely written and accessible, Mike. As you state – it extends what we have and that ongoing elaboration is important.

I think that it raises some key points that might be developed/discussed.

1.       You highlight that the SSC is an autonomous form of higher education, and that it will be managed on democratic, non-hierarchical principles. However, several of us work in HE and will come with pre-defined views of what HE is, of how it might be managed, and we have power that comes from our intellectual grounding/positions in formal HE – as you note, lecturers will be teaching in the SSC. We need to be wary of this when engaging with those who do not work or live in HE but who will be helping running or managing or teaching or making decisions. I think that this will emerge over time, but it needs to be explicitly recognized. There is power invested throughout our relationships, and those friendships/working patterns that we take from HE into the SSC.

2.       As a result, I do not believe that the SSC is solely about the academic content/curriculum – it is also about our relationships and how we create an alternative over time. This might take periods of negotiation about how we work together.

3.       The consensus event highlighted for me that:

a.    Consensus decision-making is not neutral – there exists within the processes/structures the ability to close-down conversations or opinions, or not to respect differences;

b.    Equally, some of us have worked together or developed friendships over periods of time – the politics of these friendships will affect decision-making, and we need to work hard to recognise and guard against that;

c.    The underpinning theoretical/organising principles have been developed from a specific intellectual position – one that happens to align with my own, but I wonder how this will impact the SSC’s direction and politics, and what we might do to recognise other positions, including in our publicity?

4.       Do we have a “policy” on writing about the SSC? So far the bulk of writing has been done by Joss and Mike for very understandable reasons. But as we move forward, do we have a position on this – can anyone of us write about the Centre, as if s/he represents the Centre? Or do we need guidelines? I have been reticent about saying anything other than naming the fact that the SSC exists. Again if we are to be non-hierarchical then some form of clarification should be negotiated.

5.       The curriculum – I would like to discuss this at some point, as I am wondering whether we have to mirror traditional HE or whether there is space for students to negotiate projects rather than courses of study? I am interested in alternative forms of higher learning, as well as the SSC being an alternative form of HE.
Have fun tomorrow. I will miss you all.
In solidarity.
Richard.

From: ssc-bounces at lists.aktivix.org [mailto:ssc-bounces at lists.aktivix.org] On Behalf Of Michael Neary
Sent: 07 September 2011 15:52
To: joss at josswinn.org; ssc at lists.aktivix.org
Subject: Re: [SSC] Meeting on 10th September 2011

Dear All,

I have attached a short article on the SSC, written by me, that is due to be posted soon on the Open Democracy web site : http://opendemocracy.net.

You will see that the piece is a further elaboration of what is already on the SSC website stating our main purposes.

I thought that we might use this paper to frame a general discussion about the SSC at the meeting on Saturday, before getting on with the rest of the agenda, outlined in email below.

I am very much looking forward to seeing all of you who are able to come. I currently have a list of 14 possible and confirmed attenders.

Best wishes,

Mike

________________________________
From: nearymichael at hotmail.com
To: joss at josswinn.org; ssc at lists.aktivix.org
Date: Wed, 31 Aug 2011 14:14:10 +0000
Subject: Re: [SSC] Meeting on 10th September 2011
Dear SSCers,

For all who are are able to attend the forthcoming session of the Social Science Centre on Saturday, the 10th of September:

The event will start at 10am and finish no later than 4 pm. Please bring your own lunch, snacks and drinks. There is a kitchen where we can make tea/coffee.

The suggested agenda for the day will be organised around the following issues:
Curriculum, including Pedagogy

Quality and Peer Review

Areas of responsibility: work groups

Recruiting students

Power and consensus decision making within the SSC

An important part of the day will be to find ways to include colleagues who are not able to attend in these discussions. This will be the first session of what we hope will be a monthly event, so there will be plenty of opportunities for all to be involved.

 The venue is The Improvement Centre, Mint Lane, Lincoln, LN1 1UD. See Map  - http://alturl.com/usnub.

I would be very grateful if those who are coming can confirm their attendance.

I am very much looking forward to working with you

Best wishes

Mike

From: joss at josswinn.org
> Date: Tue, 30 Aug 2011 07:16:11 +0100
> To: ssc at lists.aktivix.org
> Subject: [SSC] Update on membership
>
> Hi everyone,
>
> I just thought you would be interested to know that since we opened up the SSC to formal membership enrolment, we now have 26 confirmed members, 18 of whom are 'Academic members' and eight Associate Academic members.
>
> If you have enrolled as a member and wish to be listed on the website http://socialsciencecentre.org.uk/members/ please send a short biographical statement to info at socialsciencecentre.org.uk
>
> See you on the 10th September for our next meeting. Location/time to be confirmed, but expect a one day meeting in central Lincoln. As it's on a Saturday, I don't think Mint Lane will be available to us but there are other similar venues we will investigate.
>
> Joss
> _______________________________________________
> SSC mailing list
> SSC at lists.aktivix.org
> https://lists.aktivix.org/mailman/listinfo/ssc

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