Bums on seats aren't everything 2

Carol Jones seriously misrepresents the philosophy section at Cardiff University. Far from being demoralised, my colleagues work as a dedicated team, committed to providing quality education. This has been recognised by the Teaching Quality Agency (rating: excellent) and by successive external examiners' reports.

Jones attended very few staff meetings and, consequently, is unaware of discussion about enhancing teaching and learning quality when resources are shrinking. She also distorts out of recognition colleagues' comments and fails to mention the reaffirmation of a policy of seminars for all modules in all years.

Jones's proposal for compulsory attendance of seminars for students in years 2 and 3 was rejected at one meeting. This was because we believe it is more valuable to create a culture of active critical engagement and participation through voluntary attendance rather than through compulsion.

Barry Wilkins
Chair, board of studies for philosophy
Cardiff University