University of Aberdeen to open its doors to
Higher Modern Studies students
UK political issues will be top of the agenda at a Higher Modern Studies Conference to be held tomorrow (Tuesday, March 30) at the University of Aberdeen.
Almost 200 secondary pupils from Aberdeen schools will be attending the event which has been based around the school curriculum with pupils spending the morning discussing UK political issues and the afternoon focussing on specific Higher Modern Studies exam technique and general study skills.
Organised in collaboration with Aberdeen City Council Modern Studies Network, the event aims to help senior school pupils learn more about exam topics and to discover at first hand how Politics and International Relations are taught at the University. Students will benefit from valuable new insights into relevant Modern Studies topics from experts in the subjects. They will also have the opportunity to experience University level teaching and gain additional study skills.
The conference programme has been developed to offer a choice of workshop topics relevant to Political Issues in the United Kingdom, ensuring that the day targets students' specific interests and helps to encourage enthusiasm for political studies and University.
University of Aberdeen experts will lead workshops under the general topic 'Political Issues in the United Kingdom'. Pupils will join three of four groups discussing 'Government of Scotland', 'Electoral Systems in Scotland and the UK', 'Decision Making in Central Government' and 'Voting Patterns and Voting Influence'.
The Open Forum in the afternoon will give students the chance to raise topical questions with a panel of Politics and International Relations staff, chaired by the journalist, Peter Mitchell.
Professor Grant Jordan, Head of the Department of Politics and International Relations, said: "The University is delighted to be involved again in the Higher Modern Studies Conference and we hope to encourage as many pupils as possible to follow their interest in Politics and International Relations and advance to University study."
Tom Ferguson, Dyce Academy Principal Teacher of Modern Studies and part of the Aberdeen City Council Modern Studies Network, said: "Feedback from pupils attending previous Conferences has been very positive with them seeing the event as highly relevant to their forthcoming exams. The consolidation and embellishment they receive is a great help to all abilities and may be one reason behind the successful results our schools have been receiving in recent years."
This will be the fourth year that the conference has been hosted by the University.
Programme for the Higher Modern Studies Conference:
8.30 - 9.15 Arrival, registration and coffee
9.20 - 9.35 Welcome: Professor the Lord John Sewel
9.40 - 10.30 Session 1
10.35 - 11.25 Session 2
11.30 - 12.20 Session 3
12.25 - 1.10 Lunch
1.15 - 2.00 Open Forum: chair: Peter Mitchell
2.00 - 3.00 How to Pass the Higher Modern Studies Exam