'We are learning nothing': RMIT students given recycled exam papers
By Henrietta Cook
RMIT students have complained about being set recycled exam papers, and say it's giving their peers an unfair advantage.
In two recent incidents in the College of Business, students have been provided with exams before they've even sat them.
Business students have complained about their exams.
In May, Master of Finance students enrolled in a Corporate Finance subject sat a mid-semester test that was identical to the one students sat the previous year.
And last year, students claim their teacher gave them a mock exam that was identical to the actual exam they sat for their Principles of Finance subject weeks later.
Students say the only way to fix the situation is to make all students sit the exams again.
"It's not acceptable," one student, who did not want to be named, said.
"They are using old material. We are learning nothing."
The university investigated his complaints and found while there wasn't a systematic problem of repeating assessments, the Corporate Finance mid-semester test was a duplicate of one used in semester 1 2017.
"It has been concluded that some students may have received an unfair advantage in this assessment task," a senior RMIT advisor wrote in a letter to the student.
"As a consequence, the College of Business has agreed to offer all students having sat the [Corporate Finance] 2018 mid-semester test the opportunity to sit a completely new test, with the higher of the two marks to be accepted."
A new test will be offered to students this weekend.
RMIT students are complaining about old material being recycled.
Students claim that recycled and dated material is also being used in their classes.
"Some classes had slides that mentioned the year 1997 in the future," a complaint to the university stated.
"Many things had happened in the world in the last 16 years, such as GFC, but the course is still the same."
After investigating the complaint, RMIT's College of Business concluded that "quality issues exist with teaching materials and sessional delivery" for the Options, Future and Risk Management subject.
It said inaccuracies on PowerPoint slides had been corrected and students had been provided with additional material, individual consultations and the option of transferring to different tutorials.
The college is reviewing the Master of Finance program for 2019.
"This will include a full review of student feedback, staffing, professional development, program resources and a plan for their redevelopment," a senior RMIT advisor said.
An RMIT spokeswoman told The Age that academic integrity was a priority and it had escalated the student's complaint to the Academic Registrar's Group.
"While ARG has been working with the College of Business on this matter specifically to prevent any student disadvantage, ARG is also about to commence a comprehensive program review," she said.
"Following thorough and careful investigation of the concerns raised, RMIT believes this matter has been appropriately considered, in line with the University's complaints policy and process."
Last year, four academics from the College of Business were sacked after forcing students to buy textbooks they had written in order to access mandatory tests.
Students had to fork out $50 or more to buy the textbooks, which were sold on a website owned by an RMIT lecturer.
When students bought a book from the site they received a password, which they then used to access the tests.
Henrietta Cook
Education Editor at The Age