Are the residential weekends compulsory?
Yes: these residential weekends are an essential part of the programme, and they are compulsory. The weekends run from Friday evening until Sunday lunchtime. There are three in the first year and two in the second year of the programme. The first residential weekend involves an Induction to Law Programme for non-lawyers, which starts at 9am on the Friday. Law graduates commence at 3pm on the Friday of the first residential weekend.
These weekends are compulsory because they form an essential part of the programme during which important tuition takes place. During the weekends, as well as receiving tuition on the substantive content of the module, students will be given guidance on how they should approach the topics covered, together with general and specific guidance on various aspects of the syllabus.
Such study weekends are an integral part of this blended learning programme, i.e. one where both on-line and hard-copy materials are delivered or accessible, supplemented by face-to-face tuition. These face-to-face sessions are centrally important in terms of explaining topics, drawing out themes, evaluating materials, providing orientation (both general and specific), and generally supplementing the on-line and hard-copy materials available. Apart from the pedagogic reasons, it is hoped that the study weekends will foster a spirit of collegiality, which is a considerable advantage to students on a blended learning programme of this nature, since it enhances the teaching and learning experience.
