Response to Student Feedback
HSTY2304 Imperialism 1815-2000 (2011)

Unit Coordinator: Professor Robert Aldrich & Associate Professor Kirsten Mckenzie

This senior unit was team-taught by Robert Aldrich and Kirsten McKenzie with an enrolment of 132 students. It comprised a comparative study of a number of themes in the history of British and French overseas expansion, including such topics as governance, colonial culture, science, gender and the environment. This is the first time the unit has been taught in exactly this format and by these lecturers. Assessments were, in addition to tutorial attendance and participation, a 1000-word source exercise, a 2000-research essay, and a 90-minute examination.

A vast majority of students rated the unit favourably on all indicators in the unit of study evaluation: relevance of the unit to a degree course, stimulation of thinking, quality of learning materials and responsiveness of staff rated particularly highly. The overall satisfaction score was 3.64.

Students remarked, in specific comments, on the expertise and enthusiasm of the lecturers, and on the interest and pertinence of the topics covered. Some questions were raised about particular readings, but otherwise students – many of them History majors – spoke very highly of the unit.

This unit is not on offer in 2012, and it is uncertain when it will again be offered, though it remains ‘on the books’ and the lecturers intend to take it again at some time when their other teaching commitments allow.