Academic and Personal Counseling

Most students will need advice and help at various stages through their course.

Academic Help

You may always seek advice and help about your work on specific modules from module and seminar leaders. Further advice on such matters as choice of modules for your programme can be sought from any publishing tutor

At various stages of your course you will need to discuss your programme with certain members of staff and get their signatures for any changes you wish to make.

Academic problems

In the case of difficulties on a particular module, see the Module Leader, the Programme Leader, or if need be, the Dean of the Faculty. Inform your student representative, if appropriate.

Personal problems

Make sure that you talk to someone should personal problems arise. Illness should be communicated as soon as possible by informing the Dean Office with a Medical Certificate.

Factors such as family bereavement, emotional upsets, accommodation or financial difficulties can all seriously affect academic performance and concentration. If you feel the pressure is too intense it is possible to withdraw from a module as late as Week 2.

Staff/student relations

Moscow State University of the Printing Arts is a student-centred institution committed to the highest possible standards of teaching and research. It also abides by the principle that there shall be no students or staff subjected to sexual, racial or other discrimination on irrelevant criteria. We encourage an environment which supports and rewards performance on the basis of relevant considerations such as ability and effort. Action or behaviour which undermines this will not be tolerated. In order to ensure the achievement of these aims, the University provides advice and guidance to staff and students concerning the ways in which a student or group of students who wish to make representations about the conduct or actions of a member of staff may do so. In addition the policy is also applicable to members of staff who are concerned about the actions of a student.

Complaints Procedures

The University's policy

Moscow State University is committed to the highest possible standards of teaching and research, and also firmly holds to the principle that there shall be no sexual, racial or other discrimination on irrelevant criteria in its treatment of students. The University's policy on staff–student relations provides advice and guidance for a student or group or students who wish to make representations about the conduct or actions of a member of staff.

Representations concerning teaching

The University provides a number of means by which a student or group of students may make representations and/or complaints about the content or teaching of courses. Representations should be made to individuals or bodies in the following order, as appropriate:

• member of staff concerned;

• module leader;

• Programme Leader

• Dean of Faculty;

• Publishing Programme Committee (through student representatives or direct)

Representations concerning sexual or racial harassment or discrimination

Sexual or racial harassment or discrimination is defined as follows:

Sexual harassment: Any visual, physical or verbal conduct of a sexual nature if such behaviour is unsolicited and unwelcome and creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive environment. This includes harassment on the grounds of any sexual orientation or gender.

Racial harassment: Any behaviour which diminishes the position, esteem, or status of a person on the grounds of their colour, or ethnic origin.

Sexual or racial discrimination: Any action which either treats a person more or less favourably on the grounds of their sexual orientation, sex, colour, ethnic origin or religion or applies a requirement or condition which has a disproportionately detrimental effect on individuals according to their colour, ethnic origin, sex or sexual orientation when this condition or requirement cannot be shown to be justified.

If a student wishes to make a complaint of harassment or discrimination by a member of staff, the complaint should initially be directed to the Vice-Dean of the Faculty responsible for the students welfare. If this does not resolve the matter to the satisfaction of the complainant or if there is any repetition then the matter will be handled to the Vice-Rector for the students welfare. Irrespective of the action taken, the student will be notified directly of the outcome.

Representations by a member of staff concerning the actions of a student

If a member of staff wishes to make a complaint about the actions of a student, first reference should be made to the student's personal tutor or programme leader and the student must be given the option of involving another student or Student's Union representative in the informal discussion. If the matter cannot be resolved informally or, if there is any repetition, student disciplinary procedures should be invoked.

Confidentiality relating to complaints

All information relating to complaints of harassment or discrimination, or those concerning the actions of a student will be treated as strictly confidential (for the protection of all concerned) and will not be conveyed to any person without the consent of the complainant. However, it must be recognised that the greater the degree of confidentiality imposed, the more difficult it may be to achieve a satisfactory outcome.

Equal Opportunities

MSUPA is dedicated to providing education and employment opportunities, irrespective of sex, ethnicity, disability, age, marital status, caring responsibilities, sexuality, religion, class, colour, national or regional origin, in an environment which ensures that the talents and resources of staff and students are developed and used to the full. No job or course applicant, employee or student should receive less favourable treatment on any of the above grounds, nor should they be disadvantaged by conditions or requirements which cannot be shown to be relevant to performance.

Careers and Employment

Careers Guidance

Many students having graduated with a degree in Publishing successfully find employment in the publishing industry. Careers guidance is offered from the Faculty.

Careers Support

All the teaching staff are pleased to discuss career prospects with you. Particularly if you wish a member of staff to act as your referee, it is good to talk to him or her about your career plans.

We invite a number of Publishing alumni to return to tell you about their career experiences. We also invite publishers - these range from large multinational publishers to small not for profit publishers, trade, academic and educational publishers, to tell you something about working for their organisations and to give you the opportunity, in small groups, to ask them questions about their company.

The Faculty keep in close contact with the RF publishing industry and actively facilitate and monitor work experience opportunities. We receive information on jobs from many publishers. You can also find information on these opportunities, on the PTS website (http://www.pbts.ru/jobs.php ) and notice board.

Jobs in Publishing

You can also find job offers on the publishers web-sites as well as on the web-sites of the major publishing associations: the Book Publishers Associations (www.aski.ru), the Guild of Book Publishers (www.guildbook.ru) , the Guild of Periodicals Publishers (www.gipp.ru), and web-site on media market (www.mediajobs.ru). For international opportunities please refer to Brookes’ jobs web-site http://ah.brookes.ac.uk/publishing/jobs/index.php.

Learning Resources