Induction arrangements for new staff include extended mentoring by an experienced colleague for five years up to the review for tenure, and a mandatory course of eight seminars. Examples of joint teaching seen indicate the potential value of this relationship. Funds are available for attendance at external courses relevant to teaching and research interests, and research activity is supported through a departmental pump-priming fund and a generous system of sabbatical leave. The cumulative impact of pressures on staff to develop and teach new courses, to keep abreast of developments, to provide a high level of student support and to be productive researchers operating at the highest level, together with the difficulties of operating in a city-centre environment, needs to be carefully monitored. Teaching accommodation is generally satisfactory, especially that which has benefited from recent refurbishment.
Most classrooms have appropriate teaching aids.
The students' common room and departmental libraries are well-used facilities. The British Library of Political and Economic Science is a resource of national importance much appreciated by postgraduate students seeking specialised materials, but undergraduates report insufficient copies of texts at times of peak demand, queues to use the on-line catalogue and at the issue desk, and pressure on seating space. Computing provision is largely centralised. Despite the recent addition of 50 workstations, students report difficulties in gaining access to computing facilities because of high demand and breakdowns. There is an extensive system of quality assurance structures and procedures, which involves school committees, the University of London, course directors and the departmental convenor, and which solicits students' views through formal and informal means.