Slaying the beast: Writing, learning and experiencing in a post-dissertation world

This article looks at the motivation behind the removal of the final-year dissertation from the fashion, textiles and footwear undergraduate programmes at the University of Northampton. The removal process was not straightforward and occurred over a number of years and through a process of ‘mini actions’ that in large part were driven by student response to changes implemented by the programme team. The title ‘Slaying the beast: Writing, learning and experiencing in a post-dissertation world’ is intended to suggest both the iconic status the final-year dissertation within undergraduate study has and methods of engagement that can be used to replace this set-piece academic exercise. The discussion is organized under five sections with offer reflections on the process and issues involved in this transition, each with a title that is designed to capture the experience: Identifying the beast; Taking aim; The misery of choice; To B or not to B; Taking down the beast; Burying the beast; and finally Looking back on the quest.