Curriculum Renewal
The University’s Strategic Plan commits the institution to engaging in University-wide curriculum renewal.
Recognising that curriculum renewal is an activity that faculties are already engaged in and responsible for, the Senior Executive Group (SEG) have endorsed a proposal from the Curriculum and Course Planning Committee (CCPC) which seeks to support locally–led curriculum review to (1) build on existing processes to incorporate strategic university priorities such as (2) Embed Engaged Enquiry to foster graduate attributes, (3) Broaden curriculum and co-curriculum to foster graduate attributes (4) Ensure pathways and coherence (5). Ensure alignment with external imperatives e.g. AQF,TEQSA (6). Develop curriculum governance structures (7). Inform resource renewal.
Implementation
In first semester 2012, four faculties are trialling the incorporation of selected features in current reviews. Arts; pathways and coherence, Science; embedding engaged enquiry to foster graduate attributes, Business; embedding CELT (using WIL), Nursing and Midwifery; reporting format.
Course or degree curriculum reviews commencing after 1 June 2012 will discuss and negotiate the terms of reference for their curriculum reviews with the CCPC with a view to ensuring both faculty and university priorities are accommodated.
The outcomes of the curriculum reviews will be reported to CCPC. These reports will assist the Committee in identifying curriculum principles and standards for use in future cycles of reviews.
You can read the full CCPC proposal to SEG here.
Support for curriculum renewal
The expertise of CCPC working party members, as well as staff in central units such as the ITL, Learning Centres, the Planning Office, and the Social Inclusion Unit, as well as the expertise of members of various Teaching Scholars networks across the University is available to support faculties seeking to address these additional aspects.
This support might involve
- Assistance in the planning of reviews and the development of processes to better engage staff and students as partners in curriculum review,
- the provision of student experience data and other relevant data or statistics,
- the identification of additional data collection strategies,
- the provision and application of best practice principles, standards, exemplars, guidelines or strategies to inform curriculum review and development.
To support the curriculum renewal process the ITL will work with colleagues across the University in 2012 to develop best practice principles, resources and strategies to inform key aspects of faculty led curriculum renewal.
- Embedding Engaged Enquiry using RELT and CELT
- An Engaged Enquiry curriculum framework to foster graduate attributes
- Sydney's Graduate Attributes
- Strategies for building coherent student pathways through curricula
- Widening participation through student admission and recruitment strategies
- Maintaining participation through inclusive teaching and curriculum
- Building foundations for university learning and engagement in first year curricula
- Developing academic integrity through curriculum and assessment
- Developing academic literacy through curriculum and assessment
- Incorporating standards-based assessment in curricula
- Curriculum review processes
If you are interested in sharing your ideas or contributing to these initiatives please contact Simon Barrie.