At the Academic Senate meeting on 24 July 2018 the Curriculum Architecture Policy was approved in principle for courses delivered from 1 January 2020. The Undergraduate, Postgraduate and Micro-credentials principles were also endorsed. These are key related documents of the policy, published on Policy Central.
Complexity in the principles is directed at course designers, with the aim to make the course pathways clearer and easy to navigate, to equip students for the jobs of tomorrow.
Mariella Herberstein, Chair of Academic Senate
With the Principles endorsed, work now moves to the Faculties to commence the Coursework Suite Renewal.
Faculty Roadshows and FSQC Training
This week the Curriculum Architecture Project Team ran a series of Faculty ‘Roadshow’ introduction sessions (with ADs Q&S, L&T and senior administrators) and training for Faculty Standards and Quality Committee (FSQC) members. At these, the CA Project Team provided essential information needed for key decision makers to take action over the next few months. The sessions also covered the workflow for the Coursework Suite Renewal submissions and the support that will be on offer.
Faculty Curriculum Architecture Implementation Groups
Created and managed by the Executive Dean and Associate Deans Quality and Standards and Learning and Teaching, the Faculties are now invited to create Faculty Curriculum Architecture Implementation Groups, who will be responsible for
Providing support to academic staff in the areas of:
- Quality assurance
- Process management
- Compliance
- Good Design
- Q&A/FAQs
- A ‘fresh pair of eyes’
Being the first point of contact for:
- Faculty coursework suite renewal Q&A
- Updates from CA project team to faculty
- Additional support/information required
Overview of Coursework Suite Renewal Timeline/Workflow
| Week Commencing | Activity |
|---|---|
| 30 July | Faculty Briefings |
| 30 July | FSQC Training |
| 6 August | Course Submission System and Staff Guidance portal opens |
| 6 August | Faculties to create Faculty Curriculum Architecture Implementation Groups |
| Until October | Curriculum Architecture Checkpoints
|
Support
Online Support Documentation can be accessed via the Academic Standards and Quality Committee (ASQC) page on the staff portal (available 6 August) with links to:
- Policy and Principles documents
- Good Design Guide
- Explanatory Notes from Project Team
- Compliance Checklist – for FSQC, ASQC
- FAQs
Help Desk / Support
- Contact your Faculty Curriculum Architecture Implementation Groups (once created, the contact details of the groups will be published on the support page mentioned above)
- If Faculty Implementation Groups don’t have the answer, they will email a dedicated help point in the office of the PVC P&P (available from 6 August)
- Questions will be triaged and sent to the right person to reply
- A bank of FAQs will be created and published on a weekly basis on Teche and also our Curriculum Architecture online support page
Other Support will be available through
- Drop-In Centres
- Additional Faculty Visits
- Faculty Curriculum Architecture Implementation Groups
- Fortnightly huddle meetings with the Martin Brooks, Business Process Improvement Manager, Strategic Planning and Information.
When considering potential changes, the guiding principles are:
Put students at the centre
- Is this good for them?
- Is it easy to navigate?
- Does it improve the student experience?
- What is the nature of the course, why would the student choose this course?
Identify the knock-on effects
- Is it easy for staff to administer?
- Does it reduce complexity?
- How will we manage impacts to students for 2020?
Keep with the spirit of the renewal approach
- Do what is best for students
- Keep within the intent of the principles
- Share what you learn with other faculties
- Don’t jam it in just because you can
- Project team has full confidence that faculties will do the right thing
- Good Design Guide outlines the intent
Involving students or industry/external advisory boards partners in the decision making is encouraged but not mandated.
The types of changes may be
Small Change
- Tip established courses into the new structure – no major changes
- Do these first
- Aim to have these done by Sept
Big change
- Put through one of these early to gain experience (Sept at latest)
- Includes course name change (needs new CRICOS code)
New
- Start early
- Submit in Oct in case change is required in Nov
- Ensure you consult with
- MI, Future Student
- FGMs
- Library
- L&T Groups
Potential Deletion
- Leave till last
- Wait until you know it’s no longer needed and not covered elsewhere
As submissions start to come in, Teche will provide exemplars of each of the different types of changes and will interview colleagues to hear about their experience. Advisory communications to students are still being created and will be shared with the community at the earliest opportunity.
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