Welcome back to TECHE in 2022

It’s a new year and like most of you reading this, its probably taken a little bit of time to get back into the work routine after the holidays. After 2 years of the pandemic, I was hoping that 2022 would be a step forward of getting back to some sense of normality. In late 2021, vaccination rates were high, the international border re-opened and international students were returning back to Macquarie (and our beautiful campus). Then Omicron hit! It feels like a case of taking 2 steps forward and 1 step back with the latest wave of COVID.

I am personally determined to keep moving forward on the positive glimpse we had late last year. I am coming back onto campus slowly and trying to stay positive about the year ahead. I am determined to go overseas at least once in 2022 and am looking forward to planning that holiday (and lets be honest there will be a lot of planning involved – but hopefully it will be worth it).

A new year in a University also means new initiatives and projects coming to fruition/implementation and it seems we have plenty of these for the year ahead. Some of these initiatives are listed below and also provide opportunities for staff to engage, support and activate as appropriate:

• a new standardised iLearn template will be implemented from Session 1 across all units.
• myLearn is a new analytical tool that will be available for students so they can track their learning activities/interactions during their studies.
• the new Employability Connect portal for students for all their employability needs including looking for a job and finalising their PACE activities.
• implementation will commence on the University Employability Strategy and Framework.
• a pilot of a new Peer Review process will commence which will be co-designed by staff.
• the ‘Open for Observation” will continue where staff can observe classes and teaching by their colleagues in action.
• implementation of the Macquarie Way – a set of principles that will distinguish the learning experience of students at Macquarie University.
• the first set of courses will be reviewed under the new Course Reaccreditation processes established last year under the Curriculum Lifecycle Framework.

The Macquarie learning and teaching community is passionate and committed to the student experience. The above initiatives will further enhance the learning experience of our students and that is a pretty great way to start the new year (even in a pandemic).

As for TECHE, there may be some changes coming in 2022. We will keep you fully informed on any developments happening to TECHE in 2022. Watch this space! As always please feel free to contact us via teche@mq.edu.au if you have an idea for an article you would like published.

In mean time, lets try and stay positive about the new year ahead and see if we can bring some sense of normality to our lives. Feel free to let us know what you are looking forward to in 2022 in the comments below?

Wishing you all a safe and healthy 2022!