Division of Environmental and Life Sciences
Teaching and Learning Strategic Plan 2006 to 2010 - Executive Summary
The Teaching and Learning Strategic Plan for the Division of Environmental and Life Sciences is an outline of the goals, objectives, outcomes and strategies that will allow the Division to move forward toward the University vision for teaching and learning.
Macquarie University Teaching and Learning Vision
To develop and disseminate knowledge through an exceptional commitment to scholarly teaching and learning.
The Division of Environmental and Life Sciences is proud of its tradition of outstanding, flexible and innovative teaching and learning and continually strives to maintain and enhance its position as an exemplary education provider. The Teaching and Learning Strategic Plan has been developed in line with the University teaching and learning mission.
Macquarie University Teaching and Learning Mission
To be an exemplary provider of modern education, based on research, innovative teaching and flexible delivery and designed for graduates of the 21st century.
This strategic plan has been developed in a time of change in the university sector and it is intended that it provide a framework that allows the Division to move forward, strengthen its commitment to quality in teaching and learning, and meet the demands of its many stakeholders.
Contextual Factors Informing the Strategic Plan
In its paper, "Our Universities: Backing Australia's Future" the Federal Government outlined a new accountability framework as part of the implementation of its reforms of the Higher Education sector. These reforms include introduction of the Learning and Teaching Performance Fund (LTPF). Allocation of funding through this scheme is dependent upon whether an institution demonstrates a strong strategic commitment to learning and teaching, as well as an assessment of the institution's performance in learning and teaching. The institution's "commitment" is demonstrated by its development of teaching and learning strategic plans, as well as the documentation of policies and procedures for teaching and learning. The Division's Teaching and Learning Strategic Plan needs therefore to be comprehensive enough to ensure quality in our curriculum and teaching and learning practices but also needs to be seen as open to change and modification in light of this and other ongoing government reviews.
It is important that the Institutional, Divisional and Departmental Teaching and Learning Strategic Plans cohere with each other. The Divisional Teaching and Learning Plan was developed at the same time as the new Macquarie University Teaching and Learning Plan, and although developed independently, the goals and focus of each plan are similar. This plan should be supported by the Strategic Plans for teaching and learning developed within the departments in the division, and it is anticipated that departments will incorporate the objectives of this plan when reviewing their own.
Summary of ELS Teaching and Learning Goals
The Divisional Plan has five broad goals:
1. To ensure the quality and continuous improvement of teaching and learning and the curriculum
2. To support and value diversity
3. To foster reflective practice amongst staff
4. To support internationalisation in teaching and learning
5. To encourage an interdisciplinary approach to curriculum development.
As shown in the full Plan (http://www.els.mq.edu.au/teach_learn/strategic _plan.xls), each of these broad goals in turn has several objectives and desired specific outcomes. Strategies, responsibilities and time frames for each of these are outlined.