Learning and Teaching Strategy 2014-2020 1
Our Twenty-Twenty Vision By 2020 the University of Chichester will be internationally recognised as a beacon of good practice for high quality, student-centred higher education within a supportive community of learning Twenty-Twenty Vision University Strategy: 2013 to 2020 2
Vision The University is committed to providing an outstanding learning experience for every student. The Learning and Teaching Strategy will ensure that graduates will be: Inspired, engaged and intellectually curious Confident in their understanding of their discipline Able to support their own continued learning and professional development Digitally literate Enterprising and employable Responsible global citizens equipped to participate effectively in the changing global environment Context The University is an inclusive learning organisation that places great emphasis on face-to-face contact with students Most students are in some form of employment so course provision needs to be accessible and flexible in order to be inclusive and encourage participation Heightened student expectations are placing greater emphasis on students as active participants and collaborators The quality of the physical and virtual environment has a positive impact on the student learning experience The employment market is highly competitive and new approaches to the development of employability skills are needed With increased levels of choice, efficiency, quality and value for money continue to be essential 3
The Student Experience Strategic Goal 1: Every Student Will have an Outstanding Learning Experience Our learning community will inspire and empower our students to exceed their expectations. Learning and teaching will be based on research and pedagogy that is of national and international repute. For us, our pedagogy is not just an approach to teaching but a commitment to inform and inspire. We will, therefore, work in partnership with our student community to ensure that our learning and teaching reflects excellent practice and recognises the opportunities presented by new technologies. A focus on employability and enterprise skills will mean our graduates are equipped to thrive in a global economy Twenty-Twenty Vision University Strategy: 2013 to 2020 Twenty-Twenty Vision University Strategy: 2013 to 2020 www.chi.ac.uk The Learning and Teaching Strategy is designed to ensure the attainment of this goal. 4
The Chichester Graduate As part of the consultation process for the Learning and Teaching Strategy, we have sought to identify the defining characteristics of a Chichester graduate by 2020. employable entrepreneurial confident reflective adaptable inspired empowered independent environmentally-aware intellectually-engaged motivated digitally-literate friendly creative knowledgeable professional responsible engaged enterprising proactive ambitious passionate happy 5
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Learning and Teaching Priorities Priority 1: An Outstanding Learning Experience Priority 2: Excellence in Learning and Teaching Priority 3: Enhancing and Embedding Employability and Enterprise Priority 4: Internationalism and Global Citizenship Priority 5: An Outstanding Learning Environment 7
Priority 1: An Outstanding Learning Experience The University is committed to delivering an outstanding learning experience where the student is at the heart of everything we do. Our goals: 1. Students experience a rich and stimulating educational journey that recognises their diversity and life experience, and enables them to realise their potential 2. Critical engagement and continual dialogue between staff and students, with students seen as collaborative partners in the development of new knowledge and understanding 3. Effective feedback, promoting deep learning and critical thinking To achieve these goals, the University will: 1. Support the development of approaches to learning and teaching that are student-centred, inclusive and flexible 2. Work in partnership with students to enable them to become independent learners and researchers 3. Provide creative and flexible approaches to assessment and timely feedback that motivates and engages students 4. Ensure all students have an academic advisor and access to structured academic and pastoral guidance to support their learning development in accordance with the University Commitment Charter 4. Respectful learning partnerships between staff and students 8
Priority 2: Excellence in Learning and Teaching The University is committed to excellence in learning and teaching. Our goals: 1. All staff are highly effective inspirational facilitators of learning and teaching 2. Ensure all teaching is informed by critical enquiry and current research 3. Maximise the opportunities for participation in Higher Education by utilising the opportunities provided by emerging technologies 4. Enable staff to develop and be recognised as outstanding educators To achieve these goals, the University will: 1. Maintain an institutional commitment to enhancement through a systematic approach to the application and dissemination of good pedagogic practice in relation to learning, teaching and assessment 2. Provide institutional support and resources to research, enhance and facilitate innovation in learning and teaching 3. Establish projects to explore the use of new technologies to support part-time and distance learning 4. Ensure all teaching is evaluated and that staff who teach are observed in accordance with the University staff induction and teaching observation policy 5. Ensure that all new staff appointed to learning and teaching roles who do not have a relevant teaching qualification undertake appropriate staff development, such as the Post Graduate Certificate in Learning and Teaching 6. Provide relevant and effective continuing professional development to support all staff within the UK Professional Standards Framework 7. Review and implement institutional processes and criteria to support career progression on the basis of outstanding learning and teaching 9
Enterprise education is the application of creative ideas and innovations to practical situations... aiming to produce individuals with the mindset and skills to respond to opportunities, needs and shortfalls, with key skills including taking the initiative, decision making, problem solving, networking, identifying opportunities and personal effectiveness (Department for Business, Innovation & Skills, 2013) Department for Business,Innovation & Skills (2013) Enterprise Education Impact in Higher and Further Education Final Report, HMSO, London. 10
Priority 3: Enhancing and Embedding Employability and Enterprise A focus on employability and enterprise skills will mean our graduates are equipped to thrive in a global economy. Our goals: 1. Ensure students develop the knowledge, skills and attributes needed to be highly employable 2. Foster a spirit of enterprise and employability across the University community 3. Encourage innovative approaches to enterprise and employability education 4. Provide opportunities for all students to engage with employers through curricular and extracurricular activities and paid internships To achieve these goals, the University will: 1. Support employability champions in each department to develop the integration of enterprise and employability skills in programmes 2. Publicise existing staff expertise and networks to promote enterprise and employability development 3. Provide support and information to staff to develop a focus on enterprise and employability within modules where appropriate 4. Ensure all students have access to work-based learning opportunities through placements and paid internships where possible 5. Design assessments to ensure that students receive feedback on the development of their employability skills 6. Recognise and celebrate student volunteering and endeavour through the Chichester Award, V Inspired and the Higher Education Achievement Report (HEAR) 7. Offer all students access to a taught module on enterprise start-up and self-employment 11
Work on Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) helps institutions and subject communities develop curricula and pedagogy that will give students the skills and knowledge to live and work sustainably (Drayson et al, 2013) Drayson, R., Bone, E., Agombar, J. and Kemp, S. (2013), Student Attitudes Towards and Skills for Sustainable Development, HEA, York. 12
Priority 4: Internationalism and Global Citizenship Internationalism and global citizenship are key themes for the 21st century. These themes will be supported by the University through a focus on education for global citizenship and sustainable development that recognises the connections between the social, the cultural, the economic and the natural world. Our goals: To achieve these goals, the University will: 1. Ensure students develop social, cultural and environmental awareness 2. Equip students to engage actively in change 3. Ensure the development of skills, knowledge and attributes crucial for global citizenship and multi-cultural awareness 4. Foster a spirit of internationalism, recognising the rich contribution of international staff and students 5. Provide opportunities for staff and students to become advocates for ethical and sustainable futures 1. Provide support and information to staff to develop a focus on global citizenship and sustainable development within modules where appropriate 2. Publicise existing staff expertise and networks to promote education for global citizenship and sustainable development 3. Encourage collaborative learning activities between staff, students and external partners to create an environmental ethos throughout the University and the region 4. Actively support and involve international staff and students throughout the University 5. Promote the University s engagement with Education for Sustainable Development locally, regionally, nationally and internationally 6. Make a positive contribution to the local community through our staff and students 13
Priority 5: An Outstanding Learning Environment Enhancing the student experience will be the cornerstone upon which we develop both our physical and virtual campus environments. Our goals are: 1. Provide high quality, technology enabled flexible and adaptable learning and teaching spaces which facilitate student engagement and creativity 2. Develop spaces that support interaction and connection throughout the University and the wider community 3. Provide and support relevant technologies that give opportunities for flexible approaches to provision, enabling students to exercise choice in relation to where, when and how they manage their learning To achieve these goals, the University will: 1. Continue to invest in the development of both campuses to ensure there are sufficient learning and teaching spaces, fully equipped, and with the capacity to meet the creative, physical and technological needs of all staff and students 2. Further develop the VLE and IT infrastructure to support student learning and engagement and to give staff opportunities to develop innovative approaches to learning and teaching, assessment and feedback 3. Provide sufficient high quality learning resources on both campuses 4. Create spaces for co-operative and collaborative working among students and staff 5. Develop the infrastructure, services and processes in consultation with students to ensure support for mobile personal computing 14
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Email: landtstrategy@chi.ac.uk Twitter: @chilandt Web: www.chi.ac.uk 16