Learning & Teaching Strategy to 2020 We re Keele University and we re different. Founded more than 60 years ago to meet the demands of a new kind of society, economy and world, our principles resonate today more than ever. Our approach to education is central to this and is, above all, what defines us. Education for life We offer the highest quality research-informed academic experience that, coupled with a holistic approach, enables our students not only to fulfil their academic potential, but also to contribute effectively to the wider community for the rest of their lives. Broad-based global citizens Our students join an active international academic community, studying and working alongside experts in their field from all over the world. It is a stimulating and friendly environment in which to develop intellectually, and one which offers a broad-based education, where students have the opportunity to draw from different disciplines to enhance their knowledge. Our students, aware that they are part of an international academic community, are enabled to play their part in a globalised society. Active Citizens We also pride ourselves in offering our students many other opportunities for volunteering, sports and other activities, where they can develop the personal skills that will enable them to play a leading role in the communities which they join as graduates. Our students are also well-informed about the issues surrounding the sustainability of our planet s natural systems and its inhabitants, and are equipped to use their knowledge to create a more sustainable world. Work-Ready and World-Ready Our learning and teaching strategy ensures that our students will receive the support they need to make the most of their educational experiences. They will develop the skills and attributes needed to make them highly employable, while making a positive contribution to society. Keele graduates leave us clear about who they are and what they want to be, and are equipped to achieve their goals. 1 P age
Aim 1: To provide transformative learning opportunities (University Aims 1 and 2) Priorities: Enabling students to develop best academic practice in their discipline Facilitating students engagement with their studies Using assessment to recognise and reward academic achievement Enabling all students to achieve their potential Year Year of Activity Project is either being scoped or is in implementation/roll-out Project is expected to be in the substantive design/development or delivery stage 1.1 Enhancing Academic Practice PVC (E&SE) Head of Curriculum Support & Development 1.2 GPA / Marking System PVC (E&SE) Task & Finish Group 1.3 Reaching Your Potential Task & Finish Group reporting to ULTC, chaired by member of ULTC. Identifying key disciplinary capabilities needed to enhance student academic performance; providing appropriate interventions. Responding to the Green Paper Fulfilling Our Potential (Cm 9141) by ensuring we give appropriate recognition to students achievements, aligned with the introduction of a GPA. Responding to our increasingly diverse student body by developing interventions to increase inclusivity and support all students effectively, whatever their backgrounds. 1.4 Engaging students: supporting student learning with data Head of Learning & Professional Development / Learning Technology Officers Leveraging data to support student learning e.g. learner analytics. 2 P age
1.5 Developing Assessment Literacy Head of Learning & Professional Development Developing students assessment literacy to enable them to achieve their maximum potential. 1.6 Academic Transitions to University Task & Finish Group (Chair: Dr R Waller) Identifying best practice in transition pedagogy and developing an action plan for Keele. 3 P age
Aim 2: Promoting inspirational learning and teaching (University Aims 1 and 2) Priorities: Enhancing our students academic practice Enhancing our research-connected teaching Supporting creative teaching practice Using educational technologies to support excellent learning and teaching Involving students as partners in their learning 2.1 Supporting delivery of best academic practice Head of Learning & Professional Development Enhancing the learning and development culture and infrastructure to: support staff to enhance student academic practice, including by pedagogic research support new teaching staff encourage digital scholarship 2.2 Working in partnership with University stakeholders to encourage the creative application of educational technologies informed by pedagogic principles Learning Technology Officers 2.3 Enhancing research Head of Learning & Professional Enhancing active learning environments, for example by the use of: Lecture Flipping Desktop capture e.g. podcasting & screen casting Classroom response systems Online collaborative learning e.g. webinars Working with students as partners e.g. Digital Ambassadors Supporting delivery of research- connected teaching across the curriculum. 4 P age
connected teaching 2.4 Enhance students academic practice by developing their information literacy skills 2.5 Enhancing educational technologies to support learning 2.6 Students as partners in learning Development Librarian, working with all Schools Learning Technology Officers, IT Systems Administrator Faculty Learning & Teaching Directors Develop comprehensive information literacy programmes for all areas of the University, in line with the changing requirements both of the curriculum and prospective employers. Continuously develop learning environments (e.g. KLE and associated learning technologies) to enhance the capacity for flexible and collaborative learning opportunities. Developing possibilities for working with students to enhance their learning, drawing on best practice in the sector. 5 P age
Aim 3: To provide a supportive and inclusive learning community (University Aims 1 and 2) Priorities: Providing opportunities for intellectual discussion and debate in an interdisciplinary context Providing a dynamic learning environment to support our diverse learning community. Providing opportunities for students to engage with broad-based and interdisciplinary approaches to education and research Key priorities and targets: 3.1 Interdisciplinary opportunities Faculty L&T Directors Foregrounding and development of interdisciplinary approaches within existing modules. 3.2 Keele Institute of Liberal Arts & Sciences 3.3 Portfolio & Curriculum Development Project 3.4 Portfolio & Curriculum Development Project Dean of Natural Sciences Deputy Vice Chancellor Director & Deputy Director of Estates & Development Development of interdisciplinary liberal arts and natural sciences degrees and supporting programme of activities Refining the academic offer to facilitate the provision of interdisciplinary modules within a more focused curriculum Facilitating the provision of a dynamic learning environments 3.5 Dynamic learning environment Director & Deputy Director of Estates & Development Coalescence of physical and digital environments, providing the means for staff and students to inhabit both spaces as part of their learning and teaching. 6 P age
3.6 Evaluating the student learning experience Head of Governance & Quality Assurance, Learning Technology Officers. Enhancing module evaluation processes and evaluating the learning landscape, e.g. Student Barometer, JISC Student Digital Experience Tracker 7 P age
Aim 4: To develop students capabilities (University Aims 2, 3 and 4) Priorities: Providing opportunities to build and develop students professional skills, attitudes and resilience. Enhancing our opportunities for students to engage with employers to build their employability potential Further develop the opportunities for employer engagement to enhance the employability of our students Draw on and develop student digital capabilities 4.1 Be More Head of Careers & Employability 4.2 Employability Strategy Director of Development, Enterprise & Partnerships Head of Careers & Employability 4.3 Keele Award Head of Careers & Employability 4.4 Student Placements Director of Development, Enterprise & Partnerships Develop graduate attributes through a range of activities, events and workshops annually at the end of semester 2. Develop an employability, employment & employer engagement strategy Development of a Keele Award (to develop leadership capabilities and articulation of skills). Increase the proportion of students able to access an employer-related experience during or following their degree programmes to 50% by 2020. 4.5 Library Librarian Continue to improve the range of academic resources available to students 8 P age
Aim 5: To provide opportunities for students to learn beyond the curriculum (University aims 1, 2, 5 and 6.) Learning and Teaching Strategy 2015-2020 Priorities: Providing opportunities for volunteering and other activities which develop interpersonal, professional and employability skills Through our internationalisation strategy, providing opportunities for all our students to develop their multi-cultural awareness and become global citizens Ensuring our students are informed about and engaged in the sustainability agenda both within and beyond their academic curriculum Project Key Staff / Dates Description of Project 15/16 16/17 17/18 18/19 19/20 5.1 Sustainability (extra and curricular) 5.2 Internationalisation (extra and curricular) Director of Education for Sustainability. Dean of Internationalisation, Head of International Recruitment & Development, School Internationalisation Directors. In partnership with KeeleSU, we will ensure that our graduates will have had the opportunity to engage in activities and learning that will help them view decisions in their personal and professional lives from a social, environmental and economic perspective. Our aim will be achieved through a multi-stranded approach using the academic curriculum, extra-curricular activities and the hidden curriculum (the surroundings in which students live and study). Our internationalisation strategy will ensure that our graduates develop the knowledge and skills required to operate in an internationalised and inter-cultural environment. In particular, working in partnership with KeeleSU, we aim to enhance the quality of international students academic experience, further develop our study abroad opportunities, and internationalise all students on- 9 P age
Project Key Staff / Dates Description of Project 15/16 16/17 17/18 18/19 19/20 campus experience. 5.3 Volunteering Student Experience Manager, KeeleSU 5.4 Activities (sports & societies) Head of Sport; Student Experience Manager, Athletic Union & Sport Officer & Activities & Community Officer, KeeleSU In partnership with Keele Students Union, our volunteering opportunities will enable students to make a difference in the local community, gain intrinsic satisfaction, and enhance and develop skills which will contribute to their employability. We will work towards achieving national accreditation with regard to the volunteering opportunities we provide. Through their involvement in sports and other student societies, our students gain experience of teamwork, organisational and other skills which further contribute to their employability as graduates. 10 P age
Appendix One: University Strategic Aims 2015 2020 Aim 1: To continue building Keele as a broad-based research-led University of about 13000 students recognised internationally for excellence in education, research and enterprise Aim 2: Through the Distinctive Keele Curriculum provide outstanding discipline-based education and a unique portfolio of personal development opportunities in the context of a sector-leading student experience Aim 3: To deliver international excellence and impact in focused areas of research Aim 4: To contribute positively to the society, economy, culture, health and well-being of the communities we serve Aim 5: To promote environmental sustainability in all that we do Aim 6: To transform how we work to ensure the University s development is sustainable and delivers world-leading teaching and research 11 P age