Teaching and learning (Strategic Plan 2002-2006)

Strategic Objectives

As the preferred university of the great majority of Queensland's most highly qualified students, whether school leavers, mature-age students or graduates returning for higher-level studies, as well as of a rapidly-increasing number of outstanding international students, the University of Queensland is committed to excellence of learning experiences and outcomes and will:

  • provide rewarding educational experiences that develop in graduates capacities for independence and creativity, critical judgement, effective communication and ethical and social understanding as well as in-depth knowledge of a field of study;
  • deliver an international focus through curricula and through exposure of students to educational and cultural experiences at this University and overseas;
  • recognise the relationship between excellence in teaching and learning and research and reinforce a commitment to the distinctiveness of a research-based culture for teaching and learning;
  • review and enhance postgraduate programs to renew and increase postgraduate profile;
  • increase the number of postgraduate students to achieve, over time, a student body at least 25 percent of which is at postgraduate level;
  • deliver an enhanced and flexible approach to learning that is applied appropriately to meet curricula and pedagogic objectives;
  • ensure effective, structured evaluation of teaching and learning quality and outcomes, enlightened by feedback from students, scholars, professions, industry and community;
  • enhance the teaching and learning environment, particularly in relation to provision of high quality infrastructure for flexible learning;
  • recruit, develop and retain staff who provide high quality teaching and learning; and
  • support improved access by students from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Operational Priorities
  • ensure that graduate attributes are mapped into all programs in 2002;
  • seek opportunities for enhanced collaboration and strategic partnerships in teaching and learning with other institutions, particularly overseas;
  • ensure that the teaching quality assurance component of Faculty budgets and the staff promotion process and other incentives, reward School and individual achievement in teaching and learning excellence;
  • increase the use of flexible learning approaches and the appropriate use of information and communications technologies in educational programs, particularly postgraduate programs in the University;
  • gather and use information about the quality of teaching and learning and monitor the provision of curriculum and assessment that encourages and reinforces learning as specified in University policy;
  • improve guidance and advice to students about program and course selection and maintain ways to seek and respond to student feedback about the teaching and learning environment;
  • develop strategies to encourage more students from other universities to seek entry to the University's honours and postgraduate programs;
  • develop a program to enhance infrastructure to support teaching and learning;
  • widen recruitment to increase the participation of adjunct staff and provide staff development to support understanding of new approaches to teaching and learning; and
  • review the effectiveness of programs to enhance access for students from disadvantaged backgrounds.

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